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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 24 December 2025 C O V E R S T O R Y • Servicer technology overlays pro- vide Nationals with their own tech- nology platform to quickly integrate with these new requirements. • Greater regional dependency— smaller subs and independents now rely more heavily on large national property preservation providers for volume. The upside is that consolidation encourages modernization—firms are investing more heavily in systems, automation, and contractor support. But it also shrinks the vendor pool, which can create fragility during high-volume cycles. Q: Are there opportunities for more collaboration across preservation, asset management, and mortgage servicing? MAHER: Yes, and the industry is un- derutilizing them. The biggest opportu- nities include: • Shared data ecosystems where in- spection photos, work orders, utility data, and code-enforcement cases are exchanged seamlessly between servicers, field vendors, and asset managers. • Unified definitions and standards for occupancy determinations, debris, winterization, and convey- ance across FHA/HUD, GSEs, and investors. • Integrated preservation + REO strategies, allowing early repair planning during default instead of waiting until conveyance. • Cross-training between preserva- tion, valuations, and asset manage- ment teams to reduce blind spots. • Industry-wide digital compliance frameworks, reducing redundant photo/documentation requirements. Stronger collaboration would cut cycle times and reduce avoidable con- veyance delays. Q: What are the industry's "blind spots" that aren't getting enough attention? MAHER: A few stand out: 1. Data interoperability Everyone collects photos, inspec- tions, and property data—but systems still don't talk to each other effectively. Lack of shared standards creates inefficiency and rework. 2. Contractor pipeline fragility The field labor pool has been shrinking for years; without pricing modernization, it will continue to collapse. 3. Technology adoption inequality Some contractors are highly sophis- ticated; others struggle with basic mobile reporting. The gap creates inconsistencies that technology alone can't solve. 4. Deferred investment in aging housing stock Preservation work is getting more complex as properties age, but pricing structures haven't adjusted to reflect more intensive repair conditions. RAQUEL PASALA VP, ServiceLink Q: We've heard from many about how HUD's pricing structure is impacting vendors and contractors. How is this affecting the health of the industry, and what would you like to see change in HUD's approach? PASALA: It would be good to establish a regular schedule or cadence for pricing reviews that includes automatic increases every two to three years, at most every five years. As an industry, we should be on the same page so that there's a standard for cost. Multiple layers of the supply chain need to be considered, each adding value, from local boots on the ground to regional and national providers. From servicers and investors, all the way up, there needs to be appropriate compensation, taking into account the additional requirements that need to be met. Technology costs need to be taken into account, as well. This impacts the health of the industry as it creates barriers to entry into the field for new players. As providers retire, the field is thinning. Q: How are companies like ServiceLink managing to maintain service quality and compliance standards despite financial pressure from outdated pricing models? PASALA: ServiceLink continues to in- vest in our technology, which allows us to implement added automated quality control and scale as needed with things like image recognition and natural language processing. This allows us to maintain our top-notch quality service and meet compliance standards through