Member Stories

Union Teacher Gets Sweet Deal from Union Plus Sweepstakes

December 22, 2016

One year into home ownership, Carrie Comer already knows the countless benefits to no longer renting. A longtime apartment-dweller, she bought her first home last year.

“It’s about security, peace of mind, safety, confidence,” said Comer, a member of AFT Local 1 in Chicago, Ill. “I have a son; for him, it’s stability. Home ownership means a lot.”

The sweetness of the security and stability just got a little sweeter for Comer, who was a second-place winner in the Union Plus Home Sweet Home contest.

Homeowners with a Union Plus Mortgage were eligible to win either a first-place prize of two monthly mortgage payments or a second-place prize of one monthly mortgage payment (up to $1500 each). Contestants simply needed to upload a photo of their homes and submit an essay explaining what home ownership means to them.

“I was on the Union Plus website looking for car rental discounts and just came about it, so I decided to apply,” Comer said. “The process was simple as far as uploading the picture and the statement was genuine about what being a homeowner means. It made it pretty easy.”

Perfect Timing

Comer, who teaches preschool special education, said the timing of the prize money was perfect.

“I’m a teacher, so we don’t get paid in the summer,” she said. “They allowed me to choose the month, but June was the perfect month.”

One payment may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but Comer said it goes a long way.

“It makes a huge difference, regardless of whether I was working in the summer or not,” she said. “There’s always something that can be done with extra money. I’m a homeowner now, so I’m finding projects; that’s what I’m going to put it toward. Everything helps in this economy.”

More Security, More Freedom

Comer was introduced to the Union Plus Mortgage program through her mortgage officer, who explained the program to her.

“The process of obtaining it was simple as far as getting someone to sign the paperwork verifying that I am a union member,” she said. “Moving forward, there wasn’t anything that hindered my ability to obtain it.”

That meant freedom from apartment living.

“I had some bad experiences with renting,” Comer said. “You don’t control who’s in your building; you can get a bad tenant below or above you. And I just didn’t feel safe anymore. There are so many more benefits to home ownership as opposed to renting.”

Moreover, the Union Plus Mortgage program meant additional peace of mind.

”My interest rate won’t change; it’s a fixed rate,” said Comer.

The Benefits of a Union Mortgage Program

The Union Plus Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, has provided $43.6 billion in mortgages to help more than 200,000 union members and their families buy or refinance a home. It is packed with special 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. Union members who are first-time buyers even have the opportunity to receive a $500 First-Time Home Award from Union Plus.

Some of the other benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage program include:

Hardship Assistance – 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 almost $10 million to help members keep their loans current and stay in their homes.
Award Card – Union members and their families may receive a $500 Wells Fargo My Mortgage GiftSM award card after closing on a purchase or refinance loan.*
Incentive for First-Time Home Buyers – Union members who are first-time buyers can apply for a $500 First-Time Home Award from Union Plus. Active or retired union members who used the Union Plus Mortgage program to purchase their first home are eligible to apply. They simply need to fill out an application and provide a short, written description of their Union Plus Mortgage program experience and why home ownership matters.

Click here to learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program >>

And if you have a home to buy or sell, look into Union Plus Real Estate Services, which provides discounts to union families, over 6,000 experienced, pre-screened agents nationwide, and even offers a cash-back rebate program, available in most states.

Your union and Union Plus are looking out for you.

*Eligible individuals can receive the Wells Fargo My Mortgage Gift^SM promotion in the amount of $500.00 approximately 6 weeks after closing on a new purchase or refinance loan secured by a first mortgage or deed of trust with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, subject to qualification, approval and closing, when identifying themselves as eligible under the Union Plus Mortgage program. The My Mortgage Gift^SM promotion is not available with any Wells Fargo Three-Step Refinance SYSTEM® program, The Relocation Mortgage Program^SM or the HOME program. Only one award permitted per new loan. This promotion cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount or rebate. This promotion is void where prohibited, transferable, and subject to change or cancellation with no prior notice. Gifts may constitute taxable income. Federal, state and local taxes, and any use of the gift not otherwise specified in the Terms and Conditions provided at receipt of gift are the sole responsibility of the My Mortgage Gift^SM recipient. Please see Terms and Conditions document for more information.