Homeownership Loan Specialist

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Flexible Spending Account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME of VA) seeks a Homeownership Loan Specialist to handle down payment assistance, loan processing, file management, and coordination with lenders and first-time homebuyers. The role will evolve toward homeownership education and counseling, with HUD Housing Counselor certification pursued.

You will work with a team to ensure accurate documentation, timely closings, and exceptional client service, supporting Virginia families toward affordable

Qualifications

• Experience as a mortgage loan processor, loan officer assistant, or mortgage operations professional, managing files from application through closing.
• Experience with down payment assistance (DPA), closing cost assistance, first-time homebuyer programs, or government loan programs.
• Ability to review loan files for completeness, accuracy, eligibility, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Process down payment assistance loans from application through closing, ensuring documentation is complete and accurate.
• Review loan documentation and determine program eligibility and missing information.
• Manage multiple loan files, track milestones and deadlines, and coordinate with partners to ensure timely closings.
• Prepare files for processing and closing and ensure readiness for underwriting and submission.
• Coordinate with loan officers, processors, underwriters, settlement agents, and real estate professionals to resolve issues.

Skills

Mortgage loan processing

File management

Lender coordination

Job description

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME of VA) is seeking a Homeownership Loan Specialist to join our Homeownership Team. If you have experience as a mortgage loan processor, loan officer assistant, mortgage operations specialist, or in affordable housing lending, this is an opportunity to put those skills to work helping Virginia families achieve homeownership.

This position is centered on down payment assistance (DPA), loan processing, file management, and coordination with lenders and first time homebuyers. The successful candidate will bring strong mortgage-processing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple loan files and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Over time, the position will also expand into homeownership education and housing counseling, including pursuing HUD Housing Counselor certification. You do not need to come from a traditional housing counseling background to succeed in this role.

What we can achieve together

At HOME of VA, we advance housing equity through education, counseling, fair housing enforcement, and advocacy for housing justice. Our Homeownership Team helps individuals and families navigate the path to purchasing their first homes and connects eligible buyers with resources that can make homeownership more attainable.

Our down payment and closing cost assistance programs require careful eligibility review, documentation, loan processing, coordination with lenders, and timely management of files through closing. Your work will help ensure that eligible homebuyers receive the assistance they need and that each file is processed accurately and efficiently.

You will work closely with first time homebuyers, loan officers, processors, real estate professionals, and community partners. You will bring your mortgage-processing expertise while developing a deeper understanding of homeownership counseling, financial education, and the barriers that can prevent families from achieving sustainable homeownership.

Your impact

• Process down payment assistance loans — Manage DPA and closing cost assistance files from application through closing, ensuring required documentation is collected, reviewed, accurate, and complete.
• Review loan documentation and eligibility — Review applications, credit information, income and asset documentation, purchase contracts, and other required materials to determine program eligibility and identify missing or inconsistent information.
• Manage the loan pipeline — Track multiple active files, monitor milestones and deadlines, maintain accurate status information, and proactively follow up on outstanding documentation and requirements.
• Prepare files for processing and closing — Organize and maintain complete loan files and ensure files are ready for submission, underwriting, approval, and closing in accordance with applicable program requirements.
• Coordinate with lending partners — Communicate regularly with loan officers, processors, underwriters, settlement agents, real estate professionals, and other partners to resolve issues and keep transactions moving toward timely closing.
• Provide exceptional client service — Communicate clearly and professionally with clients, answer questions, explain requirements, establish appointments, and provide timely updates throughout the assistance and loan process.
• Review credit and financial information — Accurately obtain, review, and interpret credit and financial information as required for program eligibility and homeownership readiness.
• Maintain accurate records — Systematically organize, scan, upload, and maintain confidential client and loan documentation in accordance with organizational and program requirements.
• Support homebuyer education — Assist with homebuyer education classes and client education covering credit, budgeting, financial readiness, the homebuying process, and the responsibilities of homeownership.
• Develop housing counseling expertise — Learn HOME of VA's housing counseling programs and pursue HUD Housing Counselor certification. Over time, the position will incorporate additional pre-purchase counseling responsibilities.
• Build strong community partnerships — Collaborate with lenders, real estate agents, local governments, community development organizations, nonprofits, and other partners to expand access to homeownership resources.
• Support the Homeownership Team — Conduct research, assist with administrative functions, and perform other duties as assigned and prioritized by leadership.

What You Bring

We value diverse backgrounds and encourage applicants who may not meet every qualification but have relevant skills and experience. The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience as a mortgage loan processor, loan officer assistant, or mortgage operations professional, particularly experience managing files from application through closing.
• Experience processing down payment assistance (DPA), closing cost assistance, first-time homebuyer, affordable housing, or government loan programs.
• Experience reviewing loan files for completeness, accuracy, eligibility, and compliance.
• Experience working with lenders, loan officers, underwriters, settlement agents, real estate professionals, and other mortgage industry partners.
• Experience providing pre-purchase housing counseling, financial education, or homebuyer education.
• Ability and willingness to pursue and successfullyobtain HUD Housing Counselor certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a nonprofit, government, or community-based housing program.
• Bilingual skills, with written and oral presentation abilities in Spanish or other languages common among our clients in Central Virginia.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated hiring salary range for this position is $61,000 - $65,000 commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

At HOME of VA, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace where staff feel valued and empowered. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, and includes:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• Life insurance at no cost to the employee
• Paid time off to rest and recharge, including: 15 paid holidays (including time off for collective rest),18 days of annual leave (increasing with tenure), and 12 days of sick leave
• A flexible and hybrid work environment with telecommuting options

Work Schedule and Location

This is a full-time (35 hours per week) position. Most work will take place off-site, though training and periodic team and all-staff meetings will happen in-person at HOME of VA’s office in Henrico County. Occasional evening and weekend duties will be required.

Standard daily work hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Our hybrid model balances collaboration and flexibility, ensuring team cohesion while allowing for work-life balance and productivity.

HOME of VA is an equal opportunity employer with an accessible workplace and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, national origin, gender identity, political or union affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, source of income, or other non-bona-fide job requirements.