Industry experts weigh in on recent changes to Fannie Form 1003/Fredie Form 67.

By Patrick Barnard

In the first update for the form in more than 20 years, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have redesigned the Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA – Fannie Form 1003/Freddie Form 67) in order to make it simpler to use and to add new data fields for increased reporting under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

The new version includes simplified terminology and a clearer set of instructions for users, according to the GSEs. This, in turn, will help borrowers complete the loan application with less help from the lender. As part of the project, the GSEs worked together to create a common corresponding data set, called the Uniform Loan Application Dataset (ULAD), to ensure consistency of data delivery.

Lenders may begin using the redesigned forms on Jan. 1, 2018; however, as of right now, there is no deadline set for their required use.

The updating of the form is part of the GSEs’ Uniform Mortgage Data Program (UMDP), a larger joint initiative under the direction of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to standardize single-family mortgage data in the U.S.


Although at first glance these updates might not seem like a big deal, they are, in fact, an important step toward standardizing the loan information used for underwriting single-family mortgages. To learn more about how the industry is viewing these changes, MortgageOrb recently interviewed Tim Anderson, director of e-services for DocMagic, a provider of loan document software and services; Mike Vitali, senior vice president and chief compliance officer at LoanLogics, a provider of technology and outsourced audit services; and Annemaria Allen, CEO and president of The Compliance Group, a consultancy that assists lenders with mortgage compliance and quality control (QC).

Q: What is your initial reaction to the changes? Do you feel the changes were necessary? Are there some changes that you feel were more needed than others?

Anderson: These changes were needed. With the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) forms (the loan estimate and the closing disclosure), it’s good to try and standardize them as much as possible to have the same look and feel to them for the consumer. I still wish they would have moved to a full intelligent, or, as some refer to them, SMARTDoc, format so that only the exact terms specific to the loan would be shown. They did incorporate the idea of a “dynamic” document, so if a consumer is filling out the form online, some of it expands or contracts based on some of the loan types and conditions. It should be the same if one is printing and filling it out manually, producing less data and fewer pages that are not relevant.

Vitali: I believe the changes will prove beneficial to both lenders and consumers. The additional information will help lenders make an earlier, more informed decision on borrower qualifications and whether they should proceed with the processing of the loan. They will also be in a better position to explain what additional information may be needed and why. With the increased scrutiny on loan quality and customer service, the need for more comprehensive borrower information became more important. The added data will also provide a more complete picture of the applicant – which may assist lenders and the agencies in making better determinations about risk factors that can lead to borrower defaults.

Allen: Let’s just say that we have been using basically the same URLA for the past 30 years, with very few to moderate changes. So, yes, I feel the current URLA needs a complete update. Times have changed, and laws have changed, so my initial reaction to the changes is that, for the most part, they are good. From a compliance standpoint, of course the HMDA changes are needed. The URLA is the primary form in which we collect all of our data. It tells us the story we need to know about the borrower. The better documented the story is, the faster it speeds up the lending process. I have some concerns with documenting co-borrowers’/joint credit and perhaps some inconsistencies there, but it could be a product of looking at the same form for 30 years and then trying to review this new form to determine how certain aspects apply. Generally, after several months of using the form, it all starts falling into place. I would suspect that there would be a need for an amended version about a year after the form comes out.

Q: Do you feel that the form is “clearer” and will be easier to use, as the FHFA says? Are the instructions clearer?

Anderson: Yes. I like the idea that they separated the borrower information from the lender so there will be less confusion on who fills out what. They also used the same company that designed the TRID documents – and so leveraged some of the consumer feedback they received from that to include in the new URLA. Yes, the instructions are clearer. They used more simplified consumer language than business loan officers (LOs).

Vitali: Definitely. The form is like a road map for originators or consumers who are providing lenders with the information needed to move forward with their loan applications. It will also highlight areas that may need additional research or information.

Allen: There are parts that are definitely clearer, but then there are parts that are more confusing. For example, Sections 3a and 3b were a bit more confusing for me. For example, Section 3 asks the borrower to list all properties owned and what is owed on them, but in Section 3a, it only gives one spot for one address. Then it says, if you are refinancing, list the property you are refinancing first – well, there is only one spot, so it doesn’t really matter. Then you go to 3b, which is where you would put any additional property, but again, it only provides one spot for one address. What about the borrower who owns multiple properties? As I looked at it several times, it became clearer, but the flow was a bit awkward. I thought providing the borrower with details for each section was helpful, such as listing income from other sources and the assets section.

Q: What do you think were the main reasons why the FHFA sought to update the form at this time?

Anderson: It is a continuation of the UMDP that started with the mortgage appraisal form and the Uniform Appraisal Dataset and expanding it to other critical documents to ensure more transparency and better loan quality to feed its underwriting and decisioning systems. Fannie and Freddie have announced their new pre-closing QC systems that will eventually replace Loan Prospector and Desktop Underwriter, and it just makes sense if you are collecting more data sooner, lenders can focus on making good loans and spend less time and money on ones they know they cannot approve later.

