Refi & Home Improvement Lending Associate

Full Job Title: Mortgage Loan Associate-Refinance and Home Improvement Lending

About the Role

The Mortgage Loan Associate-Refinance and Home Improvement Lending (MLA) is the first conversation many hopeful borrowers will have with Homewise about refinancing their home or financing improvements to it. You're the person who looks at someone's credit, income, and debts, runs the numbers, and gives them an honest answer about where they stand - either by handing them off to a Loan Officer to start an application, or by setting them on a clear path to get there over time.

Working closely with others on the lending team, this role sits at a meaningful intersection: it requires the analytical rigor of credit and ratio analysis and the human skill of having an honest, encouraging conversation with someone who may not be ready yet. At Homewise, the "not yet" conversation is just as important as the "yes" - and you'll be the person who handles both with care.

You'll Be a Great Fit If:

• You're comfortable being a first impression.
• You can read and interpret a credit report - and explain what's on it to someone who hasn't seen one before.
• You're comfortable with the math of lending.
• You're an analytical thinker with great judgement.
• You communicate with care.
• You're a financial troubleshooter who can see what's blocking the path and how to clear it.
• You stay composed under pressure.
• You're a coach just as much as an evaluator.
• You appreciate the journey, not just the destination-and you're excited about helping others along the way.

What You'll Be Doing

• Conducting initial consultations with prospective borrowers seeking refinance or home improvement financing and gathering the information needed to assess their eligibility.
• Reviewing soft credit reports and analyzing borrower income, employment, assets, and liabilities to evaluate readiness.
• Calculating and evaluating Debt-to-Income, Loan-to-Value, and Combined Loan-to-Value ratios against investor and Homewise guidelines.
• Building personalized action plans for borrowers who don't yet qualify - covering credit improvement, debt reduction, documentation, credit issue resolution, or property-related steps - and walking them through next steps.
• Forwarding qualified borrowers and their supporting documentation to Loan Officers for a smooth, well-supported handoff to application.
• Documenting every borrower interaction, assessment, and decision accurately and in a timely manner in Homewise's designated systems.
• Maintaining current working knowledge of Fannie Mae and Homewise lending guidelines, and consistently applying core mortgage concepts (DTI, LTV/CLTV, income documentation, credit score requirements, occupancy, refinance program eligibility) to ensure accurate and compliant files.
• Ensuring full compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures in every pre-qualification.

Full

Job Description available upon request

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent; additional coursework or certification in finance, administration, or a related field preferred
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, as many of Homewise's clients are Spanish speakers
• 1-3 years of experience in mortgage lending, loan processing, banking, or financial services with refinance and home improvement lending products
• Experience reading and interpreting credit reports required
• Experience with loan origination systems (LOS) and the STARS platform preferred
• Knowledge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines
• Available to work in-office during Homewise's core business hours of 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday
• This is largely a sedentary role with frequent computer use and occasional file handling.
• Must be able to occasionally lift objects up to 20 pounds.