POSITION PURPOSE
The Senior Real Estate Loan Processor leads the end-to-end processing of complex residential mortgage and home equity loan transactions, including purchase (builder and resale) and refinance loans. This role serves as a central point of coordination between borrowers, loan originators, underwriters, title/escrow partners, and other stakeholders to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant loan origination.
The Senior Processor delivers exceptional member experience through proactive communication, meticulous file management, and expert-level knowledge of lending guidelines and documentation. This position also serves as a resource and mentor to less experienced processors, supporting team development and operational excellence.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES
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Manage a full pipeline of residential mortgage and home equity loans, including purchases and refinances, ensuring timely progression from application through closing.
- Conduct comprehensive initial and ongoing review of loan files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
- Analyze purchase contracts to determine required documentation, timelines, contingencies, and closing requirements.
- Order and track required third-party services (e.g., appraisal, title, flood certification, income transcripts, payoffs).
- Collect, review, and validate borrower documentation, including income, assets, credit, and collateral.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date loan data within the Loan Origination System (LOS), including document uploads and status tracking.
- Proactively communicate loan status and requirements to borrowers, real estate agents, and loan officers, ensuring clear expectations and transparency throughout the process.
- Prepare complete loan files for underwriting submission and manage all post-approval conditions through final clearance.
- Review underwriting findings (DU/other AUS) and update files accordingly.
- Prepare and issue revised disclosures as needed, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Identify and resolve change-of-circumstance scenarios and ensure accuracy of fees and loan terms.
- Review final loan figures with borrowers and support a seamless transition to closing and funding teams.
- Ensure all loan files meet regulatory, investor, and internal quality standards prior to closing.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on loan products, guidelines, and processing best practices.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior processors, supporting training and skill development.
- Partner with leadership to identify process improvements, enhance workflow efficiency, and promote operational excellence.
- Support pipeline reporting, pipeline management, metrics tracking and other departmental initiatives, as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:
- High school diploma or GED required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 5+ years of residential loan processing experience, including both mortgage and home equity products.
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Industry certifications (e.g., NMLS, Certified Mortgage Processor) preferred but not required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:
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Advanced knowledge of residential lending guidelines, documentation, and compliance requirements.
- Strong understanding of real estate contracts, title commitments, and closing processes.
- Experience with government loan programs (e.g., FHA, VA, USDA) strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with Automated Underwriting Systems (DU/LPA) and Loan Origination Systems. Encompass experience preferred.
- Familiarity with credit union operations and regulatory environment is a plus.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
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Exceptional attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proven ability to manage a high-volume pipeline while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organizational and multitasking skills with the ability to prioritize effectively.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a professional and service-oriented approach.
- Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory and investor guidelines.
- Collaborative team player with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
- Demonstrated leadership ability, including coaching and supporting less experienced team members.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and related technology tools.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS SUMMARY
LANGUAGE SKILLS
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Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, listening skills, and empathy).
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Expert ability to build relationships with other leaders, business partners, and stakeholders.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY
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Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.
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Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
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The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS
This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodation will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.
Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
