Autopilot Update: More Control Over Borrower Requests and Expanded Review Checks

Pre-underwriting works best when it fits the way each lender already runs its pipeline. Lenders decide when a file stops taking new document requests, which requests belong to the loan officer, and how many times a borrower should be asked for the same thing. And the more a file is checked before it reaches underwriting, the fewer surprises the underwriter finds.

This week’s updates build on both. Autopilot gives lenders more control over borrower requests and leaves follow-up on lender-created requests to the loan officer instead of asking the borrower again. Autopilot also expands its review of cash to close, bankruptcy and foreclosure waiting periods, and hourly income.

In beta: Autopilot honors milestone rules before creating borrower requests

Lenders can use milestone rules to pause new document requests at stages they choose. Autopilot now checks those rules before it creates each request. Requests covered by a rule aren’t sent to the borrower or added to the loan officer’s suggestions. Any exceptions the lender has configured still apply.

Autopilot checks the loan’s current milestone each time it reviews the loan, so a rule takes effect at the first review after the milestone changes.

For example, say a loan reaches clear to close, where the lender has paused new requests. If the borrower later uploads another document, Autopilot reviews it but holds back any new requests covered by the rule. This feature is in beta. To enable it, contact your Blend account team.

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Fewer repeat borrower requests, with follow-up left to the lender

Autopilot leaves follow-ups to the loan officer when an upload doesn’t satisfy a request the lender created. For example, if a loan officer requests a signed gift letter and the borrower uploads an unsigned copy, Autopilot leaves the upload for the loan officer to review and follow up on. Navigator won’t resend requests the lender removed.

When a borrower uploads the wrong document, Autopilot asks again once by default, then hands the request to the loan team. Lenders can change how many times Autopilot re-asks, or turn re-asks off, by contacting their Blend account team.

Together, these changes reduce repeat asks while keeping lenders in control of their own requests.

Expanded checks before underwriting

Cash to close 

Autopilot now identifies money due from the borrower and money due to the borrower on a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure. When the borrower needs to bring money to closing, Autopilot looks for documentation of the source of funds, including funds for the down payment, closing costs, and reserves, and flags potentially missing documentation for the loan officer.

For example, if a refinance Closing Disclosure shows money due to the borrower, Autopilot doesn’t look for sourced funds. On a purchase where the borrower needs to bring money to closing, it looks for documentation of the required funds.

Bankruptcy and foreclosure 

When a borrower reports a bankruptcy or foreclosure within the past seven years, Autopilot compares the time since the event with the waiting period that applies to the loan program or is configured by the lender, and flags the result for review. It reviews bankruptcies and foreclosures separately because they require different documents. Eligibility decisions, including exceptions, remain with the underwriter.

Hourly income 

On verifications of employment (VOEs) that list pay rate and hours together, Autopilot can now extract the hourly rate and include it in its income calculation for the loan officer or underwriter to review.

These checks help surface items before the file reaches underwriting. Findings remain subject to review by the loan officer or underwriter.

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To get started with Blend Autopilot, contact your Blend account team.

For more updates across Autopilot and Navigator, visit our changelog, updated weekly.