Member Stories

Retired Ironworker Wins Happy Homeowner Sweepstakes

Union Plus Content Team

September 11, 2023

Retired Ironworker contemplates new career after Union Plus Mortgage Program Sweepstakes win.

Eugenio Ramos was an ironworker in New York City for 30 years and a member of Iron Workers Local 580. During that time, Ramos estimates he worked on three-quarters of New York City’s skyscrapers.

“There were a lot of cold days,” he says.

Several years ago, Ramos and his wife, Yvette, decided to buy a townhome in Monroe, NY — a quiet suburb away from the constant hustle and bustle of Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.

Even though the housing development had a preferred lender, Yvette convinced her husband to look online to see if he had any union benefits that might help during the home buying process. They found the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

“We get emails from Union Plus all the time,” Ramos says. “My wife saw it — she goes through all the emails.”

With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits – like $500 back after closing.¹

“The rates were comparable, but Union Plus had an added bonus,” says Yvette. “We got a $500 gift card. When you’re buying a new house, that comes in handy.”

She added that the process of using the Union Plus Mortgage Program was user-friendly.

“We had to fill out a form and someone contacted us,” Yvette recalls. “It was nice and very easy.”

Another benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Program is the added security through the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program, which provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out or go on strike.²

Recently, the Ramoses benefited from yet another perk of the Union Plus Mortgage Program — the annual Happy Homeowner Sweepstakes.

Eugenio Ramos received an email from Union Plus, inviting him to enter the sweepstakes. Yvette spotted it and entered.

“I always enter him in all the sweepstakes,” Yvette says. “He doesn’t even know.”

So, when Ramos got a call from Union Plus telling him he had won, he hung up because he thought it was a scam. Yvette asked him about it a few days later.

“I think you actually won,” Yvette said.

Eugenio Ramos is still deciding how to spend the $1,000 he won. He said he might buy a suit or two. He is also thinking about going back to work — this time to start a business as a personal shopper. He said he already styles his wife and some of his friends, but it would be great to style others and get paid for it.

“I go shopping for people who don’t like to shop or don’t have time to go shopping,” he says. “I enjoy it, I think I want to get into that business.”

For more information, visit our Union Plus Mortgage Program page.

¹Eligible individuals will be sent redemption instructions for the My Mortgage GiftSM award approximately 2 weeks after closing on a new purchase or refinance loan secured by an eligible first mortgage or deed of trust with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (“New Loan”), subject to qualification, approval and closing. The My Mortgage Gift award is not available with The Relocation Mortgage Program® or with any Wells Fargo employee mortgage offer. Only one My Mortgage Gift award is permitted per eligible New Loan. This award cannot be combined with any other award, discount or rebate, except as described in the Terms and Conditions. This award is void where prohibited, transferable, and subject to change or cancellation with no prior notice. Awards may constitute taxable income. Federal, state, and local taxes, and any use of the award not otherwise specified in the Terms and Conditions (available at wellsfargo.com/mymortgageterms and provided at receipt of award) are the sole responsibility of the My Mortgage Gift recipient.

²The Union Plus® Mortgage Assistance Program is provided and administered through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan ("The Plan"), which is not affiliated with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Additional information about The Union Plus® Mortgage Assistance Program and eligibility criteria can be obtained at unionplus.org/mortgageassistance.

Union Plus® is a registered trademark of Union Privilege.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for providing agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit your home financing needs.

Information is accurate as of the date of printing and is subject to change without notice.