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Underwriter vs foreclosure specialist

The differences between underwriters and foreclosure specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an underwriter has an average salary of $61,751, which is higher than the $41,088 average annual salary of a foreclosure specialist.

The top three skills for an underwriter include customer service, investor guidelines and mortgage loans. The most important skills for a foreclosure specialist are foreclosure process, insurer, and loss mitigation.

Underwriter vs foreclosure specialist overview

UnderwriterForeclosure Specialist
Yearly salary$61,751$41,088
Hourly rate$29.69$19.75
Growth rate-4%-3%
Number of jobs8,5108,166
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4443
Years of experience--

What does an underwriter do?

An underwriter's duties depend on the line of work or industry involved, such as mortgage companies, insurance, or lending firms. However, an Underwriter's responsibility will mainly revolve around using their extensive expertise on how a company will achieve financial gains, and assessing the possible financial risks of a client by reviewing various aspects to determine their capacity to uphold monetary obligations. Most of the time, the Underwriter's tasks will also involve evaluating a client's credit history, health, assets, overall financial history.

What does a foreclosure specialist do?

A foreclosure specialist is a real estate professional that manages foreclosure processes. Serving in this role means that you will have responsibilities such as ensuring that aspects related to foreclosure meet all government regulations from the federal level to the state level and that deadlines are met and duly communicated to all parties involved. You may have to work with mortgage holders that run the risk of default, in which case you will be tasked with renegotiating loan agreement changes.

Underwriter vs foreclosure specialist salary

Underwriters and foreclosure specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

UnderwriterForeclosure Specialist
Average salary$61,751$41,088
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $96,000Between $28,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyGoogle-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between underwriter and foreclosure specialist education

There are a few differences between an underwriter and a foreclosure specialist in terms of educational background:

UnderwriterForeclosure Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Underwriter vs foreclosure specialist demographics

Here are the differences between underwriters' and foreclosure specialists' demographics:

UnderwriterForeclosure Specialist
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 38.4% Female, 61.6%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%4%

Differences between underwriter and foreclosure specialist duties and responsibilities

Underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Attain Jr. underwriter status and AUS underwriting authority.
  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Complete initial review of appraisals, borrower credit documents, and DU/LP findings according to Fannie Mae and investor guidelines.
  • Research and develop SBA program.
  • Work on project putting together HPR policy.
  • Resolve issues preventing final disposition of REO properties.
  • Show more

Foreclosure specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage a SharePoint site to store all materials.
  • Manage property inspection process through network of accredit REO inspectors.
  • Manage both conforming and non-conforming loans according to FNMA guidelines to maximize recovery.
  • Work closely with assign eviction and foreclosure attorneys towards a successful lockout.
  • Communicate with attorneys in reference to their claims submit to FHLMC.
  • Update files in AS400 as well as LPS to reflect sales, mediation depositions and hearings.
  • Show more

Underwriter vs foreclosure specialist skills

Common underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Investor Guidelines, 6%
  • Mortgage Loans, 5%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • FHA, 3%
Common foreclosure specialist skills
  • Foreclosure Process, 9%
  • Insurer, 6%
  • Loss Mitigation, 5%
  • Litigation, 5%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • MSP, 5%

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