Vitali: Increased data on loan applicants is a big part of it. Information is king. In the world of “big data,” the more information a company has about its customer, the better it can serve that person and analyze its risks at the same time. The more detailed information gathered on loan applicants the better. Once collected, this information can then be sliced and diced in a variety of ways to gain a much better understanding of consumers, lenders and the potential for risk in future lending.

Q: What segments or positions do you feel will be most impacted by the changes?

Anderson: Obviously, loan origination, but the expanded data requirements will also have a positive effect on better underwriting.

Vitali: Loan originators will be the first ones impacted. The new URLA requires LOs to ask more questions and gather much more detailed information. However, this should help the better LOs make a quicker decision on whether they should pursue the applications or cut bait. Although this will, at first, increase the work and time involved in taking the initial application, in the long run, it will save valuable time for everyone, including the consumer.

Q: Do you anticipate that these changes will require system upgrades? And if so, do you think those changes will be minor or major (disruptive) in nature?

Anderson: Yes, moving to a MISMO 3.4 format. The Uniform Closing Dataset scheduled for the third quarter of next year will be the next big step to get them there. Whether this will be disruptive depends. With TRID, many loan origination systems could not support the new MISMO 3.3 data requirements, so moving from the previous 2x versions to a new 3x standard was a big effort and leap for most. But once they got there, adding the data elements is really not a big task going forward.

Vitali: The layout and information on the new forms will require system upgrades. There is more information, and it’s in a brand new format. That requires changes. Each data point must also be mapped to meet the MISMO coding for the required electronic reporting of all of the data to the agencies. One change that may require some additional programming is the required use of a separate URLA for each applicant when multiple applicants are involved. This will require the capability to gather the information for each on a separate form while combining and aggregating common data and separating other information that is unique to each applicant. However, I believe technology providers can handle these changes, as the information is uniform throughout.

Allen: Yes, system upgrades – in fact, major system upgrades – and yes, disruptive. As I said, the URLA hasn’t changed in years. There are so many components tied within the application that certain changes will affect other areas, and sometimes you don’t even realize they will affect another area until they do. The application is the heart of the loan process, so our industry is literally having a heart transplant. But just like with a heart transplant – does anyone really want one? No, but they have them because the oxygen starts flowing better, the blood starts circulating through the arteries better, and once you heal, you feel amazing. I do feel the URLA needed an overdue update, but with anything in our industry, it’s never easy. Hopefully, with technology becoming more and more ingrained in our industry, change won’t be as difficult down the road. Keep in mind, though, there will always be updates and patches – it’s a work in progress.

Q: Lenders can start using the redesigned URLA on Jan. 1, 2018. A timeline for required use of the redesigned URLA and ULAD will be established at a later date. What will your company be doing to prepare for the use of these forms, and how soon do you expect to get started?

Anderson: As opposed to most doc-prep companies that based their technology on producing dumb PDFs, DocMagic’s system is based on native XML data to generate “intelligent forms.” As one of the largest doc-prep companies in the industry, we were one of the companies they asked to participate in their original testing and rollout to get valuable feedback. So, we will be ready.

Vitali: LoanLogics, a provider of technology and outsourced audit services for lenders, is now in the process of reviewing any changes needed to extract and process the data that will be captured by lenders in the new URLA. This data will be utilized to analyze and audit loans in pre- and post-closing reviews for credit underwriting and compliance. This additional information facilitates a more comprehensive loan review that helps to better identify weaknesses in the process or information gathering that could lead to loan defects or, worse, repurchases or indemnifications. The information gathered and entered into the new URLA is validated and compared with other loan documentation to ensure it is more accurate.

This article originally appeared on the MortgageOrb Blog on September 7, 2016.

New CFPB compliance requirements mandate that it's time for 'e.'

By Tim Anderson

Back in 2002, when Fannie Mae said it would begin buying this thing called a MISMO category one SMART-Doc e-note, some in the industry thought, “If Fannie Mae is mandating it, the world will quickly embrace it.” 

Boy, were those people wrong. 

Fast forward to today, and so far, there have been more than 339,456 e-notes registered on MERS. Fifteen years after the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and E-SIGN Act passed, which created legal acceptance that an e-signed electronic document is as legal as a wet-ink-signed paper one, it appears that adoption is finally going to happen. 

Think, for a moment, about some of the headlines that have recently hit the mortgage press: “Goldman Sachs Resolves U.S. Mortgage Probe for $5.1 Billion”; “Wells Fargo Admits Deception in $1.2 Billion Mortgage Accord”; and “UBS Blamed in U.S. Trial for $2.1 Billion in Mortgage Bond Losses.” At last count, the penalties and fines in the mortgage meltdown aftermath are an estimated $110 billion and counting. Some servicers are continuing to pay because they have not fundamentally changed their processes - and now, they are going after the rating agencies, too. 

