a specific blog article; track replies to comments; browse through episodes with a new search functionality using keywords such as “FHA” or “VA” to instantly find videos relating to the chosen subject; navigate the site to find what they are looking for; utilize more social sharing features to share videos more easily on their favorite social platform; arrive at RatesInMotion.com and find the video of the day instantly on the homepage without having to click anywhere else; and view Rates in Motion’s approved lenders and other business partners. “At the end of the day, it is our main goal to help individuals get the best deal on their mortgage and educate them along the way,” Cox said. “Our improved Web site supports our goals with helping them consume helpful information faster.”
LPS Extends Its Streamlined Settlement Program Supporting HARP 2.0
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By Beverly Frase
W
ith 30 years of experience in real estate management and 20 years of doing mortgages full-time, Douglas C. Rice of Fidelity First Home Mortgage understands his business inside and out. He strives to ensure that his customers understand the entire mortgage transaction too. “I want them to feel comfortable every step of the way,” said Rice. “From the time of first contact, at the point of application, and before and after closing.” With a good bit of his business coming from referrals, his strategy is working. “Whether it’s helping our military personnel purchase a home or refinance, I always enjoy finding the best program to suit their financial needs,” Douglas said. “In the last 48 months, we have seen tremendous turmoil and uncertainty in the entire U.S. financial system, especially the mortgage “Our military servicemen and industry. At Fidelity First Home Mortgage, women have sacrificed ‘big time’ to I can offer my customer all the possible proserve our country. Helping them grams in the entire mortgage industry, and with their VA loan or other get them the lowest wholesale rate from our financing is just one very, very small 35 different investors.” way I can repay them for their Like all Mortgage Heroes who work with service of protecting me, my family this special military niche market, Douglas and loved ones, fellow citizens, and loves to remember those times when he country. May God bless our troops, made a big difference in the lives of his miland keep them out of harm’s way!” itary clients. —Douglas C. Rice “I helped a military family refinance their Fidelity First Home Mortgage, VA home loan and consolidate their bills at Annapolis, Md. the same time,” he recalls, “saving them $1200 a month! The savings allowed the wife to remain a ‘stay at home mom.’ That was very important for them since they had two young children.” The refinance was a life-changing event for that family. Multiply by the number of loans Douglas Rice has done for his military borrowers, roughly 2,000, and you have a good idea of how important it is to provide skilled services for our military heroes. Douglas helps his military clients become financially savvy. “There is so much misinformation out there,” Rice said, “about what it takes to either refinance a VA loan, or to purchase a home with a VA loan. Most people think their credit has to be perfect, and that is just NOT the case! It is very important to get the facts, and to make the best plan for that military servicemember and the family. I do free consultations and pull free ‘mortgage’ credit reports. Most consumers get free credit reports which are not the same scores used by VA lenders!” Doug helps servicemembers come up with the best strategy for their homeownership. If it turns out they aren’t yet in a good position to purchase, he works with them to be ready at some point in the future. “As most veterans know,” he says, “you cannot win the war without a sound battle plan!” Be a Mortgage Hero! This recognition is free to Certified Military Housing Specialists. Take the FREE Certified Military Housing Specialist course offered online by USA Cares and tell us how you are “Helping those who defend our homes, preserve their own.” Please contact Program Manager Beverly Frase at beverly.frase@usacares.org to join our national team and be our next Mortgage Hero. We want to recognize you!
Fidelity First Douglas C. Rice Senior Loan Officer Office: 410-266-2544, ext. 24 Toll-Free: 866-266-2544, ext. 24 Cell: 410-991-4532 Fax: 206-202-9032 E-mail: drice@fidelityfirst.net
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APRIL 2012
Coester Appraisal Group has launched Cloud Control, its revolutionary new
Douglass C.. Rice,, Seniorr Loan n Officer Fidelityy Firstt Homee Mortgage,, Annapoliss Md.
MONTANA MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE
Coester Appraisal Group Launches Cloud-Based Appraisal Tool
USA Cares Mortgage Heroes
NationalMortgageProfessional.com
Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) has announced that its LSI Title Division is extending its Streamlined Settlement solution to help lenders meet the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) 2.0 agency program guidelines. “Since 2009, LSI has been the leading provider of technology that enables lenders to quickly and efficiently close HARP loans utilizing LSI’s proprietary AQUASM title production platform,” said Ron Frazier, president of LPS’ LSI Title Division. “The combination of LSI’s settlement workflow and proven Web-based closing platform, ClosingStream, has enabled LSI to close a majority of all HARP loans processed in 2010 and 2011.” LPS has been at the forefront of providing technology that helps lenders and servicers implement HARP requirements, with functionality that enhances performance, including three to five day subordination turn-times and improved closing rates, while also reducing settlement and processing costs. “We are proud that our Streamlined Settlement technology was used to help so many borrowers refinance in the HARP program,” said Al Verkuylen, title executive of LPS’ LSI Title Division. “With an expanded focus on HARP 2.0, we expect to continue supporting our customers through our best-in-class technology and services, which leads directly to improved opportunities for homeowners.” Additionally, LPS’ core servicing technology, MSP, can identify which loans are eligible for HARP 2.0, present the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to the servicer, show if a property is owner-occupied and provide origination data.
appraisal management technology. Cloud Control is the only appraisal management software built on the awardwining platform of Salesforce.com, which Forbes magazine designated as the most innovative company in the world in July 2011. Cloud Control enables lenders to customize their appraisal processes far beyond the levels offered by other appraisal management technologies. Cloud Control offers virtually limitless customization—users can create business rules to automate virtually any function, from protecting standards through firewalls and safeguards, to businessunique sales and marketing activities that help companies generate new business in addition to enhancing compliance and efficiency. Coester is providing Cloud Control completely free of charge to all lenders—Coester customers and noncustomers alike—without obligation to use any additional Coester valuation service, whatsoever. Cloud Control is a cloud-based, end-to-end appraisal management technology that efficiently manages the entire appraisal cycle. In addition to automating functions and tasks ranging from relaying the initial request to the lender’s desired appraisal panel to filing and storing the completed report, the system automatically extracts and converts data into UCDPcompliant formats and submits appraisal data through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). Cloud Control provides the property value as estimated by an automated valuation model (AVM), provides reviewers’ notes for every appraisal report, and verifies that the appraiser and property adhere to industry requirements by cross-checking resources like ASC.gov, FHA Connection and FEMA. “As an AMC, we had tried most of the appraisal management software on the market and we couldn’t find one with anywhere near the customizability we need, so we built Cloud Control,” said Brian Coester, CEO of Coester Appraisal Group. “Other technologies claim customizability but only offer minimal configurability. Cloud Control can be configured to do virtually anything you want—all the way down to the actual user level.” Cloud Control utilizes the Salesforce.com platform and provides virtually the same power and flexibility offered by Salesforce.com’s customer relationship management (CRM) software, Sales Cloud, a technology specifically designed to make it faster and easier for companies to connect with and service their customers, and to do so in a way that promotes high service levels and increased sales. With Cloud Control, users can fully automate the appraisal status notification and escalation processes at the user level, which means that users can automatically receive key information on customers and vendors, based on any trigger— such as a phone call—in real time. The system can also be set up to send cus-