"The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be."
--- Isaac Asimov

Mike Duermyer
Broker/Owner

If you are a Vet, welcome home brother or sister, and thank you for your service. Things here at home may seem a little different than when you left. We are seeing a little unrest with "Occupy Wall Street" protests throughout the country. But not the kind of unrest of the late '60s and early '70s that I still vividly recall. I know that the war protests helped end the Vietnam war. Nothing like that has brought the Vets in Iraq back for Christmas this year. Instead, there is just one man to thank for that, and that is your Commander-in-Chief, President Obama.

Sometimes, I get asked by returning Vets about what I did after my enlistment in the Marines was up in 1970. I met and married Sue, our other broker here at BuyHUDVA, a few months earlier. In 1970 Sue was a teacher. I tried to find work in my primary MOS in the Marines, but jobs were scarce so I went back to school. Returning Vets may find a similar situation awaits them now.

But, I can't recommend a better course of action for Vets today than to further their education. Take advantage of your educational benefit. Even if you are unsure of what you want to do or think you are not cut out for college, you can do what I did -- apply to a local community college to help discover what field of study might eventually interest you.

BuyHUDVA -- What's behind the name?

Our name reflects the types of homes we sell -- homes owned by HUD, our government's Department of Housing and Urban Development, and VA, or Veteran's Administration (now "Department of Veterans Affairs"). So say "BUY-HUD-V-A" which has four syllables, and not BUY-HUD-VA which has three syllables.

Now we sell all types of properties, but still mostly HUD owned. We get our lists of properties from the owners and their assigned agents from public postings. We make every attempt to keep this list current, and it usually is, but of course, since the information comes from many sources, we must rely on the quality of internet connections, data systems, and the quality of input provided by mere mortals.

Our primary clients have been buyers, eager to find a good deal. However, we also serve home owners who need to sell their home. We do not, however, finance or purchase homes for ourselves or others. We can recommend some highly professional mortgage providers who do provide financing and specialize in financing HUD or other government owned properties. They can also help you with any type of financing such as VA or FHA loans.

I used the GI Bill to full advantage. After graduate work I joined the civilian workforce with the Department of Defense; first, for the Army in the '70s, the Navy in the '80s, and the Air Force in the '90s. The government employs many thousands of military and civilians, and I have either trained thousands of them directly as an instructor or indirectly through the training programs I have worked on over the years. I have held some rewarding positions in both public and private sectors. Aside from marrying Sue, and my time with the Marines, taking advantage of the GI Bill to further my education had the most impact on my life, making it all possible.

In 2001, the company I worked at eliminated many jobs and moved others off-shore, leaving me without work. This became a common theme over the last decade. Sue and I decided to look at real estate for self employement. It was a good choice for us. We created BuyHUDVA. Returning Vets might find that they have to be creative as well. Find a need and fill it. If you want job security, do not work in positions easily done with lower-paid workers from some other part of the world. We found real estate to fit the bill. I am sure many of the 9/11 generation will too. As a licensed Texas real estate sales person, you can work as a self-employed, independent contractor, sponsored by a real estate brokerage such as BuyHUDVA. After working a few years at it, you may want to start your own brokerage.

Sue and I would be happy to talk with anyone considering joining our brokerage or network of Realtors. More information about obtaining a license in Texas can be found at the Texas Real Estate Commission web site. You can also email us and tell us about yourself. No matter who you are or what you do, we thank you for visiting with us. If you need a Realtor, we are ready to help!