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JD MORTGAGE® connects you with lenders offering low to no down payment mortgages designed specifically for high-income professionals. We find the lenders that allow jumbo loan balances, relaxed debt-to-income ratios and typically do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI).
Offered exclusively through Biglaw Investor, we make it incredibly simple to find the best mortgage for your home financing needs.
I’m an associate at a firm in Houston and used JD Mortgage thanks to your advice! The experience was great—they were super fast and responsive.” —Mary Kate Raffetto Beck Redden LLP
For a JD Mortgage, I had good luck with IBERIABank. [They] made this process very smooth.” —Clint Cowan Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann
Contrary to popular belief, Arizona isn’t all hot weather and deserts. The western state is a diverse place, experiencing significant snowfall in the winters and boasting several ski resorts, in addition to its classic arid landscapes. Arizona is also, of course, home to the internationally renowned Grand Canyon National Park – one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder Arizona’s housing market is experiencing one of the biggest surges in the country, growing at a rate of about 11% year-over-year. Recent statistics from the National Association of Realtors show that Arizona real estate has an attractive average home price at $477,219.
Buying in Arizona can be particularly appealing for high-earning professionals, many of which can qualify for real estate benefits such as physician loans in the state. These physician mortgage loan programs extend a number of advantages to the 18,343 doctors and other professionals in Arizona, allowing them to purchase a home sooner than they might expect.
Any big purchase should come with some careful consideration of the pros and cons involved. What are the pros and cons of going with an Arizona doctor mortgage? The pros are impressive, giving Arizona doctors and professionals a much easier entry point to the housing market. With a physician loan, you can get:
And the downsides? There are a few, though many professionals feel the pros outweigh the cons. Some of the cons associated with doctor mortgages include:
Keeping these pros and cons in mind can help you make an informed decision when choosing between a physician loan and other conventional options. For healthcare professionals who locate an ideal real estate property on the NMLS, such as medical residents who have just received a high offer, these loans make sense. New doctors can use these to buy a new home without having to bring in a substantial down payment. This provides quicker and easier access to homeownership, but all doctors should carefully research the home buying process with a physician home loan. Qualifying doctors should do their research to decide on the right lender.
For someone who doesn’t have the opportunity to tap into refinancing to buy a second home or a credit card to assist with the purchase process, a physician home loan could be an option for a new physician to get a perfect place.
Some of these lenders only offer mortgage loans to attending physicians, while others can lend to those still in residency.
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Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Veterinarians (DVM)
$10M+ Closed Loans
Alerus is a national bank but one that you might not know. They are headquartered in North Dakota but provide mortgage across the country.
Alerus has some other interesting features, including a $20,000 closing guarantee. It's a benefit paid to the seller if the loan doesn't close per the terms of the pre-approval letter. In other words, it's something you can use to make your offer look more attractive in a competitive market. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Veterinarians (DVM)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $750 thousand |
| 5% | up to $1 million |
| 10% | above $1.5 million |
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Medical doctor (MD/DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS), Pharmacist (Pharm D), Attorney (JD), Veterinarian (DVM), Physician Assistant, Registered Nurse (RN/NP/CRNA), ATP Pilots, CPA
$500M+ Closed Loans
Flagstar Bank was chartered in 1987 and holds around $23 billion in assets, making it a medium sized bank. However, they punch above their weight when it comes to mortgages.
The bank is the sixth largest bank mortgage originator nationally. They only offer ARM products when it comes to doctor mortgages but their ability to lend in all 50 states means they're a player at every closing. There is no application fee or prepayment penalties. They also offer a float down, buy down, and recast option. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS), Pharmacist (Pharm D), Attorney (JD), Veterinarian (DVM), Physician Assistant, Registered Nurse (RN/NP/CRNA), ATP Pilots, CPA
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1 million |
| 5% | up to $1.5 million |
| 20% | up to $2 million |
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usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Podiatrist (DPM)
$10M+ Closed Loans
Keybank is a major national bank based in Ohio with a competitive doctor mortgage program. They also lend across a large part of the United States.
