MORTGAGE AND LENDING, ASSET MANAGEMENT
Businesswire | May 12, 2023
First American Data & Analytics, a leading national provider of property-centric information, risk management and valuation solutions and a division of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), today announced that its industry-leading FraudGuard® fraud risk detection and decisioning tool now includes enhancements that help lenders reduce home equity lending and compliance risk, and further improve loan quality and increase efficiency. The new features include the integration of the First American Procision™ AVM suite and the additions of a senior-lien review module designed for home equity lending and a military status verification module.
“In today’s lending environment, reducing risk, improving loan quality and increasing underwriting productivity are top of mind for lenders, and our latest FraudGuard enhancements help our lender clients address those priorities,” said Paul W. Harris, general manager, mortgage analytics for First American Data & Analytics. “These enhancements add to FraudGuard’s already robust capabilities. Now, FraudGuard’s smart analytics provide an even more effective, intuitive solution for critical underwriting decisions in first mortgage and home equity lending.”
FraudGuard’s integration with the Procision AVM suite provides users access to automated property values to help expedite lending functions, such as underwriting and collateral reviews for first and second mortgages, as well as home equity lines of credit. The Procision AVM suite uses a state-of-the-art blended ensemble modeling approach to deliver an exceptional level of accuracy. First American Data & Analytics runs Procision AVM valuations on every residential property in the U.S. every day and the company also updates the underlying data that fuels the Procision AVM suite daily. An automated surveillance system constantly monitors both data and valuation quality, and performs extensive testing to validate the accuracy of the valuations produced by the Procision AVM suite for various property types in various geographic markets.
Senior-Lien Review and Military Status Modules Boost Lending and Fraud Risk Detection
Designed to support home equity lending, the senior-lien review module identifies ineligible first liens that could prevent a lender from moving forward with a second lien. For example, the new feature will alert a lender to a private mortgage originated within the last 12 months, first mortgages with negative amortization, balloon loans with a due date before the second lien, or a reverse mortgage. The module can also identify payment deferrals and loans in forbearance.
The military status module verifies an applicant’s status – active, retired or a survivor of military personnel – under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). In addition to mortgage lending, the new module can be leveraged in credit and automobile lending. Both the senior-lien review and military status modules are available as standalone API integrations.
FraudGuard is the first fraud analytics solution accessible through the latest Encompass Partner Connect™ API platform. The integration allows lenders to leverage automation to systematically trigger FraudGuard reports and analysis based on customizable business rules.
About First American Data & Analytics
First American Data & Analytics, a division of First American Financial Corporation, is a national provider of property-centric information, risk management and valuation solutions. First American maintains and curates the industry’s largest property and ownership dataset that includes more than 8 billion document images. Its major platforms and products include: DataTree®, FraudGuard®, RegsData®, First American TaxSource™ and ACI®. Find out more about how First American Data & Analytics powers the real estate, mortgage and title settlement services industries with advanced decisioning solutions at www.FirstAmDNA.com.
About First American
First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a premier provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions. With its combination of financial strength and stability built over 130 years, innovative proprietary technologies, and unmatched data assets, the company is leading the digital transformation of its industry. First American also provides data products to the title industry and other third parties; valuation products and services; mortgage subservicing; home warranty products; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $7.6 billion in 2022, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2023, First American was named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine for the eighth consecutive year. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com.
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MARKET OUTLOOK, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
PRweb | March 29, 2023
Global real estate brokerage The Agency proudly announces the launch of its first franchise office in Ontario’s York Region. The new locale, which will be known as The Agency York Region, is the firm’s 16th office in Canada, joining the brokerage’s growing network of more than 75 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. The York Region office will be led by industry veterans Katia and Steve Bailey, and Niusha Walker who will serve as Managing Partners, and Adolphe Khouri who will serve as Managing Director.
“Our brand new office in Ontario’s York Region is an exciting next chapter for The Agency as our brand continues to expand throughout sought-after regions in Canada,” said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and Founder of The Agency. “We’re delighted to partner again with Katia and Steve Bailey, as well as Niusha Walker and Adolphe Khouri, who are all well-respected leaders and innovators in our industry.”
The Agency has rapidly expanded its presence across the globe throughout the past year, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury boutique brokerages in the world. The Agency’s independent-owned brokerages are referred to and integrated as true global partners. Every Managing Partner, from both corporate or independently-owned offices, operates cohesively as one true global network. Rather than simply using brand likeness in their marketing, The Agency’s global partners enjoy the same access to leadership, marketing, public relations, training, tools, and technology as our corporate offices. In Q1 of 2023 alone, The Agency has launched seven new offices, including the new office in the York Region, with more on the horizon in the coming months.
“Our strategic expansion in Canada has been exceptional as we continue to seek like-minded partners who embody The Agency brand,” said Jim Ramsay, Executive Vice President of Franchise Sales at The Agency. “We’re thrilled to continue our work with Katia and Steve Bailey, as well as Niusha Walker and Adolphe Khouri as we debut our new office in the York Region, bringing our world-class offerings to buyers and sellers throughout the area.”
Katia Bailey serves as Broker of Record and Managing Partner of several of The Agency's Canadian offices including Waterloo Region, Oakville, Muskoka, Brantford, Toronto West, and now York Region, bringing a true passion for real estate and an authentic, people-forward approach to running the brokerage. Since launching her career in real estate operations and marketing over 17 years ago, she has successfully managed a team that has produced more than $1 billion in sales. Katia’s accessibility to her agents and their clients, expedient work ethic, keen attention to detail and love for the nuanced processes that take place behind the scenes of every transaction make her an essential resource. Katia’s passion lies in making genuine connections and creating and delivering cutting-edge and strategic marketing. As the former Operations Manager for The Bailey Team, she helped her husband and business partner, Steve Bailey, grow the team to more than 20 agents and multiple administrators. The Bailey Team ranked #9 in Canada and #21 in the world for RE/MAX before launching at The Agency, overseeing more than a billion in sales and thousands of transactions.
Steve Bailey, Broker and Managing Partner of multiple Agency offices, including Waterloo Region, Oakville, Muskoka, Brantford, Toronto West, and now York Region, is a seasoned real estate professional who has achieved more than $1 billion in sales over his decade-and-a-half-long career. Steve’s diligence, forthrightness and authenticity have made him an in-demand real estate advisor for clients throughout Canada. Prior to joining The Agency, Steve earned numerous awards for sales achievements and career excellence during his tenure at Re/MAX. A skilled communicator and world-aware market expert, Steve has a degree in Business from Wilfrid Laurier University. Though Steve has a broad-reaching knowledge of the local real estate landscape and can serve a range of clients, he is particularly passionate about luxury real estate and guiding clients through the sale of their homes.
“With each Agency office we open, we’re reminded of the brand’s dominance and the burgeoning demand for it throughout Canada - our new office in the York Region is no exception,” said Katia and Steve Bailey. “We’re looking forward to ushering in a new era of real estate to the area with The Agency’s groundbreaking offerings, blue-chip service, and incomparable marketing power.”
An award-winning real estate professional with nearly a decade of experience in property investing, Niusha Walker holds a vital leadership role at The Agency York Region, where she serves as Managing Partner. Specializing in assisting buyers, sellers, and investors within the Greater Toronto Area. Niusha adeptly provides highly personalized, white glove service to her clients while closing record-setting sales with poise and ease. In addition to achieving more than $40 million in sales in her first two years as an agent, Niusha has been presented with the Diamond Elite and Ruby Elite Awards from her previous brokerage, Engel & Völkers, which awarded agents who reached a specific gross commission income. Niusha is also a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and Certified International Property Specialist. Raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario, which is located in the York Region, where she still resides, Niusha is deeply familiar with the area’s unique neighborhoods and stays up-to-date on its ever-evolving market trends. Among Niusha’s many talents are her meticulous attention to detail, her ability to use thoughtful cross-market strategies to showcase exceptional homes to exclusive audiences, and negotiating powerfully to best serve her clients.
“The Agency is making its mark across prominent destinations throughout Canada, and our office in the York Region will further differentiate the brand from other renowned brokerages in the area,” said Niusha Walker. “As a long-time resident of the York Region, I am thrilled to be leading a team in one of the most special markets in Ontario.”
As Managing Director of The Agency York Region, Adolphe Khouri effectively and compassionately mentors teammates and guides clients through every aspect of today’s real estate market, leading with enthusiasm and confidence rooted in more than nine years of extensive industry experience. A highly respected top producer, Adolphe was named a Rising Star by The Agency in 2020 and is co-founder of WA Monteiro Group, a real estate group within The Agency that he founded alongside his life partner Woodrow Monteiro. Adolphe is passionate about every aspect of the home buying and selling process. Known for his unflappable work ethic and professional demeanor, Adolphe first entered the real estate realm as a manager of a more than 75-unit luxury corporate rental building in Downtown Toronto. Raised in Windsor, Ontario, Adolphe attended the University of Windsor and graduated with a dual degree in sociology and communications studies.
With solid infrastructure, The Agency has a renowned brand that is featured on international television shows including Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Buying Beverly Hills, which debuted on Netflix on November 4, 2022. The Agency has grown to more than 70 corporately owned and franchise offices across the globe, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury boutique brokerages in the world. Poised for further expansion with like-minded partners in strategic markets, The Agency is noted by The Financial Times as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies and has ranked among Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing private companies in the country for six consecutive years. Recently, The Agency ranked 21st on the 2022 RealTrends 500 list, and led the top 50 firms in average sales price by sides with a $2.5 million average sales price. In August 2022, Inman named The Agency Luxury Brokerage of the year.
The Agency
The Agency is an agent-first, tech-driven boutique luxury global brokerage representing clients worldwide in a broad spectrum of classes, including residential, new development, resort real estate, luxury leasing and vacation rentals. Breaking away from the traditional brokerage model, The Agency takes a collaborative approach to the business, fostering a culture of partnership in which all clients and listings are represented in a collaborative environment. Agents and clients benefit from the shared resources and networks of the entire global team, including in-house creative, public relations and cutting-edge technology divisions. The Agency has closed more than $57 billion real estate transactions since 2011, comprising over 70 offices in ten countries, and counting, as one of the fastest-growing boutique, luxury real estate brands in the world. Watch The Agency on Buying Beverly Hills, a new real estate occu-soap highlighting the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles, currently streaming on Netflix.
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY, INVESTMENTS
PRnewswire | March 24, 2023
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, has announced the launch of Property Navigator, an easy-to-use solution offering instant nationwide access with a wide array of search capabilities and detailed property information for residential and commercial properties.
Property Navigator offers quick access to property information, market analysis, comparables, and more for over 155 million properties nationwide. The solution serves real estate agents, investors, appraisers, and enterprise organizations. Customers can get started with Property Navigator in minutes and access over 300 data points and presentation-ready property reports. With the solution, customers save time and make informed data-driven decisions.
"As our data footprint continues to expand, so do our data solutions, in order to meet the challenges and opportunities in today's market, while continuing our mission of increasing real estate transparency," said Todd Teta, chief technology and product officer at ATTOM. "Our Property Navigator solution offers convenient access to our vast data warehouse, providing valuable insights for today's market challenges and opportunities while increasing real estate transparency."
Our scaled plans and pricing selection lets you choose the best option that is right for you and your business. All plans come with full access to nationwide property & comparable data with powerful search and filtering capabilities.
With Property Navigator:
Search and find properties with a variety of criteria – occupancy, equity, default status, lender, etc.
Map search by neighborhood, school district, or custom-drawn areas for micro-accuracy.
Access ownership information along with contact details and phone numbers.
Find off-market and distressed properties.
Download presentation ready property reports with detailed list exports.
Determine property value based on multiple AVMs and other analytical tools.
Property Navigator supports a range of industries, whether researching a particular property or multiple properties that fit certain conditions, in an all-in-one easy-to-use subscription, featuring an array of details that help real estate professionals, brokerages, investors, appraisers, and more gain that competitive edge.
About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management – ATTOM Cloud.
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