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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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, AGENT
PRnewswire | March 20, 2023
RentSpree, the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, announced its latest partnership with SkySlope, a full-service transaction management solution recently named one of the top 20 proptech companies of 2022.
Integrating RentSpree's online standard rental application and screening platform with SkySlope's transaction management capabilities will help agents save time and streamline the rental process even further.
"We are always looking for strategic collaboration opportunities with other industry leaders to help provide best-in-class technology solutions for real estate professionals," said Michael Lucarelli, CEO and Co-Founder of RentSpree. "SkySlope is a key player in their space, and combining forces enables us to support rental agents in the most effective way possible."
SkySlope, which provides time-saving solutions for real estate transactions from contract to close, was founded in 2011 and now serves more than 650,000 real estate professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada.
"At SkySlope, we are always mindful of how we can serve the changing needs of real estate professionals," said SkySlope CEO Tyler Smith. "Therefore, combining forces with RentSpree is another sensible step in achieving that mission."
RentSpree offers an all-in-one suite of tools, including background and credit checks, rent estimates, renters' insurance and rent payments. Its Agent Tools feature supports holistic rental management for agents, from advertising and nurturing leads to seamlessly diversifying their client portfolio, as well as supporting their rental clients' transition to homeownership in due time.
"We are very deliberate in the partnerships we seek across different segments of the real estate sector," said Caroline Mulvey, Senior Client Success Manager at RentSpree. "Collaborations with top-notch proptech firms such as SkySlope are key as technology will continue to play an increasingly important part in making the daily lives of agents and brokers easier and more efficient."
About RentSpree
Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps seamlessly connect real estate agents, owners, and renters to simplify and automate the entire rental process, from listing to lease. The all-in-one platform is known across all 50 states for its easy and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree is ranked 625th on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022. Visit http://www.rentspree.com for more information.
About SkySlope
Established in 2011, SkySlope is the customer experience platform managing real estate transactions from contract to close. Serving over 650,000 real estate professionals across the U.S. and Canada, SkySlope manages nearly 3 million transactions annually. SkySlope is on a mission to build solutions that reshape the real estate industry by creating the most powerful autonomous transaction platform. For more information, visit www.SkySlope.com
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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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