If you saw the movie “The Big Short,” you know it’s about how a few smart guys who, with a bit of luck, accurately predicted the mortgage meltdown and shorted key companies’ stocks that were financing it when it hit. It made them millionaires. Thousands of others were oblivious, and when the music stopped, many were caught holding the bag, or in the case of the mortgage meltdown, bad loans that had flooded the market. 

Now, with the advent of the Dodd- Frank Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), new regs are in place to hopefully prevent this scenario from ever occurring again. Meanwhile, the industry is facing a huge problem in that it is failing to fully embrace technology and automation and is still clinging to manual, paper-based processes.

Ostrich head in the sand response 

One would have thought that with the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement’s requiring the largest servicers to pony up more than $25 million in assistance money and an estimated $110 billion-plus in additional fines and fees paid out since then, it would have facilitated the rush to automate and eliminate the paper cost and risk of robo-signing documents - but it didn’t. Instead, most still took the traditional approach of throwing more people and paper at the problem in hopes that it would eventually go away. But the CFPB’s new “Know Before You Owe” rule - also known as the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures (TRID) rule - dictating new delivery requirements and tracking of consumer disclosures, is finally driving the industry to automate and adopt “e.” 

A new age of compliance 

It’s no longer just about generating “dumb” docs and placing them in a paper file to document compliance. The new regs dictate changes in workflow and relationships and being able to verify that a lender did what it said it did - all along the mortgage manufacturing process. The other requirement of generating a MISMO 3.3 data file - and soon, the Uniform Closing Dataset, so any company can electronically board and verify compliance of the data - is another key change and requirement driving a total paperless process. 

Forms are not data 

Most look at documents as an event in time rather than a process over time. As “Know Before You Owe” became effective, almost everyone in the industry myopically focused on the closing disclosure, as it needed to be delivered three days prior to the closing. Much like the issue with the government-sponsored enterprises’ (GSEs) singular focus on the e-note as the only document that needed to be executed in an e- closing, it’s easy to overlook that there are more documents in the closing package than these two forms. Soon (much like RESPA 2010 with the TILA calculations), everyone was building some sort of closing collaboration tool to integrate the lender’s loan origination system (LOS) to the title system in order to get the fees right. They soon discovered that the reg really started at the time of application with the initial loan estimate form. So, the portals were expanded to handle this, but still, most do not automatically check for compliance, nor do they “rep and warrant” the calculations or documents. 

Fannie and Freddie are leading the way 

With the Uniform Mortgage Data Programs (UMDPs), and now, with the new quality control systems, Fan- nie and Freddie recently announced that they are moving their traditional post-closing, pre-funding reviews to a pre-closing review in which the work- flow is greatly enhanced to fix the problem before a close rather than attempting to go back upstream to fix it once a loan has closed. 

And with Richard Cordray, direc- tor of the CFPB, declaring that the e-closing is his No. 1 signature initiative, it’s easy to assume that this will push the trend further. The requirement of proving receipt of deliv- ery of the three-day delivery rule alone should be reason enough to go “e.” 

Processing at the speed of light 

Quicken Loans created a big stir with the introduction of its Rocket Mortgage, a completely online, automated, paperless mortgage application process that enables a consumer to prequalify for a loan in less than eight minutes. This proves that mort- gage applications can be swiftly and electronically verified for compliance - and that the entire front end of the process can be automated. Instead of requiring borrowers to scan and up- load key mortgage documents as PDFs, things such as employment, income and assets can be automatically verified through integrations with various systems of record, thus greatly expediting the process and ensuring greater data and document integrity. Once again, Fannie and Freddie led the way with their UMDPs. They also created the Uniform Appraisal Dataset to be compatible with the MISMO 2.4 data format so that appraisals could be electronically verified for compliance via the Uniform Collateral Data Portals. 

Electronic vault and audit trail 

In the new data-driven world, the ability to track not only when a docu- ment was delivered, but also what the data payload in it was all along the mortgage process, will be crucial to providing a defensible position on the accuracy of the disclosure for future CFPB compliance audits or if anyone else contests the legality of the loan over time. 

The beautiful thing about an e- mortgage is that one stores not only the document (legal view), but also the data and date stamp of when the document was created and sent, pro- viding a historical record of events that can be played back like a video for proof of compliance. Because the new documents are “intelligent,” the ability to verify compliance of the data within the document provides irre- futable proof of compliance. 

TRID also requires lenders to track and document many delivery milestones. From the original loan es- timate, to intent to proceed, to change of circumstances, to three- day delivery and receipt of delivery verification of the final closing disclo- sure, this should not be a separate system or process from the rest of a lender’s compliance verification pro- cess. The ability to capture the source XML data and the document, along with a date and time stamp of the event, is what the e-vault is really all about. This is really what the CF- PB was thinking when it mandated that the lender implement a compli- ance management system (CMS) to document compliance all along the mortgage manufacturing process. 

