Community
Community Events, Giving Back, and Our Veterans Meetup
We sponsor and join community events in the neighborhoods we serve. Our team also co-hosts the Chicago Veterans Real Estate Meetup, where local service members and veterans talk through VA loan strategy and long-term investing.
Our speaker series
The Chicago Veterans Real Estate Meetup
Our team co-hosts the Chicago Veterans Real Estate Meetup, a recurring meetup in Chicago for veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and real estate investors. It runs as a speaker series on VA loans, homeownership, property management, and investing. Our sister company, BCG Real Estate Group, has hosted sessions.
Come to learn from each speaker, ask questions, and network with other veterans in the Chicagoland real estate market.
From the meetup
Meetup talks and videos
Watch or read about four recent talks, newest first.
Chicago multifamily purchases in 2025
At session 9, our team lead talked through buying multifamily property in a volatile market: over-budget rehabs, early mistakes, off-market access, and neighborhoods like Ukrainian Village, West Town, and Pilsen. Watch the talk.
Using a VA loan to buy multifamily
Our team and a lender explain house hacking with a VA loan, what appraisers flag (chipping paint, missing handrails, exposed wiring), buying a four-unit property with zero down, and refinancing to fund the next purchase. Watch the video.
Short-term rentals with Kirby Atwell
Session 7 met on October 15, 2024, at Boulevard Sports Lounge in Chicago. Kirby served 11 years on active duty, starting at West Point and then as an Army officer, and he hosts the Living Off Rentals podcast. His talk: "The Best Short Term Rentals to Buy in Today's Market." Watch the talk.
A real estate attorney on closing the deal
The July 10, 2024 session's featured speaker was attorney John E. Brennock of Diaz Anselmo & Associates. His topic was buying and selling homes and commercial property from a lawyer's side of the table: contract negotiation, due diligence, title, escrow, closing, and the pitfalls buyers and sellers run into. Read the session post.
Giving back
Events we've joined
We support local initiatives, cultural gatherings, neighborhood improvement projects, and fundraisers for local heroes in police, fire, health, and education, along with other causes.
St. Jude Miracle Miles walk
On March 9, 2024, part of our team and our families walked in the Miracle Miles event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, then shared breakfast at Two Mile Coffee Bar in Beverly. Our St. Jude team page takes donations. Read about the walk.
Gone But Not Forgotten softball tournament
On September 9, 2023, our team, Drew's Crew, played in the Gone But Not Forgotten Memorial Tournament at St. Christina's Fields. The 16-inch softball tournament celebrates our veterans and armed forces. Read about the tournament.
Beyond the meetup
How we help veterans
Our VA loan page covers the benefit, the appraisal, and buying a 2-4 flat. If PCS orders bring you to Chicagoland, our relocation concierge can tour homes for you by video before you arrive. Veterans, active-duty service members, police officers, firefighters, healthcare workers, and teachers can get a rebate after closing through Homes for Heroes.
Investors can read about 2-4 flats and larger buildings and short-term rentals, and see what BCG manages on our property management page.
Before you come
Questions about the meetup
Who is the Chicago Veterans Real Estate Meetup for?
Veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and real estate investors in the Chicago area who want to learn about VA loans, homeownership, property management, and investing.
How do I join the meetup group?
Join it on Meetup or in the Chicago Veterans Real Estate Group on Facebook.
Can I watch past talks?
Yes. We post recorded talks on the Dorazio Real Estate YouTube channel and on this page.
Who hosts the meetup?
Our team co-hosts it. Our sister company, BCG Real Estate Group, a property management company in Chicago, has hosted sessions too.
Talk with our team
Buying with a VA loan or moving on orders?
Book a call or phone us. Every community event and talk we've posted is listed below.
Or send a note through our contact page.
Video: Andrew Dorazio (Dorazio Real Estate) and JD Modrak (Veterans Mortgage Source at Canopy Mortgage) discuss using the VA Loan to generate wealth via multifamily real estate.
Unlock the power of your VA loan to build long-term wealth with multifamily real estate investing. Andrew Dorazio (real estate agent) and JD Modrak (lender) are Army and Navy veterans who break down VA loan benefits, house hacking strategies, and what to watch for in the appraisal process.