Submitted by: 2roofs
We have big news. By now you may have heard that the Whatcom County real estate market is on the rise. For most local home owners this is welcome news. Having taken a hit in home equity over the past decade, most are making up their losses and then some. In certain places prices have escalated by 10 percent or more in the last year alone. With more potential buyers than inventory, new listings are sometimes receiving multiple offers well over the asking price.
Is that the big news? Not exactly. In the wake of a booming market many locals are being left in the dust. For many, buying a home in this market is difficult. Rents are also keeping pace with the growth. For example, a recent search on Craigslist for three bedroom and two bath rental homes in Bellingham turned up only five available homes with a median monthly rental price of $2150. For many, finding a place to live with rents this high and inventory this low is incredibly daunting or even completely out of reach.
So how does a community like ours bridge this growing divide? Local nonprofits are working hard at solutions, but are often under funded. Local leaders like Habitat for Humanity, Lydia Place, Lighthouse Mission and Opportunity Council are doing everything they can with tight budgets and huge hearts, offering shelter or affordable housing services to our increasing amount of neighbors who are having to sleep outside, in a car or on a couch.
The big news is that there are local businesses stepping up with creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis. Social enterprise is entering the Whatcom County real estate market.
At the helm of this movement is the 2roofs team of Windermere. Sean Hall and Rob Weston, two local Realtors, have a unique concept. With every home you buy or sell with 2roofs as your Realtor, they give a portion of their commission to help house a person in need at no additional cost. They do this by giving 10% of their gross commission from each sale through their 2roofs giving program. They double their pledge to 20 percent when a nonprofit sends a buyer or seller from their network to 2roofs. These gifts can be up to several thousand dollars each, all of which comes from their portion of the sale, the commission. There is no extra cost to their clients.
In 2016 2roofs was able to help house over 100 people in need through these partner nonprofits. They supported all of the local nonprofits mentioned above and many others. They donated to several new affordable home builds and even helped finish a children’s hospital in Guatemala. “We believe local dollars from local Realtors could meet the need for local affordable housing,” says Sean Hall of 2roofs.
Before becoming a Realtor, Sean worked in the nonprofit sector as both a local pastor and a community developer. Here is where he first got inspired to create new sustainable funding streams for nonprofits. He then went to grad school to study Social Business.
Rob Weston, the cofounder of 2roofs, has been a Realtor for over twenty years. 2roofs’ goal is to double their impact in 2017. They have already inspired several other Realtors to begin offering a way of giving back. “We are excited to know 2roofs is changing the industry. This is what we set out to do and it’s happening,” says Rob.
When you choose 2roofs as your Realtor Sean and Rob work hard to help you feel the meaning behind your sale. They give their 2roofs clients a hard cover, keepsake book featuring the story of the person their sale helped.
How can you help? “It’s simple. Choose to work with a Realtor who will give back out of every sale,” says Sean. “Let your sale be part of the solution. It’s a local solution to a local problem – a roof for a roof. Plus, you will love what it feels like to know you changed someone’s life.”
Visit 2roofs online. Call 360-296-7212 for a complimentary Home Equity Report
