Announcements
Here are our latest Announcements!
MIS & Josh VanHorn Featured in NRMLA Magazine
As seen in the latest issue of NRMLA’s Magazine, Josh VanHorn was asked about his insights in the appraisal space.
A Closer Look at Issues Facing the Appraisal Industry – NRMLA (nrmlaonline.org)
A Closer Look at Issues Facing the Appraisal Industry
Reverse Mortgage magazine outlined some of the issues facing the appraisal industry in its March/April 2022 edition, which can be found online at www.nrmlaonline.org/. Here is a closer look at some of those issues from Joshua Van Horn, senior vice president and chief appraiser at Mortgage Information Services (MIS), an Ohio-based company that provides title, settlement, valuation and other mortgage-related services. MIS is an appraisal management company (AMC) that opened in 1990 in Cleveland, where it has its national processing center and headquarters.
Reverse Mortgage: What do you see as the primary challenge with appraisals?
Joshua Van Horn: For appraisers themselves, challenges include rapidly changing technology, new requirements and measurement standards on the conventional lending side and trying to manage client expectations while attempting to provide credible valuations in a climate of unprecedented increases in value. From an appraisal management and appraisal user perspective, maintaining and providing consistently swift turnaround times has been a challenge over the last couple years. The primary challenge with speed in the recent past has been lower interest rates leading to increased demand and a finite number of appraisers to perform the appraisals.
Currently, the interest rates are on the rise and some markets are certainly seeing a return to less overwhelmed appraisers. However, the logjam experienced in more rural markets and those with the highest demand for appraisal services continues to present challenges when trying to decrease the turnaround times. The need for increased speed and high-quality results is even more crucial as a borrower’s rate is at risk of rising much faster.
All of that said, there is reason to be hopeful. New technologies are on the rise, and the industry is starting to see a renewed interest of those wishing to enter the industry.
RM: What about the unique challenges with reverse mortgages?
JVH: With regard to reverse mortgages and FHA appraisals, the pool of appraisers is even smaller due to HUD requiring a state-certified appraiser credential as opposed to the requirements for conventional lending, which allow both certified and licensed-level appraiser credentials. Although a bipartisan bill was passed in the Senate in May of 2021 to allow state-licensed appraisers to perform HUD appraisals, the bill remains stalled and continues to limit the amount of already state-licensed appraisers who could quickly be added to the pool of appraisers eligible to perform FHA and reverse mortgage appraisals.
RM: Is recruitment difficult?
JVH: As a national AMC, recruitment will always be an ongoing process. Over the past few years and before the interest rates began to rise, it was more difficult for all appraisal providers to recruit in certain rural markets and those with high demand and limited options. Managing, maintaining and continuously building a strong panel of experienced appraiser professionals is vital when considering the qualifications needed for FHA, as well as the even greater emphasis upon superior quality and experience for the often more complex assignments we encounter under the jumbo/proprietary reverse loan programs.
RM: Any thoughts on what mortgage professionals can do to make sure the process goes more smoothly?
JVH: Setting realistic expectations regarding turn times, the level of property inspection and the valuation process all greatly improve efficiency. To that end, having an open line of communication with your appraisal provider is very important. Simple conversations explaining the appraisal process to the borrower, the types of repair items FHA appraisers look for, and advising them to be sure access is available to all areas of their home, including attics and crawl spaces, can greatly reduce the need for additional inspections and delays. This is especially important in the reverse mortgage industry when assisting a senior borrower with limited mobility, as these scenarios may require a family member or caregiver to be present.
Helping the borrowers to understand the appraisal process itself is also important. Borrowers should be cautioned not to simply set their value expectations upon an online estimate or a flyer received from a local real estate agent. While automated valuation tools have the potential to be similar to an appraised value, they are also often very different.
MIS Featured in RMD article
Click here to read a great article penned by Chris Clow for Reverse Mortgage Daily.
Aaron Stein-Sapir, Josh VanHorn and David Stroop all contributed to this feature on how MIS is effectively dealing with the COVID-affected appraisal process.
New Ohio Account Representative
Mortgage Information Services, Inc. (MIS) is excited to announce that Tabitha Brettrager has been appointed as their new Account Representative for Ohio. Tabitha has worked for MIS in an operations capacity since 2013 and will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to both existing clients and those looking for a better title and appraisal experience.
Congrats Tabitha!
MIS’s Chief Appraiser featured in HousingWire article
Our own Dave Bortolotto was featured in a recent HousingWire article highlighting the panel he participated in during the recent NRMLA Conference. His expertise was appreciated by the large group of mortgage professionals that were in attendance. Great job, Dave!
Work in Progress Report – Archive Function
MIS has updated the Work in Progress (WIP) report to include an “Archive” tab. Effective December 23, 2016, MISDirect users will have the ability to move orders that they no longer need to see into an archive for future reference. This enhancement will further streamline the report so that only orders that the user actively needs to track are shown.
For a demonstration on how to use the WIP or the archive feature, contact your MIS account representative directly or the Sales Department (sales@mtginfo.com, 888-901-4647 ext 1222).
MIS Integrates Title/Settlement Fees with Encompass360
CLEVELAND, OH: In anticipation of the impending changes under the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rules, Mortgage Information Services, Inc. (“MIS”) has successfully integrated its title insurance and settlement fees with Encompass360®, Ellie Mae’s mortgage origination and management system. Encompass360 users who utilize MIS’s services are now able to view all title insurance, settlement and recording fees within the loan at no additional cost, without having to request a quote from an external source.
Additionally, the Encompass360 user will not be required to add information in order for the fees to populate in the loan – they will pull directly from within the loan file and are automatically updated if changes to the loan are made. Once generated, a quote can either be printed as a hard copy or saved in a designated Encompass360 e-folder. Those fees are then uploaded into the 2010 itemization, and eventually the 2015 itemization once TRID becomes effective, to ensure that the proper fees are disclosed to the borrower.
“In today’s lending environment, it is critical that an originator be able to provide accurate costs to potential borrowers early in the loan application process,” says David Stroop, Regional Vice-President for MIS, “and our fee integration with Encompass360 is a comprehensive solution to that end. Our clients can be confident that all of MIS’s title fees and the county recording charges are included in the initial disclosures.”
With this enhancement, users have a complete title environment via Encompass360. Title orders can be placed and tracked electronically within their loan, as well as being able to receive and view title documents. Additional enhancements are in the works, as MIS works with its clients and Ellie Mae to further streamline the title and closing process.
MIS continues to be a leader in technology solutions to improve efficiencies in the title and closing process. “Our integrations with Encompass360 offer clients an easier way to manage the title and closing process, but more importantly offers them the tools that they need to stay compliant with their fee disclosures,” adds Stroop.
Via ReverseMortgage Daily: ReverseVision Streamlines Loan Process Through MIS Title Integration
MIS was recently featured in an article written by Cassandra Dowell on ReverseMortgageDaily:
In its latest move to make the RV Exchange (RVX) software a one-stop-shop for lenders and brokers, ReverseVision has announced a new integration that will allow clients to order Mortgage Information Services, Inc. (MIS) titles through RVX.
The integration with the company’s Reverse Loan Origination System platform will allow lenders to order MIS titles at the click of a button. MIS, based in Cleveland, Ohio, will receive the request electronically, and as each step of the title process is completed, the loan record in RVX will be automatically updated.
“Being able to now purchase both MIS title and appraisals via RV Exchange is an excellent way for lenders and brokers to streamline their loan process,” says David Stroop, regional vice president at MIS, in a written statement. “We are excited to be able to offer this service to our clients, and continue to work to enhance and improve the client and borrower experience.”
The latest platform update follows the company’s recent integration of CoesterVMS appraisals into its RV Exchange.
The MIS title integration will benefit clients by helping them to improve their workflow, says president and CEO of ReverseVision John Button.
Urban Financial of America already uses the integration feature for appraisal ordering, says Britany Luth, vice president of Urban Financial of America, adding that it has streamlined the company’s appraisal process.
“We look forward to being able to order title work through ReverseVision as well,” Luth says.
MIS Featured in ReverseVision Newsletter
As seen in this month’s ReverseVision Newsletter found here:
MIS’s title service is now available in ReverseVision Exchange (RVX). Users of ReverseVision now have the ability to order title insurance and loan settlement services through MIS, and can retrieve documents such as the title commitment and policy, executed closing packages and recording notices.
Congrats to Brooks Rutledge in the MIS Appraisal Department
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Brooks Rutledge in the MIS Appraisal Department for achieving SRA Designation by the Appraisal Institute. This designation is awarded to professionals that are experienced in the analysis and valuation of residential real property, have passed rigorous education requirements and meet all standards of ethics. Less than 1% of appraisers nationwide meet these requirements, and Brooks joins Dave Bortolotto, Bob Soinski and John Kittredge as MIS Appraisal Team members that carry this designation.
Congrats Brooks!
Top AMC, title insurance company digs deeper into reverse space
by Ryan Smith | Aug 08, 2014
As seen in MPA Magazine
Mortgage Information Services, a top appraisal management and title insurance company, is digging deeper into the reverse space than ever before.
“We’re committed to this space, and we think there are a lot of good things going on there,” said David Stroop, MIS regional vice president. “It’s had a bad reputation – the mainstream media likes to color it a certain way – but the leaders in the industry are trying to highlight the advantages of this product.”
The company recently made it easier for LOs using its software to originate HECM reverse mortgages.
“We’ve recently enhanced our title fee quote calculator to include HECM rates. We’ve been in the space for as long as we’ve been in business, but we really recommitted to it a couple of years ago,” Stroop said. “A year and a half ago, we released our online fee quote generator to generate preliminary HUDs, show title insurance fees, title and escrow fees and recording fees. But because HECM rates tend to be different in many states, we couldn’t quote reverse rates through the online calculator. So we released an enhancement with the HECM rates. We’re really happy with what we put out there.”
Mortgage Information Services is also integrating its services with ReverseVision, the premier reverse mortgage software provider.
“We integrated our appraisal services with their software last year. We were actually the first AMC to do that. And we’re in the process of integrating out title software as well,” Stroop said. “That’s an exciting little jump in that space. In the forward space, you see a lot of that, software integrated with a dozen different LOS’s in the forward space. But it was sort of new ground for the reverse industry, and we’re happy to move that needle forward a little.”
Originators using MIS for their reverse business will find that the integration makes the process more efficient, Stroop said.
“It makes it easier for the user,” he said. “It streamlines the title-ordering and closing escrow process. You don’t have to go to a different website for that order. You don’t have to fax in or phone in or email in an order. It takes that information directly from the LOS, and the user literally hits a button. It sends that to us, and we deliver the order back through the system. There’s no need to go to our website to pull off the supporting documents, no need to even receive an email with the information. It’s sent directly back into the LOS. All that information is available on our website all the time too, but this reduces the amount of effort needed to go out and get the info.”