FirstClose announced a partnership with Stewart Lender Services, a division of Stewart Information Services Corp., that is designed to enhance FirstClose’s order management system (OMS) with expanded home equity fulfillment capabilities.
Through this partnership, FirstClose OMS users will gain integrated access to Stewart’s suite of home equity title, valuation and closing solutions. By streamlining ordering and fulfillment within a single workflow, lenders can reduce manual steps, accelerate decisioning and improve borrower experiences, according to a release.
“Our home equity fulfillment solutions are designed to help lenders move with speed and confidence,” Stewart Lender Services President Beth Fowler said in a release. “By integrating with FirstClose, we’re equipping lenders with the tools needed to accelerate loan decisioning, improve operational efficiency, and provide borrowers with a modern, streamlined home equity experience.”
Stewart’s addition to FirstClose OMS provides lenders with data, property reports, title insurance, and an E&O policy covering home equity loans, offering options and rapid response. Stewart also offers automated title decisioning tools and a streamlined curative process.
“Partnering with Stewart Lender Services enhances the power of our OMS by giving lenders direct access to a broader set of integrated home equity solutions,” FirstClose CEO Tedd Smith said. “By unifying data, title, valuation and closing workflows in one place, lenders can shorten cycle times, manage risk and drive growth in the evolving home equity market while also delivering a more seamless experience for borrowers.”
Lenders using FirstClose OMS can also leverage Stewart Valuation Intelligence’s offerings, which include desktop and field appraisals, AVMs, hybrid inspections and analytics that support accurate property valuation and risk assessment. Stewart’s integrated signing and closing services offer multiple options, including mobile notary, remote online notarization and in-person electronic notarization, which enhance convenience and operational efficiency.