The minimum file retention of the closing disclosure is five years. A lender might as well keep copies of everything else to document overall compliance. 

No more passing the ‘hot potato’ 

One other critical requirement of TRID is that everyone who owns the asset must verify compliance, as well. If one originates, sells, buys or servic- es the loan and doesn’t verify compli- ance, then one is at risk, as the CFPB is coming after everyone to ensure full compliance of the loan file. 

To that end, our firm is now get- ting requests from investors to in- clude copies of both the original loan estimate and final closing disclosure, along with the closing documents. But again, that is not near enough to prove compliance of the loan file and process with TRID. 

Online is where the consumer is 

Even if one is still not convinced that an e-mortgage process is superi- or from an efficiency and compliance perspective, one can no longer ignore that in order to do business today, one must go online to capture the consumer. Today’s millennials prefer to start and stay online to complete the mortgage process. They don’t want to have to physically drive to an office and sign a bunch of paper documents. Handling the process face-to- face is totally foreign to them. It’s so much more convenient to send a mobile notary to e-notarize and execute the final remaining documents, with all of the others being executed four to five days prior online in the com- fort of one’s own home. Reducing the actual closing to a 10-minute process is the way to do business with this wave of consumers who are increas- ingly gaining buying power each year. 

Did the industry not learn anything from the mortgage meltdown? Billions were spent in fines and fees be- cause lenders could not document what they had done. Many key docu- ments were lost, and the follow-up in manually processing thousands of modifications was not much better. Providing a total e-closing process is the only way to go. 

Start electronic, stay electronic 

Today, lenders should only need to “paper out” when they want to provide someone with a copy. Taking paper documents and putting them through optical character recognition is not the answer, either. In a full e-mortgage world, the data is input di- rectly into the system of record, and the documents are e-signed and e-notarized in the same system. All of the data in the documents can be verified electronically and can be “rep and warranted” for compliance. 

At this point, there is no benefit to relying on paper - there are only downsides, and significant ones at that. The use of incomplete or inaccurate paper documents can result in the following: 

■ Extended locks;
■ Trailing docs;
■ Manual verification of the closing disclosure;
■ Increased risk of non-compliance and exposure;
■ Increased time and costs for staff training;
■ Reduced transparency; and
■ A lack of control.

Going 100% paperless, on the other hand, yields numerous benefits. Lenders are able to fund with certainty; turn times are improved; shorter closing times and times to close are real- ized; a superior customer experience is established; issues/surprises at the closing table are avoided; compliance is automatically verified, and risk is greatly reduced; a full electronic audit trail is securely maintained in an e-vault, with record retention to satisfy the electronic evidence requirement; investors are able to fund without ex- ceptions or trailing documents; and consumers enjoy a much more expedient process that accompanies much-needed visibility and access to online tools. Simply put, the overall process becomes unprecedentedly consistent and efficient. 

Get ready - it’s really coming this time 

The GSEs have accepted e-notes for quite some time now and are ar- dent proponents of the e-mortgage. Today, lenders not only have enormous responsibility to be compliant at all times, but they also must prove compliance adherence when called upon. Investors and servicers must also verify compliance, as well. TRID dictates that entities directly involved with the loan file must be able to demonstrate full compliance at all times. An e-mortgage solves all of this with a well-documented historical record of events that are time-and-date-stamped to show detailed proof of compliance. 

From a marketing perspective, millennials are quickly gaining buying power and will become a business-critical market to serve moving forward. They want to conduct much of the mortgage process online. Those lenders that don’t have an e-mortgage process in place will be at a competi- tive disadvantage sooner rather than later. 

As the regulatory environment in- tensifies and the CFPB continues its policing, we may reach a point where the LOS no longer serves as the core system of record - at least when it comes to compliance. Instead, the development of a comprehensive CMS will be the ultimate keeper and controller of compliance data, working with the LOS via an integration to share relevant information. 

So what are lenders waiting for? 

The platforms already exist to go “e,” the regs certainly encourage lenders to go this route sooner rather than later, and the customer is online, so what are lenders waiting for? Many refuse to change. Others refuse to educate themselves - or they refuse to see that there are no legal issues with moving forward. Still, others are waiting to see exactly how the CFPB handles its audits in the future. 

With the minimum fine for a minor infraction now at about $5,000 a day, a lender could pay a hefty price for procrastination. Lenders had better get ready now, or some may find themselves in a very precarious situation. 

MReport Announces 2016 Women in Housing Honorees

DALLAS, August 17, 2016 – Today The MReport announced its 2016 “Power Players,” “Leading Ladies,” and “Emerging Leaders” honorees as part of its September 2016 special issue celebrating the accomplishments of women in the mortgage industry.

