a la mode, the nation's dominant mortgage and appraisal technology company, announced that PCLender.com, the industry's leading enterprise web-based mortgage lending platform, has chosen Mercury Network as its appraisal workflow and management solution. With tens of thousands of appraisers covering every county of every state, plus the ability to add any lender's own appraisal panel, Mercury Network's Web-centric Vendor Management Platform (VMP) streamlines appraisal ordering and management and is fully compliant with new appraisal regulations. Since 2002, Mercury Network has been used by more than 200,000 mortgage professionals in the production of tens of millions of appraisals.
PCLender.com is the leading provider of enterprise Web-based mortgage software and mortgage lending technology solutions for mortgage companies, credit unions, and community banks. Its loan origination system (LOS) will be fully integrated with Mercury Network's back end engine, eliminating redundant data entry by originators as well as providing ongoing instant status updates as the appraisal assignment progresses. PCLender.com will also utilize Mercury Network's custom review rules, which run on the appraiser's desktop prior to final transmission. The rules virtually eliminate delays due to oversights, which improves turn times for PCLender.com customers.
When the appraisal is complete and has passed the review checks, it is delivered as a GLBA-compliant package containing the original PDF as well as XML data, and is automatically placed directly into the PCLender.com loan file. The XML format will also assist PCLender.com clients in complying with Fannie Mae's recent announcement that it will soon require all appraisal reports be submitted in the MISMO Appraisal XML format.
"Mercury Network was the clear choice for our clients because it provides lenders the most flexibility to continue to use their local appraisers while implementing HVCC compliance. We believe our implementation of Mercury Network will provide unique advantages for our users," said Lionel Urban, president and chief executive officer for PCLender.com.
The Home Value Code of Conduct (HVCC) has caused mortgage lenders grappling with appraiser independence regulations to often turn to traditional appraisal management companies, who have often utilized low-bid appraisers lacking local market experience, which in turn has caused many deals to fall through. Mercury Network enables any mortgage lender to utilize their existing panel of appraisers, or augment it with anyone from Mercury's extensive national database, while still providing loan officers with full HVCC-compliance. There is no need for any lender to outsource appraisals to a third party, hire additional staff, or sever solid relationships with existing appraisers.
"Integrating with PCLender.com was an easy decision for us," said Scott Kinnaird, chief executive officer for a la mode. "We serve the same set of community banks and credit unions, and our companies share the same philosophy that it's crucial for both lenders and appraisers to continually increase productivity while achieving the utmost level of compliance."
For more information, visit PCLender.com or alamode.com.
