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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 24 December 2024 I N D U S T R Y U P D A T E "Smith Douglas Homes' approach to the new construction market is perfectly aligned with loanDepot's commitment to serving the needs of first-time homebuyers," said Dan Peña, Executive VP of National Joint Ventures for loanDepot. "Our new joint venture helps both companies make the Ameri- can Dream of home ownership possible for more families while providing Smith Douglas Homes with access to an unparalleled lending platform that will deliver an exceptional customer experience." Greg Bennett, CEO of Smith Douglas Homes, concurred. "Our part- nership with loanDepot allows us to focus on what we do best—delivering incredible value to our customers with high-quality homes at an affordable price point—while leveraging loan- Depot's mortgage lending expertise to provide a smooth and seamless home loan process. Our new joint venture will draw on the core strengths of both companies—including a shared commitment to operational excellence, quality, and innovation—so we can continue to meet the expectations of our customers." ORION LENDING AND THE ARIVE PLATFORM ANNOUNCE NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP T he Arive platform and Orion Lending have announced their strategic alliance. This part- nership coincides with Orion Lending's tenth anniversary, which experts deem a noteworthy turning point in the com- pany's mission to empower brokers and boost their revenue. "As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, partnering with Arive marks a significant milestone for Orion Lending," said Curtis Edwards, Chief Production Officer and Co-Founder. "We're excited to enhance the experi- ence for brokers already using Arive and eager to introduce the Orion Difference to those yet to join us. This collaboration ref lects our commitment to empowering brokers and hyper speeding their business." Orion Lending's choice to join the Arive platform demonstrates its commitment to supporting the broker community by consistently offering chances to improve business operations and value. Through the relationship, Orion Lending will be able to provide more brokers with the resources and as- sistance they need to enhance customer service and accelerate their company's expansion. SERVICEMAC EARNS 2024 USDA TOP SERVICER AWARD S erviceMac, a member of the First American family of companies, has announced the company has been honored as a 2024 Top Servicers Award winner by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ServiceMac was recognized for helping rural families and individuals across the nation achieve the dream of homeownership by purchasing homes through USDA Rural Development's Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. The USDA 2024 Top Servicers Award highlights Service- Mac's excellence in servicing loans and the company's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. ServiceMac was one of only three servicers to earn the prestigious award. "We're committed to supporting rural families and individuals manage their loans and realize the dream of homeownership," said Bob Caruso, President and CEO of ServiceMac. "The recognition from USDA validates our innovative approach to servicing, which combines our proprietary tech- nology platform with industry-leading customer support delivered by our expert staff members." Founded in 2017 and acquired by First American in October 2021, Ser- viceMac onboarded its first portfolio in 2019, and now services more than $195 billion in loans for first and second mortgage portfolios. The company has grown on the foundation of its technology, risk management and compliance tools, customer service, and experienced team members. Ser- viceMac supports mortgage servicing rights (MSR) holders, master servicers, borrowers and subservicing needs with more effective and efficient servicing workf lows. FAY SERVICING EMPOWERS HOMEOWNERS THROUGH NEW PARTNERSHIP F ay Servicing, a full-service mortgage company servicing loans for more than 170,000 U.S. homeowners, through its partner- ship with SpringFour, a social impact fintech platform, has facilitated more than 6,000 referrals in the past year alone, helping homeowners navigate financial difficulties and maintain homeownership. SpringFour has enabled Fay Ser- vicing borrowers who were struggling to save money and reduce their living expenses to access essential services at no cost, including vetted nonprofit and government programs, local grants, and other community resources. In July 2024, Fay Servicing borrow- ers received 14% more referrals for util- ity cost assistance, a 13% rise in employ- ment service referrals, and a 50% boost in financial counseling and child-care service referrals. Since the partner- ship began in 2014, Fay Servicing has