Ryan Peterson on bridging the gaps between title agents and lenders with Grid151
In this Instant Impact HousingWire’s Diego Sanchez speaks with Ryan Peterson, President of Grid151, to dive into the purpose and mission behind his company. “Grid151 offers fulfillment services to title agents, powered by our technology platform, GridBase,” explains Peterson. Designed as an API middleware, GridBase creates a unique bridge between title agents and mortgage lenders. This bridge is more than just a technical connection; it is “a bi-directional integration,” Ryan emphasizes, “which allows each party to remain in their preferred systems and streamline operations without the need for time-consuming handoffs or external platforms.”
How Grid151 got its name
The name Grid151 has a story as distinct as the company itself. “We wanted to incorporate the idea of a ‘grid,’ like a source of power connecting title and mortgage businesses,” Ryan says. But when it came to securing a domain and trademarks, they ran into limitations. The solution? “It was actually my wife’s idea,” Ryan reveals, explaining that the “151” is a nod to Pantone 151, the signature shade of orange he’s used across multiple business ventures. “That color’s in every logo I’ve created,” he adds, making it a meaningful, personal touch in Grid151’s branding.
From accident to enterprise
Ryan’s journey into the title industry wasn’t initially part of the plan. “I got into the title business sort of by accident,” he admits. Originally considering law school, he decided to switch to a job in title sales during a time when interest rates were notably falling. Over time, however, he realized his entrepreneurial instincts weren’t suited to a traditional role. “I found out I was not a great employee,” he laughs, “and that I had a bigger vision for the agency than the guy who actually owned it.” This led him to branch out in 2002 with his own national title agency, an endeavor that shaped his vision for what would eventually become Grid151.
Building solutions from within
Ryan stresses that Grid151’s success stems from the company’s “inside-out” approach. “The title industry is as much art as it is science,” he explains, and solving title-specific challenges effectively requires a deep understanding of its complexities. Many tech startups, he notes, enter the title space with limited knowledge, thinking they’ll disrupt it. “You get a lot of folks, especially on the tech side, where someone does one closing and thinks, ‘That was inefficient—I’m going to disrupt this industry,’” Ryan says. “But it’s a tough industry to learn. You don’t just learn how to clear title overnight.” This fundamental understanding helps Grid151 deliver what he calls “true collaboration,” which ultimately sets them apart from competitors.
GridBase: The universal API
At the heart of Grid151’s service is GridBase, which Ryan calls “the universal API for lender and title collaboration.” GridBase tackles the longstanding challenge of fragmented workflows by allowing title agents and lenders to stay within their systems—title production for agents and loan origination for lenders—without interrupting their processes. “Lenders want to stay on their LOS, and title agents want to stay in their TPS,” he explains. “Anytime they have to leave those systems, it’s a workflow and risk issue.” GridBase solves this by offering a “bi-directional integration,” which facilitates real-time data exchange between systems. This seamless connectivity, Ryan emphasizes, is about more than mere connection. “We’re not just connecting—we’re truly collaborating,” he says. “The result is improved efficiency, decreased loan cycle times, and a reduction in risks tied to email and manual exchanges.”
Serving lenders and title agents
Grid151 is specifically structured to serve two main client groups: lenders and title agents. “We have a lender-facing sales team, as well as a title agent-focused team,” Ryan explains. Each side has unique needs and preferences, and Grid151 accommodates them both by allowing each party to stay within their existing systems. Interestingly, the clients themselves help bridge the gap between these groups. “Our lender clients introduce us to title agents, and our title clients introduce us to lenders,” Ryan notes. “It’s a collaboration that benefits everyone involved.”
The managed services arm of Grid151 is fully dedicated to title agents, managing day-to-day workflows and transactions. “That’s actually how we started GridBase,” Ryan reveals. “We developed it as our in-house tech stack for our managed services agents. But the more we saw the benefits, the more we realized it could serve a wider audience.” This approach to managed services reflects Grid151’s ability to assist title agents at every level—from large national agencies to small, local teams.
Disrupting by integrating, not overhauling
Although Grid151 operates in a space crowded with companies promising disruption, Ryan is careful with the term. “We shy away from saying we’re disrupting the industry,” he says. “We’re really just solving the nuts-and-bolts integration challenges that have plagued the industry for years.” With various players in the real estate transaction—each using their own proprietary tech platforms—Grid151 focuses on connecting these silos. “Everyone’s built their own ‘system of record’ and thinks it’s the best,” Ryan says. “What we do is handle the painstaking integration work to make sure everyone can actually work together.”
Looking ahead: 2025 and beyond
In 2025, Grid151’s focus remains on expanding GridBase to reach even the smallest title agents. “We think every one of the 14,000 title agents out there is valuable, whether it’s a two-person shop or a national agency,” Ryan shares. “We don’t want a local agent who handles just a few transactions a month to miss out on what we believe is world-class technology,” he says. By focusing on true integration rather than industry overhaul, Grid151 has carved a unique position in the title space. With GridBase, they are creating the “boring but critical” connections that shorten cycle times, reduce risks, and streamline communication. “We feel really good about the work we’re doing,” Ryan says, underscoring Grid151’s commitment to enhancing workflows and simplifying real estate transactions through collaboration.
