Dark Matter Adds LodeStar Closing-Cost Tools To Empower LOS – NMP Skip to main content

Dark Matter Adds LodeStar Closing-Cost Tools To Empower LOS

Jul 16, 2026
Dark Matter Adds LodeStar Closing-Cost Tools To Empower LOS
Managing Editor

LodeStar becomes the first integration partner to connect through Dark Matter’s new Developer Platform

Lenders using Dark Matter Technologies’ Empower loan origination system can now integrate LodeStar Software Solutions’ closing-cost calculator and fee-compliance tools into their loan workflows.

LodeStar is the first technology provider to connect with Empower through the Dark Matter Developer Platform, which allows third-party providers to bring their products into the Empower ecosystem.

Through the integration, LodeStar will provide lenders with access to its Closing Cost Calculator and tools designed to support fee reliance and fee-related compliance. The company’s data covers closing costs ranging from statewide transfer taxes to fees assessed at the township level.

LodeStar specializes in helping mortgage originators manage third-party closing costs and maintain compliance with the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule.

“LodeStar is proud to be the first integration partner to use the new Dark Matter Developer Platform,” LodeStar CEO and Co-Founder Jim Paolino said. “Connectivity is one of our core values, and we’re excited to launch this new partnership.”

For loan officers, having closing-cost information available within the LOS could reduce the need to move between systems when preparing disclosures. More localized fee data may also help originators set borrower expectations and limit unexpected fee changes later in the loan process.

The companies did not identify any lenders currently using the integration or provide data showing whether it reduces disclosure errors, production costs or tolerance cures. They also did not disclose whether Empower lenders must enter into a separate agreement with LodeStar to activate the technology.

The integration nevertheless marks the first expansion of Empower through Dark Matter’s Developer Platform. If additional providers join, the platform could give lenders greater flexibility to add specialized technology without relying exclusively on individually developed integrations.

“At Dark Matter, we are focused on delivering intelligent, configurable technology that strengthens lenders across the mortgage lifecycle,” Dark Matter Technologies CEO Sean Dugan said. “By welcoming LodeStar to the Dark Matter Developer Platform, we’re expanding the range of capabilities available to lenders seeking to strengthen risk management and compliance across the loan origination process.”

 

*This article was primarily written by a human author. AI tools were used in a limited capacity for research assistance or light editing.

About the author
Managing Editor
Czarinna Andres leads editorial coverage for NMP, focusing on the trends, policies, and business strategies shaping today’s mortgage and housing finance landscape. She brings a background in journalism and media, with experience…
Published
Jul 16, 2026
Jobs Report Comes In Weak After Mortgage Rates Surge

Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, sending Treasury yields lower and offering a potential counterweight to the recent rise in mortgage rates

Oct 02, 2026
Price Cuts Hit Four-Year High As Mortgage Rates Top 7%

More than one in five listings took a price cut in September, but pending sales still posted their sharpest annual decline since March 2025

Oct 01, 2026
Serious Mortgage Delinquencies Rise 19% After Five Months Of Improvement

ICE data shows 574,000 mortgages were at least 90 days past due in August, while early-stage delinquencies remained below year-ago levels

Sep 29, 2026
Smaller Down Payments Give Buyers More Room, But Rates Limit The Savings

The typical down payment fell 9% from a year ago, while shifting market conditions are giving originators different affordability conversations across the country

Sep 25, 2026
Mortgage Rates Break 7% Just As Builders Find A Way To Move Buyers

New-home sales rose 6.4% in August as builders cut prices, offered incentives, and sold more lower-priced homes. Now mortgage rates are moving against buyers again

Sep 25, 2026
Borrowers Want Digital Closings, But Some Originators Remain Hesitant

ServiceLink finds 45% of surveyed LOs cite borrower reluctance as a barrier, even though most recent buyers say digital options would influence their choice of mortgage provider

Sep 23, 2026