The Keybank doctor mortgage program does not require you to be a minimum or maximum number of years out of medical school to qualify. They also offer large mortgage options if needed and part of your down payment can be supplied in money that you've received as a gift. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Podiatrist (DPM)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1 million |
| 5% | up to $1.5 million |
| 15% | above $2 million |
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Medical doctor (MD/DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS), Fellow, Resident, Optometry (OD), Pharmacist (PharmD), Lawyer (JD)
$500M+ Closed Loans
UMB Bank has one of the few 0% down mortgages available to lawyers, so is popular among the attorney crowd. They have a small footprint but can be a good bet for doctors too.
The UMB Bank program is limited to just seven states, so that's a major downside if you are outside of their lending footprint. The good news is that a wide range of doctors qualify for the program, including Pharmacists and Optometrists, both of which are sometimes excluded from lending programs. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS), Optometrists (OD), Pharmacists (Pharm D)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1 million |
| 5% | up to $1.5 million |
| 10% | up to $2 million |
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usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Lawyers(JD), Residents, Fellows
$500M+ Closed Loans
US Bank has a great doctor mortgage program but it isn't advertised on the bank's website. You'll have to contact them directly.
US Bank is able to lend in all 50 states, meaning this program is available to most of the country's doctors and physicians. The downside is that the program is fairly limited. For example, dentists, pharmacists and nurses aren't eligible. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Lawyers (JD), Residents, Fellows
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 5% | up to $1 million |
| 10% | up to $1.5 million |
| 15% | up to $2 million |
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usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD, DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Pharmacists, Chiropractor, Veterinarian, Fellows, Residents
$50M+ Closed Loans
Wintrust is headquartered in Illinois but can lend in all 50 states (unfortunately, their doctor program is not available everywhere). They originate in excess of $4 billion in mortgages annually.
The Wintrust physician mortgage program can use 1099 contract income to qualify for underwriter approval. Student loan payments aren't included in the DTI calculation if there is no scheduled student loan payment for the next 12 months. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD, DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Pharmacists, Chiropractor, Veterinarian, Fellows, Residents
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $850 thousand |
| 3% | up to $1.25 million |
| 5% | up to $1.5 million |
| 10% | up to $2 million |
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Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Podiatrist (DPM)
$10M+ Closed Loans
Laurel Road used to be an independent bank but is now owned by Keycorp and part of the Keybank family. They focus on financial products for healthcare professionals.
Laurel Road has a middle of the road doctor mortgage program. It's available in all 50 states but limited to healthcare professionals and only goes up to $1 million. Retired doctors are not eligible. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO), Dentist (DMD/DDS), Podiatrist (DPM)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1 million |
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usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Lawyers (JD)
$50M+ Closed Loans
NEO home loans works with lawyers, physicians and other high-income professionals to find mortgage options that accommodate their unique financial situations.
The group has years of experience arranging loans for high-income professionals and has access to multiple programs giving them an edge on finding a financing option for your specific situation. For example, NEO can help you finance a home purchase with a credit score as low as 620 or if you are paid as a 1099 contractor. We've seen them handle a number of unique situations, so if that's you then we'd encourage you to reach out to see what they can do. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD, DO); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Podiatrist (DPM), Veterinarian (DVM), Lawyer (JD), Nurse (CRNA, NP, RN), Physician Assistant (PA), Physical Therapist (DPT)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1 million (Medical) |
| 5% | up to $1.25 million (Medical) |
| 10% | up to $2 million (Medical) |
| 3% | up to $850 thousand (Professionals) |
| 5% | up to $1 million (Professionals) |
| 10% | up to $1.5 million (Professionals) |
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usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Fellows, Residents
$500M+ Closed Loans
Citizens Bank is one of the largest banks in the United States. We bet you didn't know that it is head-quartered in the smallest state: Rhode Island.
