Advancing Communities Through Homeownership
"Buying this home felt like Christmas in November. My mortgage with taxes and insurance is less than what I paid for rent. I like being in my own home. I love sitting on my own porch and having a big yard. Best of all my kids are proud. We are happy to know that if anyone in our family falls on hard times, they have a place to live. With me.” - Shirley, a New Homeowner
Lona Council joins a Q&A session with Yulonda Byrd, Cinnaire VP, Innovation, to describe the thrill of becoming a homeowner through Cinnaire's Lease to Purchase program.
A Path to Homeownership and a Stronger Future
For many families, the dream of owning a home starts right where they are. In 2020, Cinnaire, in partnership with CHN Housing Partners, launched a single‑family homeownership program to help families turn the place they already live into the place they proudly own.
Through Cinnaire’s Advancing Communities Through Homeownership Program, residents receive personalized guidance through five clear steps to buying their home offering support, education, and trusted partners throughout the entire journey. The program is designed to build confidence, create stability, and set families up for long‑term success.
That vision is already becoming reality. Hundreds of families purchased their home through the Lease Purchase program. In Detroit alone, more than 100 families have transitioned from renters to homeowners in single‑family homes developed through the Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program opening the door to stability and the pride of ownership.
Today, income‑qualified buyers have a path to homeownership, expanding access and opportunity for families who might otherwise become long‑term renters. Allowing more families the opportunity to build generational wealth.
Neighborhoods Where Opportunity Grows
Homes in the Advancing Communities Through Homeownership Program are located in four Detroit neighborhoods where families are putting down roots and building their future:
- Fox Creek - Eastside Detroit
- Eden Gardens - Houston Whittier
- Gratiot Woods - Pingree Park
- Pilgrim Village - University Grove
Support Designed Around Families
Homeownership doesn’t happen alone. The program brings together trusted partners and practical tools to remove barriers and make buying a home achievable:
- Personalized Sales Guidance
Each family works one‑on‑one with a dedicated Sales Manager who serves as a guide, advocate, and resource throughout the homebuying process.
- Flexible Mortgage Options
Lending partners including Opportunity Resource Fund, ORSA (formerly Community Financial Credit Union), and CHN Housing Capital offer mortgage products designed to meet residents where they are.
- Down Payment AssistanceI
In partnership with MCDC, Down Payment Assistance helps reduce upfront costs. Additional DPA funds from the City of Detroit may also be available, helping some families achieve monthly payments that are comparable to or even lower than their current rent.
- Closing Cost Assistance
Assistance with Closing Costs helps minimize out‑of‑pocket expenses for essentials like inspections, and title insurance.
Tools That Turn Dreams Into Success
- Preparing for Ownership
Families complete a HUD‑approved Homebuyer Education Course and work closely with their Sales Manager to ensure they are ready for the responsibilities of ownership.
- Built for Long‑Term Stability
The program follows the Equivalency Principle--the belief that families are most successful when the total cost of owning a home does not exceed what they previously paid in rent.
- Clear, Achievable Requirements
Program requirements are designed to promote success and include steady employment, a history of on‑time rent, borrower equity, and responsible debt‑to‑income levels.
Cinnaire In Action
Dogwood Estates was developed during World War II to provide temporary housing for factory workers in Walkerton, IN, Forty years later, residents living in these plywood houses were plagued with issues: Ceilings were caving in. Floors pockmarked with holes. Uninsulated walls caused pipes to freeze.
Developers worked with the Town of Walkerton, Cinnaire, First Source Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank, Neighborhood Development Association to tear down the existing 86 homes and develop 40 beautiful, affordable, lease-to-purchase homes. The project has provided an unprecedented impact on the small community, changing the lives of over 200 families.
Our Locations
Lansing
1118 South Washington
Lansing MI, 48910
Indianapolis
201 North Illinois Street
Suite 1530
Indianapolis IN, 46204
Wilmington
100 W. 10th Street, Suite 502
Wilmington, DE 19801
Chicago
225 West Washington
Suite 1350
Chicago, IL 60606
Madison
10 E. Doty Street, Suite 617
Madison, WI 53703
Grand Rapids
100 Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
Suite 202
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Detroit
2111 Woodward Avenue, Suite 600
Detroit, MI 48201