Adena Hefets
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- a16z21 min
Easing the Housing Crisis by Building Better Tools
Adena Hefets, Katherine Boyle, Peter van de Ven
Founded by Adina Cushman to address the 80% of Americans unable to secure traditional mortgages, Divi operates a "Run to Own" rent-to-own model that allows customers to purchase equity in homes within 20 metro areas. The program targets non-salaried workers and underrepresented minorities by capping annual price appreciation at 6% and covering all maintenance costs to prevent predatory practices while building ownership over a three-year period. Cushman projects a near-term market correction of 10-15% but anticipates a healthier, supply-constrained recovery driven by remote work migration trends, while actively engaging regulators to establish new industry standards.
- All-In Podcast32 min
#AIS: Divvy Homes CEO Adena Hefets breaks down the state of the US housing market
Adena Hefets, Chamath, Calacanis, Friedberg, Adina
Divi Homes addresses the stark wealth inequality driven by asset appreciation and restrictive lending standards by offering a non-traditional homeownership model that allows customers with limited down payments to build equity. Operating across sixteen major markets with a customer base comprising 50% people of color and 80% female-led households, the company has achieved a 51% purchase success rate among participants who complete its three-year term. Funded by a recent $200 million Series investment from Tiger Global, Divi projects a path to profitability with an all-in margin near 25% while navigating a supply-constrained housing market.
- a16z14 min
A Novel Path to Homeownership
Addressing the stagnation of U.S. homeownership among Millennials and first-time buyers, CEO Adina Heffetz's company Divi Homes introduces a flexible ownership model that allows customers to enter the market with a 2% down payment while Divi retains the majority equity. Operating across six major markets, the platform splits monthly payments into rent and equity-building components, enabling occupants to incrementally increase their ownership stake to 10% over three years before buying out the remainder or exiting with accrued gains. This approach combines traditional asset ownership with access-based utility, offering a "stair step" path that integrates maintenance support and potential mortgage transition services for consumers traditionally excluded by strict underwriting standards.