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Medical Professional Mortgages

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The average medical student graduates with $200,000 in student loan debt. That means potential student loan payments of $2,000 per month or more. And high student loan rates are just one reason medical professionals, especially those just starting their careers, face challenges in obtaining traditional mortgages. There is hope, though. Arthur State Bank, a community bank in SC, has developed a mortgage program to address medical professionals’ unique needs. In this article, we’ll explain why medical professionals have difficulty obtaining traditional mortgages and why a medical professional mortgage might be the right fit for you.

Mortgage Challenges for Medical Professionals Medical Professional Mortgage

Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, chiropractors and physician assistants all may face obstacles when applying for a mortgage early in their careers. Here are a few of the challenges they face:

Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders look at your income and credit score when it comes to mortgages, of course, but they also look at your debt-to-income ratio. This is the total of your monthly debt payments compared to your monthly income. Lenders add up your student loan payment, your new mortgage payment, your car payment and your credit card payments, and then look at your monthly income. Here’s an example:

  • Monthly gross income: $10,000
  • Debts: Student loan payment: $2,200 Credit card minimum payments: $500 Car payment: $400 Estimated new mortgage payment: $1,500 Total Debts: $4,600
  • In this scenario, your debt-to-income ratio is 46%.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government entities that buy most conventional mortgages, allow debt-to-income ratios of up to 50%, and if your debt-to-income ratio is more than 45%, you must have 12 months of cash reserves. If you’ve recently finished your schooling, fellowships, residencies, and other training, you’re unlikely to have that much in cash reserves, and you may have a tough time qualifying for a conventional mortgage. If you’re curious about how much your potential mortgage payment will be and how that impacts your debt-to-income ratio, try out Arthur State Bank’s mortgage calculator.

Proof of Income

Lenders typically require proof of income. You may want to settle into your new home before starting work, but you may have a tough time qualifying for a mortgage if you haven’t already started working. You could move your family into temporary housing, but that adds more stress into an already stressful situation.

Down Payment

Twenty percent down is typically cited as the ideal down payment. If you’ve just finished your training, it’s unlikely you’ve had a chance to save up that much. One of the reasons the 20% number is often cited is that if your down payment is less than 20%, most lenders require you to carry private mortgage insurance or PMI. PMI can add significantly to your monthly mortgage payment, and it doesn’t protect you as the borrower. Rather, it protects the lender if you default.

Medical Professional Mortgages with ASB

Medical Professional MortgageAt Arthur State Bank, we recognize the tough position you’re in. We also see your potential for growth. That’s why we’ve developed a medical professional mortgage, which is tailored specifically to your needs. It offers:

  • A 5% down payment, which can be earned funds or a gift.
  • A maximum loan amount of $1.5 million.
  • No PMI.
  • A fixed rate for the first 5 or 10 years, which may adjust annually after that.
  • A mortgage term of up to 30 years.

We’re proud to serve as your community bank in South Carolina, and we’d love to invest in you as a valued member of our community. We believe in personal service, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. To learn more about your mortgage options, take a moment to complete this no-obligation mortgage information request form. We’ll get in touch to discuss your homeownership options. You’ve worked hard, and you deserve the home of your dreams. We’re ready to help. Contact us today! Request Mortgage Information

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AnnualCreditReport.com is the only source for free credit reports authorized by the federal government. Every 12 months, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each agency.

Your credit report has your credit history for all of your credit accounts as well as any credit inquiries and public record court information such as collections. In addition, the report provides personally identifiable information such as your name, address, and employment.

Be sure to carefully review all three reports to identify any problem areas that you may need to clean up prior to applying for a mortgage. If there is any incorrect information, follow the reporting agency’s rules to correct it or add a notation to the report to explain the situation.

Your FICO Score is a score combines data from several areas include payment history, the amount owed, length of credit history, new accounts. Many lenders use this score as a guide. This score is not provided as part of the free annual credit report.

Learn more about how your credit score impacts your ability to secure a loan.

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Couple looking over finances

Primary considerations for setting your housing budget require an assessment of your income, debt and current savings for the down payment on the home. The following are generally recommended guidelines; however, you should meet with an Arthur State Bank lender to get personalized mortgage information.

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Couple meeting with lender

The pre-qualification/pre-approval letter is included with any offer you make on a house to inform the seller that you have met with a mortgage lender and you are prepared to make an offer. The letter states that based on certain assumptions, the bank is prepared to lend you up to a specified amount of money for a home mortgage.

When choosing a loan officer, we recommend going local to work with someone who understands your community’s real estate market. This blog on first-time home purchases includes questions to ask your lender that may be helpful when preparing for your meeting.

Helpful Resources:

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Realtor shaking hands with a client

When a house is sold, the seller typically pays real estate commission to both the listing agent and the selling agent. It is extremely beneficial for the buyer to use their own real estate agent. Loan officers can often recommend selling agents in the area; ask your officer about realtor referrals when discussing your loan.

A good realtor will know the local market and can help you find an ideal home based on your budget, location and desired features. During your search, understand that you will most likely need to compromise on some items, so it’s important to identify your critical needs versus your wants.

