Mortgage Underwriter

Description

• Review and underwrite residential mortgage loan applications for compliance with applicable Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, investor, and company guidelines.
• Analyze borrower creditworthiness, including credit history, income and employment, assets, liabilities, and other financial documentation.
• Review property and collateral documentation, including appraisals, title information, and other required documentation.
• Accurately calculate qualifying income for salaried, variable-income, self-employed, rental-income, and other borrower scenarios.
• Make independent and well-supported underwriting decisions, including approvals, suspensions, and denials.
• Issue clear, concise, and appropriate underwriting conditions and communicate the reasoning behind underwriting decisions when necessary.
• Review Automated Underwriting System findings, including Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Loan Product Advisor (LPA), and ensure all applicable requirements are satisfied.
• Maintain compliance with FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, investor, regulatory, and internal lending requirements.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with Mortgage Consultants, processors, closers, management, and other stakeholders to resolve loan-level questions and conditions.
• Identify potential risks, inconsistencies, or documentation concerns and escalate significant issues when appropriate.
• Maintain current knowledge of changing agency, investor, regulatory, and company guidelines.
• Assist with quality control, audits, post-closing reviews, investor inquiries, and loan-level documentation requests as needed.
• Manage an underwriting pipeline efficiently while meeting established turn-time and service-level expectations.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment focused on responsible lending, exceptional service, and getting loans to the closing table.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of residential mortgage underwriting experience.
• Strong working knowledge of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex income, asset, credit, and collateral documentation.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make independent, risk-based credit decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and organization.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple files, priorities, and deadlines in a production-oriented environment.
• Ability to communicate underwriting conditions and decisions clearly and professionally.
• Proficiency with mortgage loan origination and underwriting technology, including Encompass, Desktop Underwriter (DU), and Loan Product Advisor (LPA).

Preferred Qualifications

• FHA Direct Endorsement (DE) designation strongly preferred.
• VA LAPP/SAR designation preferred.
• Experience underwriting a broad mix of Conventional, FHA, and VA purchase and refinance transactions.
• Experience working in a fast-paced mortgage banking environment.

Education

•  High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, accounting, or a related field preferred.