Mortgage technology

Dublin, Calif.-based Ellie Mae has released Encompass 3.0, an upgrade of its Encompass Mortgage Management Solution that enables two-way communication with borrowers and vendors, handles more loan programs, and integrates with more third-party technology.In addition, Ellie Mae said the product is now fully integrated with Encompass WebCenter, a tool that provides users with a scalable and search-engine-friendly website and a secure online business center that originators can use to generate leads and to communicate and collaborate with borrowers and partners. Encompass 3.0 supports more third-party technology platforms, like the newest versions of several systems by Microsoft, ACT!, and Adobe, Ellie Mae said. Furthermore, the upgrade can handle a larger array of loan programs, including piggyback loans and more payment-option adjustable-rate mortgage products. Compliance auditing for high-cost and predatory loans is now completely automated within Encompass 3.0, Ellie Mae said. The company can be found on the Web at http://www.elliemae.com.

NYLX Inc., a mortgage technology provider based in Mt. Arlington, N.J., has released BrokerToolz, an all-in-one product-eligibility and pricing engine that allows mortgage brokers to price and make loan decisions instantly with the click of a mouse, according to the company.The Web-based BrokerToolz allows brokers to select and price loans on-demand around the clock, eliminating rate sheets. BrokerToolz qualifies loan scenarios against multilender guidelines and price adjusters to display fully adjusted rates, and it prices and ranks the results to maximize transaction profits, NYLX said. The product "offers lead management, eligibility, loan pricing and best execution via the Internet," NYLX president John Alexander said. "... The surprising part is, this multifeature functionality is available at a very affordable price." NYLX can be found online at http://www.nylx.com.

Homebuyers considering different mortgage products can now use an online mortgage calculator to compare the monthly payments and equity buildup of different loan products, thanks to the Federal Reserve Board."We have created a tool that will allow consumers to look ahead to see how much equity they will build and what their mortgage payments will be three, five, seven, or 10 years down the road with different mortgage products," Fed Governor Randall Kroszner said. The calculator can be used on 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, interest-only fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages, interest-only ARMs, and payment-option ARMs. "These comparisons should encourage more consumers to shop around and compare mortgage offers," the Fed governor said. The Mortgage Comparison Calculator is on the Fed's website at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/mortcalc/

MortgageHub, a Norcross, Ga.-based provider of technology for the mortgage industry, has released TCL Lite, a version of its TCL (The Construction Lender) construction lending software that is tailored for smaller lenders.TCL Lite uses the same basic functions as the original system, but streamlines it to provide only those functions that smaller lenders require, and allows users to upgrade to the full TCL system with minimal effort, MortgageHub said. "TCL Lite is extremely easy to implement and use but still provides all the controls required for budgeting, cash management, and management information," said Dave Demster, president of MortgageHub's Mortgage Products Division. "Smaller lenders get a cost-effective, yet powerful solution that fits their needs today, while also providing the expandability to accommodate their growth in the future." The company can be found online at http://www.mortgagehub.com.

A new United Kingdom mortgage website is seeking to set itself apart by offering a consumer/borrower focus it says the majority of its competitors lack."Unlike comparison-only and lead generating platforms, FancyAMortgage.co.uk offerings in-depth information on mortgage products with advantages, disadvantages, and product comparisons," the Web-based company said. In addition to mortgage product overviews, the site offers information on individual mortgage lenders and related information on fees, brokers, and services. The site can be found at http://www.fancyamortgage.co.uk.

Portland, Maine-based Quantrix has announced that it is providing a modeling interface for risk-analytics provider Andrew Davidson and Co.The partnership between Quantrix and ADCo will deploy the Quantrix Modeler as the interface for ADCo's new LoanDynamics Mortgage Credit Model to serve fixed-income investors in the mortgage-based securities industry. The model incorporates historical data from approximately eight million loans by 144 issuers over 15 years to analyze borrower behavior and predict mortgage loan dynamics. The Quantrix LoanDynamics Interface enables mortgage credit analysts to analyze loan data, define interest rate and housing price scenarios, and model any combination of loans and scenarios with Quantrix Modeler. According to the announcement, customers receive a turnkey solution that includes ADCo's LoanDynamics Model, Quantrix Modeler licenses, and the Quantrix LoanDynamics Interface. The companies can be found online at http://www.quantrix.com and http://www.ad-co.com.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based LSI, a division of Fidelity National Information Services Inc., has launched ClosingStream 1.1, a Web-based closing solution for mortgage refinance and home equity lending transactions.The ClosingStream 1.1 deployment includes enhanced borrower authentication, borrower security, document delivery, and improved document question-and-answer segments, LSI said. With ClosingStream, LSI controls the entire title and closing process, eliminating the need to coordinate with several third-party providers. At the scheduled closing time, the borrower securely logs on to the ClosingStream website and dials a toll-free number to connect with an LSI closing representative, the company said. Using ClosingStream's online meeting application, the representative thoroughly covers each loan document to ensure that the borrower understands all the details. LSI said recent post-pilot consumer surveys of regular Internet users reported a 97% satisfaction rating when using ClosingStream to close their mortgage transactions. FNIS can be found on the Web at http://www.fidelityinfoservices.com.

