REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
Businesswire | May 09, 2023
EasyKnock, the first technology-enabled residential sale-leaseback platform, today announced its acquisition of Ribbon, a pioneer of powerbuying and cash offer solutions. The transaction is a major milestone for the real estate industry, bringing together homebuying, homeselling, and agent solutions into one unified and simplified experience.
“We are thrilled to bring Ribbon and EasyKnock’s cutting edge financial products together under one roof to provide more options and a competitive advantage to consumers and industry partners nation-wide,” said Jarred Kessler, CEO and co-founder of EasyKnock. “This marks the beginning of a new wave of innovation in the real estate sector, the advent of PropTech 3.0. By combining these product suites and offering solutions for every stop along the homeownership journey, we are better positioned to responsibly empower more families with the financial flexibility and control they need to achieve their goals.”
In bringing the teams together, EasyKnock is accelerating the development of its marketplace planned to launch later this year; a new, more fulsome suite of products and services that will offer consumers alternative ways to buy and sell, finance new homes, and utilize their equity in one place. Recognizing that a new way is needed, the marketplace will benefit everyday Americans with convenience, cost savings, and the competitive edge afforded by the combination of multiple services, positively impacting not only existing and prospective homeowners, but the industry altogether.
“Making homeownership achievable has been Ribbon’s mission and guiding light since its inception. EasyKnock and Ribbon share a vision of enhancing consumer choice in the industry, facilitating its success and enabling a more simplified buying and selling experience.” said Shaival Shah, CEO and co-founder of Ribbon. “We are thrilled to come together with EasyKnock and their pioneering sale-leaseback offering to provide solutions to more and more people. Combined with Ribbon’s award-winning homebuying solutions and network of 90,000 agents and lenders, we are motivated to empower consumers across the country.”
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. Following the acquisition, the EasyKnock and Ribbon teams will work with strategic partners to bring their expanded product suite to key markets with an eye towards national expansion.
Goodwin Proctor, a global law firm, acted as legal advisor and Temple View Capital, a Bethesda, Maryland-based business purpose lender, provided financing on the transaction. Terms were not disclosed.
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. For more information, please visit www.easyknock.com.
About Ribbon
Founded in 2017 in New York and Charlotte, Ribbon is on a mission to make homeownership achievable. Ribbon allows everyday families to compete on a level playing field with high-net-worth individuals and institutional buyers by upgrading their offers to winning RibbonCash Offers. As the leading real estate technology platform, Ribbon empowers agents, brokerages, and lenders to create a world-class experience for homebuyers and sellers through powerful financial products and digital workflow software.
Read More
REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, MORTGAGE AND LENDING
Accesswire | May 04, 2023
Stavvy, the fintech company reshaping digital and remote collaboration for lending and real estate companies, today announced that they have entered into an agreement with WFG National Title Insurance Company (WFG), a leading provider of title insurance and real estate settlement services for commercial and residential transactions nationwide, through which they will provide the company and its customers with eClosing technology solutions. This exciting collaboration aims to empower clients with cutting-edge technology solutions that drive customer experience, enhance digital protection, and combat fraud during the closing process.
As the world becomes more digital, the demand for secure and efficient eClosings has grown rapidly. Whether customers want a fully digital solution or a hybrid closing approach, Stavvy and WFG will work together to provide clients with digital closing solutions and a seamless closing experience.
"Stavvy is incredibly excited to work with WFG to bring innovative eClosing solutions to the masses," said Kosta Ligris, Founder and CEO of Stavvy. "Our collaboration will enable us to leverage our strengths and expertise to deliver a digitally integrated and secure closing experience that is sure to exceed buyer expectations."
WFG is well known for its dedication to outstanding customer experience and improving the closing process for everyone. The company knows that in today's tech-driven era, consumers are increasingly seeking flexible digital solutions for their real estate needs. WFG and Stavvy have come together to provide cutting-edge remote online notarization (RON) services that offer an unparalleled level of digital security with knowledge-based authentication (KBA), easy access to closing documentation, and flexible scheduling.
"We understand the importance of innovation and adapting to new technologies in our industry," said WFG SVP, National Escrow Advisor Natalie Koonce. "Through our relationship with Stavvy, we are excited to offer our clients eClosing solutions that enhance the overall efficiency of the real estate and mortgage lending industries, while also providing a seamless and secure closing experience."
The Stavvy digital mortgage platform, built by industry experts, is designed to simplify and maximize mortgage lending, real estate, and legal workflows. With Stavvy, clients can expect various benefits, including greater convenience, heightened security, and enhanced efficiency.
About Stavvy
Stavvy is a Boston-based, venture-backed financial technology company building solutions to manage security risk, eliminate fragmentation, and increase speed, efficiency, and transparency in real estate and mortgage lending. The company's mission is to transform fragmented workflows into trusted and seamless experiences where technology does the work so people can focus on what matters most. Its platform offers eClosing functionality, including eSign, digital notarization, and video conferencing designed for real estate and mortgage professionals. To learn more, visit stavvy.com.
About WFG National Title Insurance Company
Portland, Oregon-based WFG National Title Insurance Company (WFG), a Williston Financial Group company, is a leading provider of title insurance and real estate settlement services for commercial and residential transactions nationwide. One of just six truly national title underwriters, WFG accomplished its national footprint faster than any other underwriter in history.
Built around the directive to "communicate, collaborate, coexist," WFG strives to improve the real estate process through the creation and delivery of comprehensive, innovative services and technology solutions that empower and increase transaction transparency for the title agents, real estate professionals, lenders, and consumers it serves. The company enjoys a Financial Stability Rating of A' (A prime), as assigned by Demotech, Inc. For more information, visit www.wfgtitle.com.
Read More
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, BUYING/SELLING
PRnewswire | April 05, 2023
GTIS Partners ("GTIS"), a global real estate investment firm managing $4.3 billion in gross assets with a U.S. focus on residential and industrial/logistics investments, today announced the launch of Tavalo, a dedicated build-to-rent community development company and a subsidiary of GTIS.
Tavalo creates places where people live, play, and gather. Developing purpose built communities that provide a variety of product types and an amenitized lifestyle experience through thoughtful planning and design, reimagining what it means to rent.
GTIS conducts macro research into what drives value and returns for build-to-rent communities and applies bespoke approaches to every market in which it develops. By evaluating each location and shaping communities around its research, the company is able to remain agile, adjusting the design, programming, and amenities of each community to fit the needs of all residents. GTIS remains committed to ESG efforts through Tavalo, utilizing design and product construction to deliver sustainable solutions from energy and water efficiency to smart home technology.
Tavalo has already completed its first of many planned build-to-rent community projects, called Tavalo at Cadence, which is located in Mesa, Arizona and includes a total of 197 build-to-rent units, a fully equipped gym, a yoga studio, three resort-inspired pools and a spa. Additionally, by using HercuWall, a panelized wall system comprised of concrete, steel, and EPS, energy costs at Cadence have been reduced by 20 to 40%.
"We are thrilled to announce the launch of Tavalo," said Tom Shapiro, President and Chief Investment Officer of GTIS. "The unique value of self-developing these build-to-rent projects is that we can bring our team's collective expertise and research capabilities together to create and provide beautiful and thoughtful communities for renters across the U.S." He added, "We look forward to developing additional communities under Tavalo."
In addition to Tavalo at Cadence, the company has begun work on seven additional build-to-rent communities in both the greater Phoenix area and South Florida. Locations include Queen Creek, Glendale, Avondale and Surprise in Arizona as well as Wesley Chapel, San Antonio and Port St. Lucie in Florida. Upon completion of these projects, Tavalo and GTIS will have developed approximately 2,100 build-to-rent units.
About GTIS Partners
GTIS Partners is a global real estate investment firm in the Americas, headquartered in New York with offices in São Paulo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Dallas, Paris and Munich. The firm was started in 2005 and is managed by President and founder Tom Shapiro and seven other partners The firm manages $4.3 billion in gross assets and is active across a wide range of real estate sectors including single family and multifamily housing, office, industrial/logistics and hospitality as well as opportunity zone investments. The firm invests at various points in the capital structure including credit, common equity and structured equity. In the US, GTIS has invested in over 190 assets across 40 unique markets including growth areas such as Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Tampa and Charlotte. In Brazil, GTIS is among the largest real estate private equity firms with holdings including office, residential, logistics, and hospitality investments. Marquee assets developed by GTIS Partners in São Paulo include the Infinity office building and Palácio Tangará, a five-star resort style hotel. For more information, please visit www.gtispartners.com.
Read More