Collateral is an asset pledged by a borrower, to a lender or a creditor, as security for a loan. If loan exposure is supported by collateral it is said to be secured credit. This article will help you understand what a collateral underwriter is all about.
Now our next issue would be to find out who or what an underwriter is. An underwriter is a member of a financial organization. They work for mortgage, insurance, loan or investment companies. They assess, evaluate and assume the risk of another party for a fee. Often you would see this fee in the form of a commission, premium or spread or interest.
What is a collateral underwriter?
A collateral underwriter is a web-based application provided at no charge to help lenders manage collateral risk as part of their underwriting and quality control processes. Appraisal data and advanced analytics are used by the application to help identify and research appraisals with overvaluation, appraisal quality or property eligibility/ policy compliance risks.
The purpose of the collateral underwriter is to identify appraisals with heightened risk valuation, appraisal quality, and property eligibility and property compliance violations. Additionally, collateral underwriters are a powerful source of information and analytics that can help the lender research and manage collateral risk.
Furthermore, a collateral underwriter is available 24 hours every day, except from 1 a.m to 5 a.m and on the first and third Sundays due to maintenance.
How Much Does A Collateral Underwriter Make?
Well, as of June 4, 2022, the average annual pay for a collateral underwriter in the United States is $82,500 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be $39.66 approximately an hour. This is the equivalent of $1587/week or $6875/month.
Collateral Underwriter Job Description
An underwriter performs so many analytical tasks to fully review and assess an applicant to ensure their company provides the right amount of coverage or assistance.
- A collateral underwriter is responsible for reviewing, analyzing and underwriting residential collateral for new loan organizations.
- They also work closely with the AMCs and internal departments.
- Collateral underwriter also collects, reviews and analyzes an applicant’s relevant history and records
- Evaluates insurance claims for accuracy and the coverage amount
Collateral Underwriter Training
Below are the qualifications needed;
Qualifications:
- DE Designation/Active CHUMS
- 3-4 years of residential appraisal or loan organization underwriting experience
- Active knowledge of FHA Minimum Property (requirements/minimum property standards)
- Experienced in reverse programs collateral requirements
- Experienced in analyzing, single-family property, 2-4 multi-family property, condominium and manufactured home appraisals.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office(Outlook, Word and Excel)
- Strong Analytical Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Strong communication skills (which includes verbal and written)
- LBF is an EOE.
Collateral underwriter score
Each appraisal receives a score on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0, and 999 if we are unable to score, with 1 indicating the lowest risk and 5 indicating the highest risk. Flags identify the risk factors contributing to their higher risk scores. There are three flags and they include overvaluation, appraisal quality and property eligibility and policy compliance.
Note: this set of job aids focuses on how to use the collateral underwriter web-based application to:
- Evaluate the risk score and flags;
- Research appraiser comparable messages, data discrepancy messages and adjustment messages.
Loan Collateral Advisor
The collateral advisor and its affiliates may invest or invest for the account of others in debt obligations that would be appropriate as collateral for the secured note and would have no duty to make such investments or to act in a way that is very favourable to the issuer or the noteholders.
However, at any given time, the collateral advisor and its affiliates will have the right to vote on the notes held by them and by such accounts on all other matters. The collateral underwriter may instruct the trustee on behalf of the issuer pursuant to an issuer order, and the trustee shall only give consent, grant waiver, vote, or exercise any or all other rights or remedies with respect to any such Collateral Debt Security in accordance with such issue order.
What makes a good underwriter?
There are a lot of characteristics that make a good underwriter and such characteristics include;
Attitude
Without the right attitude, it does not matter what a great market you are, how knowledgeable you are, or even how friendly you are.
People would surely ask if the attitude is the foundation for it all, what is the right attitude?
Well, I’m here to answer that question. The right attitude starts with wanting to write business. An attitude of wanting to write business is not the same as writing everything that comes in the door. While many agents might disagree, that attitude is not good for the business and is downright dangerous.
Efficiency
When you hear an agent say underwriter efficiency you might probably hear ignoring information, not asking questions etc. that is NOT what I am talking about. Many agents have that attitude and I think that is very short-sighted. Touching the account once and providing a little more is much better than touching it twice and cleaning up a mess.
So if shortcuts are not my definition of underwriter efficiency, what is?
Firstly, please and please have a good working knowledge of your company’s appetite, letter of authority, and what information is important to you.
I could go on but if you work for any company and you check off these characteristics and more you’re going to book some good business and you are well on your way to being an awesome underwriter.
Conclusion
The collateral underwriter performs a comprehensive analysis of 1004 and 1073 appraisals submitted to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCPD) and provides real-time feedback with risk scores, risk flags, and messages. Collateral underwriter’s data-rich web application is designed for lenders to investigate and evaluate risk factors reflected in the CU risk score.
Frequently Asked Questions
mortgage underwriters deny about one in every mortgage loan application. This is often because the applicant has too much debt or spotty employment history, or a low appraisal report. An underwriter can also deny a loan simply because they don’t have enough information for approval.
There are 2 definitions for this particular question; the first is that an underwriter is a person or company that underwrites an insurance risk. The latter is; a bank or other financial institution that pledges to buy all the unsold shares in an issue of new shares.
This is a big issue for appraisers who do a lot of work in rural areas. Let’s face it – when you are appraising in rural locations, often you have to go further away for your comparables and further back in time, there is less homogeneity among the properties, and sometimes the appraisal looks unattractive.
underwriters need to develop and document analytical, quantitative, decision-making, verbal, writing, and presentation skills in order to be hired and successfully carry out their responsibilities. Math skills are also needed: an understanding of statistics and probabilities is perhaps the most relevant math skill.
