Union Plus
Member Stories

A House Becomes a Home for CSEA Member

What makes a house a home? It helps to know it’s really yours!

A House Becomes a Home for CSEA Member

Sandra Willing of La Puente, Calif., and California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 133, rented a house for six years. But now it finally belongs to her and her husband, Richard, and thanks to the Union Plus Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

The house was Richard’s mother’s house...We rented it from her all those years, and that was fine, but we really wanted to buy it. Finally, she decided to sell it to us. You really want to have something that’s yours.

Finding a house to buy is one thing. Choosing a mortgage is another — and it’s a very important decision. "Our bank mentioned that Union Plus has a great program for union members," Sandra says, "so we decided to look into it."

It wasn’t just Sandra’s union membership that made the Willings eligible for a union mortgage—Richard is a CSEA member, too. Together, they made a smart choice, because a union mortgage means much more than just getting a great rate.
 
It also means protection in the event of strike, lockout, layoff or disability.

"Everything went great with the mortgage process," Sandra says. "Union Plus and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage make it easy."

Now came the hard part: making the house feel like home. “Of course, we had done plenty of work on the house in the last six years, but now that we own it we really felt like it was time to make some changes,” Sandra says.
 
For the Willings, it’s the same address but a whole new feeling — the feeling of home ownership.
That means a sense of pride, accomplishment and excitement. "Thanks to the Union Plus Mortgage program my husband and I have a house!" Sandra says.

The Union Plus Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, has provided over $40 billion in mortgages to help more than 260,000 union members and their families buy or refinance a home. It is packed with unique benefits tailored to meet the needs of active or retired union members, as well as their parents and children, who want to buy or refinance a home.

Some of the Other Benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage Program Include:

Hardship Assistance1 Union Plus Mortgage Assistance helps members and their families who are unemployed, recently disabled, on strike, or locked out make their mortgage payments with interest-free loans and grants. Mortgage Assistance has provided more than $11 million to help members keep their loans current and stay in their homes.

Award Card – Union members and their families receive a Wells Fargo My Mortgage GiftSM award card after closing on a purchase or refinance loan.2

The Union Plus® Mortgage Assistance Program is 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 The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program page unionplus.org/hardship-help/mortgage-assistance. 

Home equity financing is not eligible for the benefits of this program. Union Plus® is a registered trademark of Union Privilege.

Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. 

Eligible individuals can receive the Wells Fargo My Mortgage GiftSM award approximately 6 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, when identifying themselves as eligible. The My Mortgage GiftSM award is not available with any Wells Fargo Three-Step Refinance SYSTEM® program, The Relocation Mortgage Program® or to any Wells Fargo team member.  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 for yourFirstMortgageSM. 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 provided at receipt of award are the sole responsibility of the My Mortgage GiftSM recipient. 

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

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

© 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 7/16