The Chicago Association of REALTORS has added the newly-formed Chicago chapter of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) to its Industry Partners program.
VAREP initially held an exploratory meeting at the C.A.R headquarters earlier this year in February and has since officially launched its local chapter.
VAREP aims to provide a space where real estate and financial service professionals can share ideas, get education and be empowered to better serve the real estate needs of service members, veterans and their families. The organization is dedicated to increasing sustainable home-ownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.
According to C.A.R, Illinois has the tenth largest veteran population in the United States, with more than 700,000 veterans. Of those, 54,707 are women veterans and by 2035, that group is expected to grow by 15 percent. Seventy-five percent of all Illinois veterans are considered wartime or “combat” veterans.
The Chicago Association of REALTORS said it will also offer REALTORS Real Estate School Pre-Licensing Scholarships to 100 veterans to help them begin a new career in real estate.
