Innovation in Motion: How LERETA Is Powering What’s Next in Servicing
In this quarter’s newsletter, explore FEMA’s latest flood insurance updates, meet our new Chief Transformation Officer Suzanne Powell, and dive into the latest data on rising property taxes. You’ll also hear from CEO Katie Brewer, see how our Sagent partnership is advancing mortgage servicing, and get to know spotlight employee Lisa Youngblood. Let’s dive in.
New Tools, New Rules: How FEMA is Making Flood Insurance Easier for Homeowners
FEMA is simplifying flood insurance with a new quoting tool and monthly payment options—changes that promise fewer lapses, better borrower experiences, and smoother servicing. LERETA breaks down what it means for the industry and why these updates are more than just consumer-friendly—they’re a win for compliance, too.
Katie Brewer Progress in Lending Feature
In her first feature as CEO, Katie Brewer sat down with Progress in Lending to share her vision for LERETA’s future—from elevating borrower experiences to advancing smarter tech adoption and expanding market reach. With deep industry expertise and a strong operational lens, Katie is focused on helping servicers simplify complexity and stay a step ahead.
LERETA + Sagent: Partnering to Modernize Mortgage Servicing
LERETA and Sagent have officially joined forces to bring smarter tax and flood capabilities to the forefront of mortgage servicing. Through this integration, servicers on Sagent’s platform gain automated access to real-time tax and flood data—minimizing risk, reducing costs, and better protecting homeowners.
“Sagent and LERETA’s partnership will streamline workflows, reduce costs and diminish risks, allowing servicers to focus on delivering superior homeowner experiences.”
— Perry Hilzendeger, EVP of Strategic Growth at Sagent
Employee Spotlight: Lisa Youngblood
This month, we’re spotlighting Lisa Youngblood, Vice President, Tax Payment Manager, who joined LERETA in December 2024!
Lisa values LERETA’s strong culture of collaboration and its dedication to continuous improvement, which inspires her to contribute to meaningful change every day. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three children—Miles, Kennedy, and Madison. Lisa is also pursuing a doctoral degree in Business Administration, balancing family, work, and studies with inspiring energy.
Executive Corner: Welcome Suzanne Powell!
We’re excited to welcome Suzanne Powell as LERETA’s new Chief Transformation Officer. With nearly 30 years of experience in financial services, tech, and consulting, Suzanne brings deep expertise in innovation, AI, and operational strategy. In her new role, she’ll focus on identifying process improvements and leveraging technologies like GenAI and robotic process automation (RPA) to accelerate LERETA’s digital transformation and long-term growth.
Industry Trends: Rising Property Taxes and the Impact on Housing Affordability
Rising property taxes have increasingly challenged American homeowners’ budgets, with 66% reporting bills higher than expected and 74% worried about future hikes. Nationwide, property taxes rose nearly 30% from 2019 to 2024, driven by soaring home values, natural disasters, and changing local tax rates.
As housing affordability tightens, many homeowners face growing financial strain, compounded by rising insurance premiums and HOA fees. Despite nearly half suspecting their home assessments may be inaccurate, only a fraction take steps to appeal their taxes.
To dive deeper into these trends and their implications for the U.S. housing market, read the full article here via Newsweek.
LERETA’s expertise in tax and flood services equips mortgage servicers and homeowners with critical insights to better manage risk and costs in this evolving market.