Down Payment Resource (DPR) started in 2008 with a small but very dedicated team committed to making it easier for homebuyers to find down payment assistance programs. In the early years, our team traveled to partner sites to develop the rapport and trust that would serve us well as we grew our database to cover the entire U.S. with more than 2,300 programs from over 1,300 agency partners.

As we’ve grown, our commitment and laser-focused effort on quality is stronger than ever.

This month, we’d like to introduce you to Kris Case, Adam Goodman and Tracy McIntosh who work behind the scenes to keep our technology systems running and onboard new business partners in the mortgage, real estate and housing finance agency spaces.

Each of these team members has a unique background that positions them to provide top-notch support to our ever-growing customer and partner base. With their widespread expertise, DPR is better equipped to champion innovative tools, strategies and programs that make homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone.

So, without further ado, let’s meet these three members of the DPR team!

Kris Case, DPA Program Specialist 

Kris has been with DPR for more than 12 years and previously worked as a writer reviewing records and concerts for music publications and contributing interviews, advertorials and feature articles to The Arabian Horse Times, an Arabian horse publication.

She also worked for Neodata/Centrobe, a marketing communications services firm that integrated with E.D.S., making it one of the world’s largest direct marketing services companies. In her role as an account manager in the company’s publishing fulfillment division, she worked with clients like Conde Nast Publications, Meredith Corporation, US News and World Report and the United States Postal Service. 

At DPR, Kris works with management to organize and administer various company initiatives, taking full advantage of her skills in qualitative and quantitative research. Kris earned her degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University.

What’s a personal accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?

I enjoy helping, healing, training and working with animals, especially those that have been abused, injured, or are fearful with no experience with humans, including wild horses that were captured by the Bureau of Land Management. 

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off work?

I enjoy playing with my Chihuahua and re-watching Game Of Thrones episodes for the hundredth time.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? Or, what is the best place you’ve visited and why?

If I could choose to travel anywhere, it would be to Ireland. I’d love to walk around all the historical places and see what it feels like to be there. The best place I’ve visited/lived is the Santa Ynez Valley in California. It’s beautiful and felt like heaven to me.

Adam Goodman, Software Engineer

Adam Goodman is a skilled software engineer who helps keep our technology up and running smoothly for consumers and business partners. As a full-stack developer, Goodman can build both the front end (the parts of a website a user sees and interacts with) and the back end of a website (the behind-the-scenes data storage and processing). These two areas of web development require different skill sets. Adam brings both to the equation as well as being well-versed in Ruby on Rails, a server-side web application framework.

Adam has been with DPR for two years. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics in 2015 and is currently pursuing his Master of Science from Kennesaw State University.

What’s a personal accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?

Teaching myself programming and making a career out of it. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

I enjoy the freedom I have here to be creative and solve problems independently. 

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off work? 

I like to do a morning workout, and then it’s off to the golf course or beach. Preferably both! I also enjoy basketball.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? Or, what is the best place you’ve visited and why?

My favorite travel experiences were driving from Connecticut to Florida every fall semester during college with my dad and stopping all along the East Coast to visit different gyms and golf courses.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Super speed for sure. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do.

What’s your dream house?

It would be on a private lot, with a wraparound porch and an ocean view. Also, an indoor golf simulator.

Tracy McIntosh, Business Coordinator

Tracy brings a unique skillset to the DPR team, with an extensive background in planning, designing, coordinating and running events of all types including large-scale corporate events, weddings and more.

“These previous experiences have helped me tremendously with my role at DPR,” Tracy explains. Specifically, she says, in those roles she learned to help people through her creativity and organizational skills. “I genuinely want to provide outstanding customer care. Helping others is a major component for any job I’ve ever had and I love that I’ve gotten to do that with lenders, agents and homebuyers here,” she says.

Tracy has been with DPR for about two years. In her role as business coordinator, she is responsible for organizing, managing and administering various interdepartmental tasks and technologies.  

What are your hobbies? 

