Unison Home Ownership Investors

Industry| Real Estate
Founded| 2004
Founder| Thomas Sponholtz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Headquarters| San Francisco , United States
Website| www.unison.com

Unison Home Ownership Investors (commonly known as Unison) is a home ownership investment company based in San Francisco .

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Awards and recognition
* 3 Model
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History

Current company chairman Thomas Sponholtz founded the company that is now known as Unison in 2004,[1][2] but the company did not start becoming involved in home ownership investment until 2007. Previously, Sponholtz served as co-head of active fixed income for Barclays Global Investors [3] and helped to launch the same company’s first Fixed Income iShares (ETF).[4][5]

Sponholtz founded Unison as a way to connect institutional investors to local real estate agents and home buyers who didn’t have the capital required to purchase a home and didn’t want to take out loans, make monthly payments, or incur debt.[6] Another reason Sponholtz cites for starting the company was to expose institutional fund managers to the large-scale real estate market.[4] Jim Riccitelli joined Unison as co-CEO several years later and serves as head of the company’s customer education program. On November 13, 2017 it was announced that Riccitelli had assumed the role of President, and would focus on consumer education and financial literacy.[7]

In addition to their San Francisco headquarters, the company currently has one other location in Detroit.[4]

Unison made its first home ownership investment in 2007 and has since expanded nationwide and received several finance industry awards.[6][8][9]

In May 2013 the company announced it would provide down payment funding in combination with the portfolio loans of HomeStreet Bank.[10]

On September 19, 2013 the company announced that it would be launching its down payment funding in combination with RPM Mortgage loans in California.[11][12]

On July 11, 2016 the company announced that it would be launching its down payment funding in combination with Guild Mortgage loans in Washington.[13] On August 1, 2016 they announced that they expanded the availability to consumers in Oregon and California.

On August 8, 2016 the company announced it would offer its down payment funding with California Mortgage Company (First Cal) on single-family homes, condos and townhomes in combination with conventional loans meeting conforming and super-conforming guidelines.[14]

On December 5, 2016 FirstREX changed its name to Unison Home Ownership Investors.[15]

On February 1, 2017 the company was featured in HousingWire, highlighting additional states of operation.[16]

On February 21, 2017 then Prosper Marketplace President Ron Suber joined the company as an investor and strategic advisor.[17][18]

On February 22, 2017 the company announced over 300 million in total capital raised.[19]

On May 16, 2017 the company announced findings from the "Unison Home Affordability Report 2017," showcasing the percentage of homes accessible to the median household in major U.S. cities.[20][21][22][23]

On September 19, 2017 the company released findings from its survey of 2,018 Americans, conducted by Atomik Research, on the biggest barriers to home ownership.[24]

On November 13, 2017 the company announced multiple promotions and additions to its management team.[25][26][27]

On November 15, 2017 Unison Investment Management, the asset management arm of Unison Home Ownership Investors, released findings from a report which analyzed the current measurement of inflation and the effect on real estate investments in the United States.[28][29]

On February 26, 2018 the company and Valley National Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, announced the launch of their 5% down payment program which will be given in conjunction with an 80% loan-to-value mortgage.[30]

On April 4, 2018 the company released its second annual Home Affordability Report, a comprehensive breakdown of housing affordability in 22 of the largest metro areas across the United States. The report found inequality in housing affordability, not only from city to city but also within cities from one neighborhood to another.[31]

On June 1, 2018, The New York Times wrote an article about shared equity programs that called attention to Unison, Landed, and Own Home Finance.[32]

On June 26, 2018 announced that is had closed a $40 Million Series B Funding Round. [33]

## Awards and recognition

Since the company’s founding in 2004, Unison has won several awards in the business sector. These include two runner-up finishes and one “Best of Show” award at the 2017 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards, which is held to “celebrate the innovation that’s transforming the finance industry”,[8][9] and another “Best of Show” award at FinovateSpring 2017, an annual financial technology conference.[34]

The company's co-CEO's Thomas Sponholtz and Jim Riccitelli were featured in Bank Innovation's yearly 10 most innovative CEO's in banking for 2017.[35][36]

