Metro Brokers/GMAC Real Estate is gearing up to build its second
Habitat house in College Park. The blitz build, constructing
a home in one week, will take place at Faith Cove near Godby
Road beginning Saturday, Oct. 9, with an official ribbon cutting
ceremony at the end of the week for Kim Belechor, a single mother
of two teenage boys and a girl.
Agents from each of Metro Brokers 18 metro Atlanta offices,
including the Peachtree City location, lend their time, money
and sweat to build the Habitat homes. Associates of all ages
hammer, caulk, paint, lay sod, and plant. There is something
for everyone, whether it’s sweeping, giving out water, cooking,
cleaning, giving out T-shirts, or overseeing first aid.
“Associates get so excited about working on the Habitat
house because they are used to selling homes, not building them,” laughed
Kevin Levent, president and CEO. “I enjoyed seeing everyone
on the job site chipping in and having fun in the process.”
“Marsha Wells of the Peachtree City office really deserves
a lot of the credit,” said Levent. “She is instrumental
in making our Habitat house a reality. She helps raise more than
$40,000 to build the homes each year and meets with builders,
agents and Habitat for Humanity staff on a regular basis to ensure
the project stays on schedule. Plus, many associates continually
make financial contributions. Even just $10 a month makes a difference.”
Families must invest 400 “sweat equity” hours on other
Habitat homes before being considered for a house of their own.
Habitat homeowners are also chosen on the basis of housing need
and their ability to repay the no-interest, no-profit mortgage.
Brenda Rayburn, Executive Director of Southern Crescent Habitat
for Humanity, said, “it is a hand up, not a hand out.”
“Metro Brokers and Habitat for Humanity has made my dreams
of home ownership a reality,” said Maria Otero Ingram, Metro
Brokers’ first Habitat recipient. “I believe my home
is even more special because it is built with love. These volunteers
helped me out of the kindness of their hearts and it means the
world to me.”
Metro Brokers/GMAC Real Estate is a full service real estate
company offering a wide range of real estate services including
residential and commercial sales; pre- and post-license training;
corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and insurance,
mortgage and title/closing services.
Metro Brokers/GMAC Real Estate promotes employee volunteerism.
Habitat for Humanity is just one of the many community projects
sales associates are involved in. Just a few of the projects
associates volunteer for include: Meals on Wheels; the Peachtree
Road Race; revitalizing older neighborhoods; missions to third
world countries; and donating school supplies to children in
need.
“We can’t wait to get started on the construction
of the Habitat house again this year,” exclaimed Marsha
Wells and Kay Fulp of the Peachtree City office. “Many of
the associates in our office have cleared their schedule to donate
their time. Volunteering is such a rewarding and invaluable experience.”
