Detroit's Homeownership Revolution

Tobias Harris partners with Homium to bring a new path to homeownership to Detroit—no monthly payments, just a fair, sustainable way for families to build equity and stay rooted in their communities. This initiative is made possible through the support of generous sponsors and is actively welcoming additional partners.

Partner With Us First Time Home Buyer?

Join Tobias in expanding access to homeownership—one family, one neighborhood at a time.

That loan gave us the ability to get a safer environment, a bigger home and a better quality of a home.

Hattie and Takiyah Anderson

Care Worker + Retired - New Detroit Homeowners

This program will really help you in the process of trying to find a house, it gave me hope that I can be a homeowner.

Jaleel Hogan

Commerical Truck Driver and New Detroit Homeowner

Tobias Harris: Champion for Detroit

Tobias Harris created this initiative to make homeownership a reality for the families powering Detroit’s comeback. Designed around shared appreciation financing and tailored to the city’s housing dynamics, it gives working families the chance to buy in.

With early support from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), his former Pistons teammate Jon Leuer and team owner Tom Gores, Harris is proving that lasting change starts with ownership.

NBA Veteran

Community Focus

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Homium Shared Appreciation Mortgages

Revolutionary home financing with no monthly payments.

THHI partners with Homium to offer Shared Appreciation Mortgages (SAMs)—a fair, transparent second-lien loan that adds a silent partner to the traditional mortgage stack. This preferred equity-style down payment assistance makes homeownership more affordable for working families and aligns incentives for long-term community growth.

No Monthly Burden

Zero Monthly Payments

SAMs eliminate monthly payment burden, allowing families to allocate income toward other financial goals and reducing default risk.

Aligned Incentives

1:1 Shared Growth Model

When homes appreciate, borrowers share the same percentage with THHI as the percentage of the home they borrowed at origination, creating sustainable funding for future families.

Local Impact

Detroit-First Focus

This program is designed to serve working-class families and individuals, targeting current or former residents of Wayne County earning $45,000+ annually.

Why THHI Matters

Stability and Financial Security

Homeownership reduces housing instability. With no monthly payments, SAMs help families avoid displacement and free up income for savings and essentials.

Health and Wellness

Stable housing improves physical and mental health. Homeowners have control over their living conditions, creating safer and healthier spaces.

Better Educational Outcomes

Kids in owned homes perform better in school and are more likely to graduate. Parents with home equity can invest more in their children's future.

Community Roots

Homeowners build deeper ties to their neighborhoods—attending school meetings, maintaining their homes, and supporting local institutions.

Generational Wealth

SAMs help families build equity. That equity becomes a foundation for future down payments, businesses, and education.

A Self-Sustaining Model

As home values rise, Homium recycles returns into new loans, creating a compounding, long-term engine for equitable homeownership.

Built for Impact

Homium's tech-driven model uses grant and PRI capital to unlock private mortgage funding for eligible first-time buyers. Our platform tracks results in real time—SAMs issued, homeowners served, and equity built—and keeps costs lower than traditional DPA programs. Every home we finance creates ripples of impact across families, neighborhoods, and generations.

Who We're Here For

THHI is designed to serve the people who serve Detroit.

Teachers & Educators

Those shaping the city's future—inside classrooms and beyond.

Public Safety Workers

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs—those keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Healthcare Workers

Nurses, caregivers, and support staff who care for our families.

Government & Public Employees

From bus drivers to clerks—those who keep the city running.

Working-Class Families

People rooted in Detroit—current or former Wayne County residents ready to become first-time homeowners.

Eligible City of Detroit Neighborhoods

THHI serves families across Wayne County's diverse communities, focusing on areas with strong potential for sustainable growth.

30 Zip Codes Across the City of Detroit

Interested current or former Wayne County first time homebuyers should reach out to a Guild Mortgage originator to learn more about program eligibility.

First Time Home Buyer?Check If Your Address Qualifies

Powered by Homium

Making down payment assistance work—for families and communities.

The Platform

Homium powers THHI with a fair, no-monthly-payment second-lien loan that helps working families afford homes. Borrowers can qualify for conforming first mortgages, avoid PMI, and get the support needed to buy their first home.

How it works

Homeowners receive a Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) with no interest, fees, or monthly payments. When they sell or refinance, they repay a fixed share of the home's value—keeping costs low and upside intact.

Why It Matters

Homium lowers the barrier to homeownership while helping families build wealth and stay rooted. As loans repay, funds are recycled to support more first-time buyers—creating lasting community impact.

Transparent & Impact-Driven

Homium tracks and reports social outcomes, wealth creation, and program performance—giving funders clear insight into their impact.

Learn More at

Detroit Homebuyer Readiness Fair 9/27

On September 27, we hosted a community Homebuyer Readiness Fair in Detroit with Guild Mortgage and local partners, drawing more than 100 attendees. The event connected families with resources on the path to homeownership and celebrated the city’s growing commitment to expanding opportunity.

Thank you to all who participated!