Naperville launches home discount program for 'heroes'

Workers in six professions often regarded as public servants - or even heroes - now can get a boost in their real estate transactions through a program that began Tuesday in Naperville.

Homes for Heroes involves a local mortgage company and a real estate brokerage partnering to offer discounts on lending fees, title closing fees and commission to police officers, firefighters, military members, reservists or veterans, health care workers, emergency medical professionals and teachers.

The Naperville location of First Centennial Mortgage and Inspire Realty Partners of Aurora are the leading businesses that recently became affiliates of Homes for Heroes, a Minnesota-based real estate company that formed to give back to first responders after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nearly 15 years ago.

"What we have here is a big 'thank you' program," said Glen Marino, branch manager of First Centennial in Naperville. "It's not about us, it's about them."

The program thanks those it considers heroes by offering them an average of $3,000 worth of discounts on the various steps of buying, selling or refinancing a home, Marino said.

The mortgage and real estate professionals involved say they want to offer these perks - even if many "hero" workers already could afford to buy a home without the discounts - because they've all experienced help from one or more of the heroic workers.

Inspire Realty broker Erik Ramirez has a 7-year-old daughter with special needs who was born prematurely, so he wants to honor the doctors and nurses at Loyola University Medical Center who saved her life, and others like them.

Inspire Realty owner and broker Mark Whittington is married to a teacher, and considers teaching a "selfless" profession worthy of additional praise.

And Marino says the program couldn't launch at a better time for police, who "aren't being respected and thanked" as they should.

Homes for Heroes offers one way to change that, they say.

First, workers in the "hero" fields who sign up at plainfieldheroes.com and work with a broker from Inspire Realty will receive 25 percent of the broker's commission back in a check.

"We're going to build our purpose around thanking these heroes who are underappreciated," Whittington said.

Then, First Centennial Mortgage will pay for the appraisal, which loan coordinator Benito Rosales Jr. said usually costs between $300 and $500. First Centennial also will work with title companies and lawyers to secure discounts on their services.

"It's great, especially when businesses step forward and find ways to say 'thank you,'" Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said.

"Hero" workers who aren't moving or refinancing still can find savings on services such as oil changes or carpet cleaning through a network of businesses that the Homes for Heroes local partners are establishing. Marino asked Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday to join the Inspire Heroes app by offering discounts on their services as well.

"When businesses come together to recognize the sacrifices these heroes make," Marshall said, "it's always a great thing."