Tag: Texas Business

HOUSTON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and leading remote online notarization (RON) provider for real estate and legal transactions, its certification to perform RON services in the state of Vermont. This development follows Vermont's enactment of legislation supporting remote notarizations, allowing notaries with a Special Endorsement to perform digital notarizations in the state.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced it will host its 2026 Optimal Blue Summit from February 23-25 at the Talking Stick Resort and Conference Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Building on the success of its inaugural event, the 2026 Summit will bring together the company's clients and integration partners, along with thought leaders and experts from across the mortgage industry, for three days of insights, connection and strategy.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its July 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found a 3% month-over-month (MoM) drop in overall rate lock volume, led by a nearly 5% drop in purchase activity as affordability remained strained.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today launched a new brand that emphasizes the company's market leadership in delivering modern innovation backed by decades of proven, trusted performance. "Optimal Blue is operating in an era defined by accuracy, scale, speed and artificial intelligence - and our new brand embodies that," said Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Velocity Credit Union is proud to announce the official groundbreaking of its newest branch, located at the southeast corner of Davis Lane and Brodie Lane in Southwest Austin. This expansion reflects the credit union's continued commitment to serving its growing membership and delivering convenient, modern financial services to communities across Central Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Shaun Simms, Director of the Project Management Office (PMO), has been selected by HousingWire magazine for its annual Insiders awards program.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced a new capability in its industry-leading product, pricing and eligibility (PPE) engine that fully automates the process for a lock desk user to execute best efforts locks directly with participating investors via API. By eliminating the last remaining manual step in the locking life cycle, Optimal Blue is delivering innovations and enhancements that will help significantly increase a lender's efficiency and profitability.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced it has been honored for the second year in a row as a 2025 Top Wholesale Lender Champion by the United States Department of Agriculture. This recognition underscores Click n' Close's continued commitment to fostering homeownership and supporting community development through innovative lending programs.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its June 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report showing total lock volume rose 1.95% month-over-month (MoM), driven by increased refinance activity. Refinance share climbed from 16% to 18% of all locks as rate-and-term refinances jumped 17.4% MoM and 18.4% year-over-year (YoY). Cash-out refinances rose 8.1% from May and nearly 28% YoY.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced its Senior Vice President of Human Resources Katie Smith has been named a 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence. The national award recognizes her exceptional leadership, commitment to company culture and impact on the fintech and mortgage lending industry.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Autocraft Bodywerks is proud to announce the opening of its fourth state-of-the-art collision repair center, located on State Highway 71 in Spicewood, Texas. This new 23,000-square-foot facility has achieved I-CAR Gold Class status and is proudly sponsored by BMW of South Austin and Audi of South Austin, as it works toward becoming the only BMW and Audi-certified collision repair center in the area. The company's expanded footprint, led by Manager Robbie Mulderrig will better serve customers in West Austin, Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Spicewood, and the surrounding communities.

