2025-12-29 – Weekly Loan Processor News : Avoid the 10-day VOE trap

Last week, the forum buzzed with discussions about optimizing loan processing workflows and streamlining verification systems. Members shared strategies for addressing common processing pitfalls, such as missing documentation and wire verification delays. There was also a strong interest in enhancing risk assessment skills through targeted courses. Practical tips on pre-funding and pre-boarding checks were popular, reflecting a collective focus on improving efficiency and accuracy.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Missing page 2 strikes again
This thread addresses the recurring issue of missing documentation, specifically page 2 of loan forms, and how processors can avoid this common oversight.
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Pre-funding checklist to hit wire cutoffs
A detailed discussion on creating an effective pre-funding checklist to ensure wire transfers meet cutoff times—a must-read for those aiming to streamline their funding process.
Read more here

Wire verification that doesn’t bottleneck funding
Explore strategies to prevent wire verification from delaying the funding process, a topic that has sparked significant interest among processors.
Read more here

That 10-day VOE calendar trap
Learn about the pitfalls of the 10-day verification of employment (VOE) requirement and how to manage it without falling into calendar traps.
Read more here

Pre-boarding checks to cut rework
This thread highlights the importance of thorough pre-boarding checks to minimize rework, an essential read for improving processing efficiency.
Read more here

Courses that improve loan risk judgment
Members discuss valuable courses that enhance skills in assessing loan risk, a key area for professional development.
Read more here

Simple DSCR stress testing in Excel
Get insights into using Excel for debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) stress testing—an accessible tool for processors looking to sharpen their analytical skills.
Read more here

Processor intake SOP and task template
A practical guide to standard operating procedures and task templates for processor intake, designed to streamline your workflow from the start.
Read more here


That wraps up this week’s updates. As always, it’s great to see the community sharing such practical advice and support. Keep those discussions coming!

On the 10-day VOE trap, we set an auto-task to refresh VOE at day 8 and again the morning of docs, and we hard-stop with ‘no VOE older than 7 days at funding’ on the pre-funding checklist. If The Work Number drags, we grab a written VOE plus the latest pay stub and note any gaps so QC isn’t guessing — VOE’s like milk: check the date. Small caveat: it adds a bit of noise for vanilla W-2s, but it’s cheaper than a last-hour redraw.

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Quick win: added a ‘pre-funding wire callback’ 24 hours before funding — fewer delays, but escrow must confirm.

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We kept getting burned on Monday fundings when HR won’t pick up, so we added an LOS rule that blocks doc draw if the VOE would age past 9 days over a weekend and pings us to call HR before noon. Pairing that with a quick Truework refresh cut the “, no answer” moments, though contractors still need manual outreach. Appreciate the automation push, @Guide.

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We cut VOE expiry surprises by switching our LOS counter to business days per investor (and holidays) — no more Monday gotchas, @jfairbanks21. We anchor to Fannie’s ‘10 business days prior to the note date’ (https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/selling-guide), but watch overlays since some investors still want calendar-day timing.

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Agree with @jfairbanks21 on cutting surprises; we added an HR fallback — if we can’t confirm by 2 p.m. 48 hours before signing, the LOS switches to a vendor VOE (e.g., The Work Number) and prompts us to try an alternate supervisor line. Small shops not on a vendor are the gotcha, so we keep a living list of VOE contacts/hours and sanity-check the count to the note date, not funding — otherwise those Monday gremlins sneak back.

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Quick tip: we collect the borrower’s payroll provider up front and pre-load the employer in our vendor VOE portal (e.g., Truework/The Work Number) so if HR goes dark, we can pivot same-day without slipping closing — like keeping a spare key. Small caveat: some investors are picky about the VOE date window, so double-check Fannie’s guidance before relying on a vendor refresh: https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/Selling-Guide/Origination-thru-Closing/Subpart-B3-Underwriting-Borrowers/Chapter-B3-3-Employment-and-Other-Sources-of-Income/B3-3–1-07-Verifying-Employment-10-Day-Pre-Closing-VOE-Verification-of-Employment.

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Anchored VOE chases to the employer’s time zone — Day 6 at 11 a.m… — and if no live pickup by lunch, we call the secondary HR/supervisor contact the borrower gave us. It makes the ‘10-day’ window way less nervy and has killed most pre-funding wire-day scrambles, especially with universities/union shops that go dark Fridays. Co-sign @david_tanaka43, but watch time zones; East Coast closings with Pacific HR can quietly blow your clock.

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