We are excited to announce that Mortech is now integrated with FreeRateUpdate.com, a mortgage rate marketplace that showcases available mortgage offers from industry leading lenders in your preferred location. With this new integration, the two solutions are looking to simplify the digital mortgage experience not only for lenders, but homebuyers too.

FreeRateUpdate.com is looking to save borrowers time during the stressful mortgage process by providing them with an easy to use platform where they can compare rates among lenders based off their specific scenario. Whether it be looking for refinance options or for financing a new home purchase, FreeRateUpdate.com wants to help consumers connect with a qualified lender without the need to input personal information including; credit score or SSN, before getting started. FreeRateUpdate.com partners with hundreds of qualified lenders to give mortgage rate shoppers one convenient place to get multiple rate quotes. It makes rate comparison shopping easy! For additional information on FreeRateUpdate.com you can give their team a call at 888-99-LEADS or email them at sales@freerateupdate.com. 

Recently the long-term viability of LIBOR was undermined due to cases of rate manipulation, low volumes for underlying interbank transactions and the reluctance of panel banks to submit quotes used to calculate LIBOR. As a result, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee has now recommended SOFR as a replacement index for USD LIBOR-indexed contracts.

Let’s take a step back and dissect what this means for the industry, what these products are and what the future looks like. To start let’s talk about what LIBOR products are. LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) is an interest rate set in London by major banks. It is an average interest rate (varying from a single day to a 12-month period) estimate of what major banks would be willing to lend to other banks.

At Mortech we pride ourselves in the great partnerships we have with various companies in the mortgage space. Whether it be an integration with a point of sale platform, loan origination system or mortgage offer marketplace - our ultimate goal with these partnerships is to bring simplicity and automation to our lender’s workflow so they can spend more time growing their business and creating lasting relationships with their customers.

One of these valued partnerships is with Credit Karma Home. Credit Karma Home, the mortgage division of Credit Karma, has created a platform to help guide their more than 100 million members through the complicated and frustrating process of purchasing or refinancing a home. By leveraging insights they have on their members, they are able to match them with financial products that make sense for their specific scenario. 

We are excited to announce that Mortech is now integrated with Ruuster, a homebuying management platform looking to empower thoughtful and ambitious homebuyers throughout their entire homebuying journey. With this new integration, the two solutions are looking to increase transparency into the homebuying process as well as simplify the digital mortgage experience not only for lenders, but homebuyers too.

Over the past several weeks lenders have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by tightening mortgage eligibility standards. Since mid-March, numerous lenders have stiffened the credit requirements such as increasing the minimum FICO credit score, increasing the debt-to-income ratio, and lowering the allowed percentage for loan-to-value. Lock-day restrictions have also been imposed for 45 days or greater. 

Lenders have also suspended various types of products such as Cash-Outs, HELOCs, Non-Conforming Jumbo Loans and Non-Conventional Portfolios, among other specialty programs.

As a lender, you have most likely been shifting your focus these past couple of months to borrowers looking to refinance their mortgage. The time is now though, especially moving into the month of June, to start thinking about your purchase leads again. Amid the current world state people are still looking to buy or sell homes and when the time comes for them to need financing, you want to make sure you are top of mind for these borrowers. 

Overall visits to for-sale listings rebounded in April, and was even slightly higher than April 2019. 

For-purchase mortgage applications are now up year-over-year, 54% higher than lows hit in April.

With the current state of the world we are in - being a part of the digital landscape for mortgage rates is essential to seeing business growth. By creating an easy to use online experience for your customers who are now researching mortgage rates online, you can make sure you stay ahead of your competitors. 

Mortech’s product and pricing engine APIs can help push your live rates to websites, point-of-sale solutions, smart applications and more. We have worked hard to create a streamlined onboarding process, and currently most lenders see this integration implemented in as little as two days! What could be more simple? 

This week on Meet Mortech we want to introduce you all to our Partner Relationship Manager, Kent Seevers! 

Favorite part of the job: My favorite part of the job is the connectedness. Not only am I working with awesome people at Mortech and Zillow doing exciting things, but I get to collaborate with awesome people at our partner's companies who are also doing exciting things.

Favorite things to do on his days off: My new hobby du jour is flying gliders at Blair Municipal Airport.

Favorite places to travel: Long Pine, NE

Here at Mortech we pride ourselves in the great partnerships we have with various companies in the mortgage space. Point of sale integrations, loan origination systems, rate marketplaces and more - with these partnerships we are looking to automate day-to-day workflow for lenders so they can spend more time on growing their business and creating relationships with their customers versus manually pushing leads through the mortgage process.

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the government entities decided to loosen some requirements on various policies. Below are links to website articles, bulletins and resources containing information regarding these policy changes:

Links to FHFA:

FHFA Mortgage Help for Homeowners Impacted by the Coronavirus

FHFA Announces New Mortgage Forbearance Guidelines