Best Physician Mortgage Loans in California 2024

After medical school, many physicians are saddled with staggering student loan debt, pushing their debt-to-income ratios outside the qualifications for a conventional mortgage.

Physician mortgage loans can be a great option for early-career doctors interested in homeownership.

Whether you’re in residency or relocating to continue your career as an attending physician in California, physician loans in California can make securing a home loan easier.

9 Best California Physician Home Loan Lenders

With over 119,000 doctors practicing in the Golden State, you’ll find several lenders who can help you navigate the physician mortgage loan process.

Here are the top physician mortgage loan lenders in CA:

  1. Bank of America
  2. BMO Bank
  3. Citizens Bank
  4. Evolve Bank & Trust
  5. Flagstar Bank
  6. KeyBank
  7. Truist
  8. UMB Bank
  9. U.S. Bank

Discