The Financial Innovation Creating an On-Ramp for First Time Homebuyers

In partnership with

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Frank Rohde, the Founder and CEO of Ownify, a company creating a new path to ownership by partnering aspiring first time homebuyers with socially conscious investors. Frank is a serial entrepreneur with a long track record of success and someone who deeply understands the financial, social, and political barriers standing in the way of widespread, affordable homeownership.  

This Smart Home Company Has $10 Million in Revenue and Just Doubled Its Monthly Growth

Smart home technology is booming, and RYSE is at the forefront. With 10 fully granted patents, a successful Amazon court ruling protecting their tech, and over $10 million in total revenue, RYSE is growing faster than ever—200% month-over-month, to be exact.

RYSE transforms regular window blinds into automated, voice-controlled systems, offering homeowners an easy and affordable way to modernize their homes. Already distributed in 127 Best Buy locations, RYSE is preparing for international expansion and partnerships with retail giants like Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Now, you can invest in RYSE for just $1.75 per share and be part of the future of smart living.

Don’t wait—this opportunity is growing as fast as the company itself. Invest today!

Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.

I wanted to have Frank on the show to learn more about Ownify and its unique approach to solving the homebuying affordability problem. Housing has become such a big deal in America, both for our economy and our democracy, and we need individuals like Frank and companies like Ownify, to help reverse the negative trend. 

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn: 

• How Ownify’s all-equity financial structure enables people to buy a home with just a 2% down payment

• Why Frank and his colleagues at Ownify believe the all-equity approach is both fairer and better than other debt-based models

• How dynamics in the mortgage industry have contributed to the worsening housing affordability crisis

• All the ways that rising homeownership rates can improve a local community

• & Much, much more

Stay tuned to the end to learn why, after stumbling across some concerning mortgage data in his last company, Frank decided to go all-in on the fight to improve access for first time homebuyers. 

As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in!  

Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show. 🙏 Thank you

Summary

Frank Rohde, the founder and CEO of Ownify, discusses how his company is focused on creating an on-ramp for first-time home buyers, particularly those in the 'missing middle' who struggle to save for a down payment. Ownify offers a co-investment partnership or fractional ownership structure that allows buyers to purchase a home with a 2% down payment and make fixed payments over five years to build equity. At the end of five years, buyers can use their equity as a down payment for a traditional mortgage or continue in the program. Ownify operates in North Carolina and plans to expand to other markets. The conversation explores the challenges and potential solutions to the housing market in America. The principal themes include the impact of homeownership on communities, the supply-demand imbalance, the mortgage industry, the struggle for first-time buyers, and the potential of fractional ownership. The conversation also touches on the built-to-rent industry and the vision of Ownify to provide an alternative path to homeownership.

Keywords

Ownify, first-time home buyers, missing middle, down payment, co-investment partnership, fractional ownership, equity, mortgage, rental, affordability, housing market, housing market, homeownership, supply-demand imbalance, mortgage industry, first-time buyers, fractional ownership, built-to-rent, Ownify

Takeaways

• Ownify provides an on-ramp for first-time home buyers, particularly those who struggle to save for a down payment.

• Buyers can purchase a home with a 2% down payment and make fixed payments over five years to build equity.

• At the end of five years, buyers can use their equity as a down payment for a traditional mortgage or continue in the program.

• Ownify operates in North Carolina and plans to expand to other markets. Homeownership contributes to the wellbeing of society and communities.

• The supply-demand imbalance is a major challenge in the housing market.

• The mortgage industry has become more conservative after the financial crisis, making it harder for buyers.

• First-time buyers face low win rates in competitive markets.

• Fractional ownership has the potential to revolutionize real estate investment.

• The built-to-rent industry is a response to the lack of affordability in the housing market.

• Ownify aims to provide an alternative path to homeownership through fractional ownership.

Titles

• Creating an On-Ramp for First-Time Home Buyers

• Building Equity and Overcoming Down Payment Hurdles Struggles for First-Time Buyers

• Challenges in the Mortgage Industry

Sound Bites

• "Ownify is focused on creating an on-ramp for first-time home buyers"

• "Ownify is a co-investment partnership that allows first-time buyers to jump over the down payment hurdle"

• "Ownify offers an equity-based way to buy a home rather than a debt-based path to ownership"

• "Schools are better in neighborhoods with higher homeownership rates."

• "The biggest challenge is time. We're not going to solve this problem anytime soon."

• "The win rate for first-time buyers with these financing solutions is significantly lower."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Ownify's Vision

02:24 The Inspiration Behind Ownify

05:18 How Ownify Works: Co-Investment Partnership and Fractional Ownership

09:22 Calculating Monthly Payments and Purchase Options

15:16 The Housing Affordability Crisis in America

20:38 The Benefits of Homeownership and the Emotional Aspect

23:12 Homeownership and Democratic Participation

25:02 The Supply-Demand Imbalance in the Housing Market

26:50 Challenges in the Mortgage Industry

33:17 Struggles for First-Time Buyers

40:22 The Potential of Fractional Ownership

43:26 The Rise of the Built-to-Rent Industry