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HomeFundIt™: Turn Graduation Gifts into Homeownership

Looking forward to hanging up your new diploma? Why not showcase it on the walls of your new home? As you celebrate your educational milestones this season, you can also jumpstart your journey to homeownership through HomeFundIt™, our down payment gifting platform. Instead of cash and checks from relatives, you can funnel that goodwill towards your future home. Curious how that would work?

Published May. 15, 2026

Looking forward to hanging up your new diploma? Why not showcase it on the walls of your new home? As you celebrate your educational milestones this season, you can also jumpstart your journey to homeownership through HomeFundIt™, our down payment gifting platform. Instead of cash and checks from relatives, you can funnel that goodwill towards your future home. Curious how that would work?

A Diploma Today, A Down Payment Tomorrow

As you gather your gown and tassels while preparing to celebrate with your classmates and family, why not gather graduation gifts for your down payment? Using one major life milestone to launch into the next is a great way to get ahead of the homeownership game.

HomeFundIt is the first and only online platform that allows your graduation guests to contribute to your down payment, via debit or credit card.

HomeFundIt Can Turn Celebration Into Home Buying Momentum

  • Create your HomeFundIt page in minutes
  • Invite your guests to visit (via email or QR code)
  • Collect down payment gifts online
  • Get a 2-to-1 match, up to $2,000* towards purchase!

Donation Example

100 Graduation Guests

X $50 Gifted (Per Guest)

$5,000 Down Payment Donations

+ $2,000 HomeFundIt Grant

$7,000 Towards Your NEW Home!

Traditional graduation gifts are thoughtful, but we offer this alternative option that can have a lasting impact on a graduate’s financial future.

Graduation Is Just the Beginning

Whether you’re a student entering the workforce or continuing your education, HomeFundIt can help jumpstart the path to homeownership sooner than many expect. And one final bonus? Funds don’t expire! This method is a simple way to turn graduation generosity into real financial momentum.

Congratulations to all the graduates this season! Cheers to futures brimming with brilliance and built upon strong foundations.

Source: HomeFundIt

*Grant is a $2-to-$1 match on regular down payment gifts received on HomeFundIt™, up to the lesser of $2,000 or 1% of purchase price for first-time buyers, as defined by Fannie Mae, who complete home buyer education prior to signing a purchase contract. Talk to your loan officer or visit your HomeFundIt dashboard for next steps, or you can also find a housing counselor near you by visiting https://www.hud.gov/counseling.

Grant funds are applied to nonrecurring closing costs. If closing costs are fully paid by seller or interested party, grant funds can be used to buy down the rate. Grant funds cannot be used towards a down payment. Visit https://www.homefundit.com/Grant for complete terms and conditions.

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