Solar companies face a consistent challenge: homeownership is the gateway to rooftop solar, and the down payment barrier is keeping too many potential customers in apartments and rentals. Dream Home Fund offers a direct solution, and a partnership model that aligns financial and mission interests.
The Solar-Homeownership Connection
The residential solar market is almost entirely a homeowner market. Renters cannot install solar on properties they do not own. Homeowner associations vary in their policies. But fundamentally, the path to rooftop solar goes through homeownership.
This means that every family unable to access homeownership due to the down payment gap is also a lost solar opportunity, indefinitely. They cannot buy panels. They cannot lock in energy rates. They cannot benefit from federal tax credits. And solar companies cannot serve them.
How the Partnership Works
Solar companies can partner with Dream Home Fund as capital providers. By contributing capital to Dream Home Fund's DPA funding pool, solar companies can help their pipeline of would-be customers clear the down payment barrier and become homeowners. Once they own a home, they become eligible solar customers.
The capital is not a donation. It is returned with interest when the DPA recipient sells or refinances their home. Solar companies get mission-aligned capital deployment, potential CRA-qualified community impact, and a pathway to serving customers they would otherwise lose to the ownership barrier.
Community Solar and Beyond
Beyond individual homeownership, solar companies engaged in community solar or working in underserved markets have particular alignment with Dream Home Fund's mission. CRA-motivated impact in low- and moderate-income communities, combined with the environmental mission of clean energy, creates a compelling story for investors, regulators, and communities alike.
Two Ways to Engage
Solar companies typically partner with Dream Home Fund in one of two ways, depending on how deep they want the relationship to go.
Program Licensing. For solar companies that want to offer DPA directly to their pipeline under their own brand, Dream Home Fund licenses the full program, underwriting framework, servicing protocols, compliance documentation, and ongoing operational support. Borrower-facing materials, portals, and communications carry your identity. This is the strongest fit when DPA is part of the solar customer journey and you want to own the borrower relationship end to end.
Capital partnership. For solar companies that prefer a lighter footprint, capital can be contributed to Dream Home Fund's DPA pool. Terms are negotiated individually based on the size and structure of the contribution. Capital is held in a segregated DPA Funding Account and returned with interest per the agreement.
If you are a solar company exploring either path, start with Program Licensing or reach out directly and we will walk you through both.
Ready to put DPA to work for your pipeline?
Program Licensing lets your solar company offer Dream Home Fund's DPA model under your own brand. Underwriting framework, servicing, and ongoing support, white-labeled for your market.
Explore Program Licensing