Mortgage Underwriter - GSE, Non-QM & Condo Credit Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Fully Remote (Florida Residents Only)

Position Summary

The Senior Mortgage Underwriter is responsible for independently underwriting complex residential mortgage loans across Agency (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac), Government, and Non-QM products.

This role requires deep expertise in GSE Selling Guides, condominium project review, investor overlays, and regulatory compliance, as well as advanced Non-QM credit analysis including bank statement, DSCR, asset depletion, and alternative documentation programs.

The ideal candidate is a disciplined credit professional and strategic problem solver who partners with Sales and Operations to structure compliant, salable loans while maintaining strong risk controls and secondary market integrity.

This Underwriter balances production efficiency with thoughtful credit judgment and regulatory precision.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Analysis & Decision Authority

• Independently review and underwrite Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, and Non-QM loan files
• Analyze complex borrower profiles including:
• Self-employed (1120, 1120S, 1065, Schedule C, K-1 analysis)
• Bank statement programs (12/24 month personal & business)
• DSCR investment properties
• Asset depletion
• P&L-only programs (where applicable)
• Multi-entity and layered income structures
• Evaluate layered risk including LTV, DTI, liquidity, credit profile, occupancy, and collateral
• Apply DU/LP findings while exercising independent credit judgment on Non-QM and manual underwrites
• Issue clear, concise, and defensible conditions

Condominium Project Review

• Conduct Full and Limited Condo Reviews in accordance with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines
• Review HOA budgets, reserve allocations, insurance coverage, litigation exposure, special assessments, and financial stability
• Evaluate project eligibility under CPM and applicable investor approval methods
• Identify structural, financial, and salability risks

Non-QM & Alternative Documentation Expertise

• Underwrite Non-QM products in accordance with investor guides and overlays
• Interpret alternative income documentation and calculate qualifying income accurately
• Assess ability-to-repay standards within Non-QM framework
• Identify and mitigate risk layering in expanded credit scenarios
• Ensure loans meet investor salability and documentation standards

Sales Collaboration & Problem Solving

• Partner proactively with Loan Originators and Processors to structure viable, compliant solutions
• Provide alternative credit structuring options within guideline boundaries
• Communicate credit decisions clearly and professionally
• Support Sales by explaining risk factors and compliance requirements
• Maintain a solution-oriented approach while upholding credit discipline

GSE & Investor Guideline Mastery

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of:
• Fannie Mae Selling Guide
• Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide
• FHA, VA, USDA guidelines
• Non-QM investor guidelines
• Research guideline nuances and apply investor overlays appropriately
• Ensure all approvals meet secondary market salability standards
• Maintain awareness of agency and investor updates

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with ATR/QM, TRID, ECOA, Fair Lending, and federal/state regulations
• Maintain defensible documentation and audit-ready files
• Minimize post-closing defects, investor suspense, and repurchase exposure

Production & Quality Standards

• Meet or exceed established production benchmarks
• Maintain strong quality control metrics
• Deliver timely and well-documented underwriting decisions

Qualifications & Requirements

• 5+ years of recent multi-state mortgage underwriting experience (10+ states preferred)
• Advanced GSE underwriting expertise required
• Proven Condo Review experience (Full & Limited Reviews required)
• Minimum 2+ years Non-QM underwriting experience preferred
• Experience across Retail, Wholesale, and/or Correspondent channels
• Advanced income calculation expertise (self-employed required)
• Strong working knowledge of ATR/QM requirements
• DE, SAR, and/or LAPP certifications preferred
• Encompass experience preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High integrity and disciplined credit judgment

Core Competencies

• Agency & Non-QM Guideline Mastery
• Advanced Income & Alternative Documentation Analysis
• Risk Layering Assessment
• Secondary Market Salability Awareness
• Solution-Oriented Decisioning
• Compliance Precision
• Audit-Defensible Documentation

Performance Expectations

• Deliver compliant, salable approvals across Agency and Non-QM products
• Partner effectively with Sales to move structured loans to closing
• Maintain strong production levels with minimal QC findings
• Reduce investor suspense and repurchase exposure

Physical Requirements

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Travel is required.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and travel between various locations.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Frequently lifts and/or moves up to 10 pounds and occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

This description outlines the basic responsibilities and requirements for the position noted. This is not a comprehensive listing of all job duties. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.