Job Summary
The Mortgage Underwriter is responsible for reviewing residential mortgage loan files to determine whether they meet investor, agency, and company guidelines. This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate underwriting conditions clearly with loan officers and processors.
Responsibilities
- Review complete mortgage loan files for creditworthiness and compliance.
- Analyze income, assets, credit, employment, and collateral documentation.
- Evaluate borrower risk and determine loan eligibility.
- Issue initial approvals, suspense conditions, and final approvals.
- Ensure compliance with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA, and investor guidelines.
- Review appraisals and title reports.
- Calculate qualifying income and debt-to-income ratios.
- Identify red flags and potential fraud concerns.
- Communicate underwriting decisions and conditions with processors and loan officers.
- Meet service level agreements (SLAs) and productivity goals.
- Stay current on agency and investor guideline changes.
QualificationsRequired
- 3+ years of residential mortgage underwriting experience.
- Experience underwriting Conventional, FHA, and VA loans.
- Strong knowledge of AUS findings (DU, LPA).
- Ability to analyze complex income scenarios, including:
- Self-employed borrowers
- Rental income
- Variable income
- Business tax returns
- Excellent understanding of agency guidelines.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
Preferred
- DE (Direct Endorsement) Certification
- SAR/LAPP designation
- Experience with Non-QM and DSCR loans
- Experience with Encompass, Arive, Byte, or similar LOS
- Bachelor's degree (preferred but not required)
Performance Expectations
- Meet underwriting turn times.
- Maintain high quality and low defect rates.
- Provide clear, concise underwriting conditions.
- Work collaboratively with loan officers and processors.
- Maintain compliance with all federal and state lending regulations.
Compensation
- Competitive base salary (DOE)
- Performance bonus opportunities
- Paid time off
- Health, dental, and vision benefits (if applicable)
- Remote work flexibility
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a decisive, detail-oriented underwriter who can balance risk management with excellent customer service. You are comfortable reviewing complex loan scenarios, communicating with production staff, and making timely, well-supported underwriting decisions.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Non-QM underwriting
- DSCR loan experience
- Bank Statement loan experience
- Foreign National loan experience
- Jumbo loan underwriting
- Condo project review
- Fraud detection
- TRID and RESPA compliance knowledge
- Experience with investor overlays
This description is suitable if you're hiring an in-house underwriter. If you're looking for an underwriter specifically for DSCR, Fix & Flip, and business-purpose loans, I can also create a version tailored to private lending and investment property underwriting.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $30,000.00 - $35,000.00 per month
Work Location: Remote
