Loan Processor & Underwriter

Job Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Loan Processor & Underwriter for a direct hire opportunity in Aliso Viejo, CA. This role is ideal for an experienced private lending, hard money, bridge, commercial, or business-purpose mortgage professional who can independently underwrite, process, and close larger, more complex real estate transactions.

This position supports high-value California real estate lending, with typical loan sizes ranging from $1.5M to $5M and an expected annual closed origination volume of approximately $150M. The ideal candidate brings strong credit judgment, disciplined file management, and the ability to move quickly without sacrificing accuracy or investor protection.

This is a senior, hands-on role in a fast-paced, relationship-driven lending environment. Candidates who thrive here are decisive, detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable working with sophisticated borrowers, brokers, ownership structures, title issues, and closing conditions. The team values responsiveness, accountability, clear communication, and practical problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

- Independently underwrite private lending transactions by analyzing borrower strength, guarantor support, liquidity, collateral, LTV/LTC, repayment ability, source and use of proceeds, and exit strategy.
- Own each file from accepted request through funding, including borrower diligence, deal structuring, documentation, appraisal, title, escrow, insurance, legal review, and closing coordination.
- Prepare concise credit analyses and recommend approval, revision, or decline with clear supporting rationale.
- Lead borrower and guarantor interviews to confirm character, experience, business purpose, use of proceeds, and transaction complexity.
- Maintain daily pipeline discipline, provide concise file updates, document all activity in the CRM, and support strong broker, borrower, and investor relationships.
- Identify and escalate material credit, collateral, title, documentation, or compliance concerns while maintaining complete files with no preventable closing errors.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $110,000 to $140,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Location: Aliso Viejo, CA.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

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We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Underwrite, process, and close complex private lending, bridge, hard money, commercial, or business-purpose mortgage transactions.
- Manage loans from accepted commitment through funding, including diligence, documentation, title, escrow, appraisal, insurance, and closing conditions.
- Deliver preliminary commitments or term sheets quickly once complete deal information and internal approval are available.
- Maintain accurate pipeline reporting, CRM documentation, broker communication, and post-closing follow-up.

- 5 to 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in private money, hard money, bridge, commercial, or business-purpose mortgage lending.
- Hands-on underwriting and closing experience with loans of $2.5M or greater.
- Strong understanding of borrower, sponsor, guarantor, collateral, liquidity, cash-flow, source and use, and exit strategy analysis.
- Ability to critically review appraisals, preliminary title reports, vesting, lien priority, exceptions, insurance, and closing documents.
- Deep knowledge of loan, credit, and entity documents, including promissory notes, deeds of trust, assignments, guaranties, escrow instructions, and related closing requirements.
- Working knowledge of income-property analysis, including NOI, DSCR, cap rates, and rent rolls.
- Experience reviewing sophisticated ownership structures such as LLCs, LPs, trusts, syndications, and multi-guarantor arrangements.
- Working knowledge of federal and California requirements for business-purpose lending, including the ability to identify and escalate consumer-purpose or compliance concerns.
- Proficiency with mortgage-industry software, CRM or pipeline systems, PDF tools, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
- Exceptional organization, written and verbal communication, judgment, accountability, and follow-through.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, real estate, accounting, business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent practical lending experience.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience closing 60 to 80 private lending or bridge loan transactions annually, depending on transaction size and complexity.
- Experience supporting annual production volumes near $150M in closed originations.
- Familiarity with ACT or similar CRM platforms.
- Experience mentoring newer processors or helping improve underwriting templates, closing procedures, and pipeline processes.
- Strong broker relationship management skills and the ability to preserve speed, accuracy, and responsiveness in a high-production lending environment.