Maximizing Down Payment Assistance: How to Help Buyers and Boost Your Bottom Line w/ Rob Chrane
Release Date: 12/17/2024
Social Selling Made Simple
The real estate world has shifted, and whether we like it or not, there’s no going back. Too many agents are still treating the changes as an extinction event, but here’s the truth: if you adapt, we still have the opportunity we’ve had to grow market share in years. Since the settlement, more agents have entered the industry. That means more competition, but also more proof that complacency kills careers. The new agents are hungry, willing to try what others won’t, and most importantly, they’re not afraid to embrace tools like AI to move faster and smarter. I’ve been in...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
If you’ve ever tried selling new construction, you know it can be a total headache. Dropbox links everywhere, builder calls that never get answered, and brochures that are already outdated by the time they reach buyers. It’s frustrating for agents, builders, and buyers alike. So many agents just skip new construction altogether, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. But what if new build listings were as easy to access as homes on the MLS? That’s where NEO comes in. NEO cuts through all the chaos, helping you capture more buyer leads, keep them engaged, and...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
These days, it’s harder than ever for marginalized buyers to break into the market. Prices are high, lending rules are tighter, and misinformation is everywhere. The path to homeownership can feel impossible. Agents aren’t off the hook either. With all the changes to buyer representation and compensation, agents are being asked to prove their value in every single deal, while trying to serve clients who need more help than ever. That’s where Midwest Home M@tch comes in. We built an AI-powered referral network that connects agents with pre-approved, ready-to-go buyers. Especially those...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
In real estate, we’re expected to connect with every personality type under the sun. That usually means working really hard to match how someone else communicates. Most of us are doing it on the fly. Winging it. Pivoting mid-conversation and crossing our fingers that our style clicks with theirs. That might have cut it back in the day, but now it’s a liability. What if you could walk into every client meeting already knowing how to win them over? That’s exactly what myYenta gives you: the blueprint to connect, build trust, and close the deal, by aligning with your client’s psychology...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
If you think success is about hoarding your secrets, side-eyeing your peers, and treating everyone like the enemy, you're already losing. I see it all the time in real estate: agents wrapped up in rivalries, clinging to titles, licenses, and tasks that no longer serve them, all because they’re afraid to let go or let someone else shine. That “crabs in a barrel” mindset will keep you small, stuck, and exhausted. Here’s the truth: in today’s market, collaboration is the competitive edge. Instead of competing with other agents, we need to be around people who lift us...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
A real estate license isn’t just for selling homes. It’s a whole launchpad…if you know how to use it right. If you’re a great agent, you’re doing way more than unlocking doors and writing offers. You’ve got skills that can help you stand out and stack your income. In today’s market, the old playbook won’t cut it. Inventory is tight, interest rates are still high, and the NAR settlement changed the game. Agents who stick to business-as-usual are getting left behind. It’s not just about closing deals anymore. It’s about thinking bigger, leveraging your...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
In today’s real estate landscape, agents aren’t just competing for clients. We’re being forced to justify why we deserve to be paid. With buyer broker agreements now front and center, it’s no longer enough to open doors and write offers. We have to demonstrate value. And what’s more valuable than walking into a buyer consultation armed with solutions that literally fund the deal? I’m talking about gift funds, employer-assisted housing, and stacked grant programs. Money that helps your clients buy and ensures you get paid. That’s how top agents are winning right...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
Every agent is out here fighting for more listings, but what if the key to dominating your market isn’t just about pricing, marketing, or staging, but about money that’s already sitting on the table? What most agents overlook is that some listings come with built-in financial power: I’m talking about reverse down payment assistance. This is money that can be layered to cover buyer agent compensation without your seller having to give up a dime. In today’s market, where buyers are hesitant and sellers want to net top dollar, this strategy is an absolute game-changer. In this...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
On November 30th, 2022, everything changed. ChatGPT hit the streets and instantly began reshaping how we live, work, and run our real estate businesses. From digital marketing to image creation and even coding, AI has been a total game-changer. And the crazy part? We’re only getting started. AI is evolving daily. Tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and Descript are moving at lightning speed—what seemed impossible 30 or 60 days ago is now totally within reach. So what can AI actually do for us right now? How can we use it to multiply our time, streamline our workflows, and make our businesses...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
Real estate pros, if you’re not using LinkedIn to post content, flex your industry expertise, and generate high-quality B2B leads, you’re leaving money on the table. It’s one of the best platforms to grow your brand, so why are so many agents still sleeping on it? Maybe it feels intimidating. Maybe you’re not sure what to say. But here’s the thing: thanks to AI, creating content and making the right connections has never been easier. And yet, so many real estate professionals are still dragging their feet when it comes to using AI, missing out on massive opportunities. Combining...
info_outlineHomeownership is a dream many aspire to, but sadly don’t have access to due to affordability. Before they can even think of affording a mortgage…getting money for a down payment can be a real struggle.
What a lot of people don’t know is that there are down payment assistance programs that can help them get into a home.
80% of home buyers qualify for down payment help but only 15% actually use it. As agents, this provides a lucrative opportunity to provide a valuable solution.
Down payment help is the perfect marketing message to put in front of buyers right now. We can win more business by leveraging a valuable resource that will get more people into homes, save them lots of money and help them build equity faster.
And it will put more dollars in our own pockets too!
How do we leverage these programs to bring more value to buyers? How does this offering add to our marketing prowess?
In this episode, I’m joined by founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource, Rob Chrane. He shares how we can add down payment assistance to our toolkit.
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Closing the 65% home affordability gap
There’s a huge gap between the down payment assistance that’s available and the people who actually use it. What can agents do to get these valuable resources to more people, and how will it put more money in your pocket?
- Erase the negativity
A lot of people - agents and consumers alike have negative connotations of FHA programs. How does this negativity rob us of lucrative opportunities?
- Another way to add value to buyers
Down payment assistance doesn’t just apply to buyers - it also applies to houses. How can real estate professionals use this to win more business?
Guest Bio
Rob Chrane is founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource and a leader in the homeownership affordability space. A 30-year veteran of the real estate and mortgage industries, Chrane launched the only comprehensive database of U.S. homebuyer assistance programs and developed tools that empower lenders, borrowers and real estate professionals to connect homebuyers with affordability programs. Chrane actively collaborates with housing organizations and coalitions such as the Urban Land Institute, National Fair Housing Alliance and the Mortgage Bankers Association’s CONVERGENCE initiative. He is a frequent speaker at national and local events on the topic of homeownership affordability. To learn more about how you can leverage this tool, visit https://downpaymentresource.com/.
About Your Host
Licensed Managing Broker, REALTORS®, avid volunteer, and Major Donor, Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate. With over 25 years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars.
Six-time REALTOR® Conference and Expo featured attendee, one of 100 speakers selected to speak the REALTOR® Conference & Expo five times, and an Inman closing Keynote Speaker. Marki’s expertise has been featured in Forbes, Washington Post, http://Homes.com , and REALTOR® Magazine.
Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!