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Agents Helping to Build Homes

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty of California, Inc. CA DRE #01490977

 Real estate agents around the country participate in different ways to give back to their communities, either as individuals or as a group.

I'm proud to be a member of our Southern California Chapter of the CRS (Council of Residential Specialists), in part because of the great learning and networking that occurs at our quarterly membership meeting, but also through our fund raising.

Part of the mission of the national CRS organization is community service, and the local chapters can choose what they wish. Our chapter, known as SoCalCRS, has chosen to support Habitat for Humanity for the last several years and in 2006 was awarded the Chapter with a Heart for our fund raising efforts.

As many of you know, Habitat for Humanity's mission is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the world and to provide housing for those in need through the rehabilitation or building of simple, decent homes using donations of building materials, funds, and labor. Our chapter has raised thousands of dollars in the last few years which go to support local chapters, such as in Los Angeles and in Temecula.

 At our meeting this Friday, October 5 in Temecula, we will again raise funds to support Habitat through a live auctionof several great prizes, and a raffle. I know a number of Southern California Rainers have your CRS and some are also members of the local Chapter (Marlene Bridges, Lynda Eisenmann, new blogger Emily Link [our Chapter President for 2007], Heidi Franklin, Kathleen Barnato, Rich Lombari); hope to see you at the meeting.

I'm curious about community service activities that others are involved in, either on your own or in conjunction with you brokerage or local board. It's important for consumers to see that we are not only involved in helping folks buy and sell, but are, in many different ways, actively contributing to the betterment of our communities.

So let's hear from a few of you!

Posted by

Jeff Dowler, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist / Realtor®


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Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
Our local CRS Chapter is doing a fundraiser for the Children's Shriner's Hospital in Honolulu.
Oct 01, 2007 10:14 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Our board in Ann Arbor, built two houses the last 2 years for Habitat.
Oct 01, 2007 10:58 PM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Jeff - The best thing about these projects is the feeling of making a difference.  You are on a high for days.  I work with the local People - to People chapter.  
Oct 01, 2007 11:57 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Cool, Randy. Thanks for sharing, and such a worthy cause.

Missy -it seems we are not alone. I know of a number of boards who are doing this as well.

Maureen - That is so true. What a neat thing to do. And these things really don't take that much time, but makes such a difference.

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 01:14 AM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
Jeff- Thanks so much for this wonderful article.  It's great to learn more about what others are doing to better their communities.  Thanks for agreeing to serve as our CRS Treasurer for 2008.  You've done an extraordinary job as our Area VP for San Diego this year!
Oct 02, 2007 03:40 AM
Paul Durry
Collateral Specialist Inc - Lawton, OK
Former Broker Associate, CDPE, CIAS, CHMS
Jeff, the local board here have been sponsoring a yearly Blitz Build, where we build a home in one week. We do this with the assistance of the local Habitat For Humanity organization, Fire Department, local home builders association, we even took part this year in with ABC's  Extreme Home Makeover. I also am on the boards Area Beautification committee. I also began involved in a local project called The Friends of the Trail.
Oct 02, 2007 04:13 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

 

Jeff, even though Habitat for Humanity's is a great program, I have never been involved in it.  But I have been involved in Christmas in April which is an effort to revitalize houses owned by elderly people or people who are experiencing troubled times and can not afford to make the necessary repairs to their home.  It is held on the Last Saturday in April Nationwide and involves hundreds of people in each community.

 

Oct 02, 2007 06:57 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks, Marlene. It should be fun. Hope I am worthy of the task! :)

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 07:14 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Paul - that is so cool. I'm impressed! Thanks for letting us know about your community service.

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 07:15 AM
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC
I sit on the Board for our local Habitat affiliate and our office participates in at least one house per year.  Hoping to do a house with Wells Fargo next year!  We're also launching a program similar to what George mentioned, called a Brush with Kindness, where we'll go in and upfit homes for elderly or disadvantaged folks who don't have the resources to maintain their current homes.  Exciting stuff.  I want to see more agents actively involved in giving back-our communities provide our livelihoods, after all. =)
Oct 02, 2007 07:29 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

George - I have heard of that program but don;t really know much about it. What a neat, and valuable, service to offer. Thanks for letting us know about this.

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 07:31 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Leigh - that is so cool. You are such an inspiration. Good luck with the new program - keep us posted on how that goes.

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 07:32 AM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174
I was just over at Sally's blog talking about not taking anymore classes for designations and realize now, I only have two classes left for my CRS. Now, a decision to make! Realtors helping their community - now that should be news!
Oct 02, 2007 03:30 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Paula - cool. Get it done! Come out here to California and take a class - you can expense the trip and visit! I don't think enough gets publicized about all that agents do for the community in some cases.

Jeff

Oct 02, 2007 03:54 PM