Valuations modernization and the future of lending: Sage Nichols on compliance, tools and borrower impact

Valuation modernization isn’t just a compliance checkbox; and waiting until the deadline could be costly. Allison LaForgia sits down with Sage Nichols, SVP of Collateral Solutions at Cotality, to discuss why lenders, underwriters and appraisers must embrace valuation modernization now. Nichols deep dives into UAD 3.6 and how Cotality is partnering with lenders with innovative collateral solutions that transform lenders’ and appraisers’ workflows. 

Sage breaks down how Cotality’s Collateral Investigate and Collateral Expert tools serve as a safety net, ensuring compliance, reducing risk and empowering data-driven decisions. Beyond operational efficiency, these solutions enhance the borrower experience, making approvals faster, more transparent, and consistent. This conversation explores what this modernization means for the future of lending. 

“It’s such an exciting time,” Nichols said. “There is a seismic change happening in valuation, and I think it’s setting the stage for transformation to come.”

Nichols also linked that change to the company’s new identity. “We rebranded from CoreLogic to Totality earlier this year,” she said. “The name nods to collaborate, totality, and vitality. ‘Collaborate’ is how we partner with clients; ‘totality’ is both an integrated strategy and the comprehensive nature of our property data—25,000 data sources across 155 million parcels; and ‘vitality’ reflects that properties are about communities and people.”

Framing UAD 3.6 as a foundation, Nichols added, “We view this as valuation modernization. We can reimagine the whole ecosystem—‘How is this part of the process working today? How does it need to work in the future?’—and lead our clients through what can be a transformative change for the consumer.”

Why act now? “It’s shifting from forms to data,” she said. “That seems simple, but the ecosystem is big—appraisers, LOS providers, underwriters, AMCs. It needs to be well orchestrated to be ready. We’re focused on partnering across the ecosystem so customers can confidently manage the migration.”

Asked how Totality supports lenders who feel unprepared for workflow changes, Nichols answered: “We sit in the middle of the ecosystem. Our systems are about workflow, automation, and confidence—I think of it as acceleration and confidence. With rules-driven, configurable automation, and tight partnerships with LOS and providers, lenders need a strategy and timelines, but because we’re coordinating across the ecosystem, that confidence should be there—so long as we persevere through change management.”

Nichols previewed new solutions. “We’re launching Collateral Investigate right now, in advance of UAD,” she said. “Think of it as a comprehensive rules and review system based on data orchestration. Our review tech has been foundational for years, but UAD lets us modernize how things work. We’re building on Intelligent Automation and all the data across Totality to deliver acceleration with confidence. Collateral Expert complements that guidance.”

The borrower impact is central. “At the end of the day, we’re here for homeowners,” Nichols said. “Data and automation are only great if the outcomes give confidence and clarity. Speed matters, but so do comfort and trust, because this is the biggest asset many people have.”

Totality’s research echoes that. “The biggest finding was comfort,” Nichols noted. “It’s not just speed, accuracy, or risk mitigation—it’s all of them together.”

“Early testing is critical. The technology work is one thing, but success depends on migration that’s well-orchestrated. Start UAT early, sequence across partners, and discover surprises sooner. Don’t wait for the deadline.”

Looking ahead, Nichols said the industry is “at a pivotal point. With valuation specifically—and bigger than valuation—we can ask, ‘Why are things so linear?’ Why can’t processes run in parallel? Why can’t data drive more steps?” She added, “Because we touch realtors, brokers, LOs, processors, appraisers, insurance—all centered on the property—we’re positioned to solve friction points in new ways. We want to fall in love with the problems and be the ones to solve them.”