Atlanta Business
Down Payment Resource honors Merri Jo Cowen with 2025 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that 40-year industry veteran Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS, is the recipient of the 2025 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award….
More Than 25 Million Views Later, More Than a Video: How One Story from East Africa Touched Millions
ATLANTA, Ga. — “Living Story from East Africa,” an AI-generated cinematic short created by storyteller and entrepreneur Chris Williams, has surpassed 28 million views on Instagram since its Jan. 23 release, based on the platform’s publicly displayed view count on the post. Created using ChatGPT for story development and Sora 2 for video generation….
Down Payment Resource finds 2,619 homebuyer assistance programs nationwide in Q4 of 2025
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry authority on homeownership program data and solutions, today released its Q4 2025 Homeownership Program Index (HPI) report, identifying 2,619 programs. While the total count is five programs fewer than the prior quarter, it marked a 6% increase from a year earlier, rising from 2,466 programs in Q4 2024. The year-over-year (YoY) growth reflects continued expansion and refinement of program options amid persistent housing affordability challenges across much of the country….
Down Payment Resource’s Sean Moss named a 2025 HousingWire Tech Trendsetter
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that executive vice president of product and operations Sean Moss has been named a HousingWire 2025 Tech Trendsetter. The annual Tech Trendsetters award, now in its seventh year, honors the housing industry’s most impactful and innovative technology leaders….
AboutFace-USA: Honoring Service, Growing Impact, and Looking Ahead
CUMMING, Ga. — For more than 12 years, Joe LaBranche has been a driving force behind AboutFace-USA, a veteran-founded nonprofit dedicated to healing veterans, strengthening families, and uniting communities. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into a vital resource for Georgia’s veteran community, including the 2024 launch of AboutFace Farm, an aeroponic farm….
Down Payment Resource Reports a New Record of 2,624 Homebuyer Assistance Programs Nationwide in Q3 2025
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry authority on homebuyer assistance program data and solutions, today released its Q3 2025 Homeownership Program Index (HPI) report. The report identifies 70 new programs launched in Q3, bringing the total number of available programs nationwide to a record 2,624. Additionally, 20 new program providers were added to DPR’s database in Q3, bringing its provider total to 1,360….
What AI ‘Near Me’ Gets Wrong in Atlanta – And How Not to Overpay
ATLANTA, Ga. — Elite Web Professionals today announced a free 60‑second checklist designed to help Atlanta residents verify AI‑generated “near me” service recommendations and avoid hidden fees. As AI‑powered search now surfaces plumbers, HVAC technicians and locksmiths before consumers even click a website, the company warns that these algorithms often suggest providers across town or with opaque pricing, outdated hours and “24/7” claims, so people need to double‑check before booking….
ALCOVA Mortgage partners with Down Payment Resource to expand access to homeownership
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, announced today that it has partnered with ALCOVA Mortgage to expand access to down payment assistance (DPA) programs for homebuyers. The collaboration will help ALCOVA’s loan officers match borrowers with available programs more easily, addressing one of the biggest challenges in today’s housing market, namely affordability….
Down Payment Resource’s Brad Cardwell named to MBA’s Associate Advisory Council
ATLANTA, Ga. — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that Brad Cardwell, vice president of sales and business development, has been appointed to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Associate Advisory Council (MAAC)….
Depth expands leadership team, adding mortgage marketing veteran Elizabeth Schroeder as vice president
ATLANTA, Ga. — Depth, a leading provider of consultative B2B marketing, public relations and reputation management services for technology companies serving the residential mortgage finance, fintech and regtech industries, today announced its addition of mortgage industry veterans Elizabeth Schroeder, vice president of client services, and Amy Jerina, client services manager, along with former business journalist Amber Perry, who also joins as a client services manager….