Fairway Independent Mortgage to Train Over 400 Real Estate Professionals at Tennessee Boot Camp Event on August 19

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, one of the country's largest mortgage companies, will train more than 400 Realtors® at an intensive "CMRS Boot Camp" event this week. As the nation struggles to provide housing opportunities for veterans, the mortgage company will conduct a CMRS Boot Camp which includes three hours of continuing education and earns the real estate professional the certification of Certified Military Residential Specialist.

Veterans face a number of challenges when seeking to buy a home. Fairway's training program is designed to equip real estate agents with special skills and knowledge so that they can better serve active military and veterans' specific needs. 

The press is invited to the following CMRS Boot on Tuesday, August 19 in Clarksville, TN at:

In addition to providing this CMRS training, Fairway has joined forces with Military Warriors Support Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting returning American military troops, to help sponsor a mortgage-free home to one of our nation's combat-wounded veterans. This sponsorship provides a three-year Family and Financial Mentorship Program for retired U.S. Army Specialist Marshall Stuart Lane and his family. Specialist Lane served in the U.S. Army for three years, from December 2010 to December 2013. While on deployment in Afghanistan he was wounded during combat operations and was the recipient of a Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Combat Medical Badge for performing medical duties simultaneously while being actively engaged by the enemy.

"Fairway is grateful to Specialist Lane for his service to our nation.  He is a true hero and we want to honor him for that service.  Through these events throughout the country, we are also hoping to inspire others to do whatever they can to give back to our wounded heroes," said Louise Thaxton, director of Fairway's American Warrior Initiative and the Military Mortgage Specialist Division.

Active duty and veteran service members often face an uphill battle when trying to buy a home, explained Fairway CEO Steve Jacobson. Research shows that veterans are more likely than the general population to face unemployment, poverty and homelessness.

The objective of the CMRS certification programs is to train and equip real estate professionals to handle with care the home purchase needs of active duty and former military clients, Jacobson said. This is one of the reasons that Fairway also has its own designation for mortgage professionals, the Military Mortgage Specialist (MMS) designation, which trains mortgage professionals on the specific challenges facing veterans when obtaining financing.  There will be an exclusive MMS training for Fairway employees seeking this designation following the event.   Since launching its CMRS and MMS Boot Camps two years ago, Fairway has trained over 3,000 mortgage and real estate professionals while sponsoring 22 mortgage-free homes to deserving military veterans.

"We need to find real solutions to the housing challenges our military men and women face," Thaxton said. "We've found over and over that education is critical. Our veterans face unique hurdles to homeownership, and we know the training we provide helps housing professionals become better equipped to help them."

Joining Fairway for the event is Sean Parnell, author of the NY Times best-selling book Outlaw Platoon, which details Parnell's experiences serving the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Parnell, a retired Army Ranger and Purple Heart recipient, is an advocate for Fairway's programs and plays an integral role in the Boot Camps and home-giveaway presentations. 

By the end of 2014, Fairway will have trained more than 600 mortgage professionals and 3,000 real estate agents, and will have sponsored a total of more than 25 home mortgage-free home giveaways.

Fairway Independent Mortgage is a proud supporter of the American military and has helped thousands of active military personnel and veterans nationwide with their home mortgage needs. Fairway employees have personally pledged several hundred thousand dollars in donations to help sponsor mortgage-free homes to veterans through their partnership with the non-profit, Military Warriors Support Foundation's Homes 4 Wounded Heroes program.

Real estate professionals interested in attending one of the Certified Military Residential Specialist Boot Camps can contact [email protected].

About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage banker headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company has 175 locations and approximately 1,700 employees nationwide. The corporate vision is to foster relationships and create a team atmosphere, empowering offices to operate autonomously in their day-to-day operations, while still maintaining strict compliance and consistency across the board. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation provides all necessary support in the areas of personnel, accounting and compliance. For more information, please visit www.FairwayIndependentMC.com.

About Military Warriors Support Foundation

Military Warriors Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, founded by (Ret) Lieutenant General, Leroy Sisco, in 2007. Our Mission is to provide support for our nation's wounded heroes and Gold Star Families as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life. This is a very fragile time for these heroes, and their families, and it is our goal to provide programs that facilitate a smooth and successful transition. Our programs focus on housing and homeownership, employment, as well as recreational activities and travel assistance.

MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Mary McGarity 
Strategic Vantage Mortgage Public Relations 
(203) 513-2721 
[email protected]

Mike Murray 
Strategic Vantage Mortgage Public Relations 
(240) 498-0863
[email protected]

SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation