EHOP started as a husband and wife team that helps people achieve their dream of homeownership. The team wanted to create a way for employers to help put home and family first. With those aspirations propelling us, EHOP was born to “empower employees to find the place they call home!”
We sat down with EHOP’s Owner, James Smothers, to find out more about the companies and their impact in the Greater San Antonio region.
Tell us a little bit about EHOP and your presence in the South-Central Texas region?
EHOP provides corporations with a free benefits program to “empower employees to find the place they call home.” We work directly with new home construction builders, realtors, and mortgage companies to offer exclusive benefits to employer’s employees that are in-network with EHOP. These benefits allow their employees to save thousands of dollars when purchasing new home construction or pre-owned homes. Ultimately, these benefits help serve our in-network company’s needs with retention, recruiting, and overall job satisfaction. Our goal is to help these employees save the most amount of money possible when they purchase new home construction or pre-owned.
What makes EHOP stand out in the real estate industry?
A report from Forbes magazine/MYND consumer insight report 78% of Americans still identify homeownership as a part of the “American Dream.” We are doing something that has never been done before on a large scale, by helping corporations create housing benefits for their employees. No matter if they are a first-time home buyer, second time move-up or luxury home buyer… we can help. We have helped numerous employees receive $20,000 – $30,000, and in some cases, up to $75,000 in benefits and incentives when purchasing new home construction.
What real estate trends are you watching right now?
Right now, interest rates are the highest they have been over the past 4 years and seem to be holding there. We work with several builders that are still offering interest rates below 5%, that still make homeownership attainable. We are still seeing a large number of people moving to San Antonio and surrounding areas. According to data from Zonda, an additional 80,000 to 85,000 people are expected to move to San Antonio and surrounding areas between now and 2027.
How would you like to see the San Antonio region continue to grow?
As companies decide to move to San Antonio, a key consideration factor is affordable housing. EHOP would like to a part of what makes housing more affordable for the employees of these companies.
Why did you invest in greater:SATX?
When we were introduced to greater:SATX by Shirley Frobish, Business Development Manager for Foreign Investment, we had no idea what greater:SATX was. Since our initial meeting with Janette Surette, we have seen what a huge difference greater:SATX makes on the economic development for San Antonio.
The work that greater:SATX does touches every part of San Antonio from jobs, development, businesses, travel, infrastructure of a city, education, commerce and housing. Once we were informed about how greater:SATX touches all areas of our lives, it was a no-brainer to invest. As a new investor, we have been extremely pleased with the experience and value that greater:SATX offers.