Real Estate Technology Company Commits $150K to Help Las Vegans and is the First Real Estate Company to Rebate Listing Fees for Those Affected by COVID-19.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is being felt globally but especially in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world. As the city has shut down for at least 30 days, thousands of hospitality workers and residents across the Las Vegas Valley have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads.
Homie, a real estate tech disruptor that launched just two weeks ago in Las Vegas, has partnered with the United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) to help provide relief to those most impacted by COVID-19 through a new Homie Fund.
This Homie Fund is part of the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund, which assists those impacted by COVID-19. Donations to the Homie Fund will be directed to help Las Vegans avoid home foreclosure, pay utility bills, and provide meals for those facing food insecurity. Homie has seeded the fund with a $10,000 cash donation and is committing $500 to the Fund with every home bought or sold with Homie over the next three months.
For those in Las Vegas that were directly impacted by this crisis and need to sell their homes due to COVID-19, Homie will rebate the entire $2,500 listing fee back to the seller at close. Selling a home has traditionally required paying a percentage-based fee to a local real estate agent, averaging three percent of the sales price of the home. Homie uses technology and charges a flat fee without sacrificing the full-service real estate experience.
“Las Vegas has always had a special place in my heart,” said Mike Peregrina, Homie’s co-founder and CFO, who grew up in Las Vegas and studied at UNLV. “Over the course of the last few weeks the home has become more important than ever and we want to do our part to help more people stay in their homes or keep more of their equity when they sell.”
Homie launched in Las Vegas earlier this month. Within a week, the coronavirus pandemic had completely changed the economic landscape. Acting quickly, Homie’s team recognized the need to redirect its marketing resources to help affected Las Vegans.
“We are incredibly inspired to see the genuine caring spirit of Homie, a company that is new to Las Vegas, as they have stepped up for our community in such an amazing way,” said Kyle B. Rahn, United Way of Southern Nevada President and CEO. “Along with our partner Homie, we remain committed to helping more people stay in their homes to weather this difficult storm.”
About Homie
Homie is a real estate technology company changing the way real estate is bought and sold by eliminating high fees and commissions. The company simplified an outdated and overcomplicated process through a combination of technology and full-service real estate agent support. Homie is the #1 listing brokerage office in the state of Utah and is growing quickly in Arizona and Nevada. With real estate, home loans, closing services, and insurance, the Homie Tech family is making every aspect of buying and selling a home simple, affordable, and enjoyable. Finally, the way modern real estate should be. To learn more, visit www.homie.com.
About United Way of Southern Nevada:
United Way of Southern Nevada unites our community to improve people’s lives. We bring donors, volunteers, nonprofits, and businesses together to help children enter school ready to learn, help high school students reach graduation day, and support individuals working to earn a degree or certification, all while creating stability for their families. Together, we step into the ring and invite others to stand with us as a united front against social injustices and forces keeping our community’s most vulnerable residents from a good life. We are bold and innovative to solve our toughest problems. Together, we fight for the future of our community – and we will win. Join us at uwsn.org.
About the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund (UWSN Fund)
With over 30 years of experience in distributing emergency funding, help will be available through United Way of Southern Nevada’s trusted partners who are experienced in providing direct service assistance. To ensure accountability of the distribution of funds, UWSN is following the same stringent guidelines it utilizes for the administration of Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To ensure all donated funds are distributed to needs resulting from the COVID-19 virus and this state of emergency, Bank of America is covering all of their administrative fees and underwriting expenses related to the Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund account so that 100% of the donations go to local needs. Also supported by NV Energy and the Wells Fargo Foundation, United Way of Southern Nevada launched the UWSN Fund to assist those impacted by COVID-19. To donate, visit uwsn.org/donate or text “UWSNFUND” to 313131.