Hi John,

Thank you for being part of the Prosperity Now network. 

Homeownership remains a critical pathway to long-term financial stability. Yet for many first-time buyers, the traditional “starter home” no longer functions as a realistic entry point. Prices, household finances, and risk exposure have changed, while the systems designed to support entry into ownership have struggled to keep pace. 

Prosperity Now invites you to join us on January 28 for a live conversation with the co-authors of new research examining how homeownership pathways are evolving in practice, and what those shifts mean for the organizations that support first-time buyers. 

Rethinking the Starter Home: New Pathways into Homeownership 

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 

Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET 

Location: Zoom (registration required)

This session draws from a forthcoming co-authored white paper by Prosperity Now, Nestment, and Next Belt Strategies. The authors will share key insights from the research and discuss how households are adapting to today’s housing market by entering ownership through alternative, incremental, and risk-sharing approaches. 

The discussion will explore: 

• How current market conditions are reshaping the first-time buyer pathway 

• Entry approaches that are increasingly common among today’s buyers 

• What these shifts mean for housing counselors, lenders, and CDFIs working with first-time buyers 

The session is designed to be accessible for those newer to this topic, while offering grounded, real-world insights for experienced practitioners. A moderated discussion and Q&A will follow. 

Featured Speakers 

• Chrissi Johnson, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Prosperity Now 

• Jeremy Potter, Co-Host, Housing Insiders Podcast; Principal, Next Belt Strategies 

• Niles Lichtenstein, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nestment 

The session will be recorded and shared afterward as a gated resource through the Prosperity Action Network. Live participation is encouraged. 

Questions can be directed to [email protected]. 

Warmly, 
The Prosperity Now Team