Part Two of a Series on HELOC Lending
As we explored in the previous blog of the series, tappable equity among homeowners is currently at an all-time high. In fact, according to TransUnion, nearly 65 percent of current homeowners are eligible for a home equity line of credit (HELOC), presenting a lucrative business opportunity for lenders looking to expand their service offerings.
For many years, one of the primary benefits touted by advocates of electronic mortgage lending was the concept of moving to a paperless loan process. However, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rules that went into effect in 2015, eliminating paper – and its respective costs – is still a challenge for lenders making the move to digital.
Part One of a Series on HELOC Lending
What is the most significant generator of wealth for Americans right now? According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, it’s the increasing appreciation of their homes and real estate. The survey found that the median net worth of home owners increased 15 percent since the previous report in 2013, largely due to the rebound in housing values across the country. On the other hand, renters saw their net worth decline five percent in the same period.
Last month, leading female mortgage professionals from the country’s top mortgage lenders, GSEs, as well as technology and service providers participated in the inaugural NEXTTM Mortgage Technology Conference for Women in Dallas. NEXT challenges traditional mortgage industry conferences by being the only tech-focused event for women executives who are serious about driving optimal business outcomes.
One of the key areas of focus for the Mortgage industry in 2017 that is carrying into 2018 and beyond is the importance on delivering a better overall borrower experience. Lending success in the future will greatly depend upon the ability to deliver a streamlined and digital experience to the customer – one that enables the borrowers to feel more knowledgeable and empowered in the process. That’s what building a more powerful lending enterprise will mean in the year ahead.
How much is one billion?
One billion seconds would take 31.7 years to pass. A stack of one billion-dollar bills would stretch nearly 68 miles into the sky.
And for us at Docutech, one billion is the number of mortgage lending documents ConformX, our dynamic document generation engine, has generated since launching in 2004.
On December 6, 2017 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published an updated version of the “TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Guide to the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure forms”. The new guide included updates and amendments, which the CFPB hoped would provide illustrations for how the final rule is issued in July 2017 should be implemented.
Historically, financial services organizations tend to invest in new technologies at a more conservative rate than firms in other industries. There are good reasons for that, because mortgage banking, like all financial services, has risk mitigation at its core. Adopting every new technology that comes down the pike is not a good way to manage risk in the enterprise. Depending on the size, infrastructure and resources of a particular lender, the decision to adopt new technology solutions can vary and impact the overall perception of financial services industry technology advancement.
The rise of mobile was one of the hottest trends in 2017 and it has carried over into every transaction the consumer engages in. With mobile now making up two-thirds of a consumer’s digital media time, the chances of interacting with a borrower through their mobile device is much more likely than through their desktop computer.
