The Senior Mortgage Underwriter is responsible for reviewing residential loan packages to determine the acceptability of the loan request for the Bank’s loan portfolio or for sale in the secondary market. They must ensure that loans are underwritten to underwriting standards as established by Amerant Mortgage credit policy and investor guidelines/procedures

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Underwrite residential Agency/Portfolio/Jumbo mortgage loans and issue loan decision within stated loan authority guidelines and within written established turnaround times. Review and consider borrower’s income, sufficient funds to close, collateral, borrower’s ability to repay and debt analysis, etc.
• Responsible for working closely with internal lending departments, working cohesively as a team with origination, processing, closing/post-closing, and funding where necessary
• Assumes all responsibility for underwriting tasks generated by the LOS throughout the life of the loan.
• Support Wholesale & Retail sales teams with unique loan scenarios to properly determine the most suitable loan program for the borrower, considering the loan complexity and simplifying the loan process where available
• Maintain underwriting compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations as they relate to residential lending
• Maintains and manages the review of minimum of 3 new loan decisions per day and resubmission pipeline management keeping in industry turn times and or company goals on desired closing dates
• Escalates any issues that impact a loan transaction.
• Knowledge of HOEPA/HMDA and ATR/QM
• Assist the residential loan closer with any issues relating to clearing underwriting loan conditions or loan closing challenges
• Knowledge of all phases of a loan transaction (from inception to closing and funding)
• Maintain familiarity and proficiency with Agency/Portfolio/Investor guidelines and internal procedures
• Work closely with Quality Control department to identify loan production issues to include eligibility and manufacturing errors to minimize risk.
• Assist government insuring and post-closing with necessary conditions to complete loan sales or to obtain appropriate insurance (PMI, MIC, LGC)

Minimum Education and/or Certifications Requirements:
High School or GED required. Associate degree preferred

Direct Endorsement Authority (DE) & VA LAPP preferred.

Minimum Work Experience Requirements:
8+ years of experience in mortgage underwriting experience to include Conforming, FHA, and VA loans

Technical and/or Other Essential Knowledge:
Compliance, banking and secondary market regulations as applicable to mortgage lending

Proficiency using Microsoft Office 365 products including MS Word, MS Visio, MS Excel, MS Teams, and MS PowerPoint