Planet Home Lending [1], LLC (PHL), a national mortgage lender and servicer, has named Suzy Lindblom COO. Lindblom, who was previously EVP of National Operations, replaces the company's retiring COO, Michael Kula.
Lindblom has been with Planet Home Lending since 2017 and was the architect of an operations platform redesigned to support Planet Home Lending's entry into distributed retail.
Before joining Planet Home Lending, Lindblom helped grow some of the best-known brands in the mortgage industry, including Stearns Lending, where she was managing director, national fulfillment and operations, leading a multibillion, multichannel business. During her four decades in home lending, she also worked at MetLife Bank, Bank of America, CitiMortgage, GMAC Mortgage Corp. and Countrywide Home Loans.
"Suzy has a great deal of experience in developing process efficiencies in an organization. She finds areas for potential cost savings while keeping customer service levels and loan quality high," said Michael Dubeck, CEO and president of PHL parent Planet Financial Group. "She has perfected the role of being able to juggle those areas of business while maintaining her dedication to serving people."
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Iowa-based fintech startup LenderClose [2]has expanded its staff, adding three new employees. To meet demand from its growing client base of community lenders nationwide, LenderClose has increased its workforce by more than 15 employees in the first half of 2019.
Joining the LenderClose team in July are sales representatives Troy Allen and Kathy Bell, and software developer Caleb Salt.
“We’re building out our team to support steady growth, which continues to affirm our belief that we’re offering credit unions and community banks the best digital lending platform,” said LenderClose COO Ben Rempe. “We’re always evaluating the size and skills of our staff to maintain the best possible customer service experience, and to find new ways to enhance platform features and functionality.”
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Hubzu [3], an online real estate marketing platform, announced the launch of new mobile technology features including a mobile app and SMS notifications. These features allow Hubzu users to further engage and interact during the search and online auction phases by receiving real-time notifications regarding auction outbids, auction end times, foreclosure auction alerts, auction bid prices, and new properties.
Bids can now be placed directly through the mobile app and via SMS, a feature—providing users the flexibility they need to remain connected during an active auction.
The Hubzu marketplace features more than 3,500 active properties available for sale, and the new mobile offerings provide additional options for Hubzu users to search, learn, bid and buy through the tools that they are most comfortable using. Hubzu’s data shows that more than 50 percent of users who visit the website are doing so via a mobile device. Through mobile app push notifications and real-time SMS notifications, users can stay in the know about relevant property auctions and the latest bids.
“Hubzu is dedicated to investing in the right technology to help bring bidders and sellers together in real time,” said Patrick G. McClain, SVP, Marketplace Product for Altisource. “We have created a way for users to stay up to speed on the inventory of properties marketed on Hubzu and not feel as though they are tied to the website in order to make a bid. Convenience is key, and with the new mobile app and SMS feature, our users have the flexibility to participate in online auctions marketed on Hubzu in the manner in which works best for them.”