Totally Paperless? MBA Tech Veep Says 'Never'

Electronic mortgages may one day be commonplace, but the industry "will never get totally away from paper," says Gabe Minton, vice president of technology at the Mortgage Bankers Association.Speaking at the MBA's annual Legal Issues in Mortgage Technology Conference in Miami Beach, Fla., Mr. Minton said "paper will always have to be an option," if only because some local jurisdictions will never step completely into the 21st century. He also cited the conservative nature of lenders, many of whom are slow to change, and the desire of some consumers to continue to do things the old-fashioned way. Only about 75 attorneys and information technology professionals are attending the meeting. Nevertheless, the MBA still plans to devote "more and more attention" to the legalities of the emerging e-mortgage sector, according to director Rod Alba. "People working in this arena are either experts in technology or experts in the law," Mr. Alba said. "But very few are experts in both."