The 2016 “Power Players” are five mortgage and housing veterans with roles in both the government and private sector. In addition to powerful female leaders, 50 additional women were selected for MReport’s 2016 “Leading Ladies” and “Emerging Leaders” list. The women selected for these honors were nominated by their peers in the industry, who cited all the qualities that make them strong leaders—such as their intelligence, drive, and pursuit of innovation.
MReport’s Women in Housing honorees will also be acknowledged at the Women in Homeownership Leadership Forum at the Five Star Conference on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, from 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM, where the keynote speaker will be Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States (2001-2009).

"I believe it is essential for the industry to identify and give recognition to women leaders that have shaped the careers of so many," said Five Star President and CEO Ed Delgado. "This list while partial, it is emblematic of the rich and powerful base of women leaders that support the mortgage industry. We are proud to present their accomplishments."

2016 “Power Players”
• Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Communications Officer, Mortgage Banking and Credit Card Business, JPMorgan Chase
• Dana Dillard, Chief Customer Officer, Nationstar Mortgage
• Deborah L. Jenkins, SVP Multifamily Customer Engagement, Freddie Mac
• Glenda Gabriel, Neighborhood Lending Executive, Bank of America
• Kimberly Johnson, SVP & Chief Risk Officer, Fannie Mae

2016 “Leading Ladies”
• Carolyn Thompson, President and Owner, ASONS
• Charmaine Brown, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Fannie Mae
• Cheryl Feltgen, EVP & Chief Risk Officer, Arch MI
• Debbie Lastoria, VP Business Development, Nationwide Title Clearing
• Donna DelMonte, SVP Operations, Assurant
• Hilary B. Provinse, SVP Multifamily Customer Engagement, Fannie Mae
• Jackie Oliver, SVP Nationstar Mortgage
• Jill A. Showell, SVP Government and Community Relations, Ocwen Financial Corporation
• J.K. Huey, SVP Mortgage Asset Management and Preservation, Wells Fargo
• Jody Collup, VP Marketing, Global DMS
• Julian Grey, Mortgage Market Leader Data & Analytics, Black Knight Financial Services
• Kellie Chambers, AVP Investor Relations, Safeguard Properties
• Kelly Chapman, SVP Client Management, Auction.com
• Kimberly Johnson, SVP & Chief Risk Officer, Fannie Mae
• Kristy Fercho, SVP Customer Delivery Executive, Fannie Mae
• Laurie Maggiano, Manager for Servicing and Securitization Markets, CFPB
• Lisa Sadaoui, President & CEO, First Allegiance
• Maria V. Moskver, General Counsel & Enterprise Compliance Officer, LenderLive
• Marianne Sullivan, SVP Single-Family Business Capabilities, Fannie Mae
• Marion McDougall, EVP Operations, Caliber Home Loans
• Marnie Ronda Lacue Applegate, SVP Credit Risk/Policy, Pacific Union Financial
• Meg Burns, Managing Director, The Collingwood Group
• Melanie Feliciano, Chief Legal Officer, DocMagic
• Mercedes Henricksson, Director of Sales, CPM Real Estate, Fannie Mae
• Michelle DeLeon, Managing Partner, Default Legal Services, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer
• Min Lee Alexander, SVP Real Estate Services, Altisource
• Nadine Bates, SVP & Treasurer, Fannie Mae
• Pam Kosanke, Chief Marketing Officer, Renters Warehouse
• Patricia Raymo, COO Retail, Loandepot
• Phyllis L. Wright, Ph.D., SVP HR Strategies, VRM Mortgage Services
• Ramie Word, SVP Performing Acquisitions & Borrower Communication, Nationstar Mortgage
• Rebecca Smith, Director, Client Relations, Green River Capital
• Renee Schultz, SVP Capital Markets, Fannie Mae
• Sally French Tyler, EVP, First American Title Insurance Company
• Sally Taylor-Shoff, Scores Vice President, FICO
• Sandra J. Troutman, Director, Corporate Communications, MERSCORP Holdings
• Sarah Alexander Goldfrank, SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Fannie Mae
• Serena Yang, VP & Complience Officer, Civic Financial Services
• Sharron P.A. Levine, Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, FHFA
• Susheel Mantha, CFO, LRES Corporation
• Tami Bonnell, CEO, EXIT Realty Corp International
• Terri Hunter, SVP Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Chronos Solutions

2016 Emerging Leaders (35 years old and under)
• Kelly Brooks, CEO, Property Masters
• Tonia Conner, AVP, Acquisitions, Nationstar Mortgage
• Erika Cheyney, AVP, Operations, ZVN Properties
• Amy Sanchez, EVP, Prescient
• Tiffany Williams, Director of Default Services, Guardian Asset Management

RELATED LINKS
TheMReport.com
TheFiveStar.com
FiveStarConference.com

Press Release:

LAKE MARY, FL, Aug. 15, 2016 /CNW/ - DH Corporation (TSX:DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced that it has brought on more than 100 new lendersto its MortgagebotLOSTM solution, after signing a reseller agreement with DocMagic, Inc. ("DocMagic") last October. DocMagic is a leading provider of fully compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions.
The agreement was signed to offer clients a seamless integration between DocMagic and D+H's MortgagebotLOS. This mirrors a broader industry trend among financial institutions looking for comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that handle all of their lending needs.

