Using MERS® Link:

Searching for Property Preservation Contacts

As of 3/09

A growing problem…

• Due to high foreclosure rates, preservation of vacant properties has become an issue for many municipalities

• Unmaintained vacant properties:

– Reduce the value of surrounding homes

– Increase crime rates

– Impact already scarce resources of local governments.

• MERS is an existing, cost effective alternative to jurisdictions building proprietary vacant property databases for property preservation contact information.

What is MERS?

• MERS is the real estate finance utility created to streamline the mortgage process by using electronic commerce to eliminate paper

• First task was to track the ownership of loans throughout the industry

• Today we have over 60 million loans on the MERS® System and over 2,500 lenders using our services

• We have recently enhanced the system to store property preservation contact information

How do we do it?

• Every loan on the MERS® System is assigned a unique 18-digit number called a MIN (Mortgage Identification Number).

• Every member of MERS is assigned unique 7-digit Org ID.

• The loan record on the MERS® System ties the MIN to borrower, property and loan servicer information.

• Our recent enhancement enables loan servicers to cost effectively provide property preservation contacts to local jurisdictions.

Free For Government

• Free access to any government entity

– Application is required

• No membership fees

• No training fees

• Access through MERS® Link:https://www.mersonline.org/merslink/security/logonframe.htm

Let’sLet’sSearch!Search!

www.mersinc.org

MERS® Link

MERS® Link – Home Page

MERS® Link Search Screen

Modify Your Search

Vendor Contact

Contact Details

PPC Org ID Missing

Servicer PPC Contact

Can’t find the loan?

• Use wildcards

• Call the MERS Help Desk for help:helpdesk@mersinc.org, or 888-680-6377

Access to MERS® Link

• www.mersinc.org

• Click MERS Link tab

• Click Forms, then Subscription Request Form

• Then follow the steps as the system prompts you

• In the payment section write “Government”

To print presentation

• This presentation is available at www.mersinc.org. Click “Downloads” then “Presentations”

Questions?

Contact Kate Bonthius, Business Integration Manager or the MERS Customer Group at 800.646.MERS (6377) or www.mersinc.org

HHII

Western RegionWestern Region,,Bob Pathman, 818-932-9800bobp@mersinc.org

Central RegionCentral Region, , Mark Roberge, 630-377-1666markr@mersinc.org

Southeast RegionSoutheast Region, , Ron Crowe, 205-477-5643ronc@mersinc.org

Northern RegionNorthern RegionLaurinda Clemente978-455-7372laurindac@mersinc.org