Last Updated on March 18, 2021 by Maggie Sutton
You put on your nursing scrubs and go to work helping others each day. Despite the stressful healthcare challenges thrown your way, especially recently, you keep giving your patients your very best professional care. When you take off your scrubs at the end of an exhausting shift, do you dream about retreating to a home of your own? If so, let Homes for Heroes help you on your home buying journey, with help finding homes and home loans for registered nurses like you.
Homes for Heroes Loan Programs for Registered Nurses
Homes for Heroes was started in 2002 by people who were determined to help the heroes in our communities become homeowners. Our vast network of real estate and mortgage professional affiliates around the United States allows registered nurses like you to purchase a home. Our program assists nurses of all kinds, along with other heroes who work in many different occupations. In addition to registered nurses, Homes for Heroes helps military, law enforcement, other healthcare workers, teaching, emergency medical services, and firefighting professionals with our home loan program.
Sign up to chat with us about your real estate needs. We’ll refer you to a local real estate and mortgage professional, who are experts in buying, selling, and refinancing houses in your area. There is no cost to you, and you have no obligation to use our services.
Home Buying Program for Registered Nurses and Healthcare Workers
The real estate professionals affiliated with us are experts in the real estate market, and they live in your local community. They understand your market and will help to find you a terrific home. Our affiliates can work with any type of transaction: first time homebuyers, buying and selling your current home, buying new construction, buying or selling a condo, you name it, our affiliates can walk you through every step.
When RN’s and other healthcare workers use a Homes for Heroes affiliated real estate agent to purchase their home, they’ll receive Hero Rewards after closing. There is no extra paperwork, contracts, or extra steps for the buyer to take. Your real estate professional takes care of everything just like a regular housing transaction. The check you receive will be $700 per $100,000 of the purchase price. So, for example, you’ll get a check for $2,100 on a purchase price of $300,000. Hero Rewards is our way of recognizing your service and dedication to your community, and also a way to say thank you for all you do.
Save Money on Home Loans for Nurses
Along with your Heroes Reward Check, we are proud to offer many other opportunities for registered nurses to save money when you buy a house. For instance, mortgage lenders affiliated with Homes for Heroes reduce their fees for heroes. Your lender has access to numerous loan programs, like FHA loans, USDA loans, and conventional loans. Some of these loans require little or no down payment, or can accommodate lower credit scores.
Our home mortgage specialists are experienced working with registered nurses, hospital workers, and other healthcare professionals. They understand how to verify income when there is shift work involved, or what is needed to get you approved if there are gaps in employment, which can be an issue for travel nurses. Homes for Heroes specialists will find the right type of home mortgage loan that meets your financial plan.
Deals for Healthcare Workers
You can save even more money through discounts offered by national stores and local businesses in your area. Local and national companies have partnered with Homes for Heroes to give you deals on anything from home inspections, home security systems, and moving specials to things like clothing and entertainment. Head over to our local deals page to see what savings we have for you!
Preparing You for the Home Buying Process
Get Pre-Approved
How much can you afford to spend on a house? Getting pre-approved for a home loan is essential before you seriously begin looking for a home. A lender will give you a pre-approval letter that states exactly how much money they will loan you on a home purchase. This letter differs from a pre-qualifying letter because a pre-approval letter is a commitment from the lender that you’ll get the loan as long as the information used to get the loan does not change.
The amount that you can borrow from a lender helps to guide your home search. Remember, though, that you do not need to spend the maximum amount that the lender approves. Instead, think about your lifestyle and financial goals. Ask yourself how much of your monthly budget you want going toward house payments. Do you need a new car soon? Are you thinking of going to graduate school? Understanding how much money you want to spend on your house will make house hunting more successful.
Do Your Research
Do you have an idea of where you want to live? When choosing a neighborhood, it is vital that it fits your lifestyle. For example, a trendy downtown neighborhood might fit perfectly for a young couple, but not work for a family with children. Some factors to think about when looking at a community are:
- location
- public transportation options
- commute to work and school
- schools
- shopping
- entertainment options
- parks
Your real estate specialist will be a fantastic source of information on different areas of your community. We recommend driving through areas that you’re interested in during different times of the day and week. This will allow you to see the neighborhood as it is at various times. Try driving the commute to your hospital or clinic to see if there is heavy traffic, tolls, or other obstacles you’ll need to know about.
Look at Properties
Once you’ve narrowed your search, it is time to start touring properties with your real estate agent. Don’t be afraid to look at a wide variety of housing options during your home search. This is where your trust in your real estate agent is key. It simply is not possible to look at every home that is on the market. Make a list of some must have along with some nice to have items and make sure your real estate agents knows what those are. This way, you can help them determine if a home on the market will fit your needs. It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed by the number of available properties. The housing market has also been particularly busy the last few years. The trick to finding your home is to not get discouraged and trust that your real estate agent is doing everything they can to get you the home of your dreams.
It’s also a good idea to take photos, videos, and notes of each property you look at. Home features tend to blend together after you’ve walked through a few. A picture of that fantastic kitchen sink will help you to remember the brick townhouse, for instance.
Make an Offer
Eventually, you’ll find your dream house and decide to make an offer. The offer and negotiation stage of purchasing a home is where using an experienced real estate professional gives you an advantage. Once your offer has been accepted, there are still some things that need to happen, like inspections and the closing. Your home mortgage specialist and real estate professional will be with you throughout this process as well, and can offer invaluable help and answers to your questions.
You work so hard every day as a registered nurse, dealing with patients and emergencies. You deserve to qualify for a home loan and have buying your house made simpler. Homes for Heroes affiliated real estate professionals and mortgage specialists are eager to help you every step of the way. Sign up today to start your journey to homeownership.
