Senior Mortgage Underwriter

Hancock Whitney; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hancock Whitney in Houston, TX seeks a Senior Mortgage Underwriter to approve or deny mortgage loans across FHA, VA, RD and portfolio loans, ensuring files meet guidelines and investor requirements. The role emphasizes accurate review of income, assets, and appraisals to support risk decisions.

You will coordinate with originators, processors, and closers, maintain loan files, and participate in second-review processes for denials, while adhering to regulatory compliance and internal policies.

Qualifications

• 6+ years' experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree and 2+ years related experience
• An FHA DE designation is required and a VA LAP designation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Underwrites conventional FHA, VA, RD, and portfolio loans.
• Ensures that appraisals meet investor and bank requirements and that the value conclusion is reasonable and well supported.
• Reviews all employment, income, and asset documentation to ensure that it is accurate and satisfies investor requirements.
• Reviews credit history and scores to ensure the borrower's credit meets the investor requirements.
• Reviews all documents and information for potential fraud or misrepresentation and for regulatory compliance.
• Reviews and evaluates information on mortgage loan documents to determine if buyer, property, and loan conditions meet establishment and government standards.
• Evaluates acceptability of loan to corporations that buy real estate loans on secondary mortgage markets, where existing mortgages are bought and sold by investors.
• Approves or rejects loan application, or requests additional information.
• Records loan rejections, specifying investor and institution guidelines and basis for declining application, such as insufficient cash reserves.
• Determines terms and acceptability of risk of prospective business.
• Sets prices for prospective mortgage loan applicants.
• Approves or rejects loan application, or requests additional information.
• Assembles documents in loan files, including acceptance or denial, and returns files to originating mortgage loan office. Maintains database on new and existing business.
• Manages and utilizes systems to ensure they accurately reflect the loan request and information (current loan origination system and other investor conduit systems, etc.).
• Communicates and coordinates necessary approval requirements and files status with appropriate persons (originator, processor, closers, Realtors, builders, etc.).
• Participates in implementing second review committee for denied loans.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY:

The Senior Mortgage Underwriter approves or denies mortgage loans; reviews mortgage loan applications for completeness to ensure that it meets the guidelines for loan product requested and ensures file complies with regulatory and legal guidelines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Underwrites conventional Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA), Rural Housing Development (RD), and portfolio loans.
• Ensures that appraisals meet investor and bank requirements and that the value conclusion is reasonable and well supported.
• Reviews all employment, income, and asset documentation to ensure that it is accurate and satisfies investor requirements.
• Reviews credit history and scores to ensure the borrower's credit meets the investor requirements.
• Reviews all documents and information for potential fraud or misrepresentation and for regulatory compliance.
• Reviews and evaluates information on mortgage loan documents to determine if buyer, property, and loan conditions meet establishment and government standards.
• Evaluates acceptability of loan to corporations that buy real estate loans on secondary mortgage markets, where existing mortgages are bought and sold by investors.
• Approves or rejects loan application, or requests additional information.
• Records loan rejections, specifying investor and institution guidelines and basis for declining application, such as insufficient cash reserves.
• Determines terms and acceptability of risk of prospective business.
• Sets prices for prospective mortgage loan applicants.
• Approves or rejects loan application, or requests additional information.
• Assembles documents in loan files, including acceptance or denial, and returns files to originating mortgage loan office. Maintains database on new and existing business.
• Manages and utilizes systems to ensure they accurately reflect the loan request and information (current loan origination system and other investor conduit systems, etc.).
• Communicates and coordinates necessary approval requirements and files status with appropriate persons (originator, processor, closers, Realtors, builders, etc.).
• Participates in implementing second review committee for denied loans.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• 6+ years' experience preferred
• Bachelor's degree and 2+ years related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
  • An FHA DE designation is required and a VA LAP designation is preferred.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines.
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an "undue hardship" then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws.