WHER Chat: Veteran-Owned & Women-Owned Businesses

WHER Chat: Veteran-Owned & Women-Owned Businesses

In honor of V-J Day, commemorating the end of World War II and the bravery of our veteran soldiers, NDILC member Erica Courtney, President of 2020vet and Zulu Time, U.S. Army Aviation, Major NATO Gender Advisor, highlights serious resource shortfalls for America’s women veterans face as entrepreneurs that the nation must be prepared to face in the near future in our 2020 NAWRB WHER, Volume III: Business Ownership.

Veteran women entrepreneurs possess traits that make them ideal business owners. Due to military training and knowledge, veterans are dependable, conditioned to make hard decisions, have integrity, take initiative and can adapt easily to challenging and evolving situations—all characteristics of a successful business owner. These women may see entrepreneurship as a means to prosper on their own terms by being their own boss.

This is a great time to be a woman veteran entrepreneur as we are the fastest-growing segment within the entrepreneurship community increasing by an astonishing 296 percent since 2007. Some of the reasons include a slight increase in women veterans; they are building businesses out of necessity; 40 percent of veterans are going into business for themselves as compared to the 10 percent Vietnam era entrepreneurs; more veterans have disability ratings than in wars past due to technology and better equipment; recent positive legislative changes; demand for third party corporate certification; and more available resources in terms of capital, education, and counseling.

It is important to note that despite the hurdles, veteran business owners have proven to be twice as successful in terms of revenue and business longevity, are twice as likely to hire other veterans, and contribute over $1.14T in sales receipts, $195B in annual payroll and employ over 5.03M employees. In 2012, veteran women-owned businesses were responsible for nearly 20 billion in receipts – an increase of 26.3 percent since 2007.

Veteran women continue to serve the United States by reinvesting and devoting themselves to the future, not through military service but through entrepreneurship. They are no stranger to hurdles and overcoming barriers as many dealt with this routinely while serving in a male-dominated profession. They are strong, smart, and driven, but we must understand specific challenges they face so we can help them be successful. 

Through entrepreneurship, many of the issues the community faces subside. Instead of masking the problem through medication prescribed at record rates, healthcare systems trying to keep up with a new demographic, and job placement programs in which the majority of veterans quit by year two, let’s put our efforts towards something that is working. It is not only a moral imperative that we take care of them but an economic one as well.

Find out more about NAWRB and how you can get involved and be a partner here!

About 2020 NAWRB WHER

The NAWRB Women Housing Ecosystem Report (WHER), our annual research report, provides the vision to revitalize communication and partnerships between industries as we work together to form mindful strategic solutions for social impact with a gender lens achievement. The 2020 NAWRB WHER includes the most diverse coverage of the Housing Ecosystem with almost eighty resources in six volumes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Real Estate; Business Ownership; STEM; Access to Capital; and Aging Population. While waiting for the release of 2020 WHER, order a copy of the 2019 NAWRB WHER here!

 

Least & Most Challenging Markets for First-Time Homebuyers

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Recent data by Zillow reveals that first-time homebuyers make up 46 percent of all homebuyers in the nation. They face greater challenges than those who have previously purchased homes as they are more likely to surpass their budget. Zillow makes it easier for those looking to find an affordable first home by listing the least challenging and most challenging housing markets, which will help inform them on the best place to make their investment.

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Combatting Gentrification in The City by the Bay

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Coming in as the seventh most expensive city in which to buy a home, according to Coldwell Banker’s Real Estate Home Listing Report, San Francisco—where the average cost of a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house is $1,672,100 and the median household income is $78,378—is home to a housing market that has unabashedly driven out long-time residents and businesses with its skyrocketing property prices.

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7 Financial Tips to Help Prepare for a Natural Disaster

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In recognition of National Preparedness Month, it is crucial to prepare yourself and your home for the unexpected. The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) is reminding Americans about the importance of getting their financial affairs in order and offer tips to help them prepare before a natural disaster strikes.

“Having access to pertinent documents and emergency funds is critical in the days and weeks following a natural disaster,” says ICBA Chairman Rebeca Romero Rainey. “Devising a strategy ahead of time can help alleviate victims from undue pressure during an incredibly stressful time. Doing so will also help minimize financial uncertainty, and limit the long-term impacts from damaged, destroyed or lost financial documents.”

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What is the Future of U.S. Housing?

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It is no secret that foreign buying activity in American real estate has been vigorous in recent years, with billions of foreign dollars rushing into the market. The diversification and protection of wealth is a major factor in these purchases, driven by calculated investment decisions and often coerced by unpredictable economies overseas. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that between April 2015 and March 2016, foreign buyers spent $102.6 billion on residential properties in the U.S. Despite this gargantuan figure, it is amazingly 1.3 percent lower in dollar volume from the previous year.

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The Buying Power of Asian Americans

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The housing market has been turbulent for the past decade, but 2016 has started with a positive trend. According to the Nationwide Economics’ Health of Housing Markets (HoHM) Report, the Leading Index of Healthy Housing Markets (LIHHM) for the third quarter of 2015 was higher than 100, their neutral number, and this typically designates a healthy market. The report also confirms that the Metropolitan Statistical Areas’ (MSA) LIHHM performance has been improving since 2012. Continue reading

House Flipping in the United States

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Indicative of a competitive housing market with stable demand, house flipping is a practice with a lasting effect throughout the country. According to Business Insider (BI), despite comprising a steady amount of all home sales, the current national flip rate of 5 percent is comparable to non-housing bubble years and significantly lower than the 8.6 percent rate of 2006. Continue reading

Drones: An Exciting New Tool for Real Estate Professionals, and One Full of Risk

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The Landy Insurance Agency is a NAWRB strategic partner and steadfast supporter of our mission to provide women and women-owned businesses the tools and awareness for growth and success. Dedicated to providing their clients with the utmost service, Landy is experienced in recognizing pertinent industry issues, developments and initiatives. One of the newest topics Landy is working to address is the use of drone technology in the real estate industry. Discover the ways in which drones are changing the industry and what you can do to protect your business when utilizing today’s latest technology.

Drone technology may be more than a fad but rather, an exciting new tool for many real estate professionals to survey, assess and show properties. Laws around drone use are still in developmental stages, if in existence at all. Similarly, drone usage in real estate is new and untested. What is clear is that real estate professionals can put themselves at risk through the use of drones, and the insurance industry has not yet formulated a cohesive response to coverage. Therefore, current policy coverages and exclusions will need to suffice until drone usage is more specifically addressed in E&O and General Liability policies. Continue reading