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Former Marine Corporal Jeff Landay understands how to face a challenge and persevere. During a tour in Iraq, an IED explosion ripped through his Humvee. While Jeff managed to grab the wheel and steer to safety, his injuries would ultimately end his distinguished military career.
Doctors were forced to remove a large section of Jeff’s skull in order to relieve the dangerous swelling in his brain. The respected soldier and owner of three Purple Hearts returned home to California to begin his rehab. With his Marine Corps service complete, Jeff bought a four-bedroom house and began the next chapter of his life.
A first-time homebuyer, Jeff’s new home provided plenty of space for his service dog, Layla, a red-nosed Pitbull. His new home was a much-needed sanctuary. It represented a break from the chaos he experienced in the military and was a safe space to call his very own.
Since purchasing the property, Jeff has started renting to other retired military veterans in need of a safe and comfortable place to live. The living room serves as the gathering place for Jeff and his roommates, whom Jeff fondly calls his “family.”
Like any real family, there’s plenty of growing pains – especially when two retired Marines live with a Navy vet. Jeff and his roommates aren’t discriminatory about military branches, but that doesn’t mean they don’t razz on the lone Navy roomie. It’s all in good fun.
Since purchasing his home, Jeff’s health is improving, and he considers his transition to civilian life a success. Layla is no longer a pup. At 13-years-old, she’s still as vibrant and friendly as ever, though she has more gray whiskers.
The home has aged, too. Jeff decided it was time to make substantial updates and improvements to his property. He was eager to begin installing new flooring. The living room needed new furniture, and the washer and dryer needed an upgrade to keep up with the demand of two additional adult roommates (and the occasional doggy bed). He considered his financing options and chose a VA refinance loan.
As Jeff began the loan process, he had no idea a new emotional journey was about to begin.
The Battle for a Home Consolidation Loan Begins
Through the VA refinance loan, Jeff sought to simplify his debt payments. Instead of paying off multiple loans of varying interest rates to multiple sources, this VA-backed home consolidation loan bundles multiple loan payments into one single loan that is tied to the home’s equity. In addition, Jeff wanted to change his adjustable-rate mortgage loan (ARM) into a 30-year fixed-rate loan to lock in a low interest rate through the life of his new loan.
Jeff first sought a home consolidation loan with three large national banks. The experience wasn’t positive. Jeff didn’t like feeling as if he was one of a million other daily transactions.
As a combat vet, Jeff desired to work alongside somebody he could rely on, an expert who would educate him and support him throughout the entire process. The big banks were impersonal and included too many loopholes. The process was complex and dragged on with seemingly no end.
Jeff had the equity he needed, yet it began to look like a home consolidation loan wasn’t possible. The new flooring would have to wait, indefinitely. To make matters worse, he suddenly found himself with a bill for $10,000 worth of termite damage caused by a negligent home inspection.
A Personal Advocate Offers a New Path to Success
Donna Muzzi Delno is a senior mortgage loan officer with Evergreen Home Loans in Roseville, CA. Donna connected with Jeff through his sister and began assessing the details of Jeff’s loan request.
Donna was diligent and attentive. She remained committed to finding a solution. This personal focus proved critical when Donna helped Jeff secure a $20,000 grant to pay off his termite repairs.
Donna wasn’t the only home loan expert on Jeff’s team. She had support from the entire Evergreen Home Loans network, including Donna’s trusted loan processor, Kristen Henderson. Together, Donna and her colleagues rolled up their sleeves to solve the ongoing issues with Jeff’s original home loan consolidation attempts. “Jeff is my hero,” says Donna. “I was more than happy to help him navigate the unexpected twists and turns of his loan request.”
When Jeff received news that his loan was approved, a wave of relief hit him. He describes it as a moment of “true sincerity.” For the former combat Marine, success meant he could refocus on the things that mattered most, including his health and continued recovery.
Jeff’s new consolidated, fixed-rate loan saves him $661 a month. His credit has been boosted by 60 points. Donna even discovered that Jeff’s bank owed him $2,500, which she helped Jeff retrieve. He immediately purchased a washer and dryer, with additional upgrades on the horizon. Jeff’s renters couldn’t be happier.