MISMO, the not-for-profit data standards subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has announced the implementation of eHereNow's /validate Web service to validate XML data undergoing MISMO XML Compliance (or MXCompliance) certification.MXCompliance enables implementers of MISMO's Internet-based XML standards to determine what steps are necessary to comply with the certification requirements, the organization said. "The business rules associated with MXCompliance certification are complex -- and are increasing in both scope and complexity as MISMO work groups refine certification requirements," said Dan Szparaga, acting executive vice president of MISMO. "To that end, eHereNow has dramatically increased the speed and accuracy of the MXCompliance certification process, thereby improving it." MISMO, the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, can be found online at http://www.mismo.org.

The first Level II electronic mortgage document has been recorded in Minnesota, according to U.S. Recordings, St. Paul, Minn.The company said the Minnesota Real Estate Electronic Recording Task Force established the guidelines for various levels of document recordings. Level II electronic recording includes documents that are generated in paper form, signed and notarized with a wet signature, then scanned and sent in electronic form to the county along with indexing data. To date, six counties in the state are approved in an ERER Task Force pilot to receive Level II electronic documents: Clay, Dakota, Martin, Renville, Scott, and Wabasha counties. Dakota County Recorder Joel Beckman said the Level II submission of a mortgage by U.S. Recordings "was seamless and efficient, and we hope that electronic recording will continue to expand." Dakota County operates with Fidlar software to receive documents from U.S. Recordings.

MISMO, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has announced the release of three additional data standards -- involving document classification, environmental assessment, and work order requests -- for the commercial/multifamily mortgage industry.MISMO said each standard has a unique function: Document Classification Version 1.1 allows for a standardized methodology for identifying and including a document in an electronic transmission; Environmental Site Assessment Synopsis Version 1.1 is designed to enable the electronic transmission of a summary of the important data points in an environmental assessment on a commercial property; and Work Order Request and Response Version 1.1 is designed for use in basic project tasking situations. The first commercial data standard released by MISMO was Commercial Servicing Transfer Standard Version 1.0. MISMO said the standards will eventually "reduce costs, streamline processes, improve accuracy, increase data transparency, and boost investor confidence in mortgages as an asset class." MISMO, the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, can be found online at http://www.mismo.org.

Lender Technologies Corp., a subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has issued a Request for Information regarding the creation of a national database to help prevent fraud against lenders.LTC said it is requesting information to determine the availability of contractors that have the experience, expertise, and staffing to develop and operate such a database. "MBA believes that further innovation is required in order to adequately protect the industry, as well as consumers, taxpayers, and communities, from the costs of mortgage fraud, and that is why we are lending our support to efforts to develop a national fraud prevention database," said MBA chairman John M. Robbins. LTC said the primary focus of the project is to develop a database and a process to facilitate the sharing of data that would improve the ability of mortgage lenders to identify and stop fraud at the point of origination. LTC can be found online at http://www.lendertechnologies.com.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has published a proposed schedule for phasing in its automated loan servicing information system and the largest VA servicers, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Countrywide Home Loans, are slated to go first.Wells Fargo and Countrywide are due to go live on the new VA Loan Electronic Reporting Interface system, known as VALERI, in November and other servicers will be phased-in over the first three quarters of 2008. Wells Fargo will go first because its servicing system is similar to the VALERI system that National Financial, Jacksonville, Fla., has developed and customized for the VA. Countrywide will go second because it has a proprietary servicing system. The proposed phase-in schedule is out for public comment until June 15. "VA's goal is to bring on board the largest number of loans as early as its system can handle them, while also taking into account the number of servicers, the extent of servicers' interfaces, the types of loan portfolios, and other unique testing factors that VA can anticipate at this stage," the Federal Register notice said.

U.S. Recordings, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based provider of mortgage recording systems, is touting a revamped website that it says offers expanded interactive features while providing a centralized source for technology-driven recording information.The secured site provides "a consolidated source" for all traditional and electronic recordings, the company said. "Our new website offers 24/7 access for clients to check the status of any file from start to finish," said Allen Illgen, national sales manager of U.S. Recordings. "It provides a seamless, real-time integration with their system. Our website and its On-Demand reporting and tracking provide efficiency and cost savings as a leading, centralized resource for recording needs throughout the entire recording process to the 3,700 jurisdictions across the country." The revamped website can be found online at http://www.usrecordings.com.

Honolulu-based PCLender.com has just released warehouse line and loan reconciliation tools that enable midsize mortgage lenders to reconcile the true profitability of loans more accurately from the InHouse Mortgage enterprise lending platform, according to Lionel Urban, founder and president of the company.Offered on a hosted basis, the warehouse line tools offer to incorporate every aspect of pricing, including fees collected directly from the borrower at closing, secondary-marketing data, interim servicing interest and fees collected, principal paydowns, and interest and fees paid to warehouse lines and impounds. The PCLender.com fully hosted InHouse Mortgage platform integrates the functionality of up to eight different systems, depending on the needs of the lender. The company can be found online at http://www.pclender.com.

MERS, the electronic registry for tracking ownership of mortgage loans and servicing rights, has registered its 50 millionth loan.The milestone comes nine years after MERS pioneered its "MERS as original mortgagee" process, enhancing the registry by eliminating the need for an initial assignment to MERS. R.K. Arnold, president and chief executive officer of MERS, said the MOM process has allowed lenders and servicers to streamline their operations and reduce costs. "Having 50 million loans registered since then is gratifying, especially when we realize that reducing lender costs to originate loans benefits borrowers, especially first-time homeowners," he said. MERS eliminates the need to prepare and record paper assignments when mortgage companies sell loans or servicing rights. MERS estimates that lenders save at least $25 for each loan that is registered on the system. Currently, some 3,000 participating lenders register an average of 25,000 loans on MERS each day, the company said. MERS can be found on the Web at http://www.mersinc.org.

First National Bank of Arizona has turned to Phoenix-based Accenture for post-closing business process outsourcing.The Accenture service combines personnel, process, and technology to fully automate this part of mortgage fulfillment. Financial terms of the two-year contract were not disclosed. Accenture said it will provide the bank with file-room services, including imaging to convert paper documents into electronic form, indexing to capture relevant information in digital form, workflow services to speed processing, and performance metrics spanning the process. It will also offer data and document review to confirm that loans have met underwriting, servicing, and secondary-market salability requirements. Accenture will deliver the service both onsite and through its Global Delivery Network, which includes more than 40 centers in 30 cities around the world. The company can be found on the Web at http://www.accenture.com.

ATM Corporation of America, a settlement provider based in Coraopolis, Pa., has announced that its Streamlined Settlement Package has established an industry benchmark by enabling the mortgage loan settlement process to occur within six days from application, "four days faster than its nearest competitor."Boasting complete automation of every step in the collateral valuation, title, and settlement process, SSP gives lenders greater control and improved quality via a centralized Web-based document management system that also facilitates the e-mortgage process, the company said. It also allows lenders to guarantee all settlement costs, including recording fees and mortgage tax, to the borrower at the point of sale. SSP includes VisionCTI, which enables the loan officer and borrower to pre-schedule the appraisal and closing date, time, and location at the point of sale to improve the borrower experience. ATM, located in a suburb of Pittsburgh, can be found online at http://www.atmprof.com.

Lydian Technology Group, a mortgage technology provider based in Jacksonville, Fla., has enhanced its Mortgage Connectivity Hub to enable investors to accept loans from sellers electronically regardless of how the sellers submit the loan data.The system, which targets mid- to large-size lenders, now makes it far easier for investors to embrace electronic loan delivery, the company said. Lydian president Brian Fitzpatrick said there are probably fewer than 10 big aggregators that can accept loans electronically. "Regardless of how much we want to talk about electronic loan delivery, very few investors can support electronic loan submissions these days from a data perspective," he said. Mortgage Connectivity Hub now enables investors to accept loans electronically without having to make a significant financial investment and to process bulk transactions more like flow transactions, Lydian said. "Now investors can take a bulk transaction and have it broken down into single transactions that can be processed one at a time and automatically sent on to downstream systems or processes -- all quickly, accurately, and minimizing the opportunity of error," Mr. Fitzpatrick said. The company can be found online at http://www.lydiantechnology.com.

Compass Analytics LLC and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services have announced the integration of S&P's Levels credit model and Spire cash flow model into Compass's Mortgage Analytics system, CompassPoint.Customers of the two companies will now have loan-level access to Levels and Spire through CompassPoint for loan valuation, rate sheet generation, best execution, and duration modeling. "Compass's loan-level integration of Levels and Spire is a substantial enhancement to Compass's mortgage valuation and trading analytics, designed to seamlessly integrate the valuation process from mapping of loan data through structured cash flow valuations," said Rob Kessel, managing partner of Compass Analytics. The companies can be found online at http://www.compass-analytics.com and http://www.standardandpoors.com.

Overture Technologies, Bethesda, Md., and Tavant Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif., have announced the launch of a customizable end-to-end lending system for conduits and correspondent lenders.The system will allow conduits "to foster deeper relationships with correspondent partners and dramatically improve the efficiency of loan transactions and securitization operations," the companies said. Overture's Mozart Product Suite enables conduits and correspondents to address their needs in the areas of loan acquisition, best loan execution, securitization, and portfolio management, they said. In related news, Overture also announced a partnership with MortgageHub to provide midsize lenders an "easy and affordable way" to enhance productivity with Mozart's preconfigured, automated pricing, product selection, and underwriting tools. "Now mid-sized lenders can get the power of a big company solution, without the big company price," said Bill Kelvie, Overture's chief executive officer. Overture can be found online at http://www.overturetechnologies.com, and Tavant can be found at http://www.tavant.com.