CEDAR PARK, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Zeteo Biomedical, a privately held biomedical device company, today announced the issuance of new patents in the United States and European Union for its advanced drug delivery technologies. The patents, titled "Cartridge Devices for Administration of a Medicament" (U.S. Patent No. 12329949) and "Hand-Operated Devices for Administration of a Medicament" (EU Patent No. 3946526), further strengthen Zeteo's ZTech™ delivery platform portfolio for the administration of drugs and biologics via nasal, ophthalmic, and sublingual routes.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- RSI & Associates, Inc., a leading provider of business valuation, feasibility studies and consulting services, today announced a policy of limited and careful application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the preparation and analysis of business valuations. This decision is driven by the firm's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and ethical conduct in its valuation practice, particularly in light of current legal, regulatory, and ethical uncertainties surrounding the use of AI in financial analysis.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released the May 2025 edition of its now-expanded Market Advantage mortgage data report, which features newly added borrower profile and capital market datasets for a more comprehensive picture of early-stage mortgage activity and loan profitability. The enhancements come at a critical time for mortgage lenders navigating heightened interest rates, tighter margins, increased volatility and deepening affordability challenges.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced a new product that helps originators efficiently track and identify refinance opportunities so they can reengage borrowers with eligible refinance options at the right time. Available to Optimal Blue PPE users, Capture for Originators dramatically reduces the manual effort loan officers currently spend evaluating refinance potential by automatically analyzing entire portfolios each month and putting recapture opportunities directly into originators' hands.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- CaptainU, one of the leading online collegiate sports recruiting platforms, announced its relaunch as Stack Athlete on May 20, 2025. This change reflects Stack Athlete's ongoing commitment to empowering high school athletes, parents, and college coaches with the best tools to navigate the recruiting journey, now with an even stronger connection to the Stack Sports family.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender and innovator in third-party origination (TPO), announced Thursday that Tony Catanese has joined the company as regional sales manager. In this role, Catanese will lead the company's wholesale and non-delegated expansion across the East Coast, focusing on building and developing a high-performing sales team.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that Ask Obi, an AI-powered assistant designed to help mortgage lending executives extract real-time insights from across Optimal Blue's capital markets platform, is now generally available to all PPE clients. Introduced at the company's inaugural user conference in February and refined through beta testing with select clients, Ask Obi provides executives with fast answers to complex profitability questions at no additional cost.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its April 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report showing total loan lock volume rose 3.2% month-over-month (MoM) as the spring homebuying season progressed, with purchase locks up 7.5% despite ongoing economic pressures.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the general availability of Originator Assistant, a powerful addition to the Optimal Blue PPE. Leveraging generative AI, Originator Assistant eliminates human bias in the loan structuring process and helps originators identify all options for a borrower, providing more ways to help consumers realize the American dream of homeownership.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Vooglam invites you to dial back to a golden era of charm and sophistication with the Retro Eyewear Collection. Evoking the spirit of classic airwaves and vintage soundscapes, this collection harmonizes the timeless beauty of the past with today's contemporary flair. Designed for those who believe that true style never goes out of fashion, these frames are a perfect tribute to an era when every detail mattered.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close (CNC), a multi-state mortgage lender, announced today that Kim Schenck has joined its Correspondent Lending Sales team as Correspondent Manager. In her new role, Schenck will lead the expansion of the company's proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program, which plays a key role in helping more borrowers achieve homeownership.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its March 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a 24% surge in rate lock volume as early spring buyers returned to the market and homeowners jumped at the chance to refinance into lower rates. While still down 2% on a year-over-year (YoY) basis, purchase volumes were up 21% month-over-month (MoM). Rate-and-term and cash-out refinances jumped 52% and 20% MoM, respectively, together representing 25% of all lock activity.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that Senior Software Engineering Manager Shawn Chandwani, 34, has been named among HousingWire's Rising Stars. The annual list celebrates young professionals who shoulder significant leadership responsibilities and contribute to the broader industry and business landscape, establishing themselves as influential figures and leaders for tomorrow.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close (CNC), a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that Project Manager Janet Pitney has been honored with a place among the 2025 HousingWire Rising Stars. The award honors young real estate and mortgage professionals making impressive career moves while driving growth for their companies and the industry. Pitney is recognized for her outstanding leadership and innovation in technology and operations.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced a strategic alliance with Cotality™ (formerly CoreLogic®) that expands access to its mortgage origination and pricing data. Through this collaboration, Cotality will offer Optimal Blue's data to a broader audience, including hedge funds, capital markets participants, and investment firms seeking insights into the mortgage markets.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its February 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a 7% month-over-month increase in mortgage lock volume driven primarily by a surge in refinance activity. Rate-and-term refinances saw the biggest jump, rising nearly 40% as homeowners seized the opportunity to lower their monthly payments. Cash-out refinances also edged higher, while purchase lock activity remained subdued for the second consecutive month.

CEDAR PARK, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Zeteo Biomedical LLC today announced the launch of its ZTech-P CygnusMR™ and CygnusSDX™ delivery devices, designed for precise, metered-unit dosing of dry powder drugs and biologics via systemic nasal and nose-to-brain administration. These innovative needle-free delivery systems provide pharmaceutical and biotech companies with advanced solutions to accelerate the development, clinical evaluation, and commercial deployment of dry powder nasal combination products for a broad range of therapeutic applications.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- System4 Facility Services Management ("System4"), a leading company in facility management solutions that specializes in customized commercial cleaning, disinfection and repair and maintenance services announced that a new office has opened in Austin, Texas. System4 of Austin will be servicing Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its January 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, revealing a sharp rise in year-over-year (YoY) refinance activity alongside a drop in purchase lock counts. The decline in purchase lock counts marks the lowest January count since Optimal Blue began tracking this data in 2019. Meanwhile, refinance lock volume surged even though the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year ticked above 7% for the first time since May.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close (CNC), a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced its SmartBuy™ Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) program now features a 30-year, fixed-rate conventional option approved by Freddie Mac.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Machine™ Services (Mortgage Machine), an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced that it has been selected by HousingWire magazine for its annual TECH100 award, marking Mortgage Machine's first-ever inclusion on the premier list of mortgage and real estate technology providers. The magazine chose Mortgage Machine for its high efficiency, dedication to security and outstanding client growth outcomes.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Concerned Shareholders of WOW today issued the following letter to the management of WOW. To the Management and Board of Directors of WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW), We, as concerned stakeholders and shareholders are writing to formally request an update regarding the unsolicited non-binding preliminary proposal submitted on May 3, 2024

HOUSTON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- As the nation honors the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and anticipates the transition to a new administration, the importance of amplifying the voices of those impacted by policies has never been greater. Nonprofit Story Bank is stepping forward to ensure these voices-the human stories behind the policies-are neither muffled or ignored.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its December 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showcasing year-over-year (YoY) growth in mortgage activity, even as seasonal trends led to a month-over-month (MoM) decline in rate lock volumes. Overall, December mortgage lock volume was up 26% YoY, driven by an 18% increase in purchase locks, a 43% rise in cash-out refinances, and an 82% jump in rate-and-term refinances.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Machine Services (Mortgage Machine), an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced that it now offers an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered pricing engine. The pricing engine ingests and updates pricing for a lender's investors and aggregators automatically.

HOUSTON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- A troubling reality in the healthcare industry has come to light: health care insurance companies are being allowed to prioritize profits over people, causing a devastating ripple effect that results in nearly 50% of home care agencies closing their doors within five years, says Ace Compliance Consulting. As the baby boomers retire, this systemic failure threatens the very fabric of our healthcare ecosystem and leaves vulnerable populations without essential care.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Machine™ (MMS), the loan origination system of record for digital mortgage pioneer Click n' Close (formerly known as Mid America Mortgage), has achieved SOC 2® compliance.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire/ -- Optimal Blue today released its October 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, highlighting resilient purchase activity in the face of rising interest rates and affordability challenges. Despite a 65-basis-point (bps) increase in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, purchase lock volume grew by 12% month over month (MoM), signaling strong demand among homebuyers.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire/ -- Optimal Blue today announced two key executive promotions that will position the company to deliver innovation faster across the company's entire capital markets platform, and to further expand the company's network of partners. Erin Wester has been promoted to chief product officer and Mike Vough has been promoted to head of corporate strategy.

KYLE, Texas, Aug. 6, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Free school supplies will be provided by Plumber Near Me to families with children attending Camino Real School, Fuentes School, Tobias School, and Hemphill School. Plumber Near Me, who serves the Kyle and Austin area, is excited to support local families and students as they head back to school this year.

PLANO, Texas, July 23, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced the delivery of generative AI capabilities centered on helping lenders maximize profitability on every loan transaction. Through direct engagement with its thousands of clients, the company has begun delivering generative AI capabilities built for secondary-market-specific use cases and purposefully designed to solve the real-world challenges that mortgage lenders face.

ADDISON, Texas, July 11, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels, today announced Kara Lamphere has been named a Mortgage Star in Mortgage Women Magazine's annual awards program.

PLANO, Texas, July 10, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its June 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a stagnant late-spring housing market as home prices dropped for the first time in 2024 and purchase lock counts fell 8% over the previous year. All mortgage lock figures in this news release have been controlled for fewer market days in June.

PLANO, Texas, June 25, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue announced the release of Competitive Data License, a collection of key national mortgage pricing data that enables lenders to price products competitively, operate more profitably, and react swiftly to changing market conditions. Competitive Data License draws upon direct-source loan data from the Optimal Blue PPE, which is used to price and lock over 35% of loans in the United States.

AUSTIN, Texas, June 19, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- A local Austin man, Woody Shea, stood at the pinnacle of his career as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a multinational corporation. A leader, innovator, and problem-solver, his days were filled with high-stakes decisions and groundbreaking technology. But in 2019, life took an unexpected turn, leading him to release a book of poetry, "Concrete Dreams" (ISBN: 979-8328164092).

PLANO, Texas, June 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its May 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a 25.6% month-over-month (MoM) spike in rate-and-term mortgage refinances. The spike was a response to a modest drop in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, which ended the month at 7.02%.

PLANO, Texas, June 10, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today announced the appointment of Joe Tyrrell as CEO. Tyrrell succeeds interim CEO Scott Smith of Optimal Blue's parent company, Constellation Software Inc. Tyrrell brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage, finance, and technology industries to Optimal Blue.

ADDISON, Texas, June 4, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that it will be honored with a top lender award at the United States Department of Agriculture's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program ceremony. This recognition underscores Click n' Close's commitment to fostering homeownership and supporting community development through innovative loan programs.

PLANO, Texas, May 16, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions.