Solidifi: Helping Shape the Residential Mortgage Lending Space
An independent provider of valuation and closing services supporting the residential mortgage lending industry, Solidifi oversees a technology-based marketplace where independent field professionals consistently elevate their performance and deliver better results while competing for business. Having partnered with tens of thousands of qualified independent field professionals, Solidifi bills itself as the preferred residential mortgage lending service provider for more than 60 of the top 100 lenders in 2019.
From the corporate headquarters in Buffalo, New York along with offices in Denver, Colorado, Middletown, Rhode Island and Greenwood Village, Colorado, the people of Solidifi work together to optimize technology that will boost productivity both internally and for all clients. Consisting of residential mortgage lending industry specialists and technology innovators, Solifi has invested millions of dollars in its flagship product — a SaaS-based platform supported by a team of technology professionals.
Solidifi’s overall product offerings can be broken down into four categories: valuation services, flood services, title services, and closing & escrow services. Solidifi’s valuation services include but are not limited to traditional appraisal products, inspection solutions, broker price opinions and home equity solutions. The company’s flood resources are centered around delivering accurate and timely flood determinations, along with life-of-loan monitoring. On the title services side, Solidifi offers highly efficient solutions for nationwide title insurance. More specifically, the company provides title and closing services for refinance, purchase, commercial, short sale and REO transactions. Meanwhile, Soldifi’s closing & escrow services are centered around an expedited process aimed at increasing performance for the company’s clients and handling all aspects of the closing and escrow transaction on time, with ease. The end result is swift turn times, extraordinary due diligence reviews, and accurate execution and disbursements of documents.
Solidifi’s parent company, Real Matters, was established in 2004 and has since morphed into one of North America’s fastest growing, innovative technology companies. Real Matters combines proprietary technology and network management tools with thousands of independent qualified field professionals to form a marketplace for residential mortgage lending and insurance industry services. These field professionals, such as residential real estate appraisers, compete to deliver performance-driven services. To learn more about Solidifi, click here.
Intent Employee Spotlight – Ben Thornburg
From Day One, Ben Thornburg has been an integral part of building Intent’s background. Ben came to the project with a wealth of digital marketing and CRM knowledge and helped create both Motivator CRM and Intent’s dynamic lead and customer journey platform.
Name: Ben Thornburg
Start Date: September 2014
Position: CIO
Brief overview of what you do: My job is to take the ideas of the visionary and translate that creativity into actionable strategies that the development team can understand and improve upon.
What brought you to Intent: The challenge of a new project partnered with one of the smartest people I have ever met
What you like most about working at Intent: The best part of working here is by far the people I work with. Every day, I am surrounded by my three closest friends, and even when days are very stressful, we laugh all the time.
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hobbies: Camping, muddin’ in a Jeep, hiking, cooking
Book you’ve read over and over again: I don’t think I’ve ever read a book twice.
Top 3 movies: The Life Aquatic, Three Amigos, Being John Malkovich
A bit about your family: I have five siblings, two moms, two dads and a dog named Lucy
Favorite food: A falafel wrap, but it has to have house-made pickles on it
Thing you’re scared of: Climate change
Worst habit: Randomly breaking out in song
Dream vacation: Driving in the Chilean mountains
Favorite cocktail: G&T
RCM Helps Get The Most Out of Mortgage Insurance
Easily and perhaps often misunderstood, mortgage insurance is just another layer of security to shield lenders against a loss and is generally only required if a borrower puts down less than 20% on a property. If you are a mortgage servicer filing for insurance claims, navigating insurance policies can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially if you want to get every dollar possible through the claims process.
When considering the potential pitfalls that can lead to the curtailment or even denial of coverage, your best bet sometimes is to entrust the task to a hazard claims provider who can help you recover as much as possible. Rutledge Claims Management specializes in filing and adjusting hazard claims, including mortgage insurance claims. Formerly known as The Law Offices of Thomas W. Rutledge, APC, the Poway, California-based company rebranded in 2017 as RCM and reorganized as a licensed public adjuster firm. The business says it has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for its clients over the past two decades.
RCM offers claims management, dispute resolution, negotiations, regulatory compliance and litigation monitoring. Other services include mortgage insurance claim appeals; integration of hazard claims workflow and the repair process to accelerate claim recoveries; tracking claim milestones and daily data feed to clients through proprietary claims tracking software; and customized reporting to clients on over 700 fields of data.
RCM takes pride in its legal background and experience in monitoring timelines and tracking statutes of limitations — all in an effort to ensure a fast and effective claims resolution. Click here to learn more.
*Intent does not endorse or recommend any particular products or services. The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only.
Intent Employee Spotlight: Lanier Kirk
A graduate of Auburn University, Lanier came to Intent shortly after finishing college. After starting as a marketing assistant, Lanier slowly transitioned into an impactful onboarding role with the company. Learn a little bit more about her today!
Name: Lanier Kirk
Start Date: April 2017
Position: Marketing & Onboarding Coordinator / Client Experience Specialist
Brief overview of what you do: I am the first person a client talks with when they sign up for an account. I make sure clients have a seamless experience throughout their Onboarding process, and I get them set up with an account. I’m also the “doer of all the things” gal in the office. I help anyone with just about anything. In my spare time, I dabble in some marketing.
What brought you to Intent: I started out as Kelly’s assistant, and the more I got to work with Motivator, the more I transitioned into a role here. I’m still trying to keep Kelly sane on the daily but being the “front face” of Motivator is a full-time job, too.
What you like most about working at Intent: The fam! I say that because, working with people 40+ hours a week, they go from coworkers to family. Not a lot of people can say that about their coworkers or work environment, so I think that’s special. Also, one word: leggings.
Hometown: Born in Gainesville, FL, but spent most of my life in Charlotte (going on 20 years!)
Hobbies: Brewery hopping with friends, trying out the newest restaurants, Orangetheory Fitness, binging on Netflix shows and documentaries\n\nTop 3 movies: Titanic, Remember the Titans, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall are the first that come to mind.
A bit about your family: A little fun fact is that I am a fifth-generation Auburn University graduate. My mom’s side of the family has been attending Auburn since it opened. When we’re not cheering on the Auburn Tigers, my family of four likes to enjoy family dinners on Sundays and snuggling with our sweet pup, Lucy.
Favorite food: Queso. Or any kind of Mexican food, really.
Thing you’re scared of: Heights, spiders, the unknown (the future, death, any kind of surprise, aka just not being in control of something … haha)
Worst habit: Biting my nails … ugh
Dream vacation: Greece, Bali, Thailand — any of those would be a dream.
Favorite cocktail: A margarita. Or Prosecco. Or Tito’s and Sprite.
Equifax Launches Mortgage Lead Generation Tool
Major credit bureau Equifax has introduced a lead generation tool for the mortgage space. Thanks to its Mortgage Lead Generation Models, Equifax can now help users predict the probability of a lead converting to a sale within the first two to six months. Equifax believes this will allow mortgage lenders to better target their mortgage marketing campaigns because lenders will have the ability to identify borrowers early in the home buying process and retain them.
Rather than relying on reactive methods to acquire and retain customers, Mortgage Lead Generation Models proactively identify and target prospects early in the mortgage journey through methods such as segmented customer marketing and the prioritization of quality leads.
Mortgage Lead Generation Models use information such as a prospective lead’s credit history, wealth assets and demographics to classify the lead as a likely new home purchase, first-time home purchase, refinance or HELOC. The system then rates the lead from 1 to 999, with leads who boast higher scores being more likely to turn into a sale. To read more about Mortgage Lead Generation Models, click here or here.”
About Equifax
Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology company. It is one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies, along with Experian and TransUnion. Business clients include banks, credit unions and private lenders. These credit grantors use the information provided by Equifax to decide what sort of products or services to offer their customers, and on what terms.
Though the company operates primarily in the B2B sector, it offers the general public access to free Equifax credit report as well as the ability to place a freeze on your credit report and to alert lenders that you have been, or may become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
QR Codes Are Making A Big Push In Mortgage Marketing
Perhaps you have heard that artificial intelligence (AI) is making its way into every industry at an extreme speed. While AI is undoubtedly a game-changer for every business, many people fail to take full advantage of the simple tools now available. QR codes are among the tools that have been in the shadows for decades but not fully integrated, despite their many uses. Some marketers have at times even declared QR codes to be “dead.”
However, QR codes have picked up steam and become more commonly utilized as Snapchat and Facebook have breathed new life into the once-ailing technology. Examples of QRs now abound. If you want to add someone as a friend or unlock filters, you can just point your Snapchat camera at a Snapcode instead of typing in a username. More recently, QR code-based payment capabilities within the Starbucks app have risen in popularity.\n\nIn real estate, QR codes come with several potential perks. Below are three creative ways to use these square-shaped barcodes for your benefit.
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- Increase Conversions
When it comes to lead generation, you don’t want to miss out on any opportunity. If somebody sees your ad, it is wise to have more than one channel for your prospect to get in touch. By including a QR code on your ads, you may redirect leads to your landing page and drive more conversions. QR codes can also be set up to dial a direct number instantly.
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- Provide More Information
While yard signs are great for getting the message out, they do not provide prospective buyers with much information on the property. With QR stickers on your listing signs, you can direct buyers to a page for more details, share location, list all your other nearby properties, and upload pictures or even a video tour of the property.
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- Download Your Mobile Application
By simply scanning your QR code, potential buyers are taken directly to your App Store page for easy download. You can attach the code to your emails, for example. Ready to jump on the QR code bandwagon? Check out the following tools that are both simple and free: QR Stuff QR Code Generator Kawya QR Code
Intent Employee Spotlight: Kelly Yale
Homebuying Marketing Intelligence, we put our best foot forward each day to help mortgage planners build their businesses. However, we would be nowhere without our fearless leader, Kelly Yale. As the founder of Intent, Kelly spends her days wearing many hats — from fostering ideas that cultivate the growth of our company, to guiding our team in the right direction, to everything in between. Learn a little more about Kelly today!
Start Date: Does this question work if I started the company?
Position: Owner, Chief Troublemaker, Storyteller, Master of Schmoozing, Caramel Corn MasterChef
Brief overview of what you do: I set the vision for the company, work with our phenomenal integration partners and help guide our incredibly talented team toward helping those we serve. Plus, I am able to hang out and learn from outstanding mortgage and real estate professionals who become friends.
What brought you to Intent: I started both Motivator and Intent. Motivator began in 2014, while Intent began in 2018.
What do you like most about working at Intent: I love watching the spirit of the team that works so hard every day to make this platform the best it can be. And I cherish the stories from the people who use our system, which has changed the course of their careers.
Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Hobbies: I travel a lot for work and try to take at least one day on a weekend to enjoy the place where I am working. I keep trying to get back into latch hooking; I know it’s coming back. I also collect workout clothes, though it’s less intentional and more hoarding.
Book you’ve read over and over again: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Top 5 movies: Dead Poets Society, Immortal Beloved, Shakespeare in Love, The Family Stone, and The Princess Bride (Even I am judging myself, but I’m not sorry.)
A bit about your family: Lucky enough to be married to a fantastic banker named Matt. I have two sons — a giant (6’4”) 16-year-old named Ryan and a very rascally 13-year-old named Josh.
Favorite food: At the end of 2018, our president, Devin Rambo, made me start really eating good sushi, and I am pretty sure he ruined me.\n\nThing you’re scared of: Palmetto bugs
Worst habit: Thinking it’s easier to read my mind than it is
Dream vacation: I went to Kauai last year, and everything I do every day is working toward buying my retirement life there.
Favorite cocktail: Pomegranate or pineapple Martini
UltraFICO Score Offers Broader Credit Scoring Capabilities
When you apply for a mortgage loan, a lender will typically run a credit report in short order. From the credit report, the lender will most likely look to your FICO® score. FICO® is a scoring system used by the three major credit bureaus to determine your eligibility for the loan you are seeking. For decades, credit scores have been largely based on a person’s past dealings with banks and other financial institutions.
However, if you have never taken out a loan or owned a credit card, or you are just starting to build your credit, lack of credit may also affect your ability to be approved for a loan. With the aforementioned considerations in mind, FICO® recently debuted a new opt-in scoring system known as the “UltraFICO™ Score.” By linking their checking account, savings account or money market accounts with FICO®, users have the opportunity to build credit based on the data they share. When determining whether an applicant poses a credit risk, lenders now have the opportunity to consider — along with more traditional categories — evidence from savings, account balances, bank account history and any other transactions.
