We’re proud to share that Dart Budz, Chief Financial Officer at Lower, has been named one of HousingWire’s 2026 Finance Leaders, a recognition honoring 30 of the most impactful finance executives across mortgage, real estate, and homebuilding.
The annual award highlights leaders who are driving measurable financial performance while helping their organizations navigate an evolving housing market. Honorees are selected by HousingWire’s editorial team based on demonstrated results, leadership influence, and meaningful contributions to the broader industry.
For Lower, this recognition reflects the impact Dart has made since joining the company in early 2025. With 23 years of experience as a senior finance leader, Dart has guided organizations through periods of rapid growth, restructuring, and market volatility. At Lower, he has strengthened financial reporting to better support strategic decision-making across the business and played a key role in financial due diligence for the company’s acquisition of Movoto within his first month.
In a market that demands discipline and adaptability, Dart’s leadership has helped Lower thoughtfully evaluate investments and position the company for sustainable growth.
“His commitment to doing what is best for Lower, combined with his ability to inspire, educate, and elevate those around him, makes him a standout leader who embodies the very best of our culture,” said Lower CEO and Co-Founder Dan Snyder.
“HousingWire is proud to celebrate the 2026 Finance Leaders who are redefining what financial leadership looks like in today’s housing economy,” said Sarah Wheeler, Editor-in-Chief at HousingWire. “These executives are not only safeguarding profitability and managing risk -- they are shaping strategy, enabling smart growth and positioning their organizations to thrive in a market that demands agility, precision and vision.”
“Our industry demands financial leaders who operate at the center of strategy -- true experts who turn insight to action,” said Clayton Collins, CEO of HousingWire. “Today’s most effective executives are shaping capital strategy, enabling disciplined growth and building highly informed organizations that can adapt quickly to market shifts. The 2026 Finance Leaders are driving performance with precision and vision, and we’re proud to spotlight the impact they’re making across housing.”
Dart shared that recognition like this reflects the collective work of the broader team.
“Finance should be a strategic partner to the business, not just a reporting function,” said Budz. “Our job is to make sure leaders have the right information at the right time to weigh tradeoffs, put capital to work in the right places, and build for the long term. I am proud of the team we have built at Lower and the foundation we are putting in place to support where we are headed.”
The full list of 2026 Finance Leaders is available at housingwire.com.
