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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 6 April 2023 M T E C H to more than $9 billion in loan applications; many of these loans stemmed from reen- gaged leads and former customers that had fallen through the cracks. "Our team continues evolving our platform to match the needs of financial institutions. Today, our industry must look to new ways to build pipeline and connect more authentically with customers—the answer is in the data," said Joe Welu, Founder and CEO of Total Expert. "Our latest innovation is all about leveraging new lead sources—both customer databases and data integrations— to enrich customer records and uncover hidden revenue opportunities. Customer In- telligence is a game changer; we're energized by the value our customers are realizing from it every day." Total Expert's new release boosts current integrations, and adds new connections— all to build on the company's mission of a comprehensive financial profile for every customer. An enhanced integration with Encompass by ICE Mortgage Technology will allow Total Expert users to leverage the solutions by seamlessly integrating data from Encompass and Total Expert to strengthen their holistic, data-rich customer profiles. And, eight additional new or enhanced platform integrations allow users to create a vibrant ecosystem of lead sources, including Verse.io, Bankrate, Ownup, FinLocker, Blend, Polly, and Box and Bestow. BOOSTING FIRST- TIME BUYER AFFORDABILITY R ocket Mortgage has become one of the first national lenders to offer Freddie Mac's BorrowSmart Access program. The program offers a $3,000 credit for first-time homebuyers to use toward their down payment—helping to reduce one of the largest hurdles to homeownership. First time homebuyers can use Bor- rowSmart Access if they are purchasing a home in several counties across 10 metro areas—Atlanta; Chicago; Detroit; El Paso, Houston, or McAllen, Texas; Memphis; Mi- ami; Philadelphia; and St. Louis. To qualify for this program, the buyer must have an income equal to or less than 140% of the area median income (AMI) and meet all other Freddie Mac lending guidelines. "At Rocket Mortgage, it is our mission to provide a range of options that make owning a home attainable for as many people as possible," said Bob Walters, CEO of Rocket Mortgage. "BorrowSmart Access is the con- tinuation of our commitment to narrow the homeownership gap. By offering solutions for borrowers in underrepresented commu- nities, we can help families build financial freedom and generational wealth." In late December, Rocket Mortgage launched Purchase Plus, a special purpose credit program offering up to $7,500 in lender credits for first-time homebuyers to use toward their closing costs. Purchase Plus is available for homebuyers residing in specific census tracts across six major cities—Atlanta, Baltimore, Chi- cago, Detroit, Memphis, and Philadelphia. A CONCIERGE FOR RENTERS Z illow has announced a new feature which enables renters to book an apartment tour online, making a once-cumbersome process as simple as book- ing a restaurant reservation. More than two-thirds (71%) of recent rent- ers reported taking up to four in-person tours, according to Zillow's 2022 Consumer Housing Trends Report. In 2021, 58% of recent renters said they preferred to schedule in-person tours online. Zillow is now allowing apartment shoppers to do just that—scheduling tours instantly, online, without the hassle and delay of having to get in touch with someone directly. With automated tour scheduling, renters are assured that they will see the apartment they're interested in at a time that works in their busy schedule, without needing to wait for a response from a property manager. Renters also receive automated email and text reminders for their appointment time. "Touring is a major milestone in the journey of finding a rental, and it's due for in- novation," says Michael Sherman, VP of Zillow Rentals. "Allowing renters to instantly book a tour removes barriers and delivers a more seamless and convenient experience for renters and property managers. Freeing up the time it takes to coordinate schedules allows renters to focus on finding their perfect place without worrying about when they'll get a chance to see it, and gives property managers valuable time back for other important tasks." Renters can now directly book tours for listings at more than 2,600 apartment buildings on Zillow, and more properties are continually adopting the technology. This new functionality is made possible through Zillow's integrations with Knock CRM and Funnel Leasing, two leasing and customer relationship management platforms used by multifamily properties across the country.