Adena Hefets
Showing 1–2 of 2 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.
- 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.