Lending Underwriter​/Closing Lead

Job Summary

A growing private lending organization in South Orange County is seeking a Direct Hire Lending Underwriter/Closing Lead to manage business- and investment-purpose real estate loans from initial request through funding. This senior-level role is ideal for an experienced private lending professional who can independently underwrite, structure, process, and close complex multimillion-dollar transactions while protecting investor capital.

This opportunity offers the chance to take ownership of larger, more sophisticated files in a fast-moving lending environment. The team values sound judgment, urgency, accuracy, accountability, and clear communication. Candidates who enjoy working with experienced borrowers, brokers, investors, vendors, and internal stakeholders will find this role both challenging and rewarding.

The Lending Underwriter/Closing Lead will play a visible role in deal execution, process improvement, and mentoring junior team members. This is a strong fit for someone who wants to combine credit analysis, closing expertise, relationship management, and transaction leadership in a high-performance real estate lending setting.

• Underwrite borrowers, guarantors, collateral, liquidity, LTV/LTC, repayment ability, exit strategies, and overall credit risk for business-purpose real estate loans.
• Analyze complex ownership structures, including LLCs, LPs, trusts, syndications, and multiple guarantors.
• Manage transactions from commitment through funding, including appraisals, title, escrow, insurance, legal documentation, closing conditions, and funding readiness.
• Review appraisals, preliminary title reports, lien priority, exceptions, collateral concerns, and potential documentation or compliance risks.
• Communicate proactively with brokers, borrowers, vendors, investors, and internal teams while maintaining accurate CRM, pipeline, and daily status updates.
• Support improvements to underwriting, processing, and closing procedures while mentoring junior team members.

• Salary range: $110,000 to $140,000 per year.
• Direct Hire opportunity.
• Benefits available after 90 days include 401(k) with company match, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and paid time off.

• Independently underwrite, structure, process, and close private lending and business-purpose real estate loan transactions.
• Manage loans generally ranging from $1.5M to $5M, with an annual production goal of approximately $150M in closed loan volume.
• Deliver timely initial responses or term sheets for qualified transactions and help move files quickly from launch to closing.
• Coordinate appraisals, title, escrow, insurance, legal documentation, closing conditions, and funding requirements.
• 5 to 7+ years of experience in private money, hard money, bridge, commercial, or business-purpose mortgage lending.
• Proven experience underwriting and closing real estate loans of $2.5M+.
• Strong knowledge of borrower and guarantor analysis, collateral review, liquidity, LTV, title, exit strategies, income-property analysis, and credit risk.
• Experience with complex ownership structures and business-purpose lending transactions.
• Strong understanding of loan documentation, title, escrow, appraisals, insurance, and closing procedures.
• Ability to identify and elevate credit, collateral, title, documentation, or compliance concerns.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PDF tools, CRM or pipeline systems, and mortgage-industry software.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple transactions, meet tight deadlines, and take full ownership of assigned files.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, reliability, urgency, and commitment to protecting investor capital.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, Accounting, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent lending experience will be considered.

• Experience closing business-purpose, bridge, hard money, or private lending transactions within accelerated timelines.
• Background working directly with sophisticated borrowers, brokers, investors, escrow teams, title companies, appraisers, legal teams, and insurance providers.
• Experience mentoring junior underwriting, processing, or closing staff.
• Demonstrated success managing high-volume or high-dollar real estate loan pipelines.