Key facts
- HomeAdvantage and Valley First Credit Union have launched a real estate rewards program.
- The program provides Valley First's 80,000 members access to a network of vetted real estate agents.
- Members can receive a post-closing cash reward equivalent to 20% of the participating agent's commission.
- The reward is applicable to qualifying transactions and subject to program terms and state regulations.
HomeAdvantage has partnered with Valley First Credit Union to offer its members a real estate rewards program. This collaboration will provide the credit union's 80,000 members with access to a network of pre-screened real estate agents and a cash incentive upon closing a qualifying transaction. The cash reward amounts to 20% of the commission paid to the participating agent.
The partnership, announced Monday, aligns with a broader industry trend where credit unions are expanding their service offerings beyond traditional banking products. By integrating real estate search, agent matching, and financial incentives with mortgage services, institutions like Valley First aim to improve member loyalty and increase their share of the home purchase market.
Valley First, a Modesto, California-based credit union with $1.1 billion in assets founded in 1949, serves 12 counties in the Central Valley through its eight branches. The HomeAdvantage platform will feature a co-branded website enabling members to search listings, access neighborhood data, estimate home values, save properties, and connect directly with agents.
Stephanie Smith, vice president of operations at HomeAdvantage, stated that the shared commitment to member value makes the partnership a natural fit, aiming to help members navigate significant financial decisions with confidence and savings. The program combines technology with human guidance to streamline the home buying and selling process.