As the mortgage industry continues to develop and transform, digital solutions pave the way for efficiency, speed and better borrower experiences. With these ongoing developments, eNotes have moved from a buzzword to a proven practice among forward-thinking mortgage lenders.

Recently, I had the opportunity to connect with leaders from several top eNote originators — Jeff Reeves, President/CTO of Canopy Mortgage, LLC; Jennifer Solis, SVP of Closing at Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group; and Teri Pansing, SVP of Corporate Closing at Fairway Independent Mortgage Company — to discuss their experiences, successes and lessons-learned from integrating digital collateral into their workflows. Here are four key takeaways from our conversation that I believe are invaluable for anyone looking to optimize their eNote strategy.

1. Building strong investor relationships is critical

Adopting eNotes isn’t just about implementing new technology — it also requires early support from investors and trading partners. “To succeed with eNotes, you need investors willing to buy them,” said Jeff Reeves. “Before 2020, it was difficult to convince aggregators to embrace eNotes, but the pandemic forced the industry to adapt.”

Teri Pansing emphasized the importance of building strong relationships and initiating strategic conversations with investors early in the process. “eNotes are a significant part of how we operate at Fairway,” she explained. “That’s why we prioritize upfront discussions with our investors — so they understand our business model, how we function, and why eNotes are a core component of our strategy.”

Jennifer Solis added that securing the best pricing from investors requires active involvement from multiple teams. “Our secondary team plays a critical role in understanding which situations we can do an eNote and who we could get the best price from. Additionally, our executive leaders have been essential in driving adoption within the sales team,” she said.

2. eClosing programs require education and intentional partnerships

Incorporating eClosing into your strategy can be challenging, with borrowers, settlement agents and even internal teams sometimes pushing back. So, what’s the key to success? Clear communication, education and ongoing support.

Teri shared that in her experience, being intentional and setting clear expectations at every stage has been instrumental in supporting smooth eClosing adoption at Fairway. To foster adoption, she advises lenders to emphasize the value of eClosing, provide transparency throughout the loan process, and highlight how this new process enhances the overall borrower experience.

Jennifer suggested that lenders go the extra mile with settlement agents by overcommunicating and offering training videos. Additionally, she recommends starting with hybrid eClosings before introducing eNotes or remote online notarization (RON). “My advice for anyone who hasn’t begun hybrid eClosings yet: Start simple. Get the hybrid process running smoothly before incorporating eNotes or RON.”

When engaging with settlement agents or borrowers, Jeff emphasized the importance of addressing concerns upfront and reinforcing the benefits. His team consistently focuses on answering the critical question: “What’s in it for them?”

3. Unlocking the benefits of remote online notarization (RON)

The rise of RON has become a key focus in discussions around eClosings and eNotes. Borrowers appreciate the convenience of eSigning their entire closing package, when and where it suits them, saving valuable time. Meanwhile, lenders reap the benefits of streamlined closing processes and more efficient post-closing operations with fully digital packages.

During the discussion, Jeff noted, with agreement from the other panelists, that if every closing could leverage RON, it would feel like Christmas every day. However, the journey to widespread RON adoption comes with challenges. Settlement agents often lack electronic notary capabilities, and lenders must determine which investors accept electronically notarized documents.

To address these hurdles, the panelists shared actionable insights, such as starting small with pilot programs and gradually scaling up adoption. This step-by-step approach helps ease the transition and build confidence in the process. RON isn’t just another component of digital mortgage innovation — it represents a significant leap toward a seamless, fully digital future.

The panelists also emphasized the importance of maintaining control over the RON process. Terri highlighted that Fairway has a dedicated RON team to facilitate their own signings, ensuring consistency and oversight. Jeff shared his reluctance to trust third parties with paper packages. Instead, he prefers to handle everything within their own system, allowing for immediate notifications when tasks are completed and ensuring that documents are auto-filed into the loan origination system (LOS). This process also simplifies signature and date verification, creating a more efficient and reliable workflow.

4. Measuring ROI goes beyond the bottom line

While cost savings are a clear advantage, the panelists emphasized that the true value of eNotes lies in enhancing efficiency and borrower satisfaction. By reducing warehouse fees and eliminating logistical hurdles like scanning physical documents, eNotes streamline the entire mortgage process from start to finish.

“It just saves so much time, effort, and money. We see tremendous value in using hybrid eClosings with an eNote,” said Jennifer. Jeff echoed the benefits of cost and time savings shared by other panelists but highlighted another critical point: customer experience. “Even if this wasn’t saving us money — and it is — the improved experience we provide to borrowers and closing partners makes it worth every penny,” he said. Teri agreed, adding, “The ability to show that it’s a better experience for everyone involved makes all the difference. And there are a lot of intrinsic value propositions that I would encourage people to continue to measure because it is a moving target.”

Ready to learn more?

As the digital mortgage landscape continues to evolve, understanding how to implement eNotes effectively is more important than ever. To dive deeper into the actionable strategies shared by these industry leaders, check out the on-demand recording of our discussion now. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear advice, experiences and real-world examples from your peers who have successfully integrated eNotes into their operations.

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