PrimeLending Offers Home Security To Borrowers

Mortgage lenders are trying all kinds of promotions to attract new borrowers, from rate buydowns to downpayment assistance. But PrimeLending is offering something unique: home security. PrimeLending, a national mortgage lender, and SimpliSafe, a home security systems company, have announced a partnership to provide homebuyers with preventative smart home protection. “Buying a home is an exciting new beginning and an important milestone we’re thrilled to celebrate by offering this special gift,” said Cheryl Hayes, Senior Vice President of Marketing for PrimeLending.  “We take pride in delivering our customers the confidence and peace of mind that comes from knowing they’ve made the right financial decision, and the SimpliSafe home security system is a great compliment.” The Lender will provide borrowers with…

Better Launches “Equity Unlocker” For Amazon Employees

Better.com has launched a new product for employees with vested equity in their companies. The program, Equity Unlocker, is designed for potential buyers who work and have vested equity they cannot access. It is currently just available for Amazon employees in Florida, New York, and Washington state, but Better is planning to extend it to 26 more states in Q2 2023. Equity Unlockers allows these buyers to finance their homes without selling their shares. Instead, they can pledge their shares rather than sell them in order to afford a home. Amazon shares will be valued at the same time as a home appraisal. The rate and term will then be locked on Better.com. It is non-mark-to-market and non-recourse, so the…

First Home Mortgage Appoints Matt Nader To SVP, Director Of Sales

Matt Nader has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Director of Sales at First Home Mortgage, leaders at the lender announced in a press release. Nader joins the executive team after five years as a loan originator and branch manager, being named the company’s top originator for the last four years. “The last five years of originating at First Home Mortgage have been the greatest chapter of my career,” Nadar said. “I am looking forward to this new opportunity, and I can’t wait to dig in deeper with our sales force and marketing team to further build our origination business, open new relationships, and continue to be the best retail mortgage provider in the U.S.” Nader brings nearly two decades…

AmNet On The Hunt For LOs, Processors In Key Areas

American Mortgage Network is on the hunt for loan officers and processors in key U.S. geographic areas. The mortgage banker has hired three new recruiting executives– TraVaughn Paschal, George DeMare, and Rick Humphery– to lead the initiative. “With so many mortgage lenders forced to adjust their workforces or shut down completely, many talented loan officers and processors are out of work. These professionals are excited by the challenge and opportunity of joining an employee-owned company that is expanding its footprint throughout the United States,” noted AmNet President and CEO Joseph S. Restivo. The announcement comes on the heels of another major mortgage banker layoff at Wells Fargo. Hundreds of employees were affected, including some top originators who had just returned…

LenderLogix Launches New POS System for Midsized Lenders

Mortgage tech company LenderLogix is launching LiteSpeed, a point-of-sale system designed for mid-sized lenders.  Leaders at the company say LiteSpeed addresses the needs of smaller lenders by offering essential POS functionality at a low cost. Larger systems require significant investment in implementation and upkeep that most brokerages cannot afford. They function as a “second loan origination system in disguise,” according to LenderLogix Founder and CEO Patrick O’Brien. “We knew there had to be a better, more efficient, and certainly more cost-effective way to manage the loan application process, so we created LiteSpeed to deliver pragmatic POS functionality at a price point that makes sense for the average mortgage lender,” O’Brien said. LiteSpeed is a white-label platform that helps borrowers through…

loanDepot Moves All Servicing In-House

loanDepot has migrated all of its mortgage loans into its in-house servicing platform. The company began moving all loans from its third-party sub-servicer in early 2021, and updated its servicing portal to better serve mortgagees later that year. In January 2022, it successfully moved all FHA, VA, and USDA-funded Ginnie Mae loans into the new servicing system. “Bringing this two-year effort to the finish line is a true testament to loanDepot’s ongoing investment in our in-house servicing capabilities and, in turn, our customers,” said LDI Managing Director of Operations and Servicing Dan Binowitz. “Providing best-in-class customer service is our top priority and owning the entire customer journey enables us to build loyalty by providing the most hassle-free and streamlined service…

Intero Names New President And CEO

Berkshire Hathaway affiliate Intero has named Scott Chase president of the company and Terry Meyer as COO, according to a press release. Chase, who formerly served as COO, joined Intero in November 2018. As president, he will continue managing the Los Altos and Menlo Park offices, while focusing on increasing revenue and agent differentiation. He will also work on Acquisitions, Tuck-Ins, and Franchising. He reports directly to CEO Brian Crane. “When agents come to Intero, they come to learn from the best in the business,” said Chase. “Intero as a whole, leverages collaboration, creativity and years of experience to establish a unique culture of specialized education and agent expertise that cannot be found anywhere else.” Meyer helped co-found Intero in…

Brokers Can Access “Buy Before You Sell,” Cash Offers From zavvie

Broker partners with fintech zavvie can now take advantage of “Cash Offer” and “Buy Before You Sell” solutions, the company announced in a press release. The white-labeled solution, “zavvie Power Buyer” is currently available to 14 partner brokerages in eleven states and Washington D.C. Zavvie’s goal is to help lenders increase their mortgage capture rates through solutions geared toward the housing market correction. Brokers may be concerned about owning homes they can’t sell because of Power Buyer programs, but Hornung says zavvie has not owned even one home since it soft-launched last year. “When brokerages use zavvie Power Buyer, they are seeing between a 10% and 15% increase in their mortgage capture business because we connect clients directly to the…

Shana Allen Promoted To EVP Of 1st Security

Shana Allen has been promoted from Chief Information Officer to Executive VP of 1st Security Bank, according to a press release. Allen has served as CIO since 2010, overseeing technology, security, and project management teams.  Her expertise comes from more than twenty years in the information technology field. Allen is an expert on cybersecurity, information security, and data encryption, regularly contributing to industry publications and giving talks on the subjects. “We are fortunate to have an industry leader and accomplished IT professional like Shana on the 1st Security Bank team,” said Joe Adams, CEO.  “Shana has demonstrated a high level of knowledge and expertise in her time with the bank, and we are honored to have her on the executive…

Deephaven Hires Guaranteed Rate Exec Aaron Drago

Deephaven Mortgage has hired Aaron Drago as its new Chief Operating Officer, the company announced in a press release. “It’s an absolute honor to join such an esteemed organization focused on innovation and growth,” Drago said in a LinkedIn post. “Deephaven already differentiates itself through its agility and highly responsive service. In nautical terms, we’re a yacht, rather than a cruise ship, with the flexibility to make changes that cater to customers’ emerging needs. I’m excited to help us innovate our operations and leverage technologies to build on that advantage—and ultimately empower brokers and correspondents to serve more Non-QM borrowers,” he said. Drago brings decades of experience, including c-suite positions, to the company. He most recently served as COO for…