Coming from an event background with an innate desire to be creative, I love planning and hosting themed parties. I also developed a passion for poetry when I was in high school and still to this day enjoy writing my own pieces as well as reading others.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

There’s so much to love about working here at DPR, but nothing will ever top how much I love helping others here. I grew up in a family that wasn’t wealthy and struggled to make ends meet, but excelled in providing love. I see my family in every deserving homebuyer wanting desperately to get into a home but doesn’t have the wealth to back it up. I’m fortunate enough to work with an extraordinarily talented, intelligent team of people who all have giving hearts. Being surrounded by them helps me to provide the type of customer service and attention that’s important to me. 

What’s your dream house?

Entertaining and having a welcoming home is important to me. My dream house would be large enough that I could host gatherings with family and friends. It would be at the beach with views of the ocean and I’d be able to watch and hear the waves. I dream of watching the sunset at the end of each day as I walk the beach and feel the tide rush against my feet.

Interested in learning more about our all-star team? Meet three more DPR VIPs — Amy, Rick and William!

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is committed to supporting the overwhelming consumer demand for homebuyer assistance. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Amy Giacci, Rick Keffer and William Medina who work behind the scenes to collect and manage the very detailed eligibility data and program requirements in our database.

Amy, Rick and William all share the job title of “DPA Program Specialist.” They are our boots on the ground — contacting thousands of nonprofits, municipalities and program providers throughout the year to keep our comprehensive database of homebuyer assistance programs up to date.

Each of these team members has a unique background that positions them to provide top-notch support to our ever-growing customer base. With their widespread expertise, DPR is better equipped to champion innovative tools, strategies and programs that make homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone.

So, without further ado, let’s meet these three members of the DPR team!

Amy Giacci, DPA Program Specialist

Amy Giacci of Cincinnati, OH, has been with Down Payment Resource for two and a half years and in the mortgage industry for 20. 

Amy kicked off her career in the appraisal world and hasn’t looked back since. Her next role was at First Financial Bank as a mortgage closer, where she assembled, inspected and prepared all of the documentation needed to complete the mortgage loan process, followed by time at Centex, where she was promoted to loan processor.

She then moved to Fifth Third Bank where she stayed for more than a decade, holding progressive roles from processor to credit bureau governance specialist and FCRA remediation specialist.

With Amy on board, we’re confident that DPR will continue making homeownership more accessible and affordable for everyone. 

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? 

“My husband just became a pilot and our first bucket list item is to fly through the northern lights in Alaska. I also visited Holland (Amsterdam) for a month as I became friends with an exchange student in high school who lives there. The architecture and the people are lovely. The city was clean and well taken care of, and the tulips are a sight to see when in bloom. We also took a trip to Germany and Paris, France. It was quite an experience.”

What do you do for fun? 

“I enjoy spending time with the ones I love — our three babies (dogs — all pitbulls, I’m an advocate), family and friends. Just being together is one of my favorite things to do; it never matters what we are doing. I am also all about the pool, the hot tub, the beach. All water activities make me super happy and keep me sane.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

“I enjoy being a part of helping people who may not have been able to become homeowners without DPA. We are helping to make their dreams come true! I’ve always loved the purchase process and the joy it brings when people are buying a home. [Homebuyers] truly appreciate a professional walking them through this intimidating process and keeping them informed.”

Rick Keffer, DPA Program Specialist

Rick lives in Zion, IL, and is a financial services project and technology professional with broad experience in all aspects of mortgage banking, project management and strategic implementation. His direct experience lies in application development and maintenance, mortgage product implementation and maintenance, and project management.

He has been with DPR for nearly five years. Prior to that, he worked at PNC Mortgage where he was responsible for maintaining all aspects of PNC’s government product line including FHA, VA and Rural Housing products. He also spent 15 years at JP Morgan Chase (formerly Washington Mutual) in progressive positions of responsibility.

In his time off, he enjoys visiting the larger farmers markets in the area and hiking the prairie or Lake Michigan shores. He enjoys hanging out with his daughter, going to see concerts, and cooking, particularly Italian food and recipes that are “more involved and time-consuming.”  

Rick holds a master’s degree in labor relations and a bachelor’s degree in economics, both from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

How would you describe your dream house?

“A single story ranch style home with enough yard space for a flower and vegetable garden. Enough square footage to be roomy but small enough to be energy/water-efficient.” 

What are your hobbies? 

“Gardening and cooking. I’m a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener, which for me involves teaching grade school children how to plant, maintain and harvest vegetables at day camp in the summer (as a volunteer).” 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?  

“The ability to make people judge each other as individuals and not members of a group, ethnicity, political persuasion, etc. The world would be a much happier place.”

William Medina, DPA Program Specialist

As a DPA Program Specialist for DPR, William utilizes his mortgage industry and community outreach experience to build collaborative relationships with homeownership program providers in an effort to raise awareness and usage of their programs among lenders, real estate agents and consumers.

William, who resides in Albany, IN, has been with DPR for two and a half years. Prior to that, he was a community mortgage home loan specialist with German American and a relationship representative with Teachers Credit Union in New Albany, IL. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge where he was High Gamma with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

William sits on the advisory board of Volunteers of America Mid-States and is a Grant Committee Member of the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, which addresses the diverse needs of the residents of Floyd County, Indiana.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

“Connecting with local program providers and learning about their experience within the affordable housing space.”

What’s a dish or meal that you absolutely love? 

“I absolutely love pupusas!”

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off work? 

“My wife and I start our day with a coffee run and spend time with our two dogs, Dean and Clark.”

Interested in learning more about our all-star team? Meet three more DPR VIPs — Kris, Adam and Tracy!

O’Callaghan honored for his positive impact on affordable housing in Atlanta

Atlanta, GA, January 15, 2019 — Down Payment Resource (DPR) is proud to announce John O’Callaghan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc. (ANDP) as the first 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.

As a well respected veteran in the MLS and housing industry and one of DPR’s first employees, Faull believed in the company’s mission to provide greater access and awareness to down payment assistance programs. Faull was responsible for building DPR’s MLS business and putting its tools in the hands of more than 300,000 Realtors across a dozen MLSs.

“Without Beverly’s passion and tenacity, DPR would not be the success it is today,” said Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource. “She laid a strong foundation, anchored to an important housing mission, that continues today. We’re proud to introduce this award and honor Beverly’s memory and legacy.”

O’Callaghan has decades of experience advocating for affordable housing in Atlanta and beyond. At ANDP, O’Callaghan leads the organization’s policy and housing development programs and also spearheaded a regional foreclosure response initiative that was awarded the National Housing Conference 2015 Housing Visionary Award.

“We’re proud to recognize someone who is making a positive impact on housing in Atlanta. Under O’Callaghan’s leadership ANDP has been a model of how nonprofit organizations can serve and support the unique needs of their communities,” said Chrane. O’Callaghan has also served on the DPR advisory board for several years.

The award includes a financial donation by DPR to the recipient’s housing non-profit of choice. O’Callaghan will designate the award to ANDP where it will be used to support the organization’s efforts to lift homeownership in communities of color. Since the foreclosure crisis, the organization has focused development strategies in neighborhoods struggling with high levels of negative equity. Under O’Callaghan’s leadership, more than 500 foreclosed and vacant homes have been returned to affordable homeownership and more than 800 homebuyers have been connected to down payment assistance.

“It is an honor to receive an award in Beverly Faull’s memory. She was of a pioneer in the housing sector. Her commitment to homeownership leaves a legacy that will continue to touch countless families. We share her commitment to increasing homeownership and treasure the work of Down Payment Resource,” said O’Callaghan.

To learn more about O’Callaghan and ANDP, visit www.andpi.org/about.

About Down Payment Resource

Down Payment Resource (DPR) creates opportunity for homebuyers, REALTORS® and lenders by uncovering programs that get people into homes. The company tracks more than 2,500 homebuyer programs through its housing finance agency partners. DPR has been recognized by Inman News as “Most Innovative New Technology” and the HousingWire Tech100™. DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. For more information, please visit DownPaymentResource.com and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource.

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By Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource

Our company is celebrating 10 years in business this year. And yes, that means we launched a housing startup in the shadow of the housing crisis.

We wanted to solve a long standing problem in real estate — helping homebuyers and professionals access hard-to-find information about homeownership programs.

Milestones like this give you an opportunity to look back and assess how far you’ve come and what you’ve learned. Here are five things I’ve learned over the last 10 years about real estate and affordable housing that I want to pass along to my fellow pros:

1. Affordable housing isn’t a niche audience

Unfortunately, working with down payment programs still gets left to one “affordable” department, a nonprofit or a few hungry agents. But we all need to care; it’s crucial for the individual buyer, and it’s also important for building trust with our industry. Plus, it’s actually good for business.

Working in collaboration with the Urban Institute, our analysis of 2016 HMDA loan data showed that across just 20 major metros, 470,000 homebuyers were eligible for seven programs, each averaging approximately $15,000 in down payment assistance. That’s a lot of homebuyers who could’ve been helped by a homebuyer program.

Don’t let your buyers leave money on the table.

2. True service always pays dividends

There’s a reason many agents have historically avoided working with down payment programs: they don’t come with million dollar listings and record commissions.

But, let’s think about how we are really serving all our customers.

When I speak with agents who are using our tools to help their clients overcome the down payment hurdle — still the no. 1 obstacle to homeownership — they tell me that by simply starting a conversation about these options, they build trust with their clients. These entry level buyers quickly send over referrals, building a strong pipeline for future business.

What are the needs of your buyers? What service can you provide to help them overcome their biggest pain points?

Here’s what Bernice Ross, CEO of RealEstateCoach.com had to say:

“Over the past 10 years, consumers are increasingly doing more homebuying research before engaging with an agent. Agents need to be able to articulate how they can help their buyer save money on their real estate transaction — that includes opening a discussion about down payment programs. It’s a step that can help agents earn their clients’ gratitude and future referrals for years to come.”

3. Homebuyers value education

Agents are the guides and teachers of home buying. They tell buyers what to care about, what to prioritize. But most buyers don’t even know to ask about down payment programs that can help them save on their home purchase.

Agents know the process and connect buyers to other experts. When those opportunities aren’t presented, it leaves buyers on the sidelines and stalls the industry.

Let’s look for ways to provide relevant information and options to today’s buyers. The dream of homeownership is still alive and well. Real estate and lending pros can help connect more sidelined buyers to real solutions.

4. Agents don’t want to be finance experts

We get it. It’s a fair concern, but the good news is they don’t have to be the expert.

Agents who have partnerships with lenders who participate in down payment programs will have the most success. They can count on that lender to work with their buyers to make sure they meet deadlines and requirements and, most importantly, to ensure everything comes together at the closing table.

Make it easy on yourself by developing solid partnerships with lenders and the state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) you know can deliver the best for your clients. HFAs want to work with agents and want to help you prepare your buyers for homeownership.

5. There’s always more to do

It’s easy to pat yourself on the back and say, “Good enough — we’re done.” I admire this industry for never doing that.

Over these past 10 years, I learned that simply solving the problem of tracking and aggregating data about down payment programs into one spot isn’t enough. We must all empower buyers by sharing this information and connecting them to resources.

Affordable housing is everyone’s responsibility, and we’re here to help.

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Rob Chrane is a former Realtor and broker with more than three decades of experience in real estate and mortgage finance. He is the CEO of Down Payment Resource.

Portions of this byline were originally published in Inman News.

It’s a perfect 10.

During June Homeownership Month, we’re excited to celebrate our 10^th year in business. Down Payment Resource is the first in the housing industry to aggregate and keep current information about homeownership programs nationwide. Today, we integrate data about program benefits and eligibility criteria with Multiple Listing Services, lenders and agents.

Homebuyers consistently rank the down payment as the greatest obstacle to homeownership and, unfortunately, many opt out of buying a home because they overestimate or don’t understand the down payment requirements.

“DPR has straddled the intersection of real estate sales, mortgage banking, and affordable housing for the last 10 years. We’ve learned that buyers who can benefit from down payment help are a significant and underserved market segment, not the small niche many mistake it for,” said Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource. “I’m proud of the work our team has done to help elevate the conversation of homeownership programs in communities across the country and empower more homebuyers with information that could help them buy a home sooner.”

Transparency of down payment data

Since 2008, DPR has advocated for greater transparency of available down payment help so consumers can evaluate their full range of options. Like tax data, walkability scores and school information, down payment assistance information is another important layer of property data.

Working with MLSs, DPR’s proprietary software flags listings that are eligible for down payment programs. DPR currently works with MLSs representing a diverse array of markets across the U.S.

DPR’s lender tools provide loan officers with transaction-level matching of borrowers, properties and approved programs. DPR’s lender business has grown rapidly as the purchase mortgage market dominated.

DPR’s public website allows homebuyers to complete a self-directed search for down payment help.

The company has also published a wide-range of research reports in collaboration with housing leaders including ATTOM Data, Realtor.com, NerdWallet, Freddie Mac and the Urban Institute, that help illustrate the down payment challenges and opportunities for today’s homebuyers.

“Over the past 10 years, I’ve been encouraged to see the industry more fully embrace the importance of affordable housing programs, helping us collectively serve a wider range of homebuyers. We look forward to a day where homeownership programs are fully integrated into the housing finance process beginning with the first conversation between a buyer and the professionals who serve them,” said Chrane.

Commemorating DPR’s 10^th anniversary

To celebrate the company’s success, DPR has planned a series of initiatives to highlight the importance of affordable homeownership:

• DPR will work with Giveback Homes to sponsor two Habitat for Humanity build days – one in Austin, Texas with volunteers from Austin Board of Realtors, and another in Atlanta, Georgia, DPR’s headquarters.
• DPR will introduce the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award, in memory of accomplished real estate industry veteran and one of DPR’s first employees. Beverly Faull was a tireless advocate for the company’s mission of helping homebuyers access down payment programs. The award, to be announced in the fall, will recognize someone who has demonstrated leadership in providing more access to homeownership and affordable housing finance solutions.
• DPR is partnering with mortgage insurance provider MGIC to enhance consumer understanding of the availability and benefits of down payment assistance through content on its consumer site, ReadyNest.com.
• DPR, along with Freddie Mac, will commission the second annual Barriers to Homeownership report from the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center.

Quotes from housing industry leaders

“Affordable homeownership is a good news story for everyone – lenders, borrowers and communities. However, families and housing professionals often aren’t aware of the availability of programs to assist with one of the primary barriers to homeownership—making the down payment. We’re proud to partner with Down Payment Resource on initiatives that make a positive difference in the housing ecosystem, and ultimately help more Americans finance their dream of owning a home.” — Danny Gardner, Senior Vice President Affordable Lending and Access to Credit, Freddie Mac

“MGIC was founded sixty years ago on the idea that homeownership should be attainable. Down payment assistance, like private mortgage insurance, is a powerful tool that helps place people and families into homes and creates stronger communities.” — Margaret Crowley, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience at MGIC

“Over the past 10 years, consumers are increasingly doing more home buying research before engaging with an agent. Agents need to be able to articulate how they can help their buyer save money on their real estate transaction — that includes opening a discussion about down payment programs. It’s a step that can help agents earn their clients’ gratitude and future referrals for years to come.” — Bernice Ross, CEO and President, BrokerageUP!,Inc. and RealEstateCoach.com

“Down payment program dollars often cross the closing table to the seller and generate commissions on a sale that may not have happened without that assistance. As welcome as the additional income is to the agents and brokers involved, the appreciation for the role of the real estate professional in making the dream of homeownership real is something that can’t be measured except when that new homeowner makes their next move.

Parker Principle #9 coming out of the Inman Disconnect conference earlier this year is for the industry to ‘Fight for more ‘available’ housing.” DPR is a step in the direction of achieving that goal while highlighting the role of the real estate professional as an invaluable and invested resource committed to helping every American become part of a homeownership success story.” — John Mosey, President & CEO, NorthstarMLS

Download the full press release and timeline.

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