Hidden Gems: Meet Julie Neira of Julie Helps Veterans

Hi Julie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
As I share my story, my only hope is it will inspire others to take that big leap of FAITH. I was in sales at Ashley Furniture Homestore making a good living by all standards, and after 4 years of employment I was in need of surgery. During my six week recovery period, I reached out to a friend who was an office manager for a boutique brokerage in West Ashley. I asked her to arrange a meeting for me with the Broker in Charge to discuss the steps required to obtain my real estate license.  Little did I know that God had a different plan for me that day!

A week later, I met with the broker and after an hour of talking I left excited for my future endeavors! On my way home, I called my husband excited for what was to come.  I decided to speak with Kelly Bramble at Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and ask about the timeline of licensing classes. Walking around the corner, I saw someone with her arms stacked with notebooks, so I waited to introduce myself until she entered her office to inquire about classes. Kelly shared classes were scheduled to begin within the next 3 hours and asked me if I wanted the one available spot. I was hesitant but she also informed me that the next licensing class would not begin for another 9 months. I wasn’t ready to make such a rash decision so I decided to call my husband Bill. He was as amazed as I was!  At the time, I was dealing with recovery and recuperation, but the classes would only be a few nights a week. I was definitely overwhelmed with fear but knew the odds of this happening were rare so I signed up. I went home to get ready and called the broker to share the news; she was excited for me and told me to let her know when I passed the exam. I now see I needed that encouragement to reach the finish line!

A couple of weeks into the classes, I went for my follow-up doctor’s visit and was informed the biopsy came back negative! The doctor had no answers as to how it happened, but I knew. My faith continued to grow exponentially and shortly after the classes ended, I drove to Columbia and took my state licensing exam, and passed!

My career then began with humility, which is often needed in each of our lives to keep us centered and focused. An essential step in becoming a REALTOR® is to find your niche which is intertwined with “your why.” Mine began with the adoption of our German Shepherd from a small, Veteran founded, no-kill animal rescue located in Summerville. The story and 50-year history of H.F. Help No-Kill Rescue is what drew me to be a part of their mission as a volunteer and to share in spreading the founder’s story. In 2020, I was asked to be the Spokesperson for the rescue, and continue to do so today.

Soon after, I signed up to be a Homes for Heroes Affiliate.  I support firefighters, police, military members (active, reserve, and Veteran), teachers, healthcare professionals, and first responders by giving back a percentage of my commission when they buy or sell a house with me. This is my way of expressing gratitude for the sacrifices they make or have made in the past. I have a strong connection with most of these professions in my own life, which I feel is perfect alignment.

Prior to Covid, I would host a “Community Hero Coffee Connect” weekly at Dunkin’ where I would buy coffee for each Hero who entered the store. At one of my events, I met a lady who asked if I could help the Locker’s, a disabled Marine and his wife, in moving their trailer to a new location. I did not have the capability to assist, but I remembered an ad I had recently seen on Facebook about a local Veteran non-profit called Tri-County Veterans Support Network. I decided to contact Tim Taylor, the co-founder, and share the needs. He sent us the contact information of an acquaintance and I shared it with the Locker’s but we soon learned their situation was beyond his expertise.

Nonetheless, I wanted to thank Tim for his willingness to help, so I volunteered that weekend at the quadruplex housing for homeless Veterans painting and completing odd jobs with other volunteers. After speaking with a couple of the residents, and the day had ended, my soul was set on fire!

I never knew how much volunteering would impact my life and, in turn, inspire others to be a part of it. I soon became aware of my purpose of helping people in all aspects. Over the next 4 years, I spearheaded donation drives, fundraisers, and various initiatives and quickly became a Veteran proponent.  As my business continued to flourish, it became too much to continue this level of volunteering, so I decided to give back by making a donation for every house I sold.

In 2020, my husband joined the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® (CVMA), a nonprofit with the mission being “Vets Helping Vets”. I became an Auxiliary member in support of my husband. I have worked to introduce CVMA to the multiple Veteran organizations to encourage collaboration and, hopefully, make an even bigger impact on the needs of our local Veterans. In July 2021, I was elected as Public Relations Officer and assisted in the organization of our annual fundraiser. We were able to raise $11,000 for our mission!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sadly, one of the biggest challenges I have faced was the lack of knowledge and the misinformation out there regarding the VA Loan. I specialize in negotiating the offer and exceeding the needs of Veteran homebuyers and sellers through the stressful Permanent Change of Station move. I feel every agent, especially those with the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification, should take the initiative to educate themselves by attending seminars. Through continued education and unique experiences, I can affirm what was once a challenge is now a strength for me.

On a personal level, many of us experience challenges due to life’s struggles paired with the demands of being a business owner. Most recently, my husband and I have been navigating through an extreme change in our lives which made it necessary for me to take a step back and focus on the challenges we were facing in our “new normal”.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Julie Helps Veterans?
I am a South Carolina licensed REALTOR assisting clients and guiding them through the process toward their next journey in life when buying, selling, or investing in residential real estate in the Tri-County Charleston, SC area.

I moved to the Lowcountry nearly 20 years ago after relocating from the Chicago area. I was a single Mom and my daughter was in remission from childhood cancer so we made the move to start a new chapter to be closer to family. My passion for real estate and interior design developed when my father retired at 48 years young and soon after decided to embark on his real estate investment venture. I have a background in commission sales, customer service, and interior design totaling over 30 years. My business is built on faith, integrity, and honesty and they are the driving forces behind my brand.

I work with both Buyers and Sellers and each home listed receives concierge staging services, professional photography, and the best marketing. I am entrusted by many and commended for my faith, honesty, integrity and effective communication skills.

I am known for being a passionate Veteran proponent. My husband served in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army Reserve and it is through his service and the many Veterans surrounding me daily who make me aware of their sacrifices. The realization of the mental and physical trials our Veterans go through daily afforded me  the opportunity to give back to the community. During that time I consciously made the decision to contribute to local Veteran non-profit organizations with every house sold-“Every House Sold Helps a Local Veteran”. My clients are an integral part of the mission and I share the difference we can make together.

What does success mean to you?
Living your life with passion and purpose while being surrounded by those who inspire and encourage you is how I define success.