Meet Julie Neira | Julie Helps Veterans- Charleston, SC REALTOR®- Homes for Heroes Affiliate®

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Neira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
As a woman with unwavering faith, I knew the single most important decision for me to make was bringing my solid foundation of faith into my business. This was a pivotal point for me, and my faith is how I choose to live my life, it is not “religion” but is a rooted relationship of which I am proud to be in. When I look to prayer for answers, I know the result is what God wants for both myself and my Clients. It allows me to deal with outcomes much easier as I know His Will is always the end result. When one door closes, two more usually end up opening in its place.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Julie Helps Veterans is built on a foundation of faith, integrity and honesty which is fairly hard to come by these days as business owners do not feel religion should be publicly announced. Personally, I know my faith carries me through my biggest struggles every day and it gives me the strength to go on. I have prayed both for and with my Clients regularly when submitting an offer for a Buyer or even listing a house for a Seller.
I am extremely excited for the future of Julie Helps Veterans! My husband founded a Veteran non-profit shortly before he was medically retired as a Government Civil Service employee, The mission of Warriors Haven is to aid and assist Veterans and their families facing difficult times. The end goal/mission will be to establish a tiny home community for Veterans who are without a home. With every home sale, I make a donation to Warriors Haven which will help to make a difference in the lives of our local Veterans and their families. Currently Warriors Haven is assisting a Vietnam Veteran and his wife who are starting over with just the clothes on their backs. In January they will move into a fully decorated and furnished home along with food in their refrigerator and pantry and clothes in their closets due to the love and support from Warriors Haven and the collaboration with many patriots in our Charleston community. Together we can make a difference!

I also have a YouTube channel called Veteran Businesses of the Lowcountry (VBOL) on which I interview local Veteran and Veteran Spouse business owners. Not only have I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people through this initiative, but I have widened my circle through the special connections I have made as the host of VBOL.

Julie Helps Veterans is centered around being there for others. I have become a passionate Veteran proponent through all aspects of the term, therefore, I am able to guide and educate many others in the industry. In addition, I provide concierge services for all of my Seller Clients to include complimentary staging which has been quite helpful for my relocating or PCS military families. A vacant home does not give a “home sweet home” vibe so I completely stage with furniture and decor which ensures my Clients will benefit from the highest return and in the shortest amount of time. Over the years, I have formed a solid team of professionals with aligned values to assist me in providing my Clients with peace of mind. My team consists of dedicated and skilled contractors, home inspectors, pest control companies, insurance providers and more. I am grateful to have these resources available to refer to my Clients if they choose with many of them offering special discounts for my Veteran Clients.

My focus is on Veterans and their families as I know there are a lot of misconceptions out there regarding the VA Loan Program. In truth, the VA is just a tiny bit stringent and the reason is simple-they want the Veteran to make a sound financial investment because they actually guarantee 25% repayment of the loan. I am not a Lender but I am honored to share that 98% of my business is focused on Veterans so I do need to have some kind of understanding as I am showing my Clients homes. I will say there are a lot of Agents who refuse to accept a VA Loan on behalf of their Seller Client and that could simply be due to a lack of education and understanding in the processes and guidelines of the loan program.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live in the beautiful area of Charleston, South Carolina! Oftentimes, many of us take a lot for granted as it is always available to us. For me, I really love walking on the beach as it makes me realize how blessed I am to live here. I enjoy walking downtown and visiting all of the cute shops on King St, The Charleston City Market is always a good time with local artisans and treats. Charleston features rich architectural history dating back to the 17th century so you will definitely enjoy the Charleston historic home tours. Oh yes, don’t forget the coveted carriage tour. Charleston is walkable which makes it quite easy to plan a full day. Here are just a few of my favorite spots to dine paired with some menu choices along with some lovely parks and historical sites to visit as well. These are just a few to mention as Charleston boasts some of the best restaurants ever. There is actually a FaceBook group called Lowcountry Eat Out which I highly recommend to everyone.
I definitely recommend lunch at 82 Queen-dining al fresco on this amazing outdoor French courtyard and enjoying some of the favorites:Berry Mojito, Fried Green Tomatoes and for the entree the Southern Tomato Pie. Don’t forget to stop for an afternoon pick me up at Le Macaron Charleston. You must visit Angel Oak Park located in Johns Island which is the oldest and largest Live Oak Tree and an absolutely stunning view.

Any day is the perfect day to simply walk around historic Charleston and take in the beautiful window boxes, brick architecture, climbing vines and secret gardens, the stunning ironwork gates, the copper gas lanterns flanking the entryways, the stately ornate entry doors, piazzas and the live oak trees lining the streets and dripping with Spanish Moss.

You MUST visit the Early Bird Diner for the best Chicken and waffles ever!
Magnolia Plantation is a must see and is America’s oldest public garden
Middleton Place is another beautiful sight to see.

Waterfront Park- the iconic Pineapple Fountain is another great spot for photos.
Stop for some oysters and cocktails at The Ordinary situated in a historic bank.
Revelry Brewing Company is a rooftop bar with a great variety of beers and specialty drink options.

Saturday’s are a great day to enjoy dinner out on the water so I highly recommend the Spirit of Carolina Dinner Cruise experience

On Sundays a fabulous brunch is served at Husk-locally sourced with a beautifully executed daily menu and then head over to the Grand Bohemian Hotel-rooftop luxury hotel with amazing views for an energizing nitro brew cocktail. If you still have enough energy, you can head over to Rainbow Row on East Bay Street which is the oldest neighborhood in Charleston. The Battery with the Charleston Harbor backdrop is a great place for some great photos! You can round out the day and week with a stop at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

First and foremost, all of the “success” has come from above and all of the glory goes to God. We are here to serve and love one another and I know being a REALTOR® is my purpose and passion. I am able to accomplish this through donating to Veterans and their families facing difficult times with every closing and giving back to community heroes through the Homes for Heroes program by providing a 25% credit from my commission. Through giving, I have humbly grasped the fact that my happiness comes from what I give and not what is received. Did you know it has been proven time and time again that giving brings much more happiness than having more money? In truth, many chase the all mighty dollar expecting it to bring joy but all they really need to do is give freely.
I am also eternally grateful for my husband Bill who is my rock and an immense source of support and encouragement for me. Real Estate takes a lot out of you, both mentally and physically, and I could not begin to imagine having a spouse who does not cheer you on in both the good and bad times. In the beginning of my career, the transition of being a business owner was difficult and I remember wondering if things would ever click for me. I felt as though I was flailing and Bill always seemed to bring me back to reality and give me the confidence I needed to forge on. I Should mention that as of last week, my husband is now my assistant so we are working together to provide a stress-free home purchase or sale for my Clients.

Last but not least, the guidance and support from my Broker’s-in-Charge over the years has also made a lasting and positive impact on my business so I must take this opportunity to shout out Elaine Brabham, Amy Reynolds, Stephen Kohn and my current BIC Aimee Peterson who have all been there for me.

Website: www.JulieHelpsVeterans@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliehelpsveterans/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juliehelpsveterans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliehelpsveterans

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@julieneiraofjuliehelpsvete3101

Image Credits
Stephanie Selby Headshots