Woman To Woman: Female Leaders Offer Advice To Others

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Female mortgage professionals are breaking barriers and making strides. As Women’s History Month is celebrated this March, The Mortgage Note asked leaders in the industry and related fields to share their advice with others. Here’s what they said: Be kind. “Always be kind. This is a small pond. You never know who you will work with or for,” said Erica Giorgiantonio, senior director of field services at SingleSource Property Solutions in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Have confidence. Julia Curran, senior director of product design at SitusAMC in New York City, said, “Don’t be afraid to speak up and assert yourself in meetings and negotiations. Confidence and assertiveness are key qualities for success in our field.” Gaining that confidence can…

Are In-Person Appraisals On Their Way Out?

As technology improves, the concept of valuation modernization is gaining traction and some industry leaders say in a few years in-person appraisals could be a novelty instead of the norm. Last month, leaders at Fannie Mae announced an update to their selling guide which includes newly available valuation options. They said valuation modernization helps lenders, appraisers, and risk investors manage collateral risk more efficiently while also benefiting customers with greater appraisal accuracy, lower costs, and an increased speed of loan decisions. Matt Stepanovich, vice president of national sales, hybrid valuations and quality control at SingleSource Property Solutions, recently sat down with Editor Kimberley Haas to talk about what he is seeing. SingleSource, located in Canonsburg, Penn., is a nationwide service…

Helpers Can Be Found Throughout The Industry

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Leaders in the industry are committed to giving back during the holiday season and throughout the year. It was announced earlier this month that Down Payment Resource in Atlanta, Ga., will help a family in Memphis, Tenn., attain their homeownership dreams by donating $10,000 to the Homeownership Council of America’s Equity Down Payment Assistance program. They provide down payment and closing cost assistance for low-to-moderate income and minority first-time homebuyers. Leaders at Down Payment Resource say that is “a mission that aligns with our company’s founding goal of expanding affordable homeownership program awareness, understanding, and participation.” Rob Chrane, founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource, said in a statement for The Mortgage Note that they are supporting the program because…