Serving Veterans, Active Military in Real Estate: Education Opportunities for Agents

When active duty and veteran members of the U.S. military need to buy or sell a home, they’re often met with options and obstacles that differ from their non-military counterparts. The need for guidance from an experienced professional is crucial.

Take it from Eric Gardner, a veteran-turned-real estate agent. When Gardner retired as a Navy Captain after 30 years of service, he launched a real estate career to help other military individuals and families find stability and build wealth through property ownership. His personal experience fuels his passion – after all, he received 13 permanent change of station (PCS) orders himself, moving on a moment’s notice each time duty called.

“As I began my real estate business, I quickly realized how underserved many active duty and veterans are when it comes to homebuying and selling,” says Gardner, an agent with RE/MAX Alliance in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “That led me to seek different avenues for assisting this community. I earned multiple certifications and designations from various organizations to increase my education so I could go to bat for those who need help the most.”

These credentials – and the timely insights they’ve provided – have proven beneficial. Gardner touts that the majority of his business today comes from military clientele.

RE/MAX agents looking to increase their knowledge in support of veterans have a convenient outlet to do so. The brand’s affiliates have easy access to RE/MAX University® (RU), an exclusive digital education hub featuring a plethora of real estate courses – many at special discounts. Multiple offerings through the digital platform are dedicated to helping industry professionals serve niche communities, like active and retired military.

Learn more about two of these educational opportunities:

As an agent, earning the certification from MilRES means attaining the skills to become a military client’s personal advisor for their everchanging real estate needs.

The MilRES class covers key components of the military client relationship and explores aspects like the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA), protections for deployed soldiers and the Homeowner’s Assistance Program (HAP), as well as the advantages, restrictions and requirements of VA loans.

The VREB Network is another excellent resource for real estate professionals.

The Veteran Certified Agent Course offered by VREB explores foundational skills for serving military members and veterans, and equips attendees with the knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of VA loans, community-wide homebuying incentives and more.

RE/MAX agents can also join the organization’s veteran real estate benefits program, which refers veteran customers to participating agents in their locale. Experienced professionals can then help these customers leverage the program’s veteran-specific rewards to save money in their transaction.

“It’s been an honor to provide over $300,000 back to my military and veteran clients through this program,” says Gardner, who has been a member of the VREB Network since 2017.

RE/MAX affiliates can head over to RU to find out more about these education opportunities and get learning today.

Get RE/MAX News delivered to your inbox! Sign up for News Alerts in the footer below.