Key Terms
- Student loan payments typically receive favorable treatment with a doctor loan, making it easier to qualify for a mortgage.
- A Iowa physician mortgage loan comes with higher loan limits and options for up to 100% financing.
- Benefits of these loans include no private mortgage insurance.
Iowa is a classic part of the American Midwest, offering a number of things for people to see and do, including the Grout Museum and the Des Moines Art Center. Known as the “Hawkeye State,” this landlocked state is bordered by Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota, and was the 29th state to join the Union on December 28, 1846.
Doctors comprise a good section of the Iowan population, with almost 7,000 doctors currently living and working in the state. For many physicians and professionals, owning a new home in Iowa may seem out of reach for various reasons.
Data from the Iowa Association of Realtors shows the average sales price for single-family homes is $224,000. At this time, homes in Iowa are averaging 32 days on the market which means that they are being sold at a 20% higher rate than last year.
The Iowa doctor loan program may help doctors, dentists and sometimes veterinarians planning to buy or refinance a home in the state to qualify for easier terms. That may include minimal down payment requirements and, in some cases, none at all.
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Pros/Cons of Iowa physician mortgage loans
Why do doctors in Iowa decide to take out physician mortgage loans? These financial products offer a wide range of “pros” in their favor, including:
- Little to no money down required
- No PMI payments
- High loan limits
Lenders that offer doctor mortgages also often give special consideration to student loan debt. Student loan repayment is a common issue with highly-trained healthcare professionals and can prevent them from getting conventional loans.
What are some “cons” working against physician mortgage loans? Higher limits on a loan can drive a borrower to spend more on a house than he or she should. These products also often require that a borrower open an account with the lending bank. Finally, in some cases, a doctor mortgage can have an interest rate that is higher than those offered with conventional mortgages.
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Is an Iowa physician mortgage loan right for you?
If you are reading this, you may be at the point of considering whether a physician mortgage loan will be the right choice for you. What makes a doctor mortgage the right fit? These loans are a great fit for physicians and professionals who know they are in a job they will stick with in the long term and who are committed to staying in their current town.
An Iowa physician mortgage loan is also great for someone who understands that, while burdensome in some ways, a higher interest rate is a good price to pay for the wide-ranging benefits associated with these mortgages.
Examples of medical doctors who take out physician loans in Iowa
Who are the Iowa physicians who have decided that a doctor mortgage is the best option for them? They range from those who are starting out in their careers to established physicians looking to increase their options and maximize their leverage.
An internist who doesn’t have a down payment
As an in-demand Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) internist, Tom’s career is a fait accompli. He is guaranteed a good salary for the duration of his career and steady employment. Unfortunately, however, Tom doesn’t have cash on hand for a 20 percent down payment.
With the amount of student debt he is still carrying and his debt-to-income ratio (DTI), the lack of a down payment doesn’t make him the best candidate for a conventional loan, despite his earning potential and solid career. A physician mortgage loan gives him an easy way to finance a home, with the added bonus of requiring no money down.
A dentist who wants to maximize leverage
Sara started her family dental practice over a decade ago. In the years since, she’s established a great reputation and her income is steady and impressive. She has squirreled away a pretty substantial savings and also made various investments. Now that the time has come to upgrade her small family from a condo to a home in her neighborhood just outside Ames, Sara is exploring her options.
She could sell some investment or draw on her savings to make a 20 percent down payment on a conventional loan, but she prefers to maximize her leverage. Instead, she takes out a doctor mortgage offered by a popular regional lender and receives great terms with 100% financing.
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