With over $160 billion in assets, it's no surprise that Citizens offers a full range of financial products, including a physician loan. New medical professional graduates who are under contract for residency within 60 days of closing and have not yet obtained a license are eligible. No more than 10 years out of residency. Self-employed professionals are eligible with a two-year history of self-employment income. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD); Dentist (DMD, DDS); Fellows, Residents
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 5% | up to $850 thousand |
| 10% | up to $1 million |
| 15% | up to $1.5 million |
• Online
usually responds within 30 minutes
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Oral Surgeons (OMS), Podiatrist (DPM)
$500M+ Closed Loans
First Horizon Bank has one of the hottest doctor mortgages available as they can lend up to $1.5 million at 0% down.
Being able to lend such a large amount at 0% down is particularly helpful in states like New Jersey, New York and Texas where home prices have risen sharply in the past decade. The only downside is that the program has strict eligibility requirements and folks like dentists and lawyers aren't eligible. [ Read Review ]
Medical doctor (MD/DO); Oral Surgeons (OMS), Podiatrist (DPM)
| Down payment | Financing |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $1.5 million |
| 5% | up to $2 million |
| 10% | up to $2.5 million |
Asking if an Arizona physician loan is right for you is a valid question. What are some of the factors you should consider when making this choice?
Start off by asking whether the time is right. If you have just started a job, it may not be the right time to commit to a big purchase. It often takes as many as two years to determine whether a job can work for you. Committing to a home purchase may be premature if you are still in the early days of a job.
Next, ask yourself how much house you really want to invest in. One of the most appealing features of doctor mortgages is that you can get the loan with zero down. This, however, can drive some to purchase a bigger or more expensive home than they really need. Limiting your purchasing price to around two times your salary is a good idea if you do move ahead with a physician loan.
Are lower rates more appealing to you? In that scenario, you might consider waiting to see whether you can save towards a large down payment and go with a conventional mortgage instead.
Remember, too, that lenders extend physician loans to high-earning professionals like you because they believe you will be a good, long-term customer. Making a commitment to a doctor mortgage comes with advantages, including this financial relationship with the lender, but could be more than you are willing to take on for the time being. Some of the typical options with equal housing lenders, FHA loans, a refinance, or other lender opportunities might not be the right fit for you, but a physician’s home loan could open the door.
Understanding how and why doctors and other professionals take out physician loans in Arizona can add another layer of clarity to your decision making process. Here are just a few scenarios that exemplify the doctors who apply for these financial products.
Carmen is just beginning her residency in anesthesiology at the University of Arizona Health Science (UAHS) and has her sights set on a long-term career in Tucson. She hasn’t been able to save up much during medical school, having committed most of her day to her studies. Most of her cashflow is now going toward student debt repayments, as well.
Another resident at UAHS let her know about doctor mortgages, including the appealing benefit of getting a mortgage with no money down. Since Carmen knows she wants to stay in Tucson and wants to establish herself now early on in her residency, the time is ideal to move ahead with an Arizona physician loan.
Marcus is in his second year as an attending physician at Banner – University Medical Center in Phoenix. His salary is great, and he has been able to make some headway with his student debt. He has even invested some of his cash on hand. This, however, has tied up his liquid assets and he doesn’t have the funds for a big down payment.
Since his portfolio is doing well, he doesn’t want to sell. Since his salary is so high at this point in his career, he’s been told he’s a great candidate for a doctor mortgage with zero money down. Rather than let go of his investments, Marcus has decided to take out a physician loan to purchase a home for his growing family.
If you’re looking to explore the best physician loans in other states, click on your state below.
Joshua Holt is a licensed mortgage loan originator (NMLS #2306824) and founder of Biglaw Investor. His mortgage expertise lies in the areas of professional mortgage loans, particularly for lawyers, doctors and other high-income professionals. Prior to Biglaw Investor, Josh practiced private equity mergers & acquisition law for one of the largest law firms in the country.
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