Union Plus
Member Stories

AFSCME family finds the perfect home and mortgage

AFSCME member, Audrey First, found her family the perfect home with the Union Plus Mortgage.

AFSCME family finds the perfect home and mortgage

Audrey First loves where she lives.

"It's a really nice, calm neighborhood, close to everything without being in the middle of the city," she says.

First and her husband Jesse, a member of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11 (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees), bought a house in Mansfield, Ohio a few years ago. It's a great place to raise their young daughter, and it's not far from Jesse’s job is a correctional officer.

The Firsts were able to buy their house through the Union Plus Mortgage Program. With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

First said the Wells Fargo loan officer made the whole mortgage process hassle-free.

"He led us through everything and made sure everybody was on the same page," she says. "That was really helpful."

The couple soon found out there are a number of benefits to the Union Plus Mortgage Program. They received a $500 gift card after closing which helped them to buy items they needed to settle in1.

"We used it to buy the stuff you need to make a house look like a house," First says.

The Firsts also liked the security behind the Union Plus Mortgage Program. All Union Plus mortgages include access to the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program2, which provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike.

The family relies on Jesse's salary to pay a lot of the bills. First says it's a relief to know they can receive assistance if something were to happen to his job.

"I tell all of the people Jesse's working with that mention buying a house that they should look into the Union Plus Mortgage Program," First says.

1Eligible individuals will be sent redemption instructions for the My Mortgage GiftSM award approximately 2 weeks after closing on a new purchase or refinance loan secured by an eligible first mortgage or deed of trust with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (“New Loan”), subject to qualification, approval and closing. The My Mortgage Gift award is not available with The Relocation Mortgage Program® or with any Wells Fargo employee mortgage offer. Only one My Mortgage Gift award is permitted per eligible New Loan. This award cannot be combined with any other award, discount or rebate, except as described in the Terms and Conditions. This award is void where prohibited, transferable, and subject to change or cancellation with no prior notice. Awards may constitute taxable income. Federal, state, and local taxes, and any use of the award not otherwise specified in the Terms and Conditions (available at wellsfargo.com/mymortgageterms and provided at receipt of award) are the sole responsibility of the My Mortgage Gift recipient.

2The Union Plus® Mortgage Assistance Program and Veteran’s Grant are provided and administered through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan (“The Plan”), which is not affiliated with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Additional information about this program and eligibility criteria can be obtained at unionplus.org/assistance.

Union Plus® is a registered trademark of Union Privilege.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for providing agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit your home financing needs.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

© 2020 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801 Equal Housing Lender