Potential homeowners save for equity through informal
savings accounts that allow rotating lump-sum draws.
Contingent on the size of their down payment, a mezzanine
fund provides funding at closing. The return on
the fund is from a premium over the conventional prime
mortgage rate and either an equity position or a lookback
second mortgage with no payment. The homeowner
receives an interest in the mezzanine fund. The intention is
to securitize the mezzanine fund, leading to tradable home
equity, the last large illiquid asset in wealth.
The program combines the community ties of informal
savings accounts with formal safeguards from a tradable
mezzanine equity fund. This monitoring and lower leverage
reduces the default risk while retaining the low prepayment
risk of these borrowers.