Key Terms
- Physicians have access to competitive interest rates for high loan amounts up to $2.5 million or more, depending on the physician mortgage lender.
- Student loan payments typically receive favorable treatment with a doctor loan, making it easier to qualify for a mortgage.
- Physician mortgages don’t require private mortgage insurance (PMI) even with a 0% down payment.
South Dakota is a state noted for its miles and miles of green pastures and open land. It is home to the Black Hills National Forest, Sioux Falls, Mr. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Often called “the land of infinite variety” due to its prairies, cities, and lush forested areas, South Dakota has a lot to offer today’s home buyers, including the almost 2000 working physicians who live there.
Home values here are competitive and growing rapidly. The Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire reported that the median home price here rose over 21% over the previous year. The key concern in South Dakota as it is in other areas is a limited number of homes for sale, which has pushed home values high. Current sales averages are at just under $250,000, in fact.
The South Dakota physician mortgage loan program may help to alleviate some of the financial strain. For qualified providers like doctors and dentists, it may be possible to purchase or refinance a home with fewer limitations. These loans offer no or a low down payment requirement as well.
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Pros/Cons of South Dakota physician mortgage loans
If you are seriously considering a South Dakota physician loan to mortgage a home, you may like to weigh the pros and cons of entering into such a financial commitment. The pros are a tailored fit for many health care professionals and include higher loan limits, no PMI payments, and the option of 100 percent financing in some scenarios. Doctors will also receive special consideration when it comes to their student debt, which can affect their DTI ratios.
What are the downsides involved? There are just a few, the most significant of which is that borrowers may have to pay a higher interest rate. Lenders also sometimes ask that you also open an account at one of their branches. Veterinarians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are often excluded, but we encourage you to inquire with each lender to learn more. And, finally, those higher limits can be appealing, but in some scenarios, you may buy more house than you can afford.
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Is a South Dakota physician mortgage loan right for you?
If a South Dakota physician loan is on your list of mortgage options, take some time to assess whether or not it works for you in the long term. Your job should be stable, and you should be more than happy to stay in that position for years to come.
You also want to make sure that you are fine with paying a higher interest rate, which can tally up to a significant sum over the life of a loan.
As a final consideration, look at the status of your student debt. If it will weigh you down for the foreseeable future, a doctor mortgage is your best bet. If you can dig out from under it sooner rather than later, a conventional loan may be a good alternative in a few years.
Examples of doctors who take out physician loans in South Dakota
Who are the South Dakotans turning to physician loans to finance homes? They are professionals just like you whose particular situations make these financial products an easier fit.
Doctor who only has 10 percent to put down on a home
When Maggie became a doctor, she knew that she would want to remain in her home state of South Dakota. Now that she has a job in the oncology department at Averra McKinnon Hospital, she wants to buy a home. She only has 10 percent to put down, however, which is limiting her options with conventional mortgages.
Turning to a doctor mortgage allows her to put down even less and she gets to enjoy a range of other benefits on top of that, including special consideration of her student debt from medical school.
Doctor who wants to maximize leverage
Mike’s new fellowship means that he is on track to enjoy a great career in orthopedics. It doesn’t, however, come with a regular paycheck, and that’s something local, conventional mortgage lenders expect.
Fortunately, a lender offering doctor mortgages in Pierre understands that fellows don’t always have traditional work profiles. His signed contract suffices for the lender as proof of employment, and he is on track for approval on a new home mortgage.
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