US Mortgage Underwriter

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs - Rs (ie INR 2 - 9 LPA)
Min Experience: 4 years

Location: Chennai

JobType: full-time
We are seeking an experienced US Mortgage Underwriter to join our growing mortgage operations team. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in US mortgage underwriting , strong analytical skills, and hands-on experience evaluating residential mortgage loans in compliance with US regulatory and investor guidelines. This role requires a detail-oriented professional who can independently assess borrower risk using the 4C underwriting framework (Credit, Capacity, Capital, Collateral) while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely loan decisions.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Perform end-to-end underwriting of US residential mortgage loans , including Conventional, FHA, VA, and Jumbo loans, in accordance with investor and agency guidelines (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA).
• Analyze loan files using the 4C underwriting principles :
• Credit: Review credit reports, credit scores, payment history, liabilities, and derogatory credit events.
• Capacity: Assess borrower income, employment stability, debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and ability to repay.
• Capital: Evaluate borrower assets, reserves, down payment sources, and liquidity.
• Collateral: Review appraisal reports, property value, condition, and marketability.
• Validate income documents including pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, bank statements, and self-employed income documentation.
• Ensure loan files comply with US mortgage regulations , including ATR/QM, TRID, Fair Lending, and investor-specific policies.
• Identify and mitigate underwriting risks, document loan decisions clearly, and issue approvals, suspensions, or denials with appropriate conditions.
• Collaborate closely with processors, loan officers, and quality control teams to resolve conditions and ensure smooth loan closings.
• Maintain productivity and quality benchmarks while adhering to SLAs and compliance standards.
• Participate in audits, post-closing reviews, and quality control feedback loops to continuously improve underwriting accuracy.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 4–10 years of experience as a US Mortgage Underwriter with strong hands-on underwriting exposure.
• In-depth knowledge of US mortgage underwriting guidelines and investor requirements.
• Strong understanding and practical application of the 4C underwriting framework .
• Experience underwriting Conventional, FHA, VA, and Jumbo loans is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in US mortgage LOS systems (e.g., Encompass) and document analysis tools.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and risk assessment skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• DE or LAPP certification (preferred but not mandatory).
• Experience working with offshore or US-based mortgage operations teams.
• Familiarity with QC findings and audit remediation.