"We are happy to see that within just a few months, our partnership with DocMagic has been a success, and has kept D+H ahead of the trend in end-to-end solutions," said Steve Hoke, Head, Lending, Retail, Product Management, Mortgagebot. "DocMagic's ability to introduce, train and support so many new clients in such a short period of time speaks volumes about the company and its products. We are thrilled by the great reception to this joint solution, and we expect it to continue driving growth going forward."

DocMagic provides an extensive set of reps and warranties on all of its calculations, documents and data, which gives lenders peace of mind that they are fully compliant along with an actual insurance-backed policy.

"D+H has been a very hands-on and responsive partner to work with while jointly supporting our mutual clients," said Dominic Iannitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of DocMagic. "Like DocMagic, D+H places a heavy emphasis on compliance, technology and customer service. This strong foundation will no doubt lead to more mutual clients enjoying the exceptional service levels that facilitate customer retention."

DocMagic and MortgagebotLOS were also ahead of the curve when it achieved complete compliance with the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure ("TRID") rule well before it became effective on October 3, 2015.

About D+H
D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,400 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com.

About DocMagic
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit www.docmagic.com.

By Melanie Feliciano
ESRA Executive Board Member; and
Chief Legal Officer,
DocMagic, Inc.

As longtime members of Electronic Signature and Records Association (ESRA), DocMagic is proud to be a sponsor of this year's eSignRecords2016 Conference. Coming November 2-3 in Washington D.C., this year's signature event will take place at the iconic Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. 

I encourage you to take the opportunity to attend this special event. ESRA's annual conference continues to be a unique platform for organizations across a wide variety of industries to meet and exchange ideas, best practices, and unified strategies in the electronic signature and digital transaction arena.

Take advantage of the chance to learn from some of the foremost innovators of electronic signatures and records.

Event sessions include such topics as:

• The “Democratization Revolution” of data
• Improving your financials with digital records
• Maximizing eSignature ROI
• Bitcoin and the future of money
• Mitigating and eliminating fraud
• The ever-growing digital marketplace for seniors
• Driving eMortgage adoption
• Several case studies on successful transformation from paper to digital

Visit the eSignRecords2016 conference website for the full agenda and speaker information. Last year's event sold out quickly, so register soon to ensure your participation.

I look forward to seeing you in Washington D.C.!

Press Release:

Integration allows consumers to complete the mortgage application and execute disclosure documents from a single online platform, reducing errors and time-to-loan completion

San Francisco, Calif. (June 29, 2016) – Roostify, a provider of automated mortgage transaction technology, today announced the completion of its integration with DocMagic, the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions. Directly from Roostify’s platform via the web or mobile device, consumers are able to securely access, electronically receive, review and sign all initial disclosure documents at the time of application with DocMagic’s proprietary eDelivery and eSignature system.

“The integration streamlines the process of borrower receipt, execution and return of electronically signed initial disclosures, while reducing errors and documenting compliance with a complete electronic audit trail.  This process improves the borrower experience while expediting loan closing,”  said Steve Ribultan, Director of Business Development at DocMagic.  “The ability to provide borrowers with the required initial disclosures at the time of completing an application, as well as allowing them to eSign their documents is a key differentiator lenders are looking for in today’s regulatory environment.  Roostify’s seamless connectivity to DocMagic’s sophisticated, compliance-focused loan document solutions takes their platform to the next level.”  

Within Roostify’s platform, loan officers can now present consumers with real-time disclosure documents and other documentation necessary to close a fully compliant home loan, complete with proof of TRID adherence. 

Consumers can then access and electronically complete the forms within the Roostify platform – the same place from which they submit their mortgage application and collaborate with their real estate agent. Roostify’s platform is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection, including from a mobile phone.  

“One of the most complex elements of the mortgage completion process is providing customized documents to consumers and retrieving them back in a timely fashion, particularly given the current regulatory environment for lenders,” said Rajesh Bhat, CEO of Roostify. “The integration with DocMagic offers our customers and their customers an easy way to share and sign documents more efficiently, saving time in the process. Consumers gain the convenience of viewing and signing all necessary documents from a single platform, while lenders and loan officers can be sure that they have what they need to remain compliant with evolving industry regulations.”

In 2015, DocMagic celebrated a major company milestone by surpassing more than 100 million eSignature transactions by users. This number has since significantly grown amid increasing adoption of eDelivery and eSigning technology within the mortgage as well as other industries.

Roostify users will be able to access the new DocMagic-enabled features in the company’s upcoming July release. 

About Roostify
Founded by three technologists frustrated with their home buying experiences, Roostify enables a more efficient, transparent mortgage process for lenders, agents and homebuyers. Roostify’s software platform is trusted by prominent banks and mortgage brokers nationwide to deliver more loan volume, faster closes and happier customers. Roostify is backed by private investors, and headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.roostify.com.

About DocMagic
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company’s compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit www.docmagic.com.

Press Release:

eQC combines proof of TRID compliance with unsurpassed loan-level data transparency, providing the ‘Holy Grail’ in automated due diligence.

TORRANCE, Calif., May 12, 2016—DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions, announced the formal launch of its fully integrated ‘eQC’ solution that automates due diligence for investors and correspondent lenders. eQC provides a complete closed loan MISMO 3.3/UCD XML data file, an automated compliance report, and a detailed audit trail with a document integrity certification that certifies that the XML data provided and documents match prior to investor delivery.

The automated compliance component of eQC includes a complete electronic record of compliance that arms investors and correspondent lenders with a detailed audit trail that eliminates concerns over future TRID audits and violations.   

Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. compiled a report that revealed more than 90 percent of loans reviewed by third party due diligence firms were not TRID compliant. Since that time, outstanding issues with TRID have been adversely affecting the secondary market’s appetite to purchase loans.  Concerns over potential assignee liability can result in loans remaining on warehouse lines for longer periods, extending lock periods, placing loans into suspension, and even potentially affecting the credit rating for mortgage bonds that are included in future RMBS pools.

“The CFPB requires all parties involved in the mortgage finance transaction to demonstrate evidence of TRID compliance,” asserts Tim Anderson, director of eServices at DocMagic. “Our new eQC solution gives investors and correspondent lenders warranted electronic evidence of compliance with TRID and other critical regulations, and ensures that the audited data is exactly the same data that appears on the documents disclosed to the borrower. This is really the holy grail of automated due diligence compliance.”

eQC also provides compliance data on federal regulations like high cost, QM, ATR, as well as applicable state regulations. It works by leveraging DocMagic’s sophisticated audit engine, which determines if a condition is out of compliance. The audit engine immediately flags the causes of any issues for the user, directs the user to a link with information on where and how to fix it, and then verifies that the error was corrected.  A full date and time stamped audit trail is created by following a consistent data validation process that runs over 10,000 compliance rules and edits designed to verify and validate legal compliance throughout the loan origination process.   

This audit trail also provides full date and time stamp tracking of all borrower disclosures, a complete record of the compliance checks and conditions performed on the loan, and the complete MISMO 3.3/UCD XML data file. The XML data file can be used to electronically board and re-verify compliance at any time in the future through a tool set API that enables high speed access to this due diligence functionality.

“With over 8,000 originators running millions of closed loans through DocMagic’s compliance portal each year, eQC leverages the long-standing industry acceptance of our compliance solutions to bring our correspondent lenders and investors true automated proof of compliance,” said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic.  

About DocMagic

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company’s compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit www.docmagic.com.

Press Release:

TORRANCE, Calif., -- DocMagic, Inc. the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions, announced that it was named to National Mortgage Professional magazine's annual "Top 100 Mortgage Employers" list for 2016.

The award is based on the magazine's Mortgage Company Employer Score (MECS), which weighs various factors in order to compile the list. A polling of readers is used with the following criteria: corporate culture; compensation; day-to-day management; internal communications; training resources; long-term strategy; innovation; speed; technology; and industry participation.

"We are honored to be recognized by National Mortgage Professional magazine as one of the Top 100 Mortgage Employers in the country to work for," said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic, Inc. "Our employees take a great deal of pride in and are very passionate about the innovative products and services we develop and support. DocMagic's ongoing success is predicated on its greatest asset-our highly valued personnel. This award is the result of their hard work and unwavering commitment to our mission."

Employees are offered a number of unique benefits that include catered lunches, regular company outings, an onsite gym and game room dubbed the Rabbit Hole, informal and formal breakout rooms, relaxation lounges, ad hoc staff appreciation awards, recreational events, and more. DocMagic's corporate culture is designed to inspire teamwork, creativity, and synergy.

The company brings personnel together in an open working environment that is conducive to collaboration, intrapreneurship, company building, and out-of-the-box thinking. DocMagic is known for its reputation of treating staff as not just employees but as family; many of them have been with the company since its founding, which speaks volumes.

Notable is that DocMagic's multi-million dollar facility was recently recognized by the American Institute of Architects with a 2013 AIA Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture. The twenty-five thousand sq. ft., state-of-the-art company headquarters was developed with the comfort of its employees in mind to operate in an optimal, very unique and collaborative work environment.

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit http://www.docmagic.com/.

SmartCLOSE^TM, DocMagic's collaborative TRID compliant closing portal is a winner of the 2016 Progress in Lending Innovations Award! With a goal to recognize true industry innovation, The Progress in Lending Association Executive Team judged every entry in several important categories; Industry Significance, Overall Uniqueness, Positive Change, Intangible ROI and Hard Savings ROI.

