Loan Underwriter

Loan Underwriter

Position Description

Reports to the Home Loan Manager

Organization Overview

Over the last 23 years, Hawaiʻi Community Lending (“HCL”) has established itself as a highly respected native community development financial institution certified by the US Department of the Treasury.

Our mission is to increase access to credit and capital for Native Hawaiians and other underserved populations in the State of Hawaiʻi. Our philosophy – kahua waiwai (foundation of wealth) – espouses a sense of place in which it is viewed that every family needs a home, or stable foundation (kahua), in order to share their culture, traditions, spiritual teachings, social networks, connection to the land, and financial resources (waiwai). Foundations, if built properly, will serve and empower our families and communities for generations to come.

We are rooted by a vision that all Native Hawaiians will own a home and reconnect to ʻāina for spirituality, food security, economic self-sufficiency, and healing of generational trauma from the systematic separation of our people from our ancestral lands. When we realize this vision together, our ʻohana will anchor a 21st century Hawaiian economy centered on Hawaiian values, equity, and collective well-being throughout diverse and inclusive communities.

HCL administers two primary funds – the Hawaiʻi Emergency Loan Program and the Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Fund. HCL originates, processes, underwrites, closes, and services all loans as well as provides mortgage brokering and packaging services to its borrowers. HCA provides development services to all HCL borrowers including financial education, credit counseling, and homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling. Together, HCL and our partner nonprofit, Hawaiian Community Assets, provide community members with both financial education and the opportunity to act, also known as financial capability. The organizations’ accomplishments have been recognized by Brandeis University as “Empowerment Economics”, a national best practice for native communities and communities of color.

Since its inception in 2002, the organization has served more than 4,000 Hawaiʻi households with grants, loans, and mortgage brokering and packaging services, assisting underserved low- and moderate-income communities’ access more than $160 million for affordable housing and community development.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Loan Underwriter to join our ʻohana (family) at Hawaiʻi Community Lending. In this role you will be instrumental in evaluating and approving home construction, rehabilitation, and mortgage loans, advancing our mission to empower Native Hawaiian families and underserved communities while ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines. This position requires a strong understanding of Hawaiian market conditions, a deep commitment to customer service, and the ability to build strong relationships within the local community.

Underwriting

· Analyze loan applications, including borrower credit history, income, assets, and property appraisals.

· Evaluate the risk associated with mortgage, construction and rehabilitation projects, including project feasibility, contractor qualifications, and budget adherence.

· Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including those specific to Hawaiʻi.

· Make sound credit decisions and approve or decline loan applications based on established underwriting guidelines for conforming and non-conforming mortgage loan products.

· Document all underwriting decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.

Compliance/Risk Management

· Monitor loan performance and identify potential risks.

· Implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

· Stay abreast of changes in lending regulations and market conditions in Hawaiʻi and on Hawaiian Home Lands.

• Ensure proper handling and maintenance of confidential, sensitive and/or proprietary information.
• Obtain the necessary certifications required for the position.
• Performs job duties in accordance with HCL’s policies and procedures.
• Considers HCL’s mission and core values when making decisions.

Customer Service

· Provide excellent customer service to borrowers, lending staff, and other stakeholders.

· Communicate effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing.

· Build and maintain strong relationships with local contractors, appraisers, and other industry professionals.

Staff Training/Capacity Building

• Attend home loan team meetings, and, if applicable, with HCL Lending Director to review borrower pipelines and participate in training
• Share knowledge with other lending staff, departments and programs on effective practices, competitive intelligence, business opportunities and needs
• Engage with Hawaiian Community Assets staff and HCL co-workers to bring out the best of the organization’s personnel by participating in training, coaching, development and positive motivation
• Locate areas of improvement and propose corrective actions that meet challenges and leverage growth opportunities
• Participate in community outreach events and training opportunities in-person state-wide, out-of-state, or virtually.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Home Loan Manager

This is a 32-hour work week, full-time, remote position located in the State of Hawaiʻi. HCL uses a range of technology and software platforms to support its work including SharePoint, Microsoft Office, Teams, and OneDrive. The organization’s PEO, ALTRES, processes payroll through its HR Symphony system.

Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in mortgage underwriting, with a strong preference for experience in mortgage, construction and rehabilitation lending.
• In-depth knowledge of underwriting guidelines for various loan programs, including FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans.
• Strong understanding of the real estate market conditions and local building codes.
• Able to comprehend and analyze content information gathered from different sources to make sound recommendations and decisions.
• Able to work in a fast paced, team-oriented environment and complete assigned tasks within tight timeframes.
• Demonstrate analytical skills and highly effective organizational skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, including the ability to conduct professional and effective discussions with a broad constituency; possesses highly effective writing skills
• Proficient with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, DocuSign, and Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Access to internet at remote office location
• Data Management Systems experience preferred
• Must be at least 18 and have a High School Diploma/GED

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or a related field
• Knowledge and understanding of Hawaiian culture and values
• Basic understanding of Hawaiian Home Lands
• Willingness to travel and work weekends and outside of regular office hours (M-F, 8a-5p) when necessary

Compensation

• Salaried position starting at $65,000 annually; commensurate with experience
• Paid Time Off
• Healthcare, Temporary Disability, Workers Compensation, Group Life Insurance
• 401(k) match after 12 months of employment
• Professional development trainings in Hawaiʻi and the continental United States

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include all duties and responsibilities which are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute an employment contract.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: Remote

Salary : $65,000