The mortgage finance system is ever changing.
Five years ago, no one in the market would’ve imagined that home prices would be on the rise, mortgage rates would be above 4% and mortgage analytic firms would be the leading innovators of housing.
Yet, here we currently stand, and the number of acquisitions by these companies this year is impressive.
The ringleader of the data-technology takeover is CoreLogic.
The property analytics firm announced Monday that it is expanding its analytics platform in more ways the one.
First, CoreLogic plans to acquire Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, a company offering residential and commercial property valuation solutions. Doubling the charm, the firm also plans to purchase property analytics firm DataQuick Information Systems.
CoreLogic’s mass purchase of data firms, which totals $661 million, includes the credit and flood services units of DataQuick Lender Solutions from Decision Insight Information.
In April, CoreLogic announced its acquisition of Case-Shiller from Fiserv, which came with the rights to one of the most well-known home price indices — the S&P/Case-Shiller.
CoreLogic’s acquisition of Case-Shiller essentially transfers all Fiserv publishing rights and agreements to CoreLogic.
Also jumping on the mortgage data analytics train is Fidelity National Financial Inc., which agreed to acquire Lender Processing Services.
Amid a housing recovery, Fidelity National found the acquisition to be a textbook opportunity to expand its offerings in real estate analytics.
“As the mortgage industry continues to face increasing regulation, participants in the industry are seeking out those strategic partners who offer quality, comprehensive solutions, a strong balance sheet and a commitment to innovation,” said Hugh Harris, president and CEO of LPS.
Real estate database company Zillow is no stranger to scooping up companies to build upon its mortgage data analytics.
Over the past two years, Zillow has acquired five companies.
Most recently, the company acquired Mortech, with the goal of accelerating Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, allowing borrowers to connect with lenders to receive loan options and current mortgage rates.
As the housing recovery continues, the market will see mortgage analytic firms take the reigns and drive housing into a new realm where technology is king.
