RegWatch for Mortgage Lenders

Loan officers and underwriters evaluate dozens of properties per week. For each one, you need to verify that the property matches the loan application — correct building class, no open violations that affect value, clear tax status, proper zoning for the intended use.

Traditionally this means searching DOB BIS, HPD Online, ACRIS, DOF, ZoLa, and ECB separately — 30-60 minutes per property. RegWatch consolidates all of this into one search, one report in under 3 seconds.

For a loan officer processing 20 applications per month, that's 10-20 hours saved — and better risk coverage because nothing falls through the cracks.

• Open violations — DOB, HPD, and ECB violations can affect property value, insurance costs, and loan eligibility. Class 1 DOB violations or Class C HPD violations may indicate structural or safety issues.
• Tax status — Outstanding property taxes, water/sewer liens, and tax class verification. DOF balances that exceed thresholds may trigger escrow requirements or loan denial.
• Title and liens — Preliminary title check via ACRIS showing deed chain, existing mortgages, judgments, and UCC filings. Flags issues before ordering a full title search.
• Zoning and C of O — Verify that the property's zoning, building class, and Certificate of Occupancy match the loan application. A residential loan on a property with no residential C of O is a red flag.
• Permit activity — Active construction permits may indicate the property is mid-renovation. Check permit status and scope to assess risk.
• Environmental flags — Flood zone status, E-designations, brownfield sites, and Superfund proximity. Critical for FHA/VA loan compliance and insurance requirements.

RegWatch fits into every stage of the lending process:

• Pre-qualification: Quick property screen when a borrower submits an application. Flag deal-killers before investing in full underwriting.
• Underwriting: Comprehensive property profile for the loan file. Violations, tax status, zoning, and environmental data in one PDF.
• Appraisal review: Cross-reference appraiser's building description against DOB records, tax class, and C of O. Catch discrepancies early.
• Closing: Final verification that open violations have been resolved and no new liens have been filed since underwriting.
• Portfolio monitoring: Track properties in your loan portfolio for new violations, tax liens, or regulatory changes that affect collateral value.

Residential lenders use RegWatch to verify property condition, check for open violations that could affect FHA/VA eligibility, and confirm tax and lien status. HPD violations (lead paint, heat, pests) are especially relevant for 1-4 family homes and small multifamily.

Commercial lenders use RegWatch for deeper due diligence on multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial properties. DOB violations, ECB judgments, and outstanding fines directly affect property value and operating costs. Zoning verification ensures the property's use matches the loan purpose.

Both benefit from RegWatch's portfolio monitoring — set up alerts on collateral properties and get notified the day a new violation is filed or a tax lien is recorded.

RegWatch covers 9.4M+ properties across NYC (5 boroughs), New Jersey (21 counties, 565 municipalities), and Connecticut (169 towns). Whether you're underwriting a Brooklyn brownstone, a Bergen County colonial, or a Fairfield County estate, the same search works everywhere.

For NYC properties, data comes from 11+ city agencies (DOB, HPD, DOF, ECB, FDNY, DCP, and more). For NJ, we aggregate NJGIN parcels, SR-1A sales, and DCA permits. For CT, CAMA assessments and Grand List valuations.

Searching and saving properties is free, with in-app compliance alerts on every building you track. A Pro plan ($15/mo) adds email monitoring and unlimited AI chat; a one-time Full Analysis report is $15 when you need a snapshot for a loan file. For teams processing volume, Max ($100/mo) includes 100 report PDFs a month and ongoing monitoring.

Replace hours of manual research with one search. Better risk assessment, faster closings, stronger loan files.