Home Equity

How Regional Lenders Can Win the Refinance Market in 2026 The refinance market in 2026 is expected to be steady but uneven, with short rate-driven windows that favor lenders who are ready to move quickly. Regional lenders can succeed in this market by focusing on efficient workflows, strong borrower relationships, and predictable closing timelines. This […]

How Regional Lenders Can Win the Refinance Market in 2026 The refinance market in 2026 is expected to be steady but uneven, with short rate-driven windows that favor lenders who are ready to move quickly. Regional lenders can succeed in this market by focusing on efficient workflows, strong borrower relationships, and predictable closing timelines. This

Scaling Home Equity Volume with LOS Integrations Without More Staff Home equity teams don’t slow down because of big problems; they slow down because of dozens of small manual steps that add up across every file. In this article, we look at how LOS integrations remove those friction points, streamline closings, and help regional lenders

How UAD 3.6 Will Change the Way Lenders Manage Appraisals​ UAD 3.6 Webinar UAD 3.6 Lender Pre Checklist The Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 overhaul is set to take effect in 2026, marking the biggest appraisal modernization in more than a decade. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are replacing old appraisal forms with a single,

The New AVM Compliance 2025 Rule is Here – Are You Ready? The AVM Quality Control Rule took effect on October 1, 2025, requiring lenders to document, test, and monitor how they use Automated Valuation Models (AVMs). The goal: ensure valuations are accurate, unbiased, and well-controlled. Many lenders still aren’t ready, but compliance is now

The Four Home Equity Valuation Tools and When to Use Them In this Guide to Understanding Home Equity Valuation Tools, lenders will learn about the four key home equity valuation options—AVM + Property Condition Report, Evaluation, Hybrid Appraisal, and Full Appraisal—and how each can help reduce home equity loan turn times. Every home equity loan

Coordinating Home Equity Closings in Attorney States: Why a Centralized Partner Matters In last month’s blog, we explored the operational headaches that come with managing home equity closings in-house—and how a centralized partner like CSS can help lenders reduce friction, ensure consistency, and improve the borrower experience. This month, we’re taking that conversation one step

Why More Lenders Are Rethinking In-House Home Equity Closings For many regional banks and credit unions, the branch has long been the default location for home equity loan closings. It’s familiar, it’s local, and it seems cost-effective — at least on the surface. But more lenders are taking a closer look at what this model

Key Trends in Property Valuation and Lending — 2024 Recap and 2025 Outlook As we close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025, we’re taking a look back at some of the trends and developments that impacted our industry and how they will inform mortgage lending and property valuation in 2025 and beyond. Based on

Home Equity: A Lasting Asset in an Evolving Housing Market As we near the end of the year and approach 2025, the home equity landscape remains one of resilience. Despite the recent volatility in the housing market, rising interest rates, and a shifting economic landscape, homeowners continue to see significant equity in their homes. While