Build a Claude Project Guideline Research Assistant

Before setting up the Project, gather the documents you'll upload:

1. Fannie Mae Selling Guide — download at fanniemae.com/singlefamily/originating-underwriting/selling-guide
2. Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide — download at freddiemac.com/singlefamily/guide
3. Your lender's overlay matrix (if available as a PDF or text file)
4. FHA Handbook 4000.1 — available at hud.gov (for FHA underwriters)

Note: These are large documents. Claude Projects accept files up to a certain size — if the full guide is too large, upload specific chapters most relevant to your common questions (income, credit, property, eligibility).

Most useful chapters to prioritize:

• Fannie Mae: B3 (Underwriting Borrowers), B4 (Property Assessment), B5 (Special Purpose Programs)
• Freddie Mac: Chapter 5100 (Documentation), Chapter 5300 (Credit Assessment)
• FHA 4000.1: Section II (Origination Through Post-Closing/Endorsement)

1. Go to {{tool:Claude.url}} and sign in
2. In the left sidebar, click Projects → + New Project
3. Name it: "Mortgage Guideline Research — [Your Name or Team]"
4. Click Create

What you should see: A project workspace with options for instructions and documents.

1. Click Project Instructions
2. Enter the following:

You are a mortgage underwriting guideline research assistant. Your job is to help a residential mortgage underwriter find accurate guideline information quickly.

Primary guideline sources (uploaded in this project):
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide
- Freddie Mac Single-Family Guide
- [Any lender overlays uploaded]

When answering guideline questions:
1. Always cite the specific chapter/section of the guideline (e.g., "Fannie Mae B3-3.1-01" or "FHA 4000.1 Section II.A.5")
2. Quote the relevant guideline language directly when possible
3. Note the effective date if it's relevant to the question
4. If the answer varies by loan type, product, or scenario, explain the differences clearly
5. If a question falls outside uploaded guidelines, say so clearly rather than guessing
6. If a borrower scenario has multiple interpretations, describe each and note the most conservative interpretation

Important: I am using your answers to inform real underwriting decisions. Flag any situations where I should verify with a compliance officer or the agency directly.

1. Click Save

1. In the Project workspace, look for + Add content or a paper clip icon
2. Click to upload files
3. Upload your guideline PDFs one at a time
4. Wait for each to process (large PDFs may take a minute)

What you should see: Each uploaded document appears as a tile in your project. Claude can now reference these in all project conversations.

1. Click New Conversation in your project
2. Ask a question you've looked up recently:

Test question: "On a Fannie Mae conventional loan, can a borrower use income from a 2nd job if they've only had it for 8 months? What documentation is required?"

What you should see: A precise answer citing the specific Fannie Mae section about supplemental income, including the 2-year history requirement, any exceptions for consistent part-time work, and required documentation — with guideline section numbers.