Home and Design
EasyKnock | August 17, 2023
Ribbon, powered by EasyKnock, announces today that RibbonCash – its pioneering cash offer solution – has relaunched in Atlanta and Charlotte.
As one of the pioneers of powerbuying solutions, Ribbon has considered Atlanta and Charlotte as its historical home base, driving the company’s success since its founding in 2017. Ribbon’s product reached around 2 percent of the overall closings in the Atlanta market in 2022, an achievement indicative of the appetite for homeownership.
“The EasyKnock and Ribbon teams could not be more excited to announce the return of RibbonCash to Charlotte and Atlanta,” said Jarred Kessler, CEO of EasyKnock. The Southeast in general remains competitive according to Bankrate’s Housing Heat Index. According to the index, despite price declines elsewhere in the United States, the Southeast has held steady due to comparatively affordable prices. Ribbon aims to tap into this reality for everyday homebuyers who seek ways to achieve homeownership for themselves or their family.
“We believe the Southeast maintains a culture of homeownership that withstands shifts in the market. Mortgage rates and inventory may ebb and flow, but achieving homeownership - and seeking the leading tools to compete - has not,” Kessler said.
“We continue to be bullish on Atlanta, Charlotte, and the Southeast overall.” By working with real estate agents and loan officers, and not competing with them as a direct-to-consumer offering like iBuyers, Ribbon sustains its reputation for empowering the real estate ecosystem.
EasyKnock acquired the assets of Ribbon in 2023. Both EasyKnock and Ribbon have forged strong partnerships in residential real estate by using best-in–class technology that connects consumers with loan officers, real estate agents, and other participants in the homebuying and home selling experience.
Together, Ribbon and EasyKnock are ushering in a new chapter for the real estate industry, creating a one-stop shop for financial solutions that serve homeowners, buyers, and sellers across the country.
About EasyKnock
EasyKnock is the first-to-market, technology-enabled residential sale-leaseback company in the U.S. Through innovative and accessible solutions, American homeowners who sell their property to EasyKnock can remain in their homes as renters while still getting the cash they need to pursue their financial goals. Headquartered in New York City and founded in 2016, EasyKnock has team members nationwide working to help homeowners unlock their financial freedom through non-loan programs so they can pay off debts, buy their dream home, fund a venture, and more - all while maintaining the ability to stay in their homes and communities. In 2023, EasyKnock acquired the assets of Ribbon Home and continues to offer Ribbon products to customers.
Read More
Real Estate Investment, Mortgage and Lending
Globenewswire | July 07, 2023
The National Rental Home Council (NRHC), the trade association representing the single-family rental home (SFR) industry, and Esusu, the leading fintech company leveraging rent reporting for credit-building, announced a groundbreaking partnership. Esusu will offer its financial health platform to residents in single-family rental homes owned and operated by NRHC members, aiming to improve their livelihood and financial well-being.
This collaboration between Esusu and NRHC is a pivotal moment in the rental home industry. By enabling rent reporting, both organizations champion financial inclusion and empower renters to build credit histories that can transform their lives. Rent reporting provides SFR residents with a unique opportunity to establish and enhance their credit profiles, granting improved access to credit, mortgages, and other financial services that were previously out of reach. The impact of this partnership extends beyond individuals and will benefit communities across the country and the industry as a whole.
Since its establishment in 2018, Esusu has empowered millions of renters to improve their credit scores by reporting on-time rent payments to major credit bureaus. Alongside credit-building opportunities, the Esusu platform offers renters comprehensive tools, including financial literacy content, community resources, and rent relief funds to navigate financial emergencies. With this partnership, Esusu will significantly expand its reach within the growing SFR industry, addressing the needs of a vast and diverse segment of the population that has often been underserved.
NRHC, known for its commitment to advancing the SFR industry and fostering sustainable communities, recognizes the immense potential of rent reporting as a catalyst for positive change. By partnering with Esusu, NRHC demonstrates its dedication to improving the financial well-being and stability of SFR residents, encouraging SFR owners and operators to provide this meaningful and differentiated amenity to their residents.
“Esusu and NRHC share an unwavering commitment to preserving economic mobility and fortifying the financial fabric of neighborhoods throughout the nation,” emphasized Samir Goel and Wemimo Abbey, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Esusu. “This momentous partnership will empower communities across the country to tap into Esusu's comprehensive platform for resident financial health. By joining forces with NRHC, we aim to catalyze significant strides towards our vision of bridging the racial wealth gap and paving pathways to prosperity for residents in single-family rental homes.”
“NRHC is proud to be at the forefront of this transformative partnership with Esusu,” said David Howard, CEO of NRHC. “Together, we are ushering in a new era of financial empowerment for residents of single-family rental homes. By embracing rent reporting, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable housing landscape, ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to achieve their financial goals."
“Progress Residential is proud to have been a pioneer in offering positive rent reporting in the single-family rental industry through our partnership with Esusu,” said Adolfo Villagomez, Chief Executive Officer of Progress Residential. “Since launching in March 2022, 57 percent of our participating residents have seen increases in their credit scores, and more than 5,000 residents established first time credit scores, unlocking greater financial potential. We commend NRHC for advocating for the expansion of rent reporting, and we are excited about the transformative impact today’s announcement will make on the financial well-being of so many individuals and families across the SFR industry."
“We are pleased to work directly with Esusu on free reporting of positive rent payments for our residents, and this partnership between NRHC and Esusu is a powerful build that provides many SFR residents the full suite of financial planning tools that Esusu offers,” said Dallas Tanner, CEO of Invitation Homes. “Our residents appreciate the choice and flexibility offered by a single-family rental home, and the partnerships with Esusu offer tools that can further help SFR residents realize their financial goals.”
The collaboration of all involved is a testament to their shared vision of a future where financial opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background. This historic partnership will propel the industry forward, empowering millions of SFR residents and fostering a more prosperous and inclusive society.
About Esusu
Esusu is the leading financial technology platform that leverages data solutions to empower residents and improve property performance. Esusu's rent reporting platform captures rental payment data and reports it to credit bureaus to boost credit scores. This allows renters to build and establish their credit scores while helping property owners mitigate against initiating evictions, powered by differentiated data and insights. Founded in 2018, Esusu reaches over 4 million rental units across all 50 states in the United States.
About NRHC
The National Rental Home Council (NRHC) is the nonprofit trade association representing the single-family rental home industry. NRHC members provide families and individuals with access to high-quality, single-family rental homes that contribute to the vitality and vibrancy of neighborhoods and communities.
Read More
Real Estate Technology, Real Estate Investment
PRnewswire | June 27, 2023
FirstClose, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Georgia United Credit Union, one of the largest and strongest credit unions in Georgia, has chosen FirstClose Equity as its end-to-end digital home equity platform to meet the demands of its more than 150,000 credit union members.
Serving Georgia since 1958, Georgia United Credit Union is a full-service credit union with a dozen branches across the Atlanta metropolitan area, as well as Athens, Dalton, and Dublin. The organization's purpose-driven commitment in service is the reason Georgia United stands out from other financial institutions and has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State Credit Union for four years in a row.
Using FirstClose Equity, Georgia United Credit Union will be able to reduce its time to close and provide an exceptional member experience for home equity transactions. Borrowers can get feedback on their home valuation, available equity, get prequalified, submit for a loan and receive a conditional approval all within minutes. With this solution, processors have one solution for ordering all required settlement services while never leaving their loan origination system (LOS), eliminating the need for manual data entry.
"Operational efficiency is key to sustainable, long-term member satisfaction," said Andrew Woodman, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending and Loan Trading with Georgia United Credit Union. "Our members deserve an elegant, streamlined front-end vehicle to apply for a home equity transaction and achieve transparency. We want members to spend more quality time building relationships with their Home Loan Consultant and ultimately close loans faster which is why we selected FirstClose Equity. It puts us in a better position for those challenges and demands for future success."
FirstClose Equity is a one-of-a-kind home equity origination solution that reduces operational touchpoints and improves the overall customer experience for borrowers. The end-to-end platform includes a borrower-facing point-of-sale solution that gives consumers instant online feedback on their home valuation, available home equity, loan options and delivers credit decisions in minutes. Automated workflows, including the ordering of settlement services, enable lenders to complete the application through closing process in as little as ten days versus the industry average of 45 to 60 days.
"We're excited to power an enhanced home equity experience at Georgia United," said Tedd Smith, Chief Executive Officer of FirstClose. "Providing technology to help their members keep their existing low mortgage rate and tap into their equity at a faster pace, will be a gamechanger."
About Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is ranked as one of the state's largest credit unions with $2 billion in assets and over 150,000 members. As a full-service financial institution, they offer competitive products and services for every stage of life. Visit gucu.org to learn more.
About FirstClose
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, FirstClose, Inc. provides fintech solutions to HELOC and mortgage lenders nationwide. The company's mission is to increase profitability and reduce cost for mortgage lenders. FirstClose makes this possible through offering systems and relationships that enable lenders to assist the lender's borrowers more effectively, reduce closing costs, and ultimately shorten closing times. For more information, visit firstclose.com.
Read More