ICE Mortgage Technology will be sunsetting the legacy of its flagship Encompass platform on Oct. 31, 2025, which will modernize the real estate market even if some sellers have to kick and scream.
In an email to partners on Tuesday, ICE said it will shut down the Encompass SDK (Software Development Kit) on the same day it shuts down the Technology Partner Network, Total Quality Loan Services, PSDK and ePass.
In doing so, ICE is pushing companies into the Encopass Partner Network and Encopass Development Partner Connect, which use a highly secure, cloud-based open application programming interface (API) framework launched in 2021.
“We had nearly 400 million calls last week to Developer Connect, and that represents our traffic from lenders and partners, and 80 million webhook notifications,” said Amy Cross, API platform director for ICE , he told. HousingWire. “So, we’re seeing steady and significant growth, and it’s the platform we’ve invested in ourselves.”
Cross said that from a lender’s perspective, it will give them an opportunity to assess their dealer technology stack and start solving problems. ICE has been conducting trend analysis of how lenders are using both the SDK and API. Its major SDK user has reduced its dependencies by about 50%, Cross said, and has also reduced the number of plug-ins from more than 100 to less than 60.
Cross noted that it is “not realistic” to expect all vendors in the SDK to meet the Oct. 1 deadline. 31, 2025. ICE hosts webinars and offers a variety of resources to enable lenders and sellers to become fully API-based. Those who do not meet the deadline can still use the SDK with extended access, although they will be charged a fee.
Rumors that ICE will sunset the SDK have been circulating for years, but ICE said that no seller or lender should be caught off guard by this announcement.
By moving fully to API platforms, lenders should benefit from improved speed, better security and less friction with merchants, said Matthew VanFossen, who runs. Absolute Home Mortgage Corp. again Mortgage Automation Technologies (not based on SDK).
“It’s a modern integration solution, and what we do more than anything is standardize how over 400 third-party vendors talk to the system,” VanFossen said. “And by moving all sellers to this, it will speed up the lenders’ platform, so this is a good thing for lenders.”
VanFossen noted that this presents a risk to other legacy technology vendors who haven’t invested, meaning they’ve rolled the dice and bet that ICE won’t eclipse the SDK.
“Lenders will be checking their technology stack and sending messages to their vendors saying, ‘Is there any part of your code in the SDK? ‘ and ‘Please keep us updated if that’s the case so we know.’” he said.
“They can find their vendors in the records – there are contracts here. Lenders should know if any of the components that make their production process work are at any risk. Their vendor management policies should cover this. “
Already integrated vendors will have an edge, VanFossen argued, as they can dedicate resources to fulfilling lenders’ requests, while legacy competitors will have to spend more time and money migrating to the API.
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