Giving Back Archives - Professionals | Down Payment Resource

Down Payment Resource Donates $10,000 to Help an Atlantan Buy a Home this Holiday Season

Melinda Harris — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 23:43:35 +0000

By partnering with the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, DPR is making the holidays a little merrier for one local homebuyer working with the agency

ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 18, 2023 — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced a $10,000 donation to the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership to be used as a grant to help an eligible homebuyer working with the local nonprofit housing agency.

“Atlanta is ranked first in home price appreciation (68.6%) and fourth in rent increases (30%) according to data reported by the Atlanta Regional Commission data, factors that make it even harder for first-time homebuyers to get their foot in the door,” said DPR Founder and CEO Rob Chrane. “We are proud to partner with ANDP to help a local homebuyer have a homeownership stake in their community. We want to do all we can to tip the scales in favor of homeownership, particularly among traditionally underserved buyers.”

ANDP develops, finances, and advocates for affordable housing that promotes racial equity and healthy communities where families thrive. The grant funded by DPR is intended for a buyer whose income is at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) and not receiving additional financial assistance from ANDP. The funds can be used for down payment or closing costs (including a rate buydown) on the purchase of an ANDP property.

“We are pleased to receive donations year-round, but there’s something special about gifts received during the holidays that just makes this gift very special. We appreciate the ongoing support of DPR, especially in these times when buying a home may seem out of reach for many,” said John O’Callaghan, president and CEO of ANDP. “Gifts like these restore hope for our clients and help them take that all-important step toward building generational wealth through homeownership.”

About ANDP:

ANDP was created in 1991 as a result of the merger of the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s Housing Resource Center and the Atlanta Economic Development Corporation’s Neighborhood Development Department. The impetus for ANDP’s creation was to address the diminishing supply of affordable housing in the Metropolitan Atlanta region as well as to help reclaim declining neighborhoods in its core. Throughout its history, ANDP has supported the creation of more than 11,000 units of housing for people of low-to-moderate incomes. For more information, visit the ANDP Homes website.

About Down Payment Resource:Down Payment Resource (DPR) is the housing industry authority on homebuyer assistance program data and solutions. With a database that tracks more than 2,200 programs and toolsets for mortgage lenders, multiple listing services and API users, DPR helps housing professionals connect homebuyers with the assistance they need. DPR frequently lends its expertise to nonprofits, housing finance agencies, policymakers, government-sponsored enterprises and trade organizations seeking to improve housing affordability. Its technology is used by five of the top 10 retail mortgage lenders by volume, three of the four largest real estate listing websites and 600,000 real estate agents. For more information, visit https://downpaymentresource.com/.

Down Payment Resource has crafted tools to help mortgage lenders, real estate agents and multiple listing services build relationships with homebuyers by connecting them with the homebuyer assistance they desire.

To explore the best option for your business, contact us.

The post Down Payment Resource Donates $10,000 to Help an Atlantan Buy a Home this Holiday Season appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Down Payment Resource presents Richmond Association of REALTORS® CEO Laura Lafayette with 2022 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award

EP Admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 21:59:18 +0000

Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that it selected Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of REALTORS® (RAR), as the winner of its 2022 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award. Now in its fifth year, the award program recognizes an individual or organization that has exhibited a steadfast commitment to expanding access to affordable homeownership.

Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of REALTORS®

The Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award was created in memory of one of DPR’s first employees, Beverly Faull, for her wholehearted dedication to the company’s mission to provide greater visibility and access to homebuyer assistance programs. DPR received 51 nominations for this year’s award cycle. A housing professional with three decades of experience in the industry, Lafayette was selected for her work expanding access to affordable housing as CEO of RAR and the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service.

Lafayette’s most notable accomplishments include organizing local Affordable Housing Awareness Week initiatives for ten years running, which mobilized hundreds of volunteers across Richmond to help local affordable housing nonprofits build and repair homes. She also launched the Partnership for Housing Affordability, a nonprofit that champions affordable housing policies and programs in the Richmond region, and led the creation and implementation of the Richmond Regional Housing Framework.

Some affordable housing initiatives that Lafayette is currently spearheading include a regional home repair program for low-to-moderate income seniors, a pilot low-income real estate tax relief program and a pilot initiative that provides partial real estate tax exemption to Richmond’s affordable housing providers as a way to preserve existing affordable housing.

“Affordable housing accessibility has been a passion of mine for decades because I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to secure safe, sustainable homeownership for their family,” said Lafayette. “I am incredibly grateful to DPR for their recognition and for supporting my mission to help industry professionals better meet the housing finance needs of the diverse Richmond community.”

In recognition of her achievements, DPR will make a $5,000 donation on Lafayette’s behalf to the charitable organization of her choice. Lafayette has opted to contribute the funds to the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that seeks to create affordable, sustainable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households. Lafayette established the organization in 2015 and has helped it become one of the fastest-growing community land trusts in the country. She currently serves on the board as the immediate past chair.

To learn more about Lafayette’s work with the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, visit https://maggiewalkerclt.org/.

The post Down Payment Resource presents Richmond Association of REALTORS® CEO Laura Lafayette with 2022 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Giving Season: Down Payment Resource Donates $10k to a Fund Supporting Minority First-time Homebuyers on Behalf of Customers

Melinda Harris — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 18:42:13 +0000

It is the most wonderful time of the year! Unfortunately, not every family can afford to gather in a home of their own this holiday season. That is why instead of mailing out gift baskets, each December Down Payment Resource contributes to a housing-related non-profit on behalf of our valued customers and business partners.

This giving season, Down Payment Resource will help a family in Memphis attain their homeownership dreams by donating $10,000 to the Homeownership Council of America’s (HCA’s) Equity Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program. The HCA Equity DPA program provides down payment and closing cost assistance for low-to-moderate income (LMI) and racial and ethnic minority first-time homebuyers — a mission that aligns with our company’s founding goal of expanding affordable homeownership program awareness, understanding and participation.

Improving Homeownership Equity with DPA

Designed to help first-time homebuyers overcome the nation’s largest barrier to homeownership, Equity DPA uplifts historically underserved communities by providing them with the down payment funds to qualify for a conventional mortgage. The zero-interest Equity DPA loan features no fees and encourages homeownership stability by offering its participants full forgiveness after five years. With DPA funding from a wide range of generous corporate and private donors, the Equity DPA program is able to provide a projected average of $10,000 of direct financial assistance per eligible homebuyer.

In doing so, the HCA and its partners are helping make the dream of homeownership a reality for consumers who could qualify for a mortgage but lack the funds to cover a down payment and closing costs. Donors can even direct their contributions to DPA for specific communities, areas and HCA partners. Down Payment Resource opted to designate this year’s donation to the fund targeting racial and ethnic minority homebuyers in Memphis, where Equity DPA will provide DPA in partnership with the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA’s) CONVERGENCE Memphis initiative.

Down Payment Resource is a strong supporter and active participant in both the Memphis and Columbus CONVERGENCE initiatives, which promote the expansion of sustainable, affordable housing in historically underserved communities. Key members of our team serve on the Steering Committees and workstreams for both the Memphis and Columbus initiatives, and we regularly volunteer our software and services to help connect CONVERGENCE communities with DPA programs.

Down payment and closing cost support is a key resource for LMI and minority first-time homebuyers — especially in the sharp downturn we are currently facing in the housing finance industry. By providing the funds to help even just one qualified homebuyer afford the upfront costs of homeownership, Equity DPA donors make a lasting impact on families who were previously unable to access the wealth-building benefits of homeownership.

Visit the HCA website to learn all about Equity DPA. We hope you’ll join us in brightening someone’s holiday by contributing to this life-changing program!

The post Giving Season: Down Payment Resource Donates $10k to a Fund Supporting Minority First-time Homebuyers on Behalf of Customers appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Down Payment Resource uplifts young readers at annual volunteer event with Books for Africa

EP Admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:00:40 +0000

Each year, Down Payment Resource (DPR) comes together to support the underprivileged in our own local community. Since 2017, our team has participated in three build days with Habitat for Humanity — two in DPR’s home city of Atlanta, and one in Austin in partnership with the Austin Board of REALTORS® .

Although we are dedicated to Habitat for Humanity’s work building safe and sustainable housing for families in need, we wanted to try out a new cause this year. Our Founder and CEO Rob Chrane is particularly dedicated to Hands on Atlanta, a well-known organization that partners with charities and nonprofits across the metro Atlanta area to ensure they have the resources and volunteers necessary to make positive change.

When Melinda Harris, DPR’s director of marketing communications, reached out to Hands on Atlanta to find out where we could make the greatest impact through volunteerism, a representative offered many different philanthropic opportunities for our team to choose from. Ultimately, we determined that Books for Africa was the perfect fit.

Books for Africa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the largest shipper of donated books to Africa. Founded on the mission to end the book famine in Africa, the organization collects, sorts and ships books, computers, tablets and library materials to children in every country across the African continent. Since 1988, the organization has delivered over 55 million books to all 55 countries on the continent. Notably, the night before our volunteer day, the organization celebrated the incredible achievement of delivering 150,000 books to Kenya.

Even though the Down Payment Resource team was largely unfamiliar with Books for Africa up to our volunteer event, it was impossible not to fall in love with the cause. Motivated by the opportunity to support literacy and education, 12 members of our staff came together on September 15, each giving five hours of service processing donations in the Books for Africa warehouse.

Who says you can’t work hard and still have fun?

Down Payment Resource volunteers sorted through dozens of enormous boxes full of donated books — including dictionaries, thesauruses, children’s fiction and nonfiction, young adult novels and everything in between — and categorized them by age group and subject in preparation for shipment to African countries.

Although they had to identify and remove severely damaged items, our team was pleased to see that none of the donations went to waste. Books too damaged to read, used workbooks and books on American history, which would not be relevant to African readers, were set aside to be recycled into shipping boxes, ensuring every donation to Books for Africa has a purpose.

Rob Chrane thinking inside the box for a change.

The event was the perfect team-building exercise for a great cause, and the effort that our team put in will make an enormous difference to young readers halfway across the globe who are eager for educational and creative literature. To celebrate this philanthropic achievement and our first in-person, full-team event since the COVID-19 lockdown, Rob Chrane brought the entire team together for dinner and a get-together at his own home.

A night of celebration for “Team Awesome”.

“I founded Down Payment Resource to help connect homebuyers with the resources they need to enjoy the peace of mind and wealth-building opportunities of homeownership,” said Rob. “This service-oriented mission has attracted a team of kindhearted, dedicated individuals who generously volunteer their personal time to charities like Books for Africa to help young learners they’ll almost certainly never meet. Despite some paper-cuts and sore backs, we had a great time supporting this cause and cannot wait to get together again for our next volunteer event.”

To see how you can donate books, funds or time to Books for Africa, visit https://www.booksforafrica.org/getting-involved.html.

You can also search for other volunteer opportunities, both in-person and virtual, through Hands on Atlanta’s website at https://www.handsonatlanta.org/volunteer.

The post Down Payment Resource uplifts young readers at annual volunteer event with Books for Africa appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Down Payment Resource Presents 2021 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to Ruth Johnson

EP Admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 22:12:49 +0000

Fourth annual Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award honors Homes for Heroes founder and CEO

We are pleased to announce that Ruth Johnson, founder and CEO of Homes for Heroes, has been selected the winner of our fourth annual 2021 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award. Each year, the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in broadening access to homeownership and affordable housing finance solutions.

Johnson was selected for founding Homes for Heroes, a national network of real estate, mortgage and local business specialists that provide housing services at a reduced cost to healthcare professionals, teachers, first responders, active military and veterans. To date, Homes for Heroes has helped give back $100 million in Hero Rewards to more than 50,000 heroes and their families so they can reach their homeownership dreams.

Each year, DPR makes a financial donation to the recipient’s housing nonprofit of choice. Johnson has requested the donation be made to the Homes for Heroes Foundation, 501(c)3 nonprofit that aids heroes suffering from housing insecurity with housing assistance and home modification services. The foundation recently celebrated raising $1 million dollars to support heroes in need.

“I am incredibly honored to be named a Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award recipient,” said Johnson. “In the age of Covid, it is more important than ever to give back to the brave heroes that have remained dedicated to serving our country and its diverse communities throughout this crisis. Helping those heroes has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I look forward to continuing this mission with Homes for Heroes for years to come.”

The Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award is named in memory of Beverly Faull, a highly regarded housing industry veteran and one of DPR’s first employees, who fully embraced the company’s mission to provide greater visibility and access to down payment assistance programs.

Previous winners of this award include The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest professional organization for Black and minority real estate professionals, Tonya Todd, Housing Director for Hilltop Securities, Inc. and John O’Callaghan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc.

For more information about Johnson’s ongoing work with Homes for Heroes, visit
https://www.homesforheroes.com/.

The post Down Payment Resource Presents 2021 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to Ruth Johnson appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Down Payment Resource Presents Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to NAREB

EP Admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:48:50 +0000

NAREB honored for advocating for equal opportunity affordable housing

Atlanta, GA, February 4, 2021 — Down Payment Resource (DPR) is proud to announce the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) as the 2020 recipient of the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award.

The award, named in memory of accomplished real estate veteran Beverly Faull, recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated leadership in providing more access to homeownership and affordable housing finance solutions. Faull was a well-respected veteran in the MLS and housing industry and one of DPR’s first employees.

“It’s an honor each year to celebrate Beverly’s passion for affordable housing, education and access to down payment assistance programs. NAREB is an industry leader, helping to keep this important housing mission in the forefront where it belongs,” said Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource.

Founded in 1947, NAREB is the oldest professional organization for Black and minority real estate professionals. Their mission is “Democracy in Housing”, and their policy agendas and recommendations are focused on eliminating the barriers to Black homeownership and improving the community at large.

One of many notable efforts is the annual State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report. First published in 2013, the SHIBA report focuses on a range of issues impacting the Black community, from restructuring the mortgage financing available to Black families to providing financing for broad based community revitalization and unemployment.

Since their inception, NAREB has been influential in significant policy achievements and reframing the narrative on homeownership for future generations. Last year, NAREB launched a national campaign to educate GenX, millennials, GenY and GenZ’s on the value of creating generational wealth through homeownership. DPR partnered with NAREB to add the DPA Downpayment Widget to the NAREB website with a goal of providing potential homebuyers access to down payment help in their markets.

“NAREB’s passion for promoting homeownership in underserved communities is transforming the affordable housing industry. Innovative campaigns, such as the millennial marketing program, are making a measurable impact in Black communities across the country,” said Chrane.

The award includes a financial donation by DPR to the recipient’s housing non-profit of choice. NAREB National Executive Director, Antoine Thompson, will work with his team to determine how best to use the funds to support their ongoing mission.

“NAREB is honored to be the 2020 recipient of the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award. Our continuing goal is to ensure equality and opportunity for Black Americans in their pursuit of affordable and sustainable homeownership. We promote the wisdom and economic advantages of building wealth through homeownership and are providing the tools as well as the educational guidance to begin the process through closing. We have a very special charge to preserve and push forward Democracy in Housing for Black Americans,” said Antoine Thompson.

To learn more about NAREB and their commitment to affordable housing, visit NAREB.com.

Download the full press release.

Learn more about this annual award and how DPR gives back.

Are you an industry professional? Download our latest Down Payment Report for the data and news on first-time homebuyers and residential down payments.

The post Down Payment Resource Presents Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to NAREB appeared first on Down Payment Resource.

Down Payment Resource Presents Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to Tonya Todd

EP Admin — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:30:41 +0000

Tonya Todd honored for championing affordable housing programs

Atlanta, GA, February 13, 2020 — Down Payment Resource (DPR) is proud to announce Tonya Todd, Housing Director for HilltopSecurities, as the 2019 recipient of the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award.

The award, named in memory of accomplished real estate veteran Beverly Faull, recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in providing more access to homeownership and affordable housing finance solutions. Faull was a well-respected veteran in the MLS and housing industry and one of DPR’s first employees.

“We are pleased to honor Beverly’s passion for affordable housing, education and access to down payment assistance programs. Leaders like Tonya Todd are helping carry forward this important housing mission,” said Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource.

Tonya Todd’s vast career has helped advance affordable loan options in markets across the country. She is instrumental in working with housing agencies around the country to develop and design loan programs to operationally serve their lending community while keeping the lowest rate possible for the homebuyer. At HilltopSecurities, she works closely with housing finance agencies, their lenders, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Insurance Companies and other industry partners to support down payment assistance programs. Todd regularly writes and speaks about the benefits of affordable housing for both buyers and lending institutions.

While at Mountain West Financial, a regional lender in California, Todd spearheaded specialty lending production and affordable lending. Under her leadership, the company was named 2018 number one lender for California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) and received an Honorable Mention at MBA’s 2016 Diversity and Inclusion awards for the company’s efforts in promoting down payment assistance programs.

“We’re proud to recognize someone who is passionate about transforming the affordable housing industry and helping first-time buyers achieve homeownership. Tonya is using her expertise and leadership to help housing finance agencies and nonprofits create successful affordable housing programs that will make a real impact in communities across the country,” said Chrane.

The award includes a financial donation by DPR to the recipient’s housing non-profit of choice. Todd will designate the award to eHome America where it will go to support their mission to prepare mortgage ready buyers with online homebuyer education.

“I’m completely humbled to receive the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award,” Todd said. “Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across many aspects of the affordable housing industry and no matter the role, the end consumer is always top-of-mind. Helping first-time homebuyers achieve homeownership is the ultimate goal and it’s a reward in itself to know that our work in the background is helping families create new memories in their own homes.”

To learn more about Todd’s work at HilltopSecurities, visit HilltopSecurities.com.

Download the full press release.

Learn more about this annual award and how DPR gives back.

The post Down Payment Resource Presents Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award to Tonya Todd appeared first on Down Payment Resource.