What is a physician mortgage?
A physician mortgage is a home loan designed around the financial profile of eligible medical professionals. Depending on the lender and current program, it may allow a lower down payment, no monthly private mortgage insurance, qualification with an employment contract, and different treatment of qualifying student debt. It is still a fully underwritten mortgage—not an automatic approval.
Who may benefit
Residents, fellows, newly attending physicians and established medical professionals often use this financing when their current income, liquid savings and future earning trajectory do not fit a conventional template.
- Relocating for residency, fellowship or a new attending role
- Closing shortly before a documented employment start date
- Preserving liquidity instead of making a large down payment
- Comparing student-loan treatment across programs
- Purchasing an owner-occupied property that fits program rules
LMCU physician mortgage features
LMCU currently advertises zero down up to $1.25 million for qualifying transactions, no required mortgage insurance, fixed- and adjustable-rate options, total financing up to $2.5 million, and exclusion of deferred student-loan debt from the Doctor Mortgage debt-to-income calculation. Employment-contract timing and property eligibility must be confirmed for the borrower, property, state and application date.
Reasons not to use a physician mortgage
A low down payment does not automatically make a loan cheaper. Compare the note rate, total interest, closing costs, liquidity retained, future refinance assumptions and the risk of buying too much home. A conventional or adjustable-rate option may be stronger in some cases.
Example: preserve cash or reduce the loan?
On a $750,000 purchase, compare a physician option with a small down payment against conventional financing with 10% or 20% down. The useful question is not only the payment difference; it is what the retained cash will do, how long you expect to own the home, and whether the pricing premium is worth that flexibility.
Common mistakes
Starting the conversation after signing a purchase agreement, assuming every medical title qualifies, budgeting from gross income, ignoring property taxes after reassessment, and choosing the lowest down payment without comparing long-term cost.
Prepare for a useful physician mortgage review
The first conversation is most productive when it connects career timing with the complete purchase plan. Exact documents can wait for the secure application, but these facts reveal which financing paths deserve comparison.
- Medical designation and current training or employment stage
- Signed contract, start date and compensation structure when relocating
- Student-loan balance, repayment status and required payment
- Target price, property type, location and expected time in the home
- Available funds, desired reserves and competing uses for cash
| Question | Physician mortgage | Conventional mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | May offer low-down-payment options | Varies by occupancy and loan size |
| Monthly PMI | Not required under LMCU's advertised Doctor Mortgage | Often applies above 80% LTV |
| Future employment | Contract may be considered | Usually requires standard income documentation |
| Student loans | Program-specific treatment | Agency guidelines apply |
| Best fit | Liquidity and career-transition needs | Broad eligibility and market pricing |
Frequently asked questions
Do all doctors qualify for a physician mortgage?+
No. Eligible designations, employment, property type, state availability, credit and underwriting rules vary by lender and program. Confirm eligibility before relying on the financing in an offer.
Can I close before my new physician job begins?+
Potentially. Some programs can use an eligible signed employment contract and permit a future start date, subject to timing, reserves and documentation requirements.
Does a physician mortgage always have the lowest rate?+
No. Its value may come from liquidity, no monthly PMI or specialized underwriting. Compare the rate, cash to close, five-year cost and expected holding period with conventional financing.
Can student loans be ignored?+
Treatment is program-specific. A portfolio physician loan may handle qualifying student debt differently, while conventional and government programs apply their own documented-payment rules.