Beyond the band-aid fix: How Mortgage Cadence Essentials redefines LOS
With decades of mortgage industry experience, Cindy Borden knows the challenges lenders face with outdated technology. Now, as Mortgage Cadence unveils MCP Essentials, she explains how this next-generation platform delivers a fully integrated, modern loan origination experience. Learn how Mortgage Cadence Essentials sets itself apart from traditional systems, enhances compliance, and streamlines operations — all while ensuring lenders have a secure, single source of truth.
Bringing lender experience to Mortgage Tech
Borden’s experience in the mortgage industry spans both lending and technology, giving her a unique perspective on how mortgage origination technology should evolve.
“I’ve sat where our clients sit,” Borden said. “I understand their challenges, their opportunities, and their need to do more, better, and faster. One of the biggest things I’ve seen is the demand for configurable and flexible loan origination systems (LOS) — and that’s exactly what we’re delivering with MCP Essentials.”
What is MCP Essentials?
MCP Essentials is not a new platform — it’s a new offering built on the existing Mortgage Cadence Platform (MCP), which launched in 2021.
“We’ve originated hundreds of thousands of compliant loans on MCP since its launch,” Borden said. “But by expanding the platform with Essentials, we’re offering pre-configured workflows while maintaining the flexibility and customization lenders need to be successful.”
How MCP Essentials stands apart
“What makes MCP Essentials different is that it is truly an end-to-end solution,” Borden explained. “It includes a modern point of sale, an embedded document preparation solution, and document management — all in one database.”
Another feature is its UI Designer. “With MCP Essentials, lenders can customize their workflow without breaking the system,” Borden said. “We deliver it with over 1,500 customizable data fields that can be mapped into doc prep solutions at no extra cost. That kind of flexibility is a game-changer.”
Leading with an API-first approach
One of Mortgage Cadence’s biggest priorities is avoiding temporary “band-aid” fixes that require lenders to constantly adjust their systems.
“We don’t believe in patching problems,” Borden said. “By taking an API-first approach, we ensure that lenders can integrate with major platforms like Optimal Blue and various point-of-sale systems without friction. This means they get a robust, modern solution while keeping a single, reliable source of data.”
Having one source of truth is critical, especially for compliance. “It doesn’t do any good to originate a loan if it’s not compliant,” Borden noted. “With Essentials, lenders don’t have to compromise between compliance and efficiency.”
Automation: Increasing productivity
MCP Essentials is also designed to help lenders scale without over-hiring.
“Routine tasks—like ordering a credit report or a flood zone determination—can now be automated,” Borden said. “If the returned data meets certain criteria, no user intervention is required. This allows underwriters to focus on exceptions rather than routine tasks, leading to greater efficiency.”
MCP Essentials is geared for lenders to handle more loans with fewer personnel, reducing the cyclical hiring-and-firing trend in mortgage lending.
Scalability in a changing market
With market volatility being a constant concern, Mortgage Cadence designed MCP Essentials to be scalable in both high and low-rate environments.
“Nobody knows exactly what the market will do next,” Borden said. “But what we do know is that lenders need the ability to scale up when rates drop and volume increases—without massive hiring spikes. Essentials allows them to do more, better, faster, and with fewer resources.”
What’s next for Mortgage Cadence?
Mortgage Cadence sees MCP Essentials as a key part of its future.
“This solution brings enterprise-level capabilities to lenders without the administrative burden and cost of traditional enterprise systems,” Borden said. “We believe Essentials will be revolutionary in the market, giving lenders the tools to originate loans efficiently, productively, and flexibly.”
As the industry moves forward, Mortgage Cadence is focused on helping lenders grow.
“No lender wants to go through boom-and-bust cycles of hiring and layoffs,” Borden said. “With MCP Essentials, they can fully maximize their system’s potential using automation and AI. That’s a win-win for everyone.”
Final thoughts
With a focus on flexibility, automation, and scalability, Mortgage Cadence’s MCP Essentials is designed to help lenders close loans more efficiently and productively — no matter how the market shifts.
“Lenders need technology that works with them, not against them,” Borden said. “MCP Essentials gives them the tools to succeed now and in the future.”
