Brendan was a driving force behind legislation in Maryland that created an average of $62,000 in additional buying power for the state’s Disabled Veterans.
Here’s how it worked: In Maryland, Veterans with a 100% Disabled Rating have long been exempt from real estate taxes. But until recently, they couldn’t apply for the exemption until after taking ownership of the home.
On the surface, that may sound reasonable. In practice, it created serious challenges:
- During the mortgage process, underwriters were inclined to count the taxes against the Veteran when determining loan eligibility since they did not have documentation approving the exemption.
- At closing, thousands of dollars in tax escrows had to be collected—only to be refunded months later. Not exactly the ideal time to lend the government a large sum of money.
The solution was simple but powerful: allow Veterans to apply for the exemption before closing, and it will take effect immediately upon ownership.
Brendan helped make that happen. Through his involvement with the Maryland Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association (MMBBA), he worked with Delegate Nic Kipke to introduce legislation. The bill received swift bipartisan support, passed both chambers unanimously, and on April 21, 2022, Governor Larry Hogan signed HB 809 into law—with Brendan standing right behind him at the signing ceremony.
But this wasn’t just a Maryland problem. Brendan has expanded this effort across the country through his leadership at the Broker Action Coalition (BAC). Similar legislation has since passed in Virginia, California, Florida, and Utah. And now, he is advocating for a change to the VA Home Loan Program guidelines that would solve this issue nationwide—ensuring Disabled Veterans never face unnecessary barriers to homeownership again.
