Jr Underwriter
Houston, TX
Full Time
Mid Level
Ready to take the next step in your mortgage career? FocusOne Mortgage is hiring a Junior Mortgage Underwriter (Hybrid) to join our growing team in Northwest Houston. This role offers hands-on experience underwriting Texas Home Equity loans while expanding your skills through backup closing responsibilities. If you're looking for a company that values teamwork, professional growth, and making an impact, apply today!
FocusOne Mortgage, LLC — a Texas-based credit union service organization and Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac direct seller-servicer — is seeking a Junior Mortgage Underwriter to join our Houston operations team. This role primarily underwrites our Texas home equity products, with a focus on the Streamlined Home Equity program (Texas Constitution Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6), first- and second-lien) and the Home Improvement program (Section 50(a)(5)). The position also serves as a backup closer and supports the underwriting team with file preparation and verifications, including managing loan-status dispositions for withdrawn and incomplete files.
This is a hands-on underwriting role with built-in cross-training in closing operations — an ideal fit for a candidate with one to three years of mortgage underwriting or processing experience who wants to deepen their Texas home equity expertise and broaden into closing.This is a full-time, hybrid position based out of FocusOne’s Houston headquarters at 9601 Jones Rd, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77065, combining in-office and remote work per company schedule. The role operates in a standard office setting and requires extended periods of computer-based work. Minimal travel is expected.
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may be added, changed, or removed at any time at the company’s discretion.Qualified candidates should submit a resume to FocusOne Mortgage Human Resources. FocusOne Mortgage, LLC (NMLS #105693) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Position Summary
This is a hands-on underwriting role with built-in cross-training in closing operations — an ideal fit for a candidate with one to three years of mortgage underwriting or processing experience who wants to deepen their Texas home equity expertise and broaden into closing.
Primary Responsibilities – Home Equity Underwriting (70%)
- Underwrite Texas 50(a)(6) Streamlined Home Equity (1st and 2nd lien) and 50(a)(5) Home Improvement loan files for compliance with FocusOne credit policy, investor guidelines, and applicable Texas constitutional requirements.
- Analyze borrower credit, income, assets, and employment using Encompass, Desktop Underwriter (DU), and third-party verification data (e.g., Argyle), and clear conditions to a final approval decision within delegated authority.
- Confirm compliance with Texas home equity requirements, including the 80% combined loan-to-value limit, the 2% fee cap on 50(a)(6) loans, the 12-day pre-closing notice, the one-year seasoning rule, homestead and acreage limits, and permitted closing locations under Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6)(N).
- Review property valuations in accordance with FocusOne policy (currently county appraisal district / CAD value, with automated valuation methodology under evaluation per the interagency AVM quality-control rule).
- Document underwriting decisions, conditions, and exceptions clearly in the loan file; route credit union partner exceptions for approval through the Portfolio Agreement workflow where applicable.
- Issue accurate adverse action / Notice of Incomplete Application communications in coordination with the ECOA Action workflow, within required timeframes.
- Meet established turn-time and quality targets while maintaining a complete, audit-ready file.
Backup Closing Responsibilities (20%)
- Prepare and review closing packages for accuracy, ensuring the Closing Disclosure, note, security instrument, and all home equity–specific disclosures are correct and properly executed.
- Verify TRID timing and tolerance compliance, balance fees with title and settlement agents, and confirm figures tie to the approved terms and lock.
- Confirm Texas 50(a)(6)–specific closing requirements are met, including the proper closing location, the borrower’s right of rescission, and required acknowledgments and notices.
- Coordinate signing, funding, and post-closing handoff with title companies, attorneys, settlement agents, and credit union partners.
- Review post-closing trailing documents and assist in resolving funding and closing exceptions to keep files moving to sale or to the servicing portfolio.
- Provide closing coverage during peak volume, staff absences, or deadline-driven periods to protect on-time closings.
Underwriting Support & Loan Status Management (10%)
- Assist underwriters by ordering and reviewing flood certifications, confirming flood zone determinations, and identifying flood insurance requirements.
- Verify homeowners / hazard insurance (and flood or windstorm coverage where applicable), confirming coverage amounts, effective dates, and the correct mortgagee clause.
- Order and review credit reports; reconcile tradelines and verify outstanding liabilities, debts, and payoffs used in qualifying.
- Set up and scrub new loan files in Encompass, order and track outstanding conditions, run Desktop Underwriter (DU), and prepare complete files for underwriter review.
- Verify income, asset, and employment documentation in coordination with verification tools (e.g., Argyle).
- Manage loan status and dispositions, including the withdrawn and incomplete / Notice of Incomplete Application processes — issuing and tracking required notices, updating Encompass milestones and statuses, and ensuring timely, compliant file closure.
Required Qualifications
- One to three years of mortgage underwriting and/or loan processing experience, ideally including home equity, HELOC, or Texas residential lending.
- Familiarity with TRID, ECOA, RESPA, and related federal mortgage lending regulations.
- Proficiency with a loan origination system (Encompass strongly preferred) and Desktop Underwriter (DU).
- Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage a pipeline against turn-time and quality standards.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills for interaction with internal teams, credit union partners, title companies, and settlement agents.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience underwriting or closing Texas 50(a)(6) home equity or 50(a)(5) home improvement loans.
- Prior closing, funding, or closing-disclosure preparation experience.
- Experience in a credit union, CUSO, or seller-servicer environment.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field.
- Hands-on experience working within Encompass loan files, milestones, and conditions.
Knowledge, Skills & Attributes
- Judgment: sound credit and compliance decision-making within delegated authority, with the discipline to escalate when a file falls outside policy.
- Adaptability: comfort moving between underwriting and closing responsibilities as business needs shift.
- Accuracy: a documentation-first mindset that produces clean, audit-ready files in a heavily regulated Texas environment.
- Collaboration: a team orientation that supports a small, fast-moving operations group serving credit union partners.
Work Environment
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may be added, changed, or removed at any time at the company’s discretion.
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