Our Blog
Our blog publications offer our opinions, tips, and tools on a variety of topics. These articles are prepared by our consultants with specialties in compliance, quality control, staffing, training, mortgage technology, management solutions, secondary markets, loan servicing, and more.
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Ready for Your Next Career Move in Mortgage?
If you have 2-3+ years of solid “hands on” experience as a mortgage processor, underwriter, or servicer, we’re looking to connect with you!
What “Data-Driven” Decision-Making Really Means (and How to Do It)
“Data-driven” is fundamental to risk governance: decisions must rest on evidence, not guesswork. If you can’t trace a decision to a metric and measure its impact afterward, it isn’t data-driven. Here we outline a five-step loop that turns data into action.
Encompass 2026 Project Planning: A Series
This article is the first in a series designed to provide strategic options as you build your 2026 technology project list. We begin with a deep dive into supercharging your Consumer Connect deployment.
Mortgage Lending Strategy: Own the Customer Relationship
Your mortgage lending operation may just be the single best opportunity you have for long-term customer relationship building. What is the most efficient and effective way of building out a process which always keeps the customer in the center?
BSA/AML: Bridging the Gap
A real culture of compliance is built when everyone feels ownership because they understand why it matters and how it affects their role. The result is front-line and operations staff trust that the BSA team is a partner - not a roadblock simply creating more work for them. Here are 8 actionable strategies to promote collaboration and ownership across teams.
Fall Back TRID Reminder
TRID rules under Regulation Z require creditors to disclose the time zone applicable to its location when disclosing the date and time the interest rate lock and estimate of closing costs will expire on the loan estimate.
Best Practices to Avoid Redlining
In every Department of Justice fair lending redlining case in the past five years, the lack of comparative lending data was a cited factor. When defining your REMA, lenders must consider a broad range of factors and understand the serious implications of practices like redlining.
Accurately Defining Your REMA
One of the most frequent and significant errors lenders make when defining their REMA is confusing it with their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Assessment Area.
The Impact of a Clearly Defined Work Culture in Attracting and Retaining Motivated Employees
A well-defined culture not only attracts the right candidates but also fuels business success through a committed, high-performing workforce.
Mastering HMDA: What Successful FI’s Do Right
In our years of serving clients through HMDA reviews, training, and support, we’ve observed that our most successful clients consistently implement these 7 sound practices to ensure compliance and streamline operations.
New Consultant Welcome: Laurie Duncanson
Our newest Consultant to join the team, Laurie Duncanson, is a passionate industry veteran who focuses on ensuring an exceptional customer experience through efficient processes and automation.
QC Review of Third-Party Originations, QC File Selections
We’re recapping the recent FNMA QC requirement changes, along with a summary of actions that should be taken in response to these changes- specifically if you are a client of SCA for Quality Control services.
New Consultant Welcome: Peter Shea
Our newest Consultant to join the team, Peter Shea, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with over 40 years of experience in the banking sector.
Bringing Your Vision to Life: A 5-Step Guide for Residential Lending Leaders
Turning a vision into reality can feel like a mountain to climb, but with a structured approach, you can navigate the process effectively and gain the crucial support you need. This guide breaks it down into five actionable steps to help you champion your next big initiative.
Optimize Your Workflow: Instant Guideline Access in Optimal Blue PPE
Did you know that when you're performing a product and pricing search in the Optimal Blue Product and Pricing Engine (PPE), you gain instant access to all the applicable guides related to the particular product you've selected, whether it's eligible or ineligible.
Preparing for the Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) Redesign
The new UAD 3.6 is slated for production in late 2026. This redesign will impact how appraisals are ordered, completed, and reviewed. Proactive preparation is key to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining loan quality.
Does Your Mortgage Servicing Meet Today’s Borrower Needs?
A recent J.D. Power study found a significant drop in mortgage servicer satisfaction. Over half of surveyed customers (51%) cited better customer service as a key reason to switch servicers. This is followed by easy access to loan information (36%) and flexible payment options (27%).
QC Focus: Fannie Mae's Free Income Calculator Tool
Fannie Mae's free online Income Calculator is a powerful tool for accurate rental and self-employment income calculations. Do you have it tied in to your AUS?
VantageScore 4.0 Industry Update
The FHFA’s announcement enforces the 2018 Credit Score Competition Act, signed into law by President Trump as part of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. That policy change established the use of modern credit scoring models for mortgages that would be sold to the GSEs.
FDIC Issues 2025 Consumer Compliance Supervisory Highlights
The FDIC issued CMP orders against institutions in 2024 to address violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act (FDPA), Section 5 of the FTC Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and unsafe and unsound banking practices related to an institution’s compliance with various consumer financial protection laws and regulations.