Here’s how COVID-19 has transformed RON adoption

Today’s Daily Download episode features an interview with Aaron Davis, CEO of Florida Agency Network, one of Florida’s largest RON providers. In this episode, HousingWire examines a recent article that delves into one key component that is hindering RON adoption. Davis discusses how RON adoption has changed in the era of COVID-19, what it will take for increased RON and eNote adoption in the secondary market and how RON has transformed the borrower experience overall.

Ramirez’s article is part of our HW+ premium membership community. When you go to sign up, use the code “hwpluspodcast100” to get $100 off your annual membership.

For some background on the story, here’s a summary of the article: 

As it turns out, state regulations, while a major factor, are not the greatest holdup to universal acceptance of RON. 

In fact, over the past year COVID-19 has spurred many states to rush through emergency bills allowing for the use of RON.

No, the greatest holdup actually lies in the hands of lenders: eNotes.

Traditionally, promissory notes are wet signed. They are the “golden ticket” when it comes to mortgage transactions and without it, the deal wouldn’t exist. It is the legal note where one party in the transaction promises in writing to pay a fixed amount of money to another party under specific terms.

There were instances in 2008, for example, where if the note was lost or stored away in a bank’s basement, lenders couldn’t foreclose on a property until the note was located. Notes can’t be sold unless they are physically located.

But RON can turn this promissory note digital, and that changes everything.

The Daily Download examines the most compelling articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Each afternoon, we provide our listeners with a deeper look into the stories coming across our newsroom that are helping Move Markets Forward. Hosted by the HW team and produced by Alcynna Lloyd and Victoria Wickham.

HousingWire articles covered in this episode:

• This is the single greatest factor standing in the way of RON
• The pandemic transformed real estate closings, but will digital adoption stick?