Technically Compliant
Improvements to compliance services dominated mortgage technology enhancements during the past week. Other innovations included alliances, integrations and implementation of an affiliate credit reporting program.
Sollen Technologies' pricing engine has been integrated into Harland Financial Solutions' Interlinq E3, enabling mortgage providers to more fully automate and integrate service providers into their business processes.
The alliance grew from a custom integration for a mutual customer.
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Banks Continue to Tighten Mortgage Guidelines
As banks continued to tighten their lending standards on prime mortgages and home equity lines-of-credit, demand for those products was down, according to a new Federal Reserve report.
Bankruptcies Increase
The number bankruptcies filed by individual borrowers has increased for five consecutive months and is expected to exceed 1 million this year.
Nontraditional Credit on FHA Borrowers
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has spelled out guidelines for qualifying borrowers using nontraditional credit.
States With Highest Credit Scores
Average credit scores were highest in the New England region of the country, though it was a Midwest state that had a higher score than any other. The lowest average score was in a state where everything is bigger.
Delinquency Analysis
A new report based on credit bureau data forecasts that rising mortgage delinquency should ease next year. States identified as having the worst delinquency were the same states where foreclosures rates are highest.
Wachovia Tightens Guidelines
Wachovia Corp. has made changes to its residential underwriting guidelines that will impact asset and employment verifications, loan-to-values and minimum credit scores on portfolio loans. Weak real estate markets will be affected the most.
Brokers, Wholesalers Go Digital
One recent offering enables wholesale lenders to determine the level of risk of its mortgage brokers, while two other offerings enable brokers to determine the best available wholesale programs. Other mortgage technology activity includes improvements to credit reporting, digital loan delivery and appraising.
Fannie Revises Min Credit Scores, Max LTVs
Fannie Mae this week tightened its credit score requirements and made it harder for borrowers with prior foreclosures to qualify for conforming mortgages.
Techmortgagy
Cross product integration was dominant among the latest mortgage technology advances. One new offering projects defaults by zip code while another simplifies credit reports.