UltraFICO™ Score is especially helpful for both younger consumers with little credit history and those who’ve previously dealt with low credit scores. If you already have good credit and a well-established credit history, it is unlikely you will see a significant boost from an UltraFICO™ Score. According to FICO®, seven out of 10 consumers with average savings of $400 and without negative balances in the past three months see an increase in their FICO® Score with the new system.
The announcement of broader scoring modalities comes on the heels of a comprehensive effort to expand access to credit. Late last year, Experian rolled out Experian Boost, a new tool that enables consumers to incorporate utility and cell phone payments into their credit history and potentially increase their FICO® Score instantly. To learn more how you can benefit from these latest credit models, click here and here.
Zillow Ranks Top Dozen Housing Markets for First-Time Homebuyers
Rising home values can make it difficult for first-time homebuyers to break into a competitive housing market where monthly mortgage payments are higher than rent. Zillow has created a list of the top housing markets for first-time buyers, based on six metrics: population growth, low median home value, forecasted home appreciation, high inventory-to-household ratio, breakeven horizon and share of listings with a price cut. Here are the markets that made Zillow’s list:
- Tampa, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- Phoenix, AZ
- Atlanta, GA
- Orlando, FL
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Detroit, MI
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Charlotte, NC
- Houston, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
The year 2018 produced the most first-time homebuyers since 2006, with 43% of buyers making their purchase in the suburbs. Meanwhile, 40% of first-time homebuyers chose an urban setting, and the remaining 17% picked a rural location. This is further explained in the Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors. The report reveals that convenience to a job, quality of school districts, affordability, and distance to schools were among the most important factors for buyers. Click here to read.
About Zillow
Zillow is an online real estate marketplace company that was founded in 2006. The company serves the full lifecycle of owning and living in a home: buying, selling, renting, financing, remodeling and more. It starts with Zillow’s living database of more than 110 million U.S. homes – including homes for sale, homes for rent and homes not currently on the market, as well as Zestimate home values, Rent Zestimates and other home-related information.
Intent Employee Spotlight: Devin Rambo
At Intent, we work together daily to provide the best service possible to our customers. Each week, we’d like to introduce you to a member of our team.
As the president of Intent, Devin Rambo spends his days juggling numerous tasks and keeping our team in line. Learn a little more about him today!
Start Date: July 2018
Brief overview of what you do: In a small company, everyone has lots of jobs and roles. At the core, my goal is to keep the train on the tracks and help pave the way for the future. I also act as our CFO and HR director. It’s a good thing I like to wear hats!
What brought you to Intent: The short answer is Kelly Yale! Following a career as a U.S. diplomat helping American companies compete in international markets, the lure of being part of a small, nimble and vibrant tech company was utterly compelling. I’ve watched over the years as Kelly, my supreme compatriot for more than two decades, expertly forged Motivator into a highly performing company. When she proposed the idea of joining forces in this incredible venture, too many stars aligned for it not to make sense. And it certainly does!
What you like most about working at Intent: I love our team and its esprit de corps. In addition to being exceptionally intelligent, talented and passionately dedicated to our mission, there’s nothing more our team loves than coming up with amazing ideas to better serve our clients.
Hometown: Frankfort, KY
Hobbies: Constant tinkering in the kitchen, obsequiously tending my plants and orchids, and running anywhere I can find or make a path
Book you’ve read over and over again: Can’t list just one! In Search of Lost Time, The Grapes of Wrath, Our Lady of the Flowers — and most any poem by Baudelaire, Verlaine or Rimbaud.
Top 3 movies: All About Eve, A Christmas Story, Mommie Dearest
A bit about your family: My family is my raison d’être. After many years of living overseas, I’m ecstatic to live in the same state as my family. I also couldn’t fail to mention my faithful feline friend, Basil – affectionately known as Mr. Rambo. He’s followed me from the Tropic of Capricorn to the South China Sea – and beyond. He’s my heart.
Favorite food: A5 Wagyu ribeye and pasta
Thing you’re scared of: An untidy house
Worst habit: My fastidiousness or overthinking or both
Dream vacation: Hopping between and among islands such as Hayman, Moorea, Bora Bora, Seychelles, Maldives and Tahiti
Favorite cocktail: Bourbon, Scotch or a Gin and Tonic
