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GuideIf you're a firefighter, EMS professional, law enforcement officer, active or veteran military member, healthcare worker, or teacher, Homes for Heroes can save you money when you buy or refinance a home, and you get Mindy's lender-side Hero savings just by financing with her, even without a separate Homes for Heroes real estate agent. Here's exactly how it works in Oregon, plus links to her Washington and Arizona guides.
By Mindy Hay, Senior Loan Officer & proud Homes for Heroes affiliate · NMLS #292224 · Updated September 2026
Homes for Heroes is a nationwide program that thanks community heroes with real savings on buying, selling, and financing a home. It works the same way in every state, including Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, by connecting heroes with affiliated professionals (like Mindy on the lending side) who give back a portion of their fees as Hero Rewards® savings.
The program is built for the people who serve their communities:
Serve your community in another role? Ask Mindy, she'll confirm whether you qualify.
From Portland Fire & Rescue to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and the departments across Clackamas and Washington County, firefighters and first responders qualify. Shift work, overtime, and second jobs can complicate a mortgage file, and that is exactly the kind of income Mindy documents every week.
Police officers, sheriff's deputies, corrections officers, and other law enforcement personnel serving the Portland metro, Southwest Washington, and communities statewide qualify for Hero Rewards savings.
Paramedics, EMTs, and emergency medical staff qualify. If your pay includes shift differentials or overtime, Mindy will make sure it is counted properly so you get credit for what you actually earn.
Active-duty service members and veterans qualify. Many pair their Hero savings with a VA loan for $0 down and no monthly mortgage insurance, which is often the strongest combination available. See our VA vs. conventional comparison.
Nurses, doctors, techs, and hospital and clinic staff across Kaiser Permanente, OHSU, Providence, Legacy, Adventist Health, Salem Health, and St. Charles in Bend qualify, along with the clinics, medical offices, urgent cares, and specialty practices throughout the region. Travel nurses and contract healthcare workers often have non-traditional income, and Mindy knows how to structure those files.
Teachers, administrators, and school staff qualify. Educators are frequently first-time buyers, so it is worth checking whether you can stack Hero savings with first-time buyer programs and down payment assistance.
There are two sides to Hero Rewards, and you don't need both to benefit:
The thing most people miss: you do not need a special Homes for Heroes real estate agent to get Mindy's lender-side savings. Bring your own agent, or none yet, and you still benefit.
Savings depend on your transaction, loan program, and home price. On the real estate side, Homes for Heroes clients receive an average Hero Reward of approximately $3,000, with the potential for even greater savings depending on the sales price of the home when working with a Homes for Heroes Real Estate Specialist/Affiliate. Mindy adds additional savings on the lending side.
Actual savings vary by transaction and are subject to Homes for Heroes program terms. The best way to know what your savings could look like is to connect with Mindy and your Homes for Heroes real estate professional for a personalized estimate.
Homes for Heroes savings are about who you are, not which loan you choose, so you can combine them with the right program for your situation:
Mindy Hay is a senior loan officer with Union Home Mortgage and a proud Homes for Heroes affiliate, helping heroes across Oregon (Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro, Bend and more), Washington (Vancouver and Southwest Washington), and Arizona (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and more). Because Homes for Heroes is a national program, the eligibility and savings work the same in all three states.
Reach out anyway. Homes for Heroes has affiliate lenders and real estate specialists across the country, and Mindy is happy to help you find the right people, including a Union Home Mortgage loan officer licensed in your state when one is available. That way you can still take advantage of your Hero savings and the right loan program, wherever you're headed. Call or text Mindy at (503) 312-3845.
Firefighters and first responders, EMS, law enforcement, active-duty military and veterans, healthcare professionals, and teachers typically qualify. Serve in another role? Ask Mindy, she'll confirm.
No. You get Mindy's lender-side Hero savings by financing with her, even if your agent isn't a Homes for Heroes affiliate. A participating agent simply stacks additional savings on top.
Savings depend on your transaction, loan program, and home price. On the real estate side, Homes for Heroes clients receive an average Hero Reward of approximately $3,000, with the potential for even greater savings depending on the sales price of the home when working with a Homes for Heroes Real Estate Specialist/Affiliate. Mindy adds additional savings on the lending side.
Actual savings vary by transaction and are subject to Homes for Heroes program terms. The best way to know what your savings could look like is to connect with Mindy and your Homes for Heroes real estate professional for a personalized estimate.
Often, yes, many military members and veterans pair a VA loan with Homes for Heroes savings.
Let Mindy know. Homes for Heroes has affiliate lenders and real estate specialists across the country. Mindy is happy to help connect you with the right people, including a Union Home Mortgage loan officer licensed in your state when one is available, so you can still take advantage of your Hero savings.
Find out what you qualify for, it's free to ask and there's no obligation.