Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes set forth in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our MD&A set forth in the Form 10-K, and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes set forth in the Form 10-K. See Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” below, and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information,” above, and the information referenced therein, for a description of risks that we face and important factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. All statements herein regarding potential risks constitute forward-looking statements. When we cross-reference to a “Note,” we are referring to our “Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” unless the context indicates otherwise. All amounts noted within the tables are in thousands except per share amounts or where otherwise noted and percentages are approximate due to rounding.
Overview
Fathom Holdings Inc. (the “Company”, “Corporate”, “Our”, “We”), headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, is a national, technology-driven, end to end real estate services company integrating residential brokerage, mortgage, title, insurance and SaaS offerings for brokers and agents. The Company’s brands include Fathom Realty, Dagley Insurance, Encompass Lending, intelliAgent, LiveBy, Real Results, Verus Title and Cornerstone. Our primary operation, Fathom Realty (as defined below), operates as a real estate brokerage company, working with real estate agents to help individuals purchase and sell residential and commercial properties, primarily in the South, Atlantic, Southwest, and Western parts of the United States, with the intention of expanding into all states.
Fathom Realty Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Fathom Realty”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fathom Holdings Inc. Fathom Realty owns 100% of 39 subsidiaries, each an LLC representing the state in which the entity operates (e.g. Fathom Realty NJ, LLC).
Corporate Developments During 2022
In January 2022, the Company completed its acquisition of Cornerstone Financial (“Cornerstone”). The acquisition of Cornerstone, a real estate mortgage business, has helped us to expand our reach in the DC and surrounding markets.
In February 2022, the Company completed its acquisition of iPro Realty Network (“iPro”). The acquisition of iPro, a real estate brokerage business, has helped us to expand our reach in the Utah real estate market.
Rising Interest Rates, COVID-19, and Other Risks
Our business is dependent on the economic conditions within the markets in which we operate. Changes in these conditions can have a positive or negative impact on our business. The economic conditions influencing the housing markets primarily include economic growth, interest rates, unemployment, consumer confidence, mortgage availability, and supply and demand.
In periods of economic growth, demand typically increases resulting in increasing home sales transactions and home sales prices. Similarly, a decline in economic growth, increasing interest rates and declining consumer confidence generally decreases demand. These are the trends we are currently facing. Additionally, regulations imposed by local, state, and federal government agencies can also negatively impact the housing markets in which we operate. Finally, national and global events, including pandemics such as COVID-19, geopolitical instability, that impact economic conditions and financial markets, including interest rates, can adversely impact the housing market.
Beginning in the second quarter of 2022, several economic factors began to adversely impact the residential real estate market, including higher mortgage interest rates, lower consumer sentiment, increased inflation, and declining financial market conditions. This shift in the macroeconomic backdrop had an adverse impact on consumer demand for our services, as consumers weighed the financial implications of selling or purchasing a home and taking out a mortgage. As previously reported, our growth slowed beginning in the third quarter of 2022. Our mortgage business also experienced significant declines in loan volumes beginning in the second quarter of 2022, particularly from refinancing prior mortgages.
In response to these macroeconomic and consumer demand developments, we took action to adjust our operations and manage our business towards longer-term profitability despite these adverse macroeconomic factors. We achieved our goal of reaching total company Adjusted EBITDA breakeven in the second quarter of 2023 and looking ahead, we remain focused on generating positive cash