PROGRAM OVERVIEW

We may not end the epidemic of homelessness among the veteran community, but can prevent it from happening in the future, one veteran at a time.

The Freedom Flippers First-Look Home Buyer Program is part of the USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP). Established in 2011, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.

Click Here to Qualify and Apply.

THE HOMES ELIGIBILITY APPLICATION PROCESS SELECTION PROCESS POST-DONATION REQUIREMENTS

THE HOMES

VAREP accepts bank-owned property donations from financial institutions in order to facilitate veteran homeownership. Renovations on the homes include but not limited to new flooring, paint and repairs so that they are “move in ready”. Blighted homes are revitalized into bright spots within the community. Our process creates jobs, produces responsible homeowners, and shows appreciation to our heroes – It’s a win for all!

Note: All home recipients need to keep in mind that, as a homeowner, the recipients will be responsible for home repairs that may arise while in the home. All recipients should take pride in homeownership and maintain the home in top condition.

ELIGIBILITY

If ALL of the listed items below apply to you, then you are eligible for the House-A-Vet program.

If a veteran (DD214 as proof of service). If dual veteran couples each veteran must have an honorable discharge in order to qualify.
If a servicemember, must prove active-duty statue in good standing.
If surviving spouse, must have proper documentation servicemember was killed while serving.
Cannot be a current home owner or mortgage holder. This includes any household member that would be residing in the home.
Must consent to credit history check. This is to establish baseline for future financial literacy education and counselling.
Must consent to criminal background check. Cannot have a felony criminal conviction. This includes all adult household members that would reside in the home.
Must have supporting documentation such as proof of income, VA paperwork, DD214 (member 2, 4, 7 or 8), Military ID and or government issued picture ID in order to process your application.
Must complete “House-A-Vet” Intake Application and home must be primary residence.
Must complete $99.00 online financial management and home buyer education classes (This class will be taken after applicant has been selected by VAREP).
All participants must have income for utilities, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, Homeowner Association (If applicable), living expenses, and savings account contribution.
All participants of the mortgage-free donation are required to participate in a three-year financial and homeownership mentoring/counseling program.
If you or a member of your immediate family (parents, spouse etc.) are employed by one of our donor, you may not be eligible for homes donated by that donor, and we ask for full disclosure of the employment in that case.

Note: Our program caters to all Honorably Discharged Veterans, servicemembers and surviving spouses regardless of the era you served, injury or lack of injury. As long as you meet the above qualifications, you qualify for our program.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Completing the application process does not guarantee you a home. We expect to receive thousands of applications for a small number of homes. Completing the application process will ensure you are in our system and notified when homes become available.

Servicemembers, veterans and surviving spouses can apply for a homes through the Housing-A-Vet Initiative.
Fill out Application Intake Package.
- The following supporting documents need to be provided with completed application intake package.
  - A copy of the DD214 (member 2, 4, 7, or 8) showing type of discharge.
  - If active duty - ID card, government issued picture ID, proof of all household income (SSDI, VA, Caregiver income, civilian income, CRSC etc.).
  - If active duty - ID card, government issued picture ID, proof of all household income (SSDI, VA, Caregiver income, civilian income, CRSC etc.).
  - Proof of income and savings.
  - Written Statement of your service, family (if applicable) and living situation. You may also include why you feel you are deserving this gift and what homeownership means to you. Keep written statement to no longer than 2 pages.
  - Fill out where you want to live (city and/or state). Indicate if you are will to relocate.
  - Fill out and sign Owner-Occupied Affidavit.
  - Sign Mortgage-free Hone Donation Disclosure.
- Once you have successfully completed your application, you will be notified by email every time a home is [or "becomes"] available in any of the areas where you want to live. To be considered for a home mentioned in the email and to move forward with the selection process, you must respond within 10 calendar days of the date the email was sent to you.

SELECTION PROCESS

A caseworker will be assigned to each available home and will review all applications for each home. The Caseworker will then submit the eligible applicants to a housing selection committee who will select the applicant that will be the recipient of the home.
Selection is made on a case-by-case basis and includes such factors as: financial situation, connection to the local community where the home is available, injury status, family size, etc. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks to get through all of the applications from the date the application process closes. If the Caseworker or committee needs anything further from you, they will contact you during that timeframe.
The committee will select three (3) applicants to be further vetted by the caseworker.
If you are selected as one of the three home recipient finalists, you will be required to do the following:
- Give us permission to pull your credit history.
- Consent to a criminal background check. We do not award homes to convicted felons.
- Provide three personal and three professional references.
- Participate in an interview with a member of the housing selection committee.
Once the final vetting is done by the case worker, the housing selection committee will award the home to the applicant that is the best fit for the home.
Note: We will only contact the family or veteran that is matched with the home. If you are not selected for a home, you will not be notified. We do not have the manpower to contact everyone who is not selected.
Once you are notified that you have been selected to receive the home, you will be required to take and 8-hour homeownership online education class. The cost is $99.00.

POST-DONATION REQUIREMENTS

Once awarded the home, the recipient must satisfy the post-donation requirements as follows:

A customized transition plan, which will include education and housing counseling, will be developed for each recipient.
Recipients must participate in financial counseling and any other activity required by their VAREP-assigned, HUD-approved housing counsellor for a maximum of three-years.
The deed will be transferred to the recipient within 90-days of the awarded date through an escrow process.

DEED RESTRICTION - A three-year deed restriction will be recorded on the title from the date of recordation as follows:

“The property must be used for providing housing to an active-military or veteran including family members for the first three years from the date of recordation. Additionally, Donee cannot financially encumber this property in any form of a lien for the first three years from the date of recordation. If the Donee attempts to circumvent these restriction by either not using the property for the purpose of by transferring title to another party for the first three years or financially encumbering the property in form of a lien from the date of recordation, then Donor has the right to retake title on the property. Donor has three years from recordation date to exercise their right to retake title if it is discovered that a violation of the deed restriction has occurred, otherwise the deed restriction will lapse, regardless if a violation of the restriction has occurred.”