Lightning Estimates: New Features & Updates

February 2025

New Features

Compare Multiple Properties and Price Points—All at Once

If your buyer is considering an offer on more than one home, or to compare loan scenarios at different offer prices. You can now do both. Our latest feature lets you run mortgage comparisons for multiple properties and price points - in minutes.

Whether the buyer is deciding between two homes...or weighing different offer amounts—like $480,000 vs. $515,000—you can provide side-by-side loan comparisons including all the costs to close—quickly and easily.

How It Works

  • Compare Multiple Properties. Lightning Estimates already generates side-by-side comparisons for up to four loan types. NOW, it can compare costs for up to four properties. So if the borrower is torn between two or more properties, you can quickly show a complete closing picture for each property, based on different offer amounts. You'll be helping buyers decide which property to make their offer on, more quickly. (Note: All properties must be in the same state.)

  • Compare More Than One Offer Price. Your borrower has decided on the property they want, but unsure about how much to offer. They wonder what closing costs look like on offer A vs. offer B. Show them!

Run a loan comparison based on one offer price. Then instantly duplicate that comparison, change the sales price—and voila—show your borrower the two loan scenarios based on different offer amounts, up to four scenarios all on one page!

Updates

  • Custom Estimate Names: A new field, Estimate Saved Name, has been added on the final estimate screen. This name is used solely for identification in the saved estimates list and will not appear on output documents.

  • Navigating Saved Estimates: You can now view saved estimates from the past 12 months as well as filter them more easily to find just what you're looking for.

  • Loan Copying: You can now copy an existing loan instead of adding a blank one and re-entering all details. This is useful when combined with multiple properties where you want to show the same loan at different price points.

  • HOA Fees Update: HOA fees are now entered on the Details tab alongside other property information.

  • Unified Escrow Option: A new option on the Payment tab allows you to apply the same escrow details across all properties.

  • PDF Generation Tracking: On the final Estimate tab, a new Generated PDFs section displays the history all PDFs generated for an estimate. This allows you to review exactly what was created when viewing saved estimates. Note: Applies only to PDFs created as of Feb 13, 2025. Previously generated PDFs will not be included.

  • Default LTV Values: When selecting the loan type for FHA, VA, or USDA loans, the following default Loan-to-Value (LTV) values will be applied:

    • FHA: 96.5%
    • VA and USDA: 100%

  • Enhanced Warnings: Additional warnings now alert you when changes to property or loan details may affect fee calculations.

These enhancements will streamline your workflow and improve the accuracy of your mortgage loan scenarios. Enjoy the update! Questions? Email us at [email protected].