Texas Business
NotaryCam Enterprise Product Manager Joseph Bisaillon honored as HousingWire Tech Trendsetter
HOUSTON, Texas — NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization (RON) and identity verification/authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced that Enterprise Product Manager Joseph Bisaillon has been honored as a 2025 HousingWire Tech Trendsetter. The award is given to technology leaders driving impactful innovation in the housing industry….
FirstClose Chief Product Officer Ramiro Castro named HousingWire 2025 Tech Trendsetter
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced that Chief Product Officer Ramiro Castro has been recognized by HousingWire as a 2025 Tech Trendsetter. The annual award celebrates 75 technology leaders whose vision and execution are reshaping the housing economy….
Benchmark Mortgage adds Clay McMurray as Chief Marketing Officer
DALLAS, Texas — Benchmark Mortgage, a full-service mortgage lender and broker based in Dallas, has added mortgage marketing professional Clay McMurray as chief marketing officer. McMurray will help Benchmark Mortgage grow its national brand to new heights, bringing the company’s story to life with the goal of helping as many homeowners as possible while attracting top mortgage originators. He brings extensive mortgage industry experience, having led and expanded other national brands….
Click n’ Close appoints Jon Wilson as Vice President of Accounting
ADDISON, Texas — Click n’ Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced the addition of Jon Wilson as Vice President of Accounting. In this role, Wilson will oversee corporate accounting, financial reporting and process optimization, supporting the company’s continued growth and operational excellence….
Denise Donoghue, a.k.a. ‘The Mortgage Nerd,’ is Benchmark Mortgage’s 2025 Blue Jacket Winner
DALLAS, Texas — Benchmark Mortgage, a full-service mortgage lender and broker based in Dallas, has named Denise Donoghue, also known as “The Mortgage Nerd,” as its 2025 Blue Jacket winner. The prestigious award is given annually by Benchmark Mortgage, a community of expert mortgage consultants in more than 80 branches nationwide, to members who embody the company’s core values and demonstrate excellence in business execution….
Click n’ Close offers free USDA lock extensions, accepts new locks during government shutdown
ADDISON, Texas — Click n’ Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced a two-part initiative to support lenders during the federal government shutdown: free lock extensions for USDA loans already in its wholesale pipeline and acceptance of new USDA locks, which will be eligible for the same free extensions through Dec. 31,…
FirstClose and Lateral Investment Management announce additional equity funding to support continued growth
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced the completion of an additional round of equity funding, which was led by existing investor Lateral Investment Management, based in San Mateo, California….
Optimal Blue continues to debut new innovations across complete capital markets platform ahead of MBA Annual Convention and Expo
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today announced the launch of a new data solution to deliver increased market transparency, as well as three major platform enhancements focused on pricing accuracy, trade execution and counterparty management. Released ahead of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Annual Convention and Expo, and as the company prepares for its 2026 Optimal Blue Summit, these innovations reinforce Optimal Blue’s commitment to delivering solutions that position lenders to drive operational excellence and boost competitive performance….
Optimal Blue report: Rate rally drives 28% surge in September lock volumes
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today released its September 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which showed a sharp increase in rate-lock activity as mortgage rates fell throughout the month to their lowest levels in nearly a year. Total lock volume rose 28% month over month (MoM), led by a surge in refinance lending as borrowers seized on the opportunity to lower monthly payments. Purchases also climbed 6% MoM, outperforming typical seasonal trends as improved affordability brought more buyers into the market….
NotaryCam’s eClose 360 platform supports MISMO’s SMART Doc v3 standard for electronic HELOCs
HOUSTON, Texas — NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization (RON) and identity verification / authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced that its eClose360® platform is fully compatible with the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization’s (MISMO) newly published SMART Doc® V3 standard for electronic home equity lines of credit (eHELOCs)….