The company was featured on Bank Innovation's list of "2017 Innovators to Watch".[37]

The company was featured in GoBankingRates "10 Startups to Watch in 2018".[38]

## Model

The Down Payment Resource HPI currently tracks 33 shared equity programs. Most are city/county, non-profit or university administered programs. There are also new programs in high cost markets, like the San Francisco Bay area, designed by private investors to help buyers finance homes that are outside conventional home price limits.[39]

The Urban Institute evaluated shared equity programs and found they are successful in linking low- and moderate-income people with affordable owner-occupied housing. In addition, home ownership among shared equity programs is sustainable, and shared equity homeowners resell their homes with the same frequency and for the same reasons as other homeowners.[40]

The company's basic business model differs from the traditional financing in that the consumer does not incur debt because there is no monthly payment or interest accrued.[41] Rather, a home ownership investment [42][2] is a shared piece of capital between the investor and the homeowner. A home ownership investment is financing based on partnership and shared incentives between the homeowner and the investor. In a home ownership investment, an investor provides financing in exchange for the opportunity to share in the gain or loss in the home’s value when the homeowner decides to sell their home. There are no interest charges or monthly payments on the financing provided.[43]

The company is the first long-term financing provider in the United States of this kind.[4]

The company operates two programs, Unison HomeBuyer[44] and Unison HomeOwner.[45][46][47]

The first, HomeBuyer, works in combination with a traditional mortgage,[48][49] providing 5% to 15% of a 20% down payment, while the HomeOwner program is geared toward current homeowners looking to tap into their home equity.[50] Both programs remain interest-free without monthly payments for 30 years.[51][52]

The company, in return, shares 35 percent of the appreciation in the home either when it is sold,[53] after 30 years, or when the borrower decides to pay back the investment. Conversely, if the home depreciates, the company shares in 35 percent of the loss.[54][55] There is a minimum of 3 years required in order to realize the property appreciation.[56]

The company’s programs look to connect pension funds and institutional investors and their private risk capital with the growing number of retiring baby boomers with inadequate savings, college graduates with student loan debt, first time home buyers, and Millennials.[57][58]

In 2017 the average homebuyer under 35 spent 8% on a down payment.[59][60] the company's business model involves splitting a 20% down payment with homebuyers.[6][61]

Unison has relationships with Guaranteed Rate, HomeBridge Financial Services, Guild Mortgage, Valley National Bank, Goldwater Bank, HomeStreet Bank, RPM Mortgage, Freddie Mac and others.[62][63]

Unison programs are currently available in 22 states including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri, Delaware, and Washington, DC.[64] [65]

