We’re pleased to share that our Chief eServices Executive, Brian D. Pannell, has been named one of HousingWire’s Tech Trendsetters for 2025—the second time he has received this award. This rare distinction highlights his sustained leadership in transforming digital mortgage closings from concept to reality. 

"Our goal has always been to make digital closings practical, not theoretical," Brian says. "When lenders can close in minutes instead of hours and cut hundreds of dollars in costs per loan, that's when technology truly delivers value."During his tenure, DocMagic has achieved breakthrough results: 

• 15-minute closings that were once impossible 

• Over $400 in savings per loan compared to traditional processes 
• The industry's first eHELOC registration with MERS® 
• eVaulting technology securing the majority of eNotes in circulation 

Brian's 18 years at Fannie Mae gave him deep insight into mortgage industry challenges. Since joining DocMagic in 2014, he's brought that expertise to bear on ensuring digital transformation actually works in the real world. Beyond technology development, Brian helps to shape industry standards through active leadership in MISMO, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the Electronic Signature and Records Association. 

 As HousingWire's Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler noted, "These leaders aren't just keeping up with technology, they're setting the pace. Their work makes the housing industry smarter, faster, and more connected." 

DocMagic's clients have generated tens of millions in cumulative cost savings, representing a fundamental shift in how mortgage lending operates. Brian's second Tech Trendsetter award acknowledges a decade of consistent contribution to that transformation. 

Congratulations to all of the 2025 HousingWire Tech Trendsetters. See the complete list at https://www.housingwire.com/articles/introducing-the-2025-housingwire-tech-trendsetters/

When people hear the word ‘patent,’ they often think of dense legal documents. But patents also tell a story about innovation. They show where an industry is headed and who is helping to move it forward. 

DocMagic^®’s two recent U.S. patents highlight our role in shaping the future of digital mortgages: one where closings are faster, easier, and truly paper-free. 

Turning static PDFs into e-ready files 

Mortgage closings have historically relied on stacks of paper. Even as the industry moved toward digital, third-party documents like title forms or state-specific disclosures often arrived as static PDFs. Before they could be used in an electronic closing, someone had to comb through each page, mark signature spots, and ensure everything lined up. It was tedious, error-prone work that slowed the entire transaction. 

That’s where our innovations come in. 

The first patent protects our method of determining similar loan documents. This technology can look at a document it has never seen before, compare it to patterns from thousands of prior documents, and instantly recognize what it is. 

The second patent covers enabling electronic loan documents. In practice, this means automatically tagging those documents with all the right signature, initial, and notary fields so they’re ready to be signed electronically. 

Together, these patents describe a way to take any third-party PDF—no matter the source—and transform it into a fully digital, e-ready document. 

Patented tech in action with AutoPrep 

One of the best places to see these inventions at work is our AutoPrep™ solution for preparing documents for eClosing. 

Here’s what happens when a lender or settlement agent uploads a PDF into AutoPrep. 

First, AutoPrep uses a combination of artificial intelligence, optical character recognition (OCR), and patented technologies to read the document like a human would, only faster. It recognizes text, layout, and patterns that reveal what type of document it is. 

Within seconds, AutoPrep pinpoints every signature line, initial box, and notary stamp area. The system then assigns those spots to the correct party (such as borrower, co-borrower, lender, or notary) so that when the document opens in an eClosing platform, everything is ready for electronic execution. 

Users get a quick review screen showing all identified fields. If needed, they can drag-and-drop extra tags or move them around with a simple editor. Once approved, the document is instantly e-enabled for signing in DocMagic’s Total eClose™ platform. 

What used to take hours now happens in seconds. 

Shaping the future of closings 

Speed is only part of the story. By automatically classifying and tagging documents, DocMagic reduces human error, strengthens security, and ensures compliance. Every signature and notary field is accounted for, creating a clean audit trail. 

