SMI Touts 'Cradle to Grave' Automation of Mortgage Lending Functions.(Stewart Mortgage Information)

What does it take to streamline the mortgage transaction? Attendees of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America's national technology in mortgage banking conference heard how some experts answer this question thanks to a session proposed by Houston-based Stewart Mortgage Information.

"We will be moderating a panel called streamlining the real estate transaction. Kevin Gugenheim, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will be moderating that panel," said Jan Fisher, senior vice president and director of corporate marketing for SMI, before the conference.

When asked what prompted the firm to recommend the session, she said, "The mission statement of Stewart as a company is enhancing the real estate process, so it's something that we live and breathe on a daily basis."

The panel consisted of a lender, representatives of both Fannie and Freddie, a county recorder and SMI's CTO Brian Davenport.

"We want to really look at the transaction from beginning to end," Ms. Fisher says. "What has already occurred that brings us to the world of electronic mortgage transactions and the benefits we've already seen from these changes. Then, we'll spend a little time on what still needs to be accomplished and how each player in the transaction has to work with each other to make this a reality."

Besides presenting the session, SMI hoped to accomplish some other objectives as well, according to senior vice president and director of sales and marketing Scott Jones.

"It gives us a chance to look at some of the new things that are coming out and trends that people are really buying into," he said. "It gives us a chance to bring people together and ...