Senior Underwriter

At Monarch Title, we are committed to excellence throughout the settlement process. We believe that buying, selling, or refinancing a home should be enjoyable and stress free. We work closely with Realtors, lenders, and other service providers in the period leading up to closing to ensure that our clients' settlement occurs seamlessly and on time. Monarch Title is a growing company with offices in DC, MD, and VA.

Position Summary

The Senior Underwriter is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and resolving residential and commercial real estate title matters. This position requires the ability to independently review title, identify potential defects and underwriting concerns, research and develop appropriate solutions, prepare title commitments and related documentation, and escalate matters to underwriting counsel when necessary.

The Senior Underwriter is expected to exercise sound judgment, maintain strong attention to detail, communicate effectively, and follow assigned matters through resolution.

Title Examination & Underwriting

• Review residential and commercial title abstracts, chains of title, deeds, deeds of trust, liens, judgments, easements, covenants, agreements, and other recorded instruments affecting title.
• Review and compare legal descriptions against prior deeds, plats, surveys, subdivisions, and title work.
• Identify title defects, discrepancies, omitted parcels, incorrect lot references, gaps, and other potential title issues.
• Determine appropriate title requirements and exceptions.
• Research potential solutions to title defects and underwriting concerns.
• Determine documentation or corrective action necessary to clear title issues, including corrective deeds, releases, satisfactions, affidavits, certifications, indemnities, and other curative instruments.
• Present complex or unusual title matters to underwriting counsel with the relevant facts, documentation, research, and proposed resolution.

Title Commitments, Policies & Endorsements

• Prepare and review Maryland and District of Columbia title commitments for residential and commercial transactions.
• Determine appropriate Schedule B-I requirements and Schedule B-II exceptions based upon the title examination and transaction.
• Prepare and review pro forma commitments, policies, and endorsements for commercial transactions.
• Review lender title requirements and requested endorsements.
• Coordinate with underwriting counsel when approval is required for requested coverage or the deletion or modification of exceptions.

Public Records & Independent Research

• Conduct independent research using applicable public records, including land records, court records, real estate tax and assessment records, corporate/entity records, UCC records, judgment and lien records, D.C. Department of Buildings records, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue records, and other applicable governmental databases.
• Compare public-record information against the title abstract and transaction documents.
• Identify discrepancies or matters requiring additional investigation and follow-up.

Judgments, Liens, UCCs & Releases

• Review judgments, liens, UCC filings, deeds of trust, tax liens, and other encumbrances affecting the property or transaction parties.
• Determine whether judgments or liens may be eliminated from title consideration based upon applicable statutes of limitations, expiration periods, satisfactions, releases, or applicable underwriting authority.
• Review releases and satisfactions for sufficiency.
• Identify defective, incomplete, or incorrectly recorded releases and determine the appropriate requirements for resolution.

Contract Review & Addenda

• Review purchase and sale contracts for provisions affecting title, settlement, inspections, contingencies, credits, occupancy, financing, conveyance, and closing requirements.
• Identify contractual provisions that may create title or closing issues.
• Prepare or provide proposed language for contract addenda involving name changes, trust or entity substitutions, assignments, vesting changes, title or inspection contingencies, seller credits, escrow arrangements, post-settlement matters, occupancy arrangements, corrections, clarifications, and other transaction-specific matters.

Real Estate Tax & Governmental Matters

• Research and troubleshoot complex D.C. real estate tax matters with the Office of Tax and Revenue when necessary.
• Address matters involving Homestead Exemptions, vacant/blighted classifications, tax exemptions, incorrect assessments, lot discrepancies, tax sales, and other real estate tax issues.
• Determine how unresolved tax matters should be addressed in the title commitment and at settlement.
• Review and troubleshoot title and tax matters involving Maryland agricultural properties.
• Coordinate with applicable governmental offices, clients, attorneys, and underwriting counsel to resolve outstanding matters.

Commercial Transactions

• Manage and troubleshoot complex commercial title and settlement files.
• Review transactions involving multiple parcels, entities, easements, declarations, financing documents, surveys, and other recorded agreements.
• Work with commercial lenders, attorneys, developers, investors, surveyors, abstractors, and underwriting counsel.
• Review lender title requirements and requested endorsements.
• Prepare pro forma commitments and policies for attorney and lender review.
• Coordinate title, survey, entity, tax, recording, and underwriting matters through closing.
• Anticipate potential issues and address them promptly to avoid unnecessary closing delays.

Client & Transaction Communication

• Communicate professionally and timely with clients, attorneys, lenders, developers, real estate agents, surveyors, abstractors, governmental agencies, and underwriting counsel.
• Explain title matters and requirements clearly and accurately.
• Provide timely status updates regarding outstanding title, survey, tax, underwriting, and recording matters.
• Coordinate with all necessary parties to keep residential and commercial transactions progressing toward closing.
• Identify matters requiring immediate attention and follow through until resolution.

Problem Solving & Underwriting Judgment

• Independently identify title and underwriting issues rather than relying solely upon the abstractor or underwriting counsel to identify potential problems.
• Research land records, court records, tax records, statutes, recorded documents, and other available information to determine potential solutions.
• Develop proposed curative solutions before escalating matters to underwriting counsel.
• Present underwriting issues clearly, including the relevant facts, documentation, potential risk, and proposed resolution.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in determining which matters may be handled independently and which require underwriting counsel approval.
• Follow complex matters through resolution and ensure outstanding requirements are properly addressed.

Performance Expectations

The Senior Underwriter is expected to:

• Perform assigned responsibilities accurately, efficiently, and within required deadlines.
• Independently review files and identify issues requiring attention.
• Exercise sound judgment and take appropriate initiative in researching and resolving title matters.
• Maintain organized and complete file documentation.
• Communicate promptly regarding issues that may affect title, underwriting, settlement, or closing.
• Escalate matters appropriately when underwriting counsel approval or additional guidance is required.
• Maintain consistent follow-up on outstanding matters through completion.
• Work collaboratively with other team members and provide assistance on complex matters when necessary.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism, accountability, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Qualifications:

• Must be knowledgeable in reviewing title abstracts and making sound underwriting decisions regarding the validity of recorded documents
• Ability to determine title requirements and identify all pertinent documents necessary for settlement
• General knowledge of Federal and State regulations related to real estate title insurance and settlement services
• Must be able to search online land records to identify missing documents (e.g., trusts, deeds, certificates of satisfaction)
• Minimum of 10 years of underwriting experience required
• Proficiency with Qualia is strongly preferred
• Experience with commercial transactions strongly preferred
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work under pressure
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Physical demands and work environment:

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle objects and documents; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision. Employee may use office equipment such as telephone, computer, computer software, calculator, printer, copier, and facsimile.
• Work environment: Employees are not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20003