What makes a physician loan different
- No PMI even at 0–10% down on loans up to ~$1M and beyond depending on program.
- Employment-contract qualification. Income can be based on a signed contract starting within 60–90 days of closing — useful for residents transitioning to attending.
- Student debt treatment. Many programs use IDR or PAYE payments rather than 1% of balance, dramatically improving DTI.
- Higher loan amounts than equivalent conventional with similar pricing.
Eligible specialties
MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DPM, OD, DVM are standard. Some programs extend to CRNA, PA, NP, and pharmacists. CRNAs in particular have grown into widely supported programs.
Resident vs. attending strategy
Residents buying with a future-attending contract should structure the file around the start date and pay carefully — most lenders want closing within 60 days of employment start. Attendings benefit most from physician programs when the alternative is a 20%+ down conventional that ties up clinic-buy-in or practice-purchase capital.
The trap to avoid
The convenience of 0% down can drive buyers into a payment that's well within affordability today but constrains career flexibility tomorrow (locum work, partnership buy-ins, geographic moves). The right answer is usually a physician loan structured with a healthy buffer — not maxed.
Resident, fellow, or attending?
15-minute call. We'll model the program against your contract, debt profile, and timeline — and tell you whether physician or conventional is the better play.
Schedule a Call