The alarm sounds…
…6 a.m. I start my day by going to the gym and walking the dog (all done before logging in for the day).
Being active early in the morning seems to prepare you for the day's work. 
The challenges of working from home include…
…Our internal calls get straight to the point, but these calls are easily missed because our team is busy talking to brokers, appraisers, and attorneys, resulting in a lot of missed calls.
This doesn't happen in the office because it's obvious when everyone is there and when they're not.
We want to say “yes” to our borrowers, and we do everything we can to lend responsibly.
Working from home also makes it easy to extend your work hours without realizing it, starting early and finishing later. It's also easy to justify it by thinking, “I'll probably be commuting that time anyway.”
But on the plus side…
…Walking the dog and running around the house will be much easier!
It's great to be able to go out in the morning, lunch (if you have time), and after work. Much better than running around on a day at the office.
The main purpose of my work is…
…It is difficult to define because it involves several important aspects.
As an underwriting team leader, I monitor team performance, set goals and provide ongoing training, as well as support the broader underwriting and case management teams.
We are also actively improving our processes and policies to further improve our already impressive efficiency and accuracy. We pride ourselves on our strong service levels, and one of the reasons our brokers and borrowers use KSEYE is because they know we're always striving to do better.
Most of the day is always spent approving suggestive terms
Lastly, but by no means least, there is an underwriting component to my role. Make responsible lending decisions in accordance with regulations and lending standards and review credit papers submitted by other members of the team.
Common misconceptions about my role are…
…Underwriters want to aggressively say “no” to brokers and borrowers.
Ultimately, we'd like to say yes, but we're doing everything we can to lend responsibly. This means making sure that anyone who borrows money from KSEYE has a good chance of redeeming their loan.
My typical day consists of…
…Like most people, I start my day by checking my email, catching up on anything urgent, and creating a to-do list for the rest.
A large part of your day is always spent approving suggestive terms. This includes reviewing inquiries submitted by brokers (directly or through our BDM) or direct borrowers, evaluating the entire transaction, and approving interest rates and LTV in accordance with our lending policies.
I am actively working on improving processes and policies
My day-to-day role of providing support and guidance to underwriters and case managers is equally important, covering both underwriting requirements and legal guidance.
My favorite work memory is…
…It’s so hard to choose just one! Most recently, we held a Spanish-themed summer party attended by many of our partner brokers, law firms, and appraisers.
It's great to catch up with friends from across the industry, especially when good food and drink are involved.
The perks of this job are…
…When we’re all in the office (time permitting), we go out to lunch with the wider team and have regular team socials.
When working from home, it's easy to extend your working hours without realizing it.
It's a cliché, but everyone on the KSEYE team is very friendly and we get along well outside of the office environment.
To relax after work, I…
…I either enjoy a night out with friends or I make something nice for dinner and then watch the latest TV show that I'm obsessed with.
This article was published in the October 2024 issue of Mortgage Strategy.
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