Underwriting Associate

Churchill Real Estate is looking for an experienced Residential Transition Loan (RTL) Underwriter to join our credit team. RTL loans — bridge, fix-and-flip, ground-up construction, and rental/DSCR products — require a different underwriting lens than traditional mortgage lending: faster timelines, project- and exit-strategy-driven risk. This role is for someone who is familiar with this asset class.

• Underwrite RTL loan files end-to-end: bridge, fix-and-flip, ground-up construction, and rental/DSCR products
• Analyze borrower/guarantor credit, background, and financial profiles, including entity structures and ownership breakdowns
• Evaluate appraisals, purchase contracts, scopes of work, and rehab budgets against loan structure and requested proceeds
• Assess exit strategy feasibility (sale, refinance, stabilization) and flag structural or valuation risk early
• Prepare and present loan files to the Investment Committee; respond to IC-requested conditions or clarification with clear, well-reasoned write-ups
• Evaluate requested structure changes (loan amount, LTV, rate, terms) against previously approved terms and re-underwrite as needed
• Partner with brokers and internal loan coordinators to keep files moving and communicate clearly on outstanding items
• Maintain a working knowledge of investor and program guidelines, and flag files that fall outside standard credit parameters

• 1+ years of direct underwriting experience in RTL, bridge, fix-and-flip, hard money, or private/non-QM lending (business-purpose lending experience required)
• Strong grasp of entity-borrower underwriting: guarantors, ownership thresholds, background/credit review for entity members
• Working knowledge of appraisal review, scope-of-work/rehab budget evaluation, and construction draw structures
• Ability to independently identify credit and structural risk and clearly narrate concerns, conditions, or decline rationale
• Comfortable presenting files to and defending decisions in front of an Investment Committee
• Strong written communication — condition language and decline narratives need to be precise and defensible
• Familiarity with loan origination systems (LOS) and digital document/condition tracking workflows
• Prior experience in a private lending, direct lender, or non-bank RTL/bridge lending environment