SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Zaio Inc., here has recently added several new clients to its stable, affording them access to some 10,000 appraisers nationwide that provide a full range of real estate valuation and appraisal services to nearly 500 lenders. MariSol FCU in Phoenix will use Zaio for traditional appraisal-related services.

Making use of Internet technology as much as possible helps lower costs associated with the home buying process, said Zaio, and helps to position smaller institutions on a par with far larger ones as well.

"Clearly, the mortgage crisis is changing the way financial institutions do business," said Thomas Inserra, CEO for Zaio Inc. "In addition to greater efficiency, restoring investor confidence and certainty is critically important to the future of the industry. Zaio offers new technology and appraiser verified data held in a secure database helping to ensure appraiser independence in the mortgage lending process."