Mortgage Underwriter

DFCU Financial•Dearborn, MI

About The Position

The Opportunity: We are seeking a full time Mortgage Underwriter to join our team. This role is responsible for evaluating the risk of mortgage loan applications to determine creditworthiness and compliance with lending guidelines. This role involves conducting detailed risk assessments, ensuring regulatory compliance, and collaborating with loan processors and closers to facilitate timely, accurate loan decisions. What You’ll Do: Underwrite residential mortgage loan applications in compliance with company, investor, and regulatory guidelines. Maintain underwriting pipeline that meets established SLAs and productivity benchmarks. Issue loan approvals, suspensions, or denials with clear documentation and rationale. Deliver clear, well-documented underwriting decisions and conditions with written justification aligned to program guidelines. Collaborate with loan officers, assistants, processors, and closers to resolve file-level and documentation issues, ensuring loans move efficiently toward closing. Meticulously examine financial documents like tax returns, pay stubs, credit reports, and asset statements to assess borrower's ability to repay the loan. Evaluate financial risk to determine loan eligibility based on company and investor guidelines. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and investor regulations, including TRID, ECOA, RESPA, and HMDA, and stay current on industry guidelines and best practices. Maintain accurate records and update loan status in the loan origination system. Support new product rollouts by adapting underwriting criteria and workflows. Participate in quality control reviews and implement feedback to improve underwriting standards. Provide support to other areas within the department as needed or time allows to ensure operational efficiency.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
Minimum 3 years’ experience in mortgage underwriting.
Strong knowledge of conventional, FHA, VA, and state-supported loan programs.
Proficiency in loan origination systems and automated underwriting systems (AUS).
Proficient in Microsoft 365.
Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
Able to initiate and embrace change.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication, and ability to work in a team environment.
Occasional overtime may be required during peak periods.

Nice To Haves

Experience underwriting loans in Michigan and Florida markets, preferred.
Knowledge of specialized government-backed loan products, preferred.
Familiarity with investor guidelines from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA, preferred.

Responsibilities

Underwrite residential mortgage loan applications in compliance with company, investor, and regulatory guidelines.
Maintain underwriting pipeline that meets established SLAs and productivity benchmarks.
Issue loan approvals, suspensions, or denials with clear documentation and rationale.
Deliver clear, well-documented underwriting decisions and conditions with written justification aligned to program guidelines.
Collaborate with loan officers, assistants, processors, and closers to resolve file-level and documentation issues, ensuring loans move efficiently toward closing.
Meticulously examine financial documents like tax returns, pay stubs, credit reports, and asset statements to assess borrower's ability to repay the loan.
Evaluate financial risk to determine loan eligibility based on company and investor guidelines.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and investor regulations, including TRID, ECOA, RESPA, and HMDA, and stay current on industry guidelines and best practices.
Maintain accurate records and update loan status in the loan origination system.
Support new product rollouts by adapting underwriting criteria and workflows.
Participate in quality control reviews and implement feedback to improve underwriting standards.
Provide support to other areas within the department as needed or time allows to ensure operational efficiency.