Technology is one of the best things that has ever happened to the mortgage industry. Any industry, really. As mortgage companies consistently build and launch innovative tools and programs designed to gain momentum in market share, it’s clear that technology will continue to elevate the industry to new heights. From paperless mortgages to the increasing use of completely borrower-driven mortgage applications, the mortgage industry of tomorrow will be a night-and-day difference from the mortgage industry of today.

All the tech advancements are perfect for consumers, who have shown a strong desire for the mortgage process to be made as fast, easy, and streamlined as possible. Those kinds of advancements are great for the industry, but the fear is that it could one day put mortgage professionals on the outside looking in.

We’re living in an era where people are using the Amazon app to shop instead of driving to the mall. The concept of working with a travel agent to plan a trip is almost unheard of. And programs like TurboTax are preferred over visiting your local H&R Block office. Along those lines, could mortgage advisors similarly fall by the wayside?

No, not at all. The concepts of “working with technology” and “working with a mortgage advisor” aren’t mutually exclusive when it comes to buying a home. Even though technology is king across the industry, professional advice is what empowers clients to make informed decisions. On any given day for example, the differences in rate between lending sources could be .25 to .375 or more, costing borrowers’ tens-of-thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Tech mortgage giants like Quicken profess not to give the best rates but rather focus on convenience through their technology platform. Also, various banks offer different loan products so a future homeowner might be turned down by one bank when another would approve them readily.

This is where expertise comes in. The value of the human touch on important, high-involvement financial decisions will never wear off.

The entire loan process can be automated, but there is no substitute for the sound advice a borrower can receive from an independent mortgage advisor on the different kinds of products and pricing that various lenders can offer.

Technology and convenience aren’t just for the big guys anymore either. With tech partners like Floify and LendingPad servicing the broker channel which is growing as more people realize the value of having an advocate on their side, the option of completing the mortgage process online through a simple and secure portal is as good or better as online lenders. At any point of the process, if a borrower would feel more comfortable with the human-to-human interaction and guidance that brokers offer, they can still meet in person and complete the application online together.

Brokers are licensed gurus who singularly focus on things like rates, products, and regulations on a daily basis. They partner with lenders according to their ability to serve their clients.

If consumers think that technology empowers them to find the best loan options for their specific situation, just imagine the high quality of products and rates that could be discovered by professionals in the industry who know exactly what they’re looking for. And because brokers are given wholesale rates, there is no cost to the borrowers for the service. Even well-known consumer direct lenders have broker channels they wholesale to.

While an automated mortgage process may seem to be an attractive option for consumers, nothing about the interface tells you where to go for the best loan program or rate for you. There’s no question that borrowers can find the best deals by working with an advisor – not just because they have access to more lending options, but because they know which lenders’ pricing is best on any given day.