The Local Real Estate Agent Who Is Going Above + Beyond The Call of Duty
Story by Alexandria Lindstrom | Photography by The Smiths Photography
Military personnel are incredibly sacrificial in so many ways. They serve and protect without question, taking on stressful assignments that continually put them at risk while losing time with their loved ones and moving across the country or world every few years as new orders dictate. Their families often make sacrifices alongside them, by starting over – sometimes from scratch – to establish new homes where the whole family can thrive and be happy. It can be difficult to understand if you’ve never been in the position, but for CENTURY 21 New Millennium Realtor Jennifer Hernandez, the struggle is one she has faced firsthand as the spouse of a 25-year veteran whose many moves caused countless challenges.
“Military families are unique and live in a culture separate from traditional norms, and the most obvious example of this distinct culture is the sacrifice military families make in moving around the world and building and rebuilding a base of support every two to three years.” - Jennifer
“Military families are unique and live in a culture separate from traditional norms, and the most obvious example of this distinct culture is the sacrifice military families make in moving around the world and building and rebuilding a base of support every two to three years,” said Hernandez, who became a real estate agent in 2009 after she and her family moved to Williamsburg. “I realized that I needed to learn how to buy and sell real estate, so I became a licensed agent,” Hernandez explained. “I decided I would always help military families find a suitable rental home or make an affordable purchase to ease the burden of housing.”
She knows housing is only one of many challenges, which makes her more passionate about her mission. “Moving is hard on kids in school, who struggle trying to adapt to new friends and different grading standards. Similarly, a spouse’s career is interrupted and can disrupt cash flows that support the family,” she said. “I want the families I work with to thrive or ‘bloom where they are planted.’ ”
Hernandez and her family experienced 16 permanent change of station, or PCS, moves in their own military career. “Each move required throwing out expensive cleaning products, plants, items in refrigerator. We also donated many items to keep under the weight allowance and dealt with many broken items along the way,” she said. “Whether you’re buying or renting at a new location, there is always a struggle to replace all the items along with making the necessary deposits to begin basic services, and when we made our final PCS move to the DMV area three years ago, I became fully engaged in real estate and knew I could help military families based on my own experiences.”
Having been a real estate agent for the past 10 years, Hernandez has helped countless families, going above and beyond the call of duty to not only help them find a home, but to help them thrive. “I help them find the right place based on their needs and negotiate a better deal, working tirelessly to successfully close the deal. I also help my military clients by giving them 20% of my commission at the closing table. This helps all my military clients and especially young families being able to get into a home, which could be the difference in finding closing cost assistance, since most sellers do not offer closing costs. Whether it is the actual PCS move, upcoming deployments, or anything else that results from a military lifestyle, having that additional cash can make all the difference,” she said. As a Realtor on a mission, Hernandez is definitely one with boots on the ground.
Jennifer Hernandez, CENTURY 21 New Millennium, is located at 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101. For more information, call 202-339-2511 or 703-556-4222. Visit her online at www.jenniferhernandez.com.