Midwest Women In Tech Awards

Midwest Women In Tech Awards

Midwest Women In Tech Awards

Standing among a room full of women doing great work and supporting each other was inspiring. It was the Women Tech Founders Midwest Women In Tech (MWitT) 2017 Awards night, and we were there because SpringFour’s Co-Founder and CEO, Rochelle Gorey was nominated in the Fintech category (A founder changing the financial services industry through innovation and technology).

The event celebrated Women in Tech, those who have paved the way and bring diversity to an industry that has long had far too few women top players. Each of the nominees in 12 different categories were personally nominated and then selected by a panel of judges. The nominees all met the following criteria:

– An individual that demonstrates excellence in tech leadership

– A champion for other women

– A contributor to the community

– An authentic and innovative leader in the tech ecosystem

The event was an amazing reflection of just how many smart, driven, innovative women there are working in tech in the Midwest. Showing this diversity and wealth of talented local women changes the way we think about the tech field. The awards were created to “equalize the image of power in technology and leadership, while creating an army of role models for the next generation. The role models we want for our daughters and their daughters to see.”

Hearing the stories behind these inspirational women makes all of us dream of the future that our daughters can have. Rochelle shows this in the way she leads, her character and her core beliefs in bringing financial health to everyone, and we are glad she is being recognized for it.

We had a great time getting to meet and chat with other women in the field, hearing inspirational stories, and even getting to meet the Mayor.

The organizers of the event wanted everyone to leave the evening feeling “ignited and inspired to change the world.” We did, and we are.

Awards and Recognition

          

           

       

    

 

 

 

 

 

          

DRIVE IMPACT WITH US

info@springfour.com
866-732-2246

Chicago Office at 1871
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

[/db_pb_signup]

One of the most important resources you can offer your clients

One of the most important resources you can offer your clients

Let’s talk about homeownership for a minute. This was a hot topic a decade ago amidst the foreclosure crisis. SpringFour was founded during this time as a solution for struggling homeowners looking for help. Now as many communities move past the crisis there is newfound interest in home buying and the needs of pre-purchase consumers. Homeownership is hot again. And SpringFour is again at the forefront of offering solutions to consumers in need.

At SpringFour, we have seen many of our subscribers and partners in financial wellness shift towards pre-purchase counseling, lending, and savings for consumers who hope to buy a home. Over the last year we’ve surveyed dozens of our users and found that they are looking for a quick and simple way to find home buying assistance programs for their clients. While many already have access to tools that thoroughly analyze eligibility and income, these programs take a lot of time to complete and are ineffective for clients just starting out in the process.

We have responded to this changing need by adding a new category, Down Payment Assistance, now available for every subscriber through S4desktop and S4direct. Thanks to this project, spearheaded by housing policy expert and SpringFour Data Team Member Julie St. Jean, SpringFour now offers a solution for prospective homebuyers that delivers results in seconds. You can help your clients take this important step in realizing their dream of homeownership and financial stability.

Over 700 assistance programs in 150+ MSAs will be available nationwide in all SpringFour applications on December 11th, in English and in Spanish. If you are a current SpringFour subscriber simply login and begin providing this valuable resource to your clients.

If you are not a current subscriber and would like to find out more about our products, contact sales@springfour.cc.

Why is Down Payment Assistance so important?

The dream of homeownership is again within reach for many Americans. The downward trend in homeownership appears to be turning in a positive direction with the homeownership rate climbing in 2017.  With confidence in homeownership currently at the highest level in 3 years, why aren’t more Americans becoming homeowners? A recent study by Nerd Wallet found that one of the top problems cited is not having enough money for a down payment. With interest rates also rising in 2017 it’s more important than ever for borrowers to get some extra help.

Down payment assistance takes many forms, from free grants and cash gifts for down payment to money for closing costs, prepaid escrows, and other mortgage expenses. In a typical scenario this could reduce the amount of cash needed to close from $20,000 to $200.

Down Payment assistance can help buyers purchase a home sooner. It immediately builds buying power and can help the buyer take action on a purchase more quickly. Down payment assistance programs also give home buyers an important cash cushion so savings and reserve funds are available for home maintenance and other unexpected emergencies, making for more sustainable, financially sound homeowners.

Why aren’t more people taking advantage of this assistance?

Unfortunately, a recent survey from NeighborWorks America found that 70 percent of U.S. adults are unaware that down payment assistance was available in their neighborhood.

Common myths surrounding Down Payment Assistance may discourage people from seeking help and prevent otherwise qualified buyers from realizing their financial goals. For example, many buyers believe that they need to put down at least 20% of the purchase price if they hope to secure a loan. According to the National Association of REALTORS, buyers put an average of just 6 percent down when buying a home, far below common perceptions.

Individuals who are aware of down payment assistance often mistakenly assume that such aid is only for first-time homebuyers and low-income households. But many programs target move-up and repeat buyers too, as well as homebuyers from all income levels. In fact an estimated 87% of Homes qualify for down payment assistance nationwide.

These statistics show just how important it is to have a curated, updated list of down payment resources available in local communities.

How else can I help my customers become successful homeowners?

In addition to down payment resources SpringFour has a variety of categories that can help consumers save money to reach a financial goal such as buying a home. Accessing categories such as food, utility, or prescription savings can help reduce expenses by thousands of dollars a year, allowing the consumer to save more.

SpringFour also offers referrals to HUD certified non-profit housing counseling. Local Housing Counselors can provide free trustworthy advice for anyone looking to develop a budget, build credit, and prepare for homeownership.

Contact us to find out more about these great resources at info@springfour.cc.


Cassandra Compton, VP of Data Integrity and User Experience

SpringFour, Inc.