Underwriting: The process of assessing a borrower's creditworthiness (Credit), ability to repay (Capacity), and the property's value (Collateral).
Origination: The creation of the loan and the corresponding Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR).
Servicing: Managing daily loan activities, including collecting monthly payments, managing escrow (taxes and insurance), and handling investor distributions.
2. Key Underwriting Components (The "3 Cs")
Credit: Reviewing FICO scores and payment history to predict future reliability.
Capacity: Evaluating the Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio—comparing monthly debt obligations against gross income (typically seeking 36% or less).
Collateral: Using appraisals to determine the Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio—the loan amount divided by the property value. Higher LTVs represent higher risk for the lender.