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Crowdfunding for a Mortgage

crowdfundingSoon-to-be newlyweds regularly compile their wedding registries at locations like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, but what about for a mortgage down payment?

Mortgage Lender CMG Financial recently revealed their new platform HomeFundMe, which is essentially a crowdfunding website like GoFundMe that goes toward a down payment on a home without fees, but with the backing from the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

According to an article by CNBC, prior to HomeFundMe, down payment assistance could only come from family members, employers, community nonprofits, and churches as long as they had significant documentation. Lenders needed to be sure buyers weren’t borrowing for the down payment because that would mean they were adding debt on top of their mortgage payment, making them less likely to be able to make their mortgage.

This unique idea is another way to assist millennials, who have openly said they are interested in homeownership, be able to put action to thought. Student loan debt is at an all-time high, and with high rent costs and low savings, the down payment on a house has kept homeownership seemingly out of reach for the generation.

"You're going to spend $250 on a coffee making machine? If that $250 goes to a down payment of your home, at the very least, I improve your quality of life and the second thing I do is I give you, today, some tax deductibility," said Christopher George, CEO of CMG Financial to CNBC.

Additionally, prospective homeowners can attend free credit education classes and apply for grants of up to $2,500. Once they have done that, the platform will match donations at $2 for every $1 raised, up to $2,500.

"Folks that go to counseling tend to be more informed, and they also tend to be better borrowers," George said.

CMG has looked into the program regarding advertising dollars and believes that it's something they would otherwise spend either through the internet or social media, so they’ve put their money where they think it has its best use.

“Our tagline is, 'Fund your way home,’” George said. “We think homeownership still is very sensible and, done correctly, is a good idea to step forward toward wealth, stability, and quality of life."

To read the full report, click here.

About Author: Brianna Gilpin

Brianna Gilpin, Online Editor for MReport and DS News, is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she received her B.A. in Telecommunication Media Studies. Gilpin previously worked at Hearst Media, one of the nation's leading diversified media and information services companies. To contact Gilpin, email [email protected].
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