When Shoaib Shah and his wife Nida were ready to purchase a home, they knew that finding the ideal Northeast Ohio neighborhood and a home that met all their needs would be a challenge. “My wife is from Jersey and I’m from the Cleveland suburbs, so finding a good balance in neighborhood feel was a little difficult,” Dr. Shah explained. What they did not expect, were the added challenges on their personal and professional lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Providing Care During the Pandemic
Dr. Shah, the CEO of Salaam Clinic, a nonprofit community health center, scrambled to instate telehealth services while also expanding the clinic’s services and programs. The clinic provides free of charge medical services for uninsured and underinsured individuals, community health initiatives, and educational programs for medical students with a focus on community health. As a non-profit, the clinic relies on donations and grants from private foundations.
Part of Dr. Shah’s greatest challenge during the pandemic was to reorganize the clinic for virtual medical services while his team worked remotely with limited funding. “It was the busiest things have ever been while the clinic was seeing the least amount of action,” he stated.
Additionally, Nida’s workload increased during the pandemic. Working full time as a nurse and attending a full time master’s program, Nida balanced her work and school responsibilities while worrying about the safety of her hospital work environment. “She never got to work from home. Those early days of the pandemic were rough,” Dr. Shah explained.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, and buying in a seller’s market, the couple were able to secure an ideal home with the help of realtor Bobby Heller and the rest of The Young Team, taking advantage of the Here for Heroes program. As medical professionals, they qualified to save significantly on the closing costs for their home purchase. They were able to find a perfect compromise in a Cleveland neighborhood and secure a home that met their needs.
As Dr. Shah explained: “Bobby was helpful in pinpointing neighborhoods for us that would be good for both my wife and I. He also helped us make good decisions on homes and even which to walk away from. He understood the market in a way we never would have, and it helped us to be able to buy the home we have today. He also helped us make our offer more appealing without having to raise how much down or the total amount we were willing to buy for. After our home offer was accepted, Bobby stayed around to help us through the home closing process, from the inspections to dealing with lenders, he helped make the process very smooth.”
Bobby Heller, a homeowner in the heights himself, was the perfect partner to help Shoaib and Nida secure their Shaker Heights home. He explained, “After learning that they both work in healthcare, I was really happy to tell them about our Here for Heroes program. We want this program to be a way of giving back to people who give so much of themselves to better the lives of others around us, and that is exactly what they do. I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to work with Shoaib and Nida. I’m thankful that our Here for Heroes program gives us a way to show our gratitude for everything they do.”
Now that Shoaib and Nida are settled into their new home and some of the challenges of the pandemic have begun to fade, the couple are enjoying the sense of relaxation and peace that their new home provides, along with the easy commute and city-like conveniences.
Young Team Gives Back
To give back to hardworking heroes like the Shahs who have served on the frontline throughout the pandemic, The Young Team created a program to provide discounted commission and fees for qualifying professionals.
“We have so much respect for all that our medical professionals, first responders, teachers, military and other local heroes do for our community,” says Ryan Young, CEO, The Young Team. “We hope that the Here for Heroes program can make the home buying and selling process a little bit easier for these essential members of our Northeast Ohio communities.”
Through Here for Heroes, qualified home buyers and/or home sellers receive a 20% reduction on commission from The Young Team real estate agents. Many clients have saved thousands of dollars.
