Location: Atlanta, GA
Schedule: Monday – Friday
Position Type: Temporary until further notice
Pay Rate: $37.50
We are seeking an experienced Senior Mortgage Underwriter to support a state government housing and community development program. This position is responsible for reviewing and evaluating residential mortgage loan files to determine eligibility, creditworthiness, compliance, and overall lending risk.
The Senior Mortgage Underwriter will perform comprehensive reviews of borrower financial information, loan documentation, property information, and program requirements while ensuring loans meet applicable federal, state, investor, and agency guidelines.
The ideal candidate has extensive mortgage underwriting experience, strong knowledge of residential lending guidelines, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to independently analyze complex loan files and make sound underwriting decisions.
- Perform comprehensive underwriting reviews of residential mortgage loan applications and supporting documentation.
- Analyze borrower income, employment, assets, liabilities, credit history, debt-to-income ratios, and other financial information to determine loan eligibility.
- Review loan files for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established underwriting and program guidelines.
- Evaluate credit reports, income documentation, bank statements, tax returns, appraisals, title documentation, and other supporting materials.
- Determine whether applicants meet applicable loan program and eligibility requirements.
- Approve, suspend, condition, or recommend denial of loan files based on underwriting findings and established guidelines.
- Identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially problematic documentation and communicate conditions necessary for loan approval.
- Review documentation submitted to satisfy underwriting conditions and determine whether requirements have been met.
- Ensure underwriting decisions comply with applicable federal and state regulations, fair lending requirements, internal policies, and program guidelines.
- Maintain accurate and thorough documentation supporting underwriting decisions.
- Work closely with loan processors, lenders, closing staff, program personnel, and other stakeholders to resolve loan-level issues.
- Monitor assigned loan files to help ensure established processing and closing timelines are met.
- Research and resolve complex underwriting questions and loan eligibility issues.
- Provide guidance and technical assistance regarding underwriting requirements, documentation standards, and program policies.
- Assist with quality-control reviews and identify documentation or compliance issues that may require corrective action.
- Maintain confidentiality of borrower financial, personal, and loan information.
- Stay current on changes to mortgage lending regulations, underwriting standards, and applicable housing program requirements.
- Perform additional underwriting, administrative, and program-related duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Real Estate, or a related field and professional mortgage underwriting experience; OR
- An equivalent combination of education and significant professional experience in mortgage lending, underwriting, loan processing, or financial services.
- Several years of progressively responsible residential mortgage underwriting experience, including experience independently reviewing and making decisions on complex loan files.
- Strong knowledge of residential mortgage underwriting principles and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze credit, income, assets, liabilities, and borrower financial documentation.
- Knowledge of mortgage loan documentation and the residential loan lifecycle.
- Understanding of federal and state mortgage lending regulations and compliance requirements.
- Ability to interpret underwriting guidelines, policies, procedures, and program requirements.
- Strong analytical and risk-assessment skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage a high-volume loan pipeline while meeting established deadlines.
- Ability to identify discrepancies and resolve complex documentation issues.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Experience working with mortgage loan origination, underwriting, document management, or related financial systems.
- 3+ years of residential mortgage underwriting experience.
- Previous experience as a Senior Mortgage Underwriter or in a comparable senior-level underwriting role.
- Experience underwriting conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, or other residential mortgage products.
- Experience with affordable housing, down payment assistance, first-time homebuyer, or government-sponsored mortgage programs.
- Knowledge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac underwriting guidelines.
- Experience using automated underwriting systems such as Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Loan Product Advisor (LPA).
- Experience reviewing complex income scenarios, including self-employed borrowers.
- Previous experience in a government, public-sector, housing finance, or highly regulated lending environment.
- Experience performing quality-control or compliance reviews of mortgage loan files.
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