ServiceLink’s fastest home equity solution can get borrowers to the closing table as soon as the same day they apply.

Today, a potential customer can walk into a car dealership, choose a vehicle, fill out a loan application, get approval, take the keys and drive away with a $100,000 automobile — all within a few hours. Why does this same individual have to wait 20, 30, even 40 days to tap into the equity in a home they’ve lived in for 10 years?

The short answer is that they don’t — or shouldn’t — have to. With the technologies and tools available to lenders today, there’s no good reason for long cycle times. Some fintechs have turned this reality into growing market share, and now other forward-looking lenders are embracing technology with the same fervor. Dissatisfied with the 42-day average turn time for home equity transactions, these lenders are finding they can fast-track their home equity origination processes to elevate the borrower experience while increasing profitability and mitigating risk.  

“In this economic environment, where personal finances are tight, borrowers want quick access to cash. Speed is a critical component in competing for that borrower's business because now, more than ever before, they have choices,” said Dave Howard, executive vice president, origination services, ServiceLink. “If you have a relationship with a borrower and you're unable to meet their expectations, you don’t just risk losing a home equity loan or line of credit; you risk losing the entire relationship.”

Pull-through rates are clearly at stake, as evidenced by findings from the Curinos Home Equity Originations LendersBenchmark that found that the states with the longest cycle times also tend to have the lowest pull-through rates. Not only that: Curinos also found that borrowers who close within two weeks are twice as likely to take a draw at closing (42%) as those who close in 31 to 60 days (18%). In short, speed matters — especially at this moment in time, when homeowners are sitting on a combined $34.9 trillion in equity.  

ServiceLink CloseNow gets lenders up to speed

While ServiceLink has long provided tools to help lenders accelerate the home equity origination process, the company’s latest solution, ServiceLink CloseNow, empowers lenders to close as quickly as they and their borrowers desire.  

Barry Coffin, managing director, origination title and close, ServiceLink, explained, “Our CloseNow solution provides lenders with instant property information to inform their underwriting decisions and technology to instantly schedule an eClosing or in-person closing, as well as an appraisal, if needed. Cycle times can be compressed to five days or less, in some cases enabling closing on the same day as application.”

Reap the benefits of accelerated title processes, including instant property data. Upon a lender’s request and API call, ServiceLink can instantly deliver 100+ fields of property information, including tax, mortgage and deed information, legal and vesting details and involuntary lien data. The client then receives a property report within four hours, which provides more details. If required, ServiceLink can provide insured title products within hours as well, including MHELP (TitleStat!), ALTA Jr. and full ALTA. Armed with the instant property information, the lender can make a quick decision: Should the application be fast-tracked to closing or simply advanced to the next phase of origination?  

“The difference between the information ServiceLink shares and that of other service providers lies in its quality and breadth,” Howard explained. “As part of the Fidelity family of companies, we have access to many data sources — our own plus external sources where we have direct relationships — so lenders can be confident they are basing their decisions on the best available information. We provide property reports that align with lender or investor compliance guidelines and deliver them faster than any other provider.”

Set the closing time and date immediately. When ServiceLink polled homeowners for the 2026 ServiceLink State of Homebuying Report, 87% said they are more likely to select a lender with a digital scheduling solution. ServiceLink provides that lender capability with EXOS® Close, a workflow that enables the loan officer or borrower to schedule the closing instantly, which, in the case of applications that are fast-tracked and eligible for eClosing, may mean a same-day closing. (ServiceLink also offers closings on demand for borrowers who choose remote online notarization, or RON.) Lenders can schedule the closing appointment immediately after receiving instant property information, so the borrower knows when they can expect to close early in the process.

EXOS Close provides direct access to the calendars of ServiceLink’s national signing agent panel so the loan officer, processor or borrower can select the type of closing they prefer (given state and county eligibility requirements and lender parameters), as well as the signing date, time and location. (In practice, nearly 100% of borrowers select the first available date to close.) Then both borrower and lender receive electronic confirmation, reminders and other updates to ensure transparency throughout the process. If a borrower desires more flexibility, they can simply select a closing date of their choice and join a ServiceLink signing agent in an eClosing platform at any time on that day.  

Order required valuation products. ServiceLink offers a cascade of valuation solutions ranging from automated valuation models (AVMs) to full appraisals, delivered with industry-leading turn times; desktop valuations, for example, are delivered in 2 days or less. If an interior or exterior appraisal is required, EXOS® Valuations enables instant scheduling of the property inspection to accelerate turn times.

Close fast. Whether a fully digital eClosing, a traditional in-person wet signing, in-person electronic notarization or a hybrid closing, ServiceLink prioritizes quality and speed. “Importantly, we directly manage our own closing panel of signing agents and attorneys, because we recognize that closing is an opportunity for the lender to make a lasting impression on the borrower,” Howard said. “We match the most highly rated signing agents available at the time and location of the borrower’s choice to ensure we always deliver the best experience.”

ServiceLink supports lenders every step of the way

Getting up and running with ServiceLink CloseNow, as with any of ServiceLink’s home equity solutions, is easy as the ServiceLink team supports lenders in changing their workflows, not their tech stacks. “We are committed to working with lenders to help them reach their goals related to closing home equity loans and lines of credit as fast as they want to close, whether that’s within five, 10 or 15 days,” said Coffin. “We want to help them optimize their speed, efficiency and quality so they can make the most of today’s high-potential home equity market.”

Learn more about ServiceLink’s home equity solutions here.

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