It also levels the playing field. Whether you’re a top-10 lender or a boutique shop, you don’t need armies of staff to prep documents for digital closings. The technology does the heavy lifting, freeing teams to focus on serving borrowers. 

For borrowers, it means a closing experience that feels modern. No flipping through 200-page packets, no missed signatures, no last-minute printing. Just a straightforward digital signing process that matches the way people expect to transact today. 

DocMagic’s patented methods are already powering digital closings today, and their impact extends far beyond AutoPrep. These core technologies can be applied across workflows, platforms, and even industries outside of mortgage lending. 

The bottom line: our patents aren’t just pieces of paper. They’re proof that the future of mortgage closings is here, and that it’s faster, smarter, and fully digital. 

The California Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA) recently reached out to our CEO, Pat Theodora, to discuss the current state of mortgage technology and how lenders are adopting digital solutions across the industry. With CMBA’s permission, we’re pleased to share Pat’s insights with you here. 

CMBA: How are forward-thinking lenders leveraging digital mortgage technology now to increase cost savings and lock in operational efficiencies that will position them for success when volume rebounds?  

Smart lenders understand that the current market environment presents a unique opportunity to invest in their operational foundation while they have the bandwidth to implement meaningful change. Lenders who adopt DocMagic's eClosing and eNote technologies are building critical competitive advantages for the next cycle. 

With DocMagic's seamless digital systems, lenders will experience savings of $400-500 per loan while achieving efficiency gains throughout the entire loan lifecycle. When you eliminate manual data entry, reduce touch points, and automate compliance checks, you're not just saving time on individual tasks -- you're fundamentally changing your operational capacity. This means lenders can handle significantly more volume with the same staffing levels. In today's margin-compressed environment, that operational leverage combined with the substantial per-loan savings is often the difference between profitability and struggle, while also positioning lenders to scale efficiently when purchase volume returns. 

CMBA: Many lenders seem hesitant to adopt digital mortgage technology thinking it's too complex or will take too long to implement. What's the reality of getting started with digital closing technology?  

Modern mortgage technology implementation is far simpler and faster than many lenders expect -- what used to take months now takes weeks or even days and can often be accomplished with cloud-based solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing tech stacks. 

We've designed DocMagic's implementation process specifically for the mortgage industry's operational realities. Our team handles the heavy lifting on system integration, data mapping, and compliance configuration. With DocMagic, lenders can also choose to simultaneously do digital closings on some loans and not on others—providing flexibility to customize their approach based on borrower preferences, loan types, or business requirements. Lenders get enterprise-level capabilities without enterprise-level complexity while maintaining full control over their closing process. We're seeing organizations across the spectrum successfully implementing digital workflows that deliver immediate operational benefits. The barrier to entry has essentially disappeared, and the competitive advantage has never been higher. 

CMBA: HELOCs are experiencing unprecedented demand as homeowners tap into record equity levels. How are lenders using digital solutions like eHELOCs to capture market share?  

Lenders who've invested in modern eHELOC technology are gaining significant market advantages. This isn't just about digitizing existing processes; forward-thinking lenders are offering a completely reimagined HELOC experience while maintaining the personal touch that borrowers value. 

DocMagic has integrated our digital HELOC technology with the MERS® eREGISTRY. This makes our completely paperless eHELOC process particularly strategic because it future proofs these transactions for the secondary market while dramatically reducing administrative burden. Lenders and credit unions using advanced eHELOC platforms report significantly faster closing times compared to traditional paper processes, and the borrower experience is significantly improved with electronic signatures, and real-time status updates. For lenders looking to diversify their revenue streams beyond purchase and refinance, this represents an opportunity to capture market share in a product category that is expected to grow significantly through 2025 and beyond. 

See what’s possible with DocMagic 

DocMagic delivers everything you need—from eDisclosures to eNotes, eVaulting, and eNotarization—to seamlessly complete any type of eClosing, all from a single trusted provider. Schedule a meeting to see how we can help you achieve your digital mortgage goals.