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July 2023 » thefivestar.com 47 July 2023 S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T the servicer on the east coast. So we offered to return the following Monday to help her. Both of us live at least an hour from where she was. But it didn't cross our minds at the time. Going Above and Beyond O n Monday, we arrived and called the ser- vicer. We asked to speak with a supervi- sor, and the homeowner gave them verbal authorization for us to join her on the call. The supervisor advised us on the amount due, and where it needed to be sent. Because the homeowner does not drive, we offered to drive her to her local bank to obtain the certified funds and then to the Post Office to mail by Priority Mail with a tracking number. In fact, at the bank, we discovered that the homeowner had an expired license. The bank would not issue a check for more than $3,000. We immediately brought in the su- pervisor and emphasized that the homeown- er was at risk of losing her home if the funds weren't mailed immediately. Fortunately, the supervisor then agreed to cut two checks for the total amount. After all of this, the grateful homeowner asked me what we charged for this service. I told her nothing. I only asked her to refer us to her neighbors and remember us if and when the time came for her to sell. I also told her I would keep in touch and remind to make her next property tax payment." Foreclosure Is a Tool of Last Resort T he NRBA strongly believes that foreclo- sure is a tool, not a predatory act. Most lenders and servicers manage their default processes with discretion and compassion. We know that most agents and brokers, es- pecially NRBA brokers, spend as much time helping homeowners who might be past due with their payments to stay in their homes, rather than seeking their evictions. And when there's no other option but foreclosure, our members work hard to help relocate the displaced and set them on the road to becom- ing homeowners again. That's why when we say "We're good at what we do, and we're better at doing good," it's more than an ad message to us. It's a way of life. To find an NRBA broker like John and Sandy, go to nrba.com. "After all of this, the grateful homeowner asked me what we charged for this service. I told her nothing. I only asked her to refer us to her neighbors and remember us if and when the time came for her to sell. I also told her I would keep in touch and remind her to make her next property tax payment." — John Costigan and Sandy Miller, San Diego-area NRBA brokers