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Couple searching online for a home

Additionally, when you start with the house search and work backwards, homes can often go off the market while you’re completing steps 1-4. While browsing homes immediately can be tempting, we recommend following these steps in order so that, once you find your dream home, you’ll be well-positioned to take action immediately.

When you find the home you want and you think you are ready to put an offer on it, you will want to make sure you have all the information you need to make a solid offer.

  • Evaluate the neighborhood.
  • Drive by the house at different times of the day.
  • Examine how other houses in the neighborhood are maintained.
  • Consider any potential traffic or other disruptive noise.
  • Is there ample parking for you and visitors?
  • Read the details in any Homeowner Association agreements (HOA fees and rules).

Make sure to do a preliminary check of house details:

  • Check the water:
  • Does it have good pressure?
  • How long does it take to get the water hot?
  • Is it well water or city water?
  • Turn light switches on and off.
  • Open and close doors and windows to make sure they work properly.
  • Review previous utility bill expenses.
  • Consider the property tax bill.

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Family meeting with realtor at new house

When writing an offer contract, be sure to pay attention to all of the details.

Offer Price:

Your agent should do a market analysis that pulls data on recently sold comparable houses. The best comparisons will come from the same neighborhood.

If you are asking for the seller to pay some of the closing costs, remember that this cost plus the sales commission determines the net amount you are offering the seller for the house.

Work with your agent on your negotiation strategy. There are many things to consider, such as how badly you want this particular house, whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market and an assessment of the seller’s motivation to get the property sold.

There isn’t one best strategy.

Be sure to document in writing everything you want included with the house, such as appliances, etc. Your agent should guide you through the contract step-by-step.

Contingencies:

  • Home inspection.
  • Mortgage.
  • Final walk through (24 hours prior to closing).

Proposed closing date. Typically, this is 30-45 days from an accepted offer.

A good-faith deposit is required for the offer. This is typically between 1-10% of the purchase price of the house. The deposit is kept in escrow until closing and the money is applied to the purchase price of the house at closing. If the house does not close due to one of the contingency clauses, the buyer receives their money back. However, if the buyer decides not to close on the property, the seller may get the deposit money.

Attach your pre-approval letter to the offer.

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Two people in professional meeting

The clock starts ticking for everything documented in the contract, including mortgage application, inspections and closing date.

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Woman advising other woman on mortgage application

You will need to decide which mortgage to select prior to the application.

Plan for the following potential fees:

  • Application fee (many banks and mortgage companies charge an application fee; however, there is not an application fee at Arthur State Bank).
  • Credit check.
  • Appraisal (may be paid at closing).
  • Loan origination fee (paid at closing).

Once you have approval for your loan, make sure you don’t change anything that will impact the status of your mortgage. Banks do a final check on credit and jobs just prior to closing, so now is not the time to change jobs or make another purchase on credit such as a car or furniture.

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Home inspector going over findings with home owner

Depending on the size of the house, an inspection can cost on average between $300 to $1000.

Many real estate contracts specify how problems uncovered in the inspection will be resolved, up to a certain dollar amount. Should necessary repairs exceed that amount, the buyer has the option to cancel the contract without penalty and receive their deposit money back. Another option is for the buyer and seller to renegotiate who will pay for additional repairs.

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Woman happily holding keys to her new home
  • Homeowner’s insurance is required by the lender prior to closing on the loan.
  • Turn on utilities in your name, effective the closing date.
  • Change your address with the U.S. Postal Service.
    • Make moving arrangements.

Three days prior to closing:

  • You should receive your final Closing Disclosure from the closing agency. The final Closing Disclosure shows a column for the seller and a column for the buyer. All closing charges and credits for both the seller and the buyer are documented in the closing statement.
  • Review the closing statement for accuracy prior to coming to closing.
  • The final amount in the buyer’s column shows you the amount of money you need to pay at closing.

The closing office will provide specific payment instructions. Closing funds have become recent targets for cybercriminals. If you are asked to use a wire transfer, call the office and ask to speak to someone you have been working with to double-check the instructions.

Closing day:

In South Carolina, the closing will usually take place at the attorney’s office. Everyone signing for the mortgage must be present to sign the closing paperwork. Make sure you bring the following:

  • Cashier’s check or proof of payment for wire transfer.
  • Driver’s license.
  • Checkbook, just in case there are any additional items that were not on the closing statement.

Be sure to understand this information:

  • How and when you will pay:
  • Your mortgage.
  • Your property taxes.
  • Your homeowner’s insurance.
  • Any HOA dues.
  • Who to call with any questions.

The best practice is to go through the homebuyer’s roadmap in this sequence. However, if you jumped ahead early in your journey, just circle back to address the steps you missed.

Arthur State Bank’s loan officers are closely tapped into local real estate markets and experts at helping clients get what they need on terms that work for them. We also offer mortgage specials for first-time homebuyers.

To start planning your journey to your dream home, try out our mortgage calculator. If you’re ready to talk to a loan officer, contact Arthur State Bank to request personalized mortgage information today. Don’t forget to ask about our first-time homebuyer offer.

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