While the TRID compliance frenzy swept the industry there were a large number of Collaborative Closing portals launched in a short time period. Like many technology vendors, DocMagic saw the need for a portal that allows lenders, settlement service providers and others to work in sync inside a secure environment to view, share, update and exchange data prior to closing. That’s just the beginning however, as SmartCLOSE’s industry significance lies in the fact that its functionality moves far beyond the simple back and forth of email communications.

The TRID rule created an atmosphere that demanded a more fluid and constant collaboration between lenders and settlement service providers. This is where DocMagic’s SmartCLOSE portal flexes its overall uniqueness in the marketplace. The collaboration inside SmartCLOSE runs continuous and constant compliance checks throughout the process.Not only is the portal intuitive, its technology provides all participants with proof of compliance every step of the way.

This complete and total focus on compliance is part of the built-in design in all of DocMagic’s technology. SmartCLOSE comes equipped with DocMagic’s industry-proven Compliance System and Audit Engine. Running continuous compliance checks and audits assures that issues are caught early while there is still time to correct for compliant documents throughout the process. The result: positive change can be measured in fewer delays and reduced costs.

SmartCLOSE was designed to help lenders and settlement service providers comply with TRID but the portal’s superior functionality makes it so much more. As a collaborative environment where all key parties are participants in the compliant document process, SmartCLOSE ultimately becomes a workflow and document management tool. With constant audit trails of every change, and time and date stamped records securely housed in one central location, SmartCLOSE’s intangible ROI is evident in how easy it is for all parties to deliver compliant closing documents.

“Feature-rich” and “easy to use” are what users say about the SmartCLOSE collaborative portal.  The Hard Savings ROI is easy to see and feel in the workflow between lenders and settlement service providers. Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosures are both handled efficiently and easily by the portal’s workflow, giving lenders and settlement service providers a one-stop shop to prepare and submit compliant documents.

Click here to learn more about SmartCLOSE

Presss Release:
Transforms the entire mortgage process from initial eDisclosure to final eClosing and investor eDelivery

TORRANCE, Calif., March 30, 2016 -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions, announced today the formal launch of its fully integrated eClosing solution that electronically transforms the entire mortgage process from initial eDisclosure to final eClosing through investor eDelivery. 

DocMagic's total eClosing process seamlessly integrates its eDocument library, SMARTDoc™ eNote with eSignature, eNotary, MERS eRegistration, eDelivery and eVault services in a comprehensive end-to-end eClosing solution that delivers substantially faster closings, total data transparency, superior regulatory compliance and maximum process efficiency. 

The total eClosing solution is also seamlessly integrated into DocMagic's SmartCLOSE™ collaborative closing portal, offering a secure, centralized online environment for lenders, settlement providers and other parties to share, validate, audit, track and collaborate on documents, data and fees backed with a 100% TRID compliance guarantee. The new process is easily accessible from within SaaS-based SmartCLOSE™ and on-premise SmartSAFE XL™ systems, including the eSigning, eDelivery and eVaulting of all documents.

DocMagic's eMortgage solutions have been vetted and approved by Fannie Mae and MERS to support all three eMortgage categories for eVault, eNote and eClosing. DocMagic's participation as a leading player in numerous eClosing pilots, including the CFPB's eClosing Pilot initiative last spring has led to the rapid advancement of eClosing adoption as a solution for regulatory compliance tracking, reducing data errors, data transparency, and bringing borrower knowledge and satisfaction to the loan process. 

"The total eClosing solution is an out-of-the box, easy to implement, fully paperless, patented solution that combines the most advanced functionality and continuous compliance tracking with robust borrower and lender friendly user features," said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Borrowers can communicate with their lenders and settlement agents and eSign documents while DocMagic runs continuous automated compliance audits throughout the entire loan process, guaranteeing compliance on factors effecting the salability of your loan, from TRID tolerance levels to compliance with anti-predatory lending and higher-priced mortgage loan laws, all while tracking every iteration of the data and speeding up the closing process." 

"The DocMagic total eClosing solution is revolutionizing the traditional paper mortgage process and the timing of this couldn't be better," says Tim Anderson, director of eServices at DocMagic. "With the electronic data verification, delivery and record retention requirements of TRID, lenders have to demonstrate proof of compliance, control and accountability of the entire mortgage process. We have developed only platform in the industry that integrates and supports all key eMortgage functions within a single solution. The total eClosing solution provides a full electronic process in a one stop solution - which is truly revolutionary."

The successful launch of DocMagic's total eClosing solution as well as other recent innovations will be celebrated at the MBA Technology Conference & Expo at the company's 'Futurescape' event on Monday, April 4, 2016, at 6 p.m. at The Conga Room inside LA Live.

Interested parties can learn more about DocMagic's new eClosing solution by calling (800) 204-4255 or emailing sales@docmagic.com. 

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy.