Your Questions, Answered

For a founder, startup funding is the most important financial event of their professional life — and they’ve always been able to rally investors from their circle. For most people, buying a home is the most important financial event of their lives. HomeSpark gives homebuyers the same tools.

Instead of waiting years to save a down payment alone, you invite your circle to participate in your path to ownership — as a gift or through a regulated value-share tied to your home’s future value. Your supporters get a stake in something they already care about. You get home sooner.

Sort of — and that's exactly the point. Nearly 1 in 3 first-time buyers already relies on family money to close the down payment gap. HomeSpark doesn't introduce a new dynamic; it formalizes one that already exists. The difference is that HomeSpark gives that help the infrastructure it deserves: real terms, genuine upside for supporters, and protections that keep the relationship intact if anything changes. You're not asking for a favor. You're inviting people who already want to help into something with real transparency and real returns.

Either — and the choice is entirely yours as the homebuyer. Support can be structured as gifts (no equity, no return obligation), as a regulated value-share (supporters receive HomeShares with defined exit rights), or as supporter’s choice — where each supporter decides for themselves. The third option gives your circle maximum flexibility and may result in a broader or more generous response. Today we’re collecting feedback — no offers and no funds accepted.

Unlike a traditional loan or second mortgage:

• No monthly payments - You don't owe anything month-to-month to supporters
• No interest payments - Supporters hold a value-share that only cashes out at defined events (home sale or optional sellback windows) — there are no ongoing interest payments to supporters
• Aligned incentives - When your home value grows, everyone benefits; when it falls, supporters share downside risk
• Credit treatment - Typically not treated like a monthly-payment consumer debt product; see offering terms and lender underwriting for specifics

Not really — we’re doing something fundamentally different. Traditional home equity investment companies provide capital against the equity of homes you already own. HomeSpark is purpose-built for raising initial capital to help buyers get to closing in the first place. That’s a completely different use case.

Beyond that structural difference:

• You control who participates — your own circle, not an institution optimizing for return
• No multipliers or acceleration clauses — traditional HEI companies often apply appreciation multipliers or acceleration clauses that customers don’t always understand; our economics are straightforward
• Transparent, documented terms — no hidden formulas, no appraisal surprises baked into the structure
• Supporters are already invested in you — the motivation is relational, not purely financial, which changes everything about how the arrangement works

We're designed for mortgage-ready buyers who need help with the down payment. If you:

• Have stable income and good credit
• Are pre-approved or pre-qualified for a mortgage
• Are buying a primary residence (new construction, existing homes, and homes sold by current owners all qualify — what matters is that you intend to live there)

...then you’re likely a good fit. We work with first-time buyers and repeat buyers alike.

We’re not the right fit (yet) for investment property purchases, or for buyers whose challenge is income or credit rather than the down payment gap itself.

Supporters receive a value-share expressed as a percentage of your home's value, set at purchase. This percentage equals the total support credited (their contribution plus any match) divided by your purchase price.

At a sale or qualifying refinance, the value-share settlement amount is calculated from the home's settlement value per the offering terms. Payouts follow a waterfall: the senior mortgage is paid off first at closing, then the value-share is settled from remaining proceeds before any residual goes to you.

Example: If $10,000 is credited on a $100,000 purchase, that's a 10% value-share. If the home later sells for $110,000, the value-share settlement amount is based on 10% of the settlement value (subject to the contract terms and available proceeds after mortgage payoff).

Risk note: Home values can fall, proceeds may be insufficient, and supporters may receive less than they contributed—including zero. This is illiquid and relies on offering documents. This is not a guaranteed outcome.

This is the most common scenario. At closing, proceeds follow a standard priority:

1. Mortgage payoff — The senior lender is paid in full first.
2. Value-share settlement — Supporters are paid their pro rata share from the remaining proceeds. This happens before any residual reaches you — supporters are not paid from whatever’s left over after you take your share.
3. Residual to you — What remains after supporters are settled goes to you as the homeowner.
4. Seller transaction costs — Commissions, title fees, transfer taxes, and other seller-borne closing costs come out of your residual.

Risk note: If proceeds are insufficient after mortgage payoff, the value-share settlement may be reduced or unpaid. Home values can fall, and supporters may receive less than contributed — including zero. This is not a guaranteed outcome.

You’re in complete control of how your campaign is structured. HomeSpark offers three options: all gifts (no equity shared at all), all value-share (every supporter receives HomeShares), or supporter’s choice (each supporter decides for themselves — which often means less total equity shared). Which structure you choose is entirely up to you.

If none of those three options works for your situation, traditional down-payment assistance programs, FHA loans, or continued saving may be better fits depending on your circumstances. We believe in empowering you to choose what works best for you and your circle.

Fair question, and worth a real answer. Here's how we ensure safety:

• Regulated structure - Any offerings would be conducted through an SEC-registered funding portal under frameworks like Regulation Crowdfunding
• Escrow protection - Funds (when collected) would flow through a qualified escrow provider and be held at an FDIC-insured bank
• Partner lenders - HomeSpark works exclusively with lenders who have already reviewed and accepted our program structure
• Clear documentation - Everything will be documented on your Closing Disclosure
• No-close protection - If your purchase doesn’t close for any reason, all supporter funds are returned in full — no obligation to you

Only your name and email address. We don't collect financial information, Social Security numbers, or credit reports at this stage. See our Privacy Notice for details.

We earn a small platform fee denominated in the same type of value-share units as your supporters receive. We realize value only when a settlement event occurs (home sale or sellback). This aligns our incentives with yours and your supporters—we all benefit from positive outcomes and share downside risk.

Sellback is a supporter right. At scheduled sellback windows (Years 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25), supporters can choose to sell some or all of their units back — the buyback is fulfilled automatically through the PHS Liquidity Line and you don't need to take any action. A final Year 30 Window at Year 30 provides a defined exit at mortgage payoff, funded through a separate process described below.

• Supporter-initiated: Supporters decide whether and how much to sell during each window. You can't force a supporter to sell, and you can't refuse a valid sellback request.
• Automatic funding: By default, sellbacks are funded through a dedicated PHS Liquidity Line — a ring-fenced sub-facility inside your mortgage designed solely for this purpose. Funds go directly to a secure settlement/escrow account, not to you as cash. Your mortgage payments adjust to reflect any draws, similar to a HELOC.
• Optional cash override: If you prefer, you can fund sellbacks yourself by depositing the required amount into a dedicated cash account on the platform before the window opens. This overrides the Liquidity Line for that window.
• Intended pricing: In our design, sellbacks are priced at face value (the supporter's original amount) plus a "support premium" that compounds annually to reward longer holding.
• Safety guardrails: Liquidity Line draws are subject to lender safety tests (including maximum loan-to-value limits). The line can only fund sellbacks — it cannot be used for general spending.
• Scheduled windows (Years 5–25): The five standard windows use the PHS Liquidity Line as the automatic funding backstop. You don't need to take any action — if a supporter exercises their right to sell back, the Liquidity Line funds the repurchase and your mortgage payment adjusts accordingly.
• Year 30 — Year 30 Window: At the end of the 30-year mortgage term, the PHS Liquidity Line expires along with the mortgage itself. This final window is funded differently: (1) you can deposit the required amount into a dedicated cash account on the platform before the window opens, (2) if you prefer, you may obtain a new standalone credit facility (such as a home equity loan on your largely paid-off home), or (3) if neither option is arranged within the cure period set in the offering terms, the home enters a structured cooperative sale process. The contract-defined price formula (face value + 5.5% compounded annually for 30 years) is the same structure as all other windows — only the funding path differs. Supporters who have not yet exercised a sellback may choose to exit at this point, or continue to hold pending a home sale.

This is a high-level preview, not investment advice or an offer to sell securities. Home values can fall; supporters may receive less than contributed, including zero.

If the home's value stays flat or falls — sellback windows protect you from market risk.

Your return at each sellback window is set by a formula: your original contribution plus a support premium that compounds annually. The rate increases with each window (Years 5 through 30). This means your return at exit does not depend on whether the home appreciated. Even in a flat or modestly declining market, your contractual return will always exceed your original contribution — that’s what the support premium formula guarantees.

If the homeowner faces serious financial difficulty — Layer 2: In development (not yet available)

Sellback windows address flat markets and partial downside. They do not protect against the worst-case scenario: a homeowner who stops making mortgage payments entirely and the property goes to foreclosure.

We take this scenario seriously. HomeSpark is actively developing a mechanism that would give your community the opportunity to step in before a default becomes unrecoverable — protecting both the homeowner and Supporters. We'll share details as this becomes available.

This is not investment advice. Equity-based arrangements involve risk of loss, including total loss of contribution. Home values can fall.

Refinancing can work with your value-share, depending on the type:

• Rate/term refinances — Generally allowed. Swapping to a better rate or term without pulling cash out typically doesn't trigger value-share settlement.
• Cash-out refinances — Subject to safety tests and may require a partial or full buyback of the value-share. Specific rules will be set in the offering terms.
• PHS Liquidity Line — If your mortgage includes a PHS Liquidity Line, any refinance must either preserve it or replace it with an equivalent facility—unless you're settling the value-share in full.

Final refinancing rules will be detailed in your offering documents. Always confirm with HomeSpark and your lender before refinancing.

It depends on your loan type:

• FHA loans: 3.5% minimum
• Conventional loans: 3-5% minimum (though 20% avoids PMI)
• VA loans: 0% (for eligible veterans)

Most first-time buyers put down around 6-9%. The less you put down, the higher your monthly payment (due to PMI and larger loan amounts).

Saving is always a good idea. But consider:

• Rising prices - Homes may appreciate faster than you can save
• Rent burden - You're paying someone else's mortgage while you save
• Opportunity cost - Delaying entry means missing years of building equity
• Life timing - Sometimes life events (marriage, kids, job changes) make waiting impractical

We believe there's room for both traditional saving AND innovative financing.

Potentially, yes! Many down-payment assistance programs can be combined with other sources of funds. However, this depends on:

• Your lender's requirements
• The specific assistance program rules
• Total loan-to-value limits

When we launch, we'll help you navigate combining different funding sources.

HomeSpark works with a curated network of partner lenders — mortgage lenders who have already reviewed our program structure, agreed to its terms, and are ready to work with HomeSpark buyers from day one.

When you create your campaign, you'll see a set of partner lender cards showing the likely terms each lender would offer you, based on basic information you provide. The process is automated and immediate. You review your options side by side — with the HomeSpark structure already built in — and choose the lender whose terms work best for you. No explaining, no convincing, no uncertainty about whether your lender will accept the arrangement.

• Partner lenders - HomeSpark works exclusively with lenders who have already reviewed and accepted our program structure. Your lender knows exactly how HomeSpark works before you ever speak to them.
• Clear documentation - Everything will be documented on your Closing Disclosure.
• Your Funds Are Protected - If your purchase doesn't close, your funds are returned in full.

We actively negotiate on behalf of HomeSpark buyers as part of our lender onboarding process. By bringing lenders a motivated, qualified buyer base, we aim to secure terms you might not find shopping on your own.

Specific rates will depend on your financial profile and the lenders available in your area at the time you launch your campaign.

We want to partner with as many lenders as possible. If there's a lender you'd like to work with who isn't currently in our network, you can submit their information through your campaign dashboard and we'll work on bringing them on board.

We may even offer incentives for successful onboardings — details to come at launch.

You don't need wealthy supporters! Here's why:

• Small contributions add up - Even $100-$500 contributions help
• Institutional matching - Employers, nonprofits, and housing agencies may match contributions
• Broad networks - Think beyond immediate family: mentors, former colleagues, alumni groups, faith communities
• Flexible goals - You set the target based on what your network can realistically provide

For buyers whose personal network can't close the full gap, BetterAngels Circle is coming — a curated layer of mission-aligned investors your campaign can reach, even beyond your personal network. HomeSpark is built from the inside out: start with your Core, build your Circle, and reach further when you need to.

AMP is partner matching—often from employers, housing agencies, or mission-aligned organizations—that can increase the total support credited toward a buyer's purchase.

AMP matching is offered under rules-based eligibility and capped terms. Availability is limited and not guaranteed. All matching allocations are fully disclosed in the equity allocation tables and closing documents.

Matching partners may include:

• Employers — As an employee benefit for recruitment, retention, or relocation support
• Housing finance agencies (HFAs) — State and local agencies with affordable housing missions
• Builders and lenders — To help close sales and expand access
• Foundations and nonprofits — Organizations focused on community development or homeownership

Terms vary by partner and program. Specific eligibility and caps will be disclosed in the offering documents.

When AMP matching is available, it's credited at purchase and increases the total support amount used to calculate value-share allocations.

Attribution can vary by program—matching may be credited to the contributing supporters, to the buyer, or held by a dedicated matcher position. Regardless of how it's attributed, the final allocations are always shown clearly in the offering and closing tables before anyone commits.

Right now, we're gathering interest from prospective homebuyers to help us plan our launch. When you sign up:

1. You'll receive occasional updates about our progress
2. You'll get early access when we launch in your area
3. You'll have the opportunity to participate in beta testing
4. You'll help us understand demand in your market

We're targeting mid-to-late 2026 for our initial launch in select metro areas. We'll prioritize markets where we see the strongest interest and have established lender partnerships.

We'll email you as soon as we launch in your region. You can also check back on this website for updates.

• Get pre-approved - Talk to a mortgage lender to understand how much you can afford
• Build your credit - Work on improving your credit score if needed
• Start saving - Even with our help, you'll likely need some savings for closing costs
• Think about your people — friends, family, employers who’d love to see you get your keys
• Stay informed - Watch for our launch announcement and educational content

We use your email only to:

• Send launch updates and announcements
• Notify you when we're available in your area
• Understand which markets to prioritize

We will never:

• Sell your email to third parties
• Share your information with lenders or real estate agents (unless you explicitly request it)
• Spam you with unrelated offers

See our full Privacy Notice for details.

Yes, anytime! Every email includes an unsubscribe link, or you can email hello@betterangels.io.

When we launch, we'll transition to a comprehensive Privacy Policy that covers our full platform operations. We'll notify you before that transition and give you the opportunity to opt out if you prefer.

Yes — and there are a few ways to do it.

Right now, the most meaningful thing you can do is spread the word. If you know someone who’s ready to buy a home and facing the down payment gap, share HomeSpark with them. The more homebuyers who know this exists, the sooner someone you care about gets home.

When we launch, you’ll be able to contribute directly — as a gift or as HomeShares — when someone you know invites you to their campaign.

Email us at hello@betterangels.io to join our supporter interest list.

Yes. Fundraisers can enable blind contributions, which lets supporters choose gift or regulated value-share (available at launch) while keeping that choice private from the fundraiser.

• Reduces pressure: The fundraiser can see that you contributed, but not which option you chose.
• Designed for close circles: Helpful when friends and family want to support without awkwardness.
• Clear disclosures: We'll make it clear what information is shared before anyone contributes.

We can't tell you whether this is a "good" investment for you, and nothing on this site is investment, legal, or tax advice. If you're considering supporting a homebuyer through a future value-share (rather than a gift), here are some factors you can weigh.

Possible benefits (not guaranteed):

• Exposure to home value change: you may participate in a portion of future appreciation (if any), based on the final terms.
• Direct impact: your support may help someone reach homeownership sooner.

Key risks & tradeoffs:

• Home values can fall, and you could lose money.
• Illiquidity: you may not be able to exit when you want; any exit options may be limited.
• Outcome depends on future events (like a sale/refinance and the contract's rules).
• Not a bank product: this is not FDIC-insured and involves investment risk.

If we ever launch an offering, the full terms and disclosures (not summaries) are what you should rely on.

Not investment advice. Investing involves risk. Consider your situation and consult your advisors.

Yes, in some ways! We're designed to work with Regulation Crowdfunding (an SEC framework) to structure investments legally and transparently. But instead of funding a startup or product, you'd be funding someone's path to homeownership.

Some campaigns may offer scheduled sellback windows where supporters can optionally sell some or all shares back to the homebuyer at a predetermined price: face value plus a support premium.

• Sellback windows: Scheduled times (e.g., every 5 years) when a supporter may choose to sell.
• Support premium: A predetermined annual percentage that (in our model) compounds annually until the selected window.
• Optional, not required: You decide each time whether to sell—no obligation.

Exact terms vary by campaign and will be disclosed clearly before you commit.

Illustration only. Not investment, legal, or tax advice.

We'd love to hear from you! Email us at hello@betterangels.io and we'll respond within a few business days.

We're a small team right now, but we're always interested in hearing from talented people who are passionate about expanding access to homeownership. Send your background and interest to hello@betterangels.io.

We're not currently raising capital, but we expect to in the future. If you're an investor interested in our mission, email hello@betterangels.io and we'll keep you informed.

We'll be publishing educational content as we approach launch. In the meantime, you can research:

• Down-payment assistance programs in your area (DownPaymentResource.com)
• Shared-equity models and community land trusts
• First-time homebuyer programs from HUD and your state housing agency