REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, MORTGAGE AND LENDING
PRnewswire | May 23, 2023
Rocket Mortgage, the nation's largest retail home lender and part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), today introduced ONE+, a new 1% down home loan program that will dramatically increase access to homeownership for millions of low-to-moderate-income earning Americans.
With ONE+, a homebuyer is only required to make a down payment of 1% of the purchase price and Rocket Mortgage will cover the remaining 2% needed to reach the required threshold for conventional loans. In addition to reducing upfront costs, ONE+ completely eliminates the expensive monthly mortgage insurance fee for the client – which is traditionally required if the buyer places less than 20% down on their purchase.
"Rocket Mortgage prides itself on finding innovative solutions and lending programs that help clients achieve their goals in any market cycle. No other lender has a mortgage option that makes affordable homeownership possible for as many Americans as ONE+," said Bob Walters, CEO of Rocket Mortgage. "We talk with people from all walks of life every single day – many of whom are ready to own a home, and could easily make the monthly mortgage payments, but are having trouble saving for a down payment. ONE+ is a response to that feedback and the latest example of Rocket's commitment to creating programs that help make homeownership more attainable."
Designed to help everyday Americans achieve homeownership, ONE+ is available to homebuyers purchasing single-family homes – including manufactured homes – whose income is equal to or less than 80% of their area median income (AMI). With this expansive AMI eligibility, Rocket Mortgage estimates that more than 90 million people can meet the income requirements for this program – based on publicly available income data.
As an example of the savings possible through ONE+, a homebuyer purchasing a $250,000 home typically needs a minimum of 3% down, or $7,500. Now, they will only need a $2,500 down payment. In addition, ONE+ offers mortgage insurance at no cost to the client, which on a $242,500 loan, can be as much as $245 per month. That improves a homeowner's monthly cash flow and can save as much as $20,500 over the first seven years after closing – the average amount of time mortgage insurance needs to be paid.
This is the third initiative Rocket Mortgage has launched in the last six months with affordability in mind. Other programs such as BorrowSmart Access and Purchase Plus focus on addressing challenges for homebuyers in underserved communities. By offering a $3,000 credit with BorrowSmart Access and a $7,500 credit with Purchase Plus, hurdles such as closing costs and down payments are lessened and accessibility is increased.
Homebuyers can apply for ONE+ using Rocket Mortgage's industry-leading digital mortgage experience at RocketOnePlus.com and on the Rocket Mortgage mobile app. They can also apply through one of the thousands of mortgage brokers across the country who partner with the lender through Rocket Pro TPO.
About Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage is one of the nation's largest home lenders, closing more mortgage volume than any other lender in 2022, and is a part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT). The lender enables the American Dream of homeownership and financial freedom through its obsession with an industry-leading, digital-driven client experience. In late 2015, it introduced the first fully digital, completely online mortgage experience. Since its founding in 1985, Rocket Mortgage has closed more than $1.6 trillion of mortgage volume across all 50 states.
Rocket Mortgage is ranked highest in the country for client satisfaction in mortgage origination by J.D. Power. Combining the mortgage origination and servicing studies, Rocket Mortgage has earned 20 total accolades from J.D. Power – the most of any mortgage lender. Rocket Companies, Rocket Mortgage's parent company, ranked #11 on Fortune's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2022 and has placed in the top third of the list for 20 consecutive years.
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MARKET OUTLOOK, REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY
PRweb | May 23, 2023
Global real estate brokerage The Agency proudly announces the launch of its first franchise office in Indianapolis, Indiana. The new locale, which will be known as The Agency Indianapolis, is the firm’s first office in the state of Indiana, and second in the Midwest following Birmingham, Michigan, which opened in 2022. The Indianapolis office joins the brokerage’s growing network of more than 80 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe and will be led by industry veteran and Managing Partner Traci Garontakos. Traci and her team will service the greater Indianapolis region with a focus on the city’s thriving suburbs of Zionsville, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, and Fishers.
“We’re thrilled to continue our expansion across the Midwest with the launch of our first office in Indiana,” said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and Founder of The Agency. “We’re delighted to partner with Traci Garontakos, a well-respected and accomplished professional in our industry, as we unveil our new location in Indianapolis.”
The Agency has rapidly expanded its presence across the globe throughout the past year, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury boutique brokerages in the world. The Agency’s independently-owned brokerages are referred to and integrated as true global partners. Every Managing Partner, from both corporate or independently-owned offices, operates cohesively as one true global network. Rather than simply using brand likeness in their marketing, The Agency’s global partners enjoy the same access to leadership, marketing, public relations, training, tools, and technology as our corporate offices. In Q1 of 2023 alone, The Agency launched eight new offices, with more on the horizon in the coming months.
“Indianapolis is a thriving market that holds great synergy with The Agency brand as we continue to deepen our brokerage’s presence in the Midwest,” said Jim Ramsay, Executive Vice President of Franchise Sales at The Agency. “We look forward to servicing this thriving destination as we bring The Agency’s unparalleled network and resources to buyers and sellers throughout Indianapolis.”
Traci Garontakos serves as Managing Partner of The Agency Indianapolis and is a proud resident of Zionsville, as well as a highly accomplished real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience in building lasting business relationships. With a passion for design and a personal commitment to working tirelessly for her clients, Traci has established herself as a trusted and respected figure in the local real estate industry. As a top producer for many years, Traci has a deep understanding of the luxury real estate market and has developed a keen eye for identifying the best opportunities for her clients, who appreciate her attention to detail and ability to make the buying and selling process as stress-free as possible. She has a reputation for going above and beyond to ensure her clients are satisfied and happy with their real estate transactions. Traci has built a team of dedicated professionals who share her commitment to excellence, resulting in $50 million in annual sales in 2022. As a top producer in the luxury real estate industry, Traci’s reputation for exceptional service and results speaks for itself.
“The Agency’s global brand presence and innovative marketing align perfectly with the culture of our business and the city of Indianapolis,” said Traci Garontakos. “I am excited to lead our team and continue to serve the greater Indianapolis region and its suburbs, which continue to experience unprecedented growth and development while maintaining the charm, beauty, and idyllic Midwestern lifestyle afforded within our local community.”
With solid infrastructure, The Agency has a renowned brand that is featured on international television shows including “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” and “Buying Beverly Hills,” which debuted on Netflix on November 4, 2022 and just announced its second season. The Agency has grown to more than 80 corporately owned and franchise offices across the globe, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury boutique brokerages in the world. Poised for further expansion with like-minded partners in strategic markets, The Agency is noted by The Financial Times as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies and has ranked among Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing private companies in the country for six consecutive years. Recently, The Agency ranked 18th on the 2023 RealTrends 500 list, and ranked as the fifth-largest privately held independent brokerage in the nation by sales volume. In August 2022, Inman named The Agency Luxury Brokerage of the year.
The Agency Indianapolis is situated within a historic farmhouse known as The Holliday House at Holliday Farms, located at 3546 South US 421, Zionsville, IN 46077.
The Agency
The Agency is an agent-first, tech-driven boutique luxury global brokerage representing clients worldwide in a broad spectrum of classes, including residential, new development, resort real estate, luxury leasing and vacation rentals. Breaking away from the traditional brokerage model, The Agency takes a collaborative approach to the business, fostering a culture of partnership in which all clients and listings are represented in a collaborative environment. Agents and clients benefit from the shared resources and networks of the entire global team, including in-house creative, public relations and cutting-edge technology divisions. The Agency has closed more than $57 billion real estate transactions since 2011, comprising over 80 offices in ten countries, and counting, as one of the fastest-growing boutique, luxury real estate brands in the world. Watch The Agency on Buying Beverly Hills, a new real estate occu-soap highlighting the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles, currently streaming on Netflix.
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, MORTGAGE AND LENDING
Businesswire | May 19, 2023
Sagent, a Warburg Pincus-backed fintech software company modernizing mortgage servicing for banks and lenders, today announced a seven-year partnership extension with American Savings Bank (”ASB”) to continue powering its mortgage servicing ecosystem.
American Savings Bank will continue powering its scale servicing operations with Sagent’s cloud-based LoanServ system of record. For more than two decades, ASB has relied on Sagent’s nimble, highly configurable servicing technology to automate complex, high-volume tasks and workflows, deliver a better customer experience, and adapt in real time to constantly evolving customer and regulatory requirements.
“American Savings Bank’s high-touch, high-tech banking is the key to lifting up the communities we serve and making their dreams possible. Sagent’s cloud-native platform combines the best of core banking and mortgage servicing technology that makes things easier for our customers and our team members who serve them,” said Tony Au, Director of Consumer Loan Operations at American Savings Bank.
“We genuinely appreciate how Sagent helps American Savings Bank offer the most modern customer experience while adding our special human touch, and how Sagent’s platform depth enables us to manage every little service and compliance detail. This is what sets us apart.”
Since 1987, Hawaii-based American Savings Bank has served Hawaii’s businesses and communities, providing a full range of financial products and services including business and consumer banking, home loans, and insurance. ASB matches its exceptional customer experience with an employee experience that has garnered local recognition as one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work for 13 consecutive years, as well as national recognition by American Banker Magazine (Best Banks to Work For) and Fortune Magazine (100 Best Workplaces for Women and 50 Best Workplaces for Diversity).
“American Savings Bank is a market leader because they get how to combine high-touch service with high-tech experiences for their customers and teams. Sagent is honored to help power this industry-best customer experience, and after our long relationship, I feel like we’re just getting started,” said Dan Sogorka, CEO at Sagent.
“With the help of long-time customers like American Savings Bank, Sagent continues to build out our platforms to engage and retain their customers for life. We listen to what they and their borrowers need, then keep building our cloud-based core, default, and consumer platforms to manage every granular detail of their loan servicing business.”
Sagent’s cloud-native, open-API mortgage servicing platforms are the industry’s only scale systems all synchronized by real-time data. This is the latest in a series of Sagent moves to transform the homeowner experience for financial orgs servicing millions of consumers with trillions in mortgage balances.
About Sagent
Sagent powers America’s top bank and nonbank lenders to engage, care for, retain, and modernize the homeownership experience for millions of borrowers. Servicers use our flexible, scalable, and configurable solutions to engage borrowers and earn customer loyalty, lower servicing costs, ensure compliance, and increase the value of servicing rights throughout full market cycles. Sagent is backed by Warburg Pincus, one of the world’s leading private equity investors, and powers trillions in outstanding mortgage servicing for its customers. Visit www.sagent.com to learn more.
About American Savings Bank
American Savings Bank (ASB) has been serving Hawaii’s businesses and communities since 1987 and provides a full range of financial products and services, including business and consumer banking, home loans, and insurance. ASB is one of Hawaii’s leading financial institutions, with online banking services and branch locations in the state offering evening and weekend hours. ASB provides Hawaii’s consumers and businesses with more extended weekday and weekend hours than other similarly sized local banks, as well as a convenient in-store location.
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