## References

1. ↑ "Equity Access - Marin Magazine - May 2007 - Marin County, California" (in en). http://www.marinmagazine.com/May-2007/Equity-Access/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Podcast 103: Thomas Sponholtz and Jim Riccitelli of Unison - Lend Academy" (in en-US). Lend Academy. 2017-06-02. https://www.lendacademy.com/podcast-103-thomas-sponholtz-jim-riccitelli-unison/.
3. ↑ White, Spencer (2018-02-15). "How This CEO Steered A Fintech Company Through The Financial Crisis". Benzinga. https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/18/02/11210097/how-this-ceo-steered-a-fintech-company-through-the-financial-crisis.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Barzilay, Omri (13 April 2017). "The Rise Of A New Asset Class: A Home Ownership Investment". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/omribarzilay/2017/04/13/the-rise-of-a-new-asset-class-a-home-ownership-investment/#187a0f215ee5. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
5. ↑ "PEOPLE.(Brief Article)". 20 September 1999. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56199970.html. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bundrick, Hal (13 March 2017). "This company will double your down payment. What’s the catch?". USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/03/13/company-double-your-down-payment-whats-catch/98727302/. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
7. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Experiences Monumental Growth and Announces 2018 Expansion Plans" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-experiences-monumental-growth-and-announces-2018-expansion-plans-300554147.html.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 White, Spencer (15 May 2017). "Meet Your 2017 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards Winners". Benzinga. https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/17/05/9465657/meet-your-2017-benzinga-global-fintech-awards-winners. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Unison Receives Three Benzinga Global Fintech Awards Including First Place in 'Best of Show'". www.prnewswire.com. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-receives-three-benzinga-global-fintech-awards-including-first-place-in-best-of-show-300458496.html. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
10. ↑ "FirstREX, HomeStreet Bank partner to provide down payment funding" (in en). https://www.housingwire.com/articles/firstrex-homestreet-bank-partner-provide-down-payment-funding.
11. ↑ "FirstREX and RPM Mortgage Introduce New Down Payment Solution For Homebuyers - RPM Mortgage" (in en-US). RPM Mortgage. https://www.rpm-mtg.com/news-and-press/firstrex-and-rpm-mortgage-introduce-new-down-payment-solution-for-homebuyers/.
12. ↑ "FirstREX and RPM Mortgage Introduce New Down Payment Solution for Homebuyers". PRWeb. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/9/prweb11134675.htm.
13. ↑ NationalMortgageProfessional.com (2016-07-12). "Guild Mortgage Partners With FirstREX on Downpayment Assistance Programs" (in en). National Mortgage Professional Magazine. http://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/59411/guild-mortgage-partners-firstrex-downpayment-assistance-programs.
14. ↑ "First Cal Mortgage & FirstREX Bridge the Down Payment Gap for Homebuyers With Home Ownership Investments for Conforming and Super-Conforming Loans" (in en). http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160808005733/en/Cal-Mortgage-FirstREX-Bridge-Payment-Gap-Homebuyers.
15. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "FirstREX is changing its name to Unison Home Ownership Investors and making it possible for more people to buy a home today" (in en). http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firstrex-is-changing-its-name-to-unison-home-ownership-investors-and-making-it-possible-for-more-people-to-buy-a-home-today-604717856.html.
16. ↑ "Kudos: celebrating milestones, launches and awards in the mortgage industry" (in en). https://www.housingwire.com/articles/39099-kudos-celebrating-milestones-launches-and-awards-in-the-mortgage-industry.
17. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Prosper Marketplace President Ron Suber Joins Unison as an Investor and Strategic Advisor" (in en). http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prosper-marketplace-president-ron-suber-joins-unison-as-an-investor-and-strategic-advisor-300410891.html.
18. ↑ "Ron Suber Invests in Unison, Becomes Strategic Advisor to Home Ownership Investment Platform | Crowdfund Insider" (in en-US). Crowdfund Insider. 2017-02-21. https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2017/02/96383-ron-suber-invests-unison-becomes-strategic-advisor-home-ownership-investment-platform/.
19. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Home Ownership Investors Announces Over $300 Million in Total Capital Raised and Key Leadership Appointments" (in en). http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-home-ownership-investors-announces-over-300-million-in-total-capital-raised-and-key-leadership-appointments-300411229.html.
20. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Home Affordability Report Shows Startling Gap Between Major US Cities and Neighborhoods" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-home-affordability-report-shows-startling-gap-between-major-us-cities-and-neighborhoods-300458051.html.
21. ↑ Martin, Emmie (2017-05-16). "The salary you need to afford a home in 20 major US cities". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/16/the-salary-you-need-to-afford-a-home-in-20-major-us-cities.html.
22. ↑ "San Franciscans age 25-44 can afford only 1.4 percent of city homes". Curbed SF. https://sf.curbed.com/2017/5/16/15648058/unison-home-buying-1-4-percent.
23. ↑ Cindy (2017-05-29). "A Look at Shared Real Estate Investing with Unison | FintekNews" (in en-US). FintekNews. http://finteknews.com/p2p-real-estate-investing-unison/.
24. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Survey Reveals 4 in 10 Americans Find Saving for a Down Payment the Biggest Financial Barrier to Home Ownership" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-survey-reveals-4-in-10-americans-find-saving-for-a-down-payment-the-biggest-financial-barrier-to-home-ownership-300521671.html.
25. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Experiences Monumental Growth and Announces 2018 Expansion Plans" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-experiences-monumental-growth-and-announces-2018-expansion-plans-300554147.html.
26. ↑ "Real Estate Fintech Firm Unison Announces 2018 Expansion Plans | Crowdfund Insider" (in en-US). Crowdfund Insider. 2017-11-13. https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2017/11/124525-real-estate-fintech-firm-unison-announces-2018-expansion-plans/.
27. ↑ "https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/15/real-estate-fintech-unison-san-francisco-home.html". https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/15/real-estate-fintech-unison-san-francisco-home.html.
28. ↑ Management, Unison Investment. "New Unison Report Finds Massive Misrepresentation in U.S. Inflation" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-unison-report-finds-massive-misrepresentation-in-us-inflation-300556247.html.
29. ↑ "Add This to the Long List of Pensions’ Woes" (in en-gb). https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b15gc51rgy03xj/add-this-to-the-long-list-of-pensions-woes.
30. ↑ "Valley National Bank and Unison launch 5% down program" (in en). https://www.housingwire.com/articles/42618-valley-national-bank-and-unison-launch-5-down-program.
31. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Home Ownership Investors Releases 2018 Home Affordability Report" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-home-ownership-investors-releases-2018-home-affordability-report-300623685.html.
32. ↑ "Getting Down Payment Help Now. Sharing Home’s Gain (or Loss) Later." (in en). https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/your-money/home-buying-shared-equity.html.
33. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Home Ownership Investors Closes $40 Million Series B Funding Round" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-home-ownership-investors-closes-40-million-series-b-funding-round-300672142.html.
34. ↑ Penn, David (28 April 2017). "FinovateSpring 2017 Best of Show Winners Announced!". Finovate. http://finovate.com/finovatespring-2017-best-show-winners-announced/. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
35. ↑ "10 Most Innovative CEOs in Banking 2017 Page 2" (in en-US). Bank Innovation. 2017-09-13. https://bankinnovation.net/2017/09/10-most-innovative-ceos-in-banking-2017-page-2/.
36. ↑ "Top tien meest innovatieve CEO's in bankensector" (in nl). http://www.banken.nl/nieuws/20507/top-tien-meest-innovatieve-ceos-in-bankensector.
37. ↑ "2017 Innovators to Watch: 25 to 31" (in en-US). Bank Innovation. 2017-06-01. https://bankinnovation.net/2017/06/2017-innovators-to-watch-25-to-31/.
38. ↑ "10 Startups to Watch in 2018" (in en). GOBankingRates. 2017-11-09. https://www.gobankingrates.com/making-money/13-startups-watch-2016/.
39. ↑ "Shared Equity Programs Gain Popularity for Municipalities, Private Investors | Down Payment Resource" (in en-US). Down Payment Resource. 2017-08-23. http://downpaymentresource.com/shared-equity-program-models-gain-popularity-municipalities-private-investors/.
40. ↑ "Shared Equity Research" (in en). https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/metropolitan-housing-and-communities-policy-center/projects/shared-equity-research.
41. ↑ "The first retail lender to offer Unison Homebuyer". Guild Mortgage. https://www.guildmortgage.com/unison/. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
42. ↑ "Unison Leverages Institutional Investors to Help Home Buyers Bridge Affordability Gap - Finovate" (in en-US). Finovate. 2017-09-06. http://finovate.com/unison-leverages-institutional-investors-help-home-buyers-bridge-affordability-gap/.
43. ↑ "Podcast 103: Thomas Sponholtz and Jim Riccitelli of Unison - Lend Academy" (in en-US). Lend Academy. 2017-06-02. https://www.lendacademy.com/podcast-103-thomas-sponholtz-jim-riccitelli-unison/.
44. ↑ "FinovateSpring 2017 – Unison - Finovate" (in en-US). Finovate. http://finovate.com/videos/finovatespring-2017-unison/.
45. ↑ "Unison Showcases Home Ownership Investment Programs at FinovateSpring 2017". www.prnewswire.com. 19 April 2017. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-showcases-home-ownership-investment-programs-at-finovatespring-2017-300441904.html. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
46. ↑ "Unison HomeBuyer Review: Avoid PMI and Keep Your Cash | PT Money" (in en-US). PT Money. 2017-03-06. https://ptmoney.com/unison-review/.
47. ↑ "Unison HomeOwner Review: Get Cash for Your Home | PT Money" (in en-US). PT Money. 2017-07-20. https://ptmoney.com/unison-homeowner-review/.
48. ↑ Riquier, Andrea. "With 30 programs and counting, home-equity sharing is one way to clear a down payment hurdle" (in en-US). MarketWatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/with-30-programs-and-counting-home-equity-sharing-is-one-way-to-clear-a-down-payment-hurdle-2017-08-25.
49. ↑ "Shared Equity Programs Gain Popularity for Municipalities, Private Investors | Down Payment Resource" (in en-US). Down Payment Resource. 2017-08-23. https://downpaymentresource.com/shared-equity-program-models-gain-popularity-municipalities-private-investors/.
50. ↑ "These startups want to buy a share of your house. Is that a good idea? - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2018/07/19/these-startups-want-buy-share-your-house-that-good-idea/S3ohENpZxOUSB84d8kXz9J/story.html.
51. ↑ Asatryan, Diana (31 May 2017). "Unison Wants to Turn Homes into (Liquid) Assets". Bank Innovation. http://bankinnovation.net/2017/05/unison-wants-to-turn-homes-into-liquid-assets/. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
52. ↑ "How to get down payment help if you don’t have rich parents". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/networth/article/How-to-get-down-payment-help-if-you-don-t-have-11811302.php.
53. ↑ . 13 March 2017. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/03/13/company-double-your-down-payment-whats-catch/98727302/. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
54. ↑ Sharf, Samantha. "Millennials Get A New Way To Clear The Down Payment Hurdle To Homeownership" (in en). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2017/06/13/ipo-your-home-investors-want-a-piece-americans-favorite-asset/#55216ee7629d.
55. ↑ "How consumer demand is fueling a mortgage transformation" (in en). https://www.housingwire.com/articles/39454-how-consumer-demand-is-fueling-a-mortgage-transformation?v=preview.
56. ↑ "One Click Real estate" (in en). https://benzinga.wistia.com/medias/p6ewklfj0r.
57. ↑ Miller, Peter (22 August 2017). "SHARED EQUITY — STARTER HOMES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION". http://www.realtytrac.com/dashboard/NewsReportPdf/133/HNRR/12482991.
58. ↑ "Need Help Buying a Home? Fintech Firm Unison Offers Unique Assistance to Purchase the Home of Your Dreams". 2017-04-17. https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2017/04/98752-need-help-buying-home-fintech-firm-unison-offers-unique-assistance-purchase-home-dreams/.
59. ↑ Strutner, Suzy (17 May 2017). "Here's The Salary You Need To Afford A Home In 22 U.S. Cities". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-much-you-need-to-afford-a-home_us_591c84d1e4b094cdba507c94. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
60. ↑ Martin, Emmie (16 May 2017). "The salary you need to afford a home in 20 major US cities". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/16/the-salary-you-need-to-afford-a-home-in-20-major-us-cities.html. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
61. ↑ Dhir, Heena (22 March 2017). "How Unison makes down payments possible". Lending Times. http://lending-times.com/2017/03/22/helping-home-buyers-make-down-payments-for-a-dream-home/. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
62. ↑ "Money With The Down Payment Hurdle". The New York Times. 31 May 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/05/31/us/ap-us-on-the-money-the-down-payment-hurdle.html. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
63. ↑ "New down payment option could boost homeownership" (in en-US). Inman. https://www.inman.com/2016/12/08/new-down-payment-option-could-boost-homeownership/.
64. ↑ "Buyers Alert: Should You Trade Future Home Equity for Down Payment Help?" (in en-US). Real Estate News and Advice | Realtor.com®. 2017-01-25. https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/down-payment-assistance-for-equity/.
65. ↑ Investors, Unison Home Ownership. "Unison Reports Fast Company Growth Supported by Strategic Hires and New Market Expansion" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unison-reports-fast-company-growth-supported-by-strategic-hires-and-new-market-expansion-300635008.html.

## External links

* Official website

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