Jr Underwriter

Ready to take the next step in your mortgage career? Focus One 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!

Focus One 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supports the underwriting team with file preparation and verifications, including managing loan‑status dispositions for withdrawn and incomplete files.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.

• Underwrite Texas 50(a)(6) Streamlined Home Equity (1st and 2nd lien) and 50(a)(5) Home Improvement loan files for compliance with Focus One 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 Focus One 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 time frames.
• Meet established turn‑time and quality targets while maintaining a complete, audit‑ready file.

• 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.

• 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…