AGENT, MORTGAGE AND LENDING
Knock | January 25, 2023
Knock, an innovative fintech company, announced on January 24, 2023, that agents and consumers would no longer have to choose between working with their local or national lenders.
The company informed that any lender or agent can now add a no-interest equity advance loan from Knock to almost any conventional or jumbo mortgage to increase the benefits of Knock Home SwapTM. In addition, homeowners can win their desired property and move on their timeline by matching Knock Home Swap Equity Advance with a purchase mortgage.
Knock Co-Founder and CEO Sean Black stated, "Since 2015, our mission has been to empower people to move freely, and we have continued to raise the bar when it comes to making the process of buying and selling homes simple, certain and cost-effective."
"Many companies offer home loans, but no one else offers the Home Swap. By partnering with lenders, we are making it easier for consumers to get the benefits of leveraging the equity in their current house to buy their dream home without any of the hassles that typically come with buying and selling, including the ability to avoid moving twice and living through repairs and showings," he added.
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
Before putting their current house on the market, a homeowner can use Knock Home Swap Equity Advance to make a firm offer, negotiate, and close quickly on the home they want.
Knock Home Swap Equity Advance loan can also be used to make up to a 30% down payment, buy down the mortgage rate, cover closing expenses, cover up to $35,000 in home preparation costs to sell the old house for top cash, and pay up to six months of mortgage payments on the previous house. Besides, Knock's Home Prep & Marketability Allowance gives access to its approved contractor network and pays all bills out of homeowners' equity.
About Knock
Knock was started in 2015 by founding team members of Trulia.com. Since then, it has raised more than $600 million in debt and equity from top investors. National Association of Realtors® is a strategic investor in Knock through its investment arm, Second Century Ventures. This means that Knock's homeownership solutions can be sold to its clients by its 1.5 million members. The company currently operates 72 markets across the country but wishes to expand to 100 by 2023.
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MARKET OUTLOOK, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
FirstBank | February 23, 2023
FirstBank, a Nashville-based community banking provider to businesses, families, and individuals, recently announced an investment in Zippy, the fintech company that offers seamless manufactured home loans. By combining its knowledge with Zippy's groundbreaking technology, FirstBank is able to increase access to affordable homeownership and demonstrate its dedication to providing cutting-edge banking solutions for its local communities.
Zippy is at present available in nine states including Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Arizona, and Indiana, and intending to double its current footprint in 2023. Zippy supports customers access for community-sold homes in master-planned communities that provide homeowners with amenities through the home loans the company offers. The amenities it helps with include workout facilities, community pools, playground and more.
FirstBank has a vast experience in home lending manufacturing, and with investment in Zippy it will offer manufactured homes that are well-constructed and provide much-needed affordability amidst the current housing crisis in the United States. Zippy was created by former JP Morgan bankers, CEO Ben Halliday, and COO/President Jordan Bucy. They became community owners after acquiring a manufactured home community and completing a four-year renovation project. This experience gave them insight into the challenges facing the industry and a respect for the manufactured housing model. They then developed a unique online platform that can provide competitive loans in just five days.
Wade Peery, Chief Innovations Officer at FirstBank, said, "FirstBank has extensive experience in manufactured home lending and has invested in fintech partnerships that enable us to offer innovative solutions that meet the needs of our customers.“ He also said, "In today's housing market, finding new paths to affordable homeownership is critical. This partnership will make buying a home possible for many new individuals and families."
(Source: Cision PR Newswire)
About FirstBank
FirstBank is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and has 82 full-service branches in Tennessee, South Central Kentucky, Alabama, and North Georgia, in addition to mortgage offices located throughout the Southeast. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of FB Financial Corporation with an approximate total assets valued at $12.8 billion. Established in 1906, FirstBank's approach to serving businesses, families, and individuals within the communities it calls home has prioritized local banking. FirstBank has grown through acquisitions and internal expansion to become a leading provider of core banking services.
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust | February 17, 2023
On February 16, 2023, Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust announced it has agreed to issue a $550 million total principal amount of series S senior unsecured debentures on a private placement basis in certain provinces of Canada. The senior unsecured debentures will bear interest at a rate of 5.400% per annum, and its maturity will be on March 1, 2033.
A syndicate of agents co-led by BMO Capital Markets, TD Securities, CIBC Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, and Scotiabank is offering the Debentures on an agency basis. The Offering is predicted to close on March 1, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Investment Trust plans to use the net proceeds from the Offering to pay off its outstanding $250 million total principal amount of 3.196% series G senior unsecured debentures due on March 7, 2023, to repay all or part of the remaining amount drawn on the Trust's credit facility, and for other general business purposes.
For the Offering to close, DBRS Limited must rate the Debentures as at least "BBB" (high) with a "stable" On February 16, 2023, Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust announced it has agreed to issue a $550 million total principal amount of series S senior unsecured debentures on a private placement basis in certain provinces of Canada. The senior unsecured debentures will bear interest at a rate of 5.400% per annum, and its maturity will be on March 1, 2023.
A syndicate of agents co-led by BMO Capital Markets, TD Securities, CIBC Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, and Scotiabank is offering the Debentures on an agency basis. The Offering is predicted to close on March 1, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Investment Trust plans to use the net proceeds from the Offering to pay off its outstanding $250 million total principal amount of 3.196% series G senior unsecured debentures due on March 7, 2023, to repay all or part of the remaining amount drawn on the Trust's credit facility, and for other general business purposes.
For the Offering to close, DBRS Limited must rate the Debentures as at least "BBB" (high) with a "stable" trend, and Standard and Poor's Ratings Services must rate them as at least "BBB." The Debentures will rank equally with the Trust's other unsecured indebtedness that has not been subordinated.
As amended, the Debentures made available are not registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, and they cannot be offered or sold in the U.S. without registration or an exemption from the registration requirements.
About Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust
One of the leading Real Estate Investment Trust, Choice Properties creates enduring value through the operation, ownership and development of high-quality commercial and residential properties. The company believes that creating spaces that improve how our tenants and communities live, work, and connect adds value. Therefore, it strives to understand our tenants' needs and manage our properties to the highest possible standard. It is a Toronto, Ontario-based company that aims to build sustainable communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally sound. Its core values are care, ownership, respect, and excellence, and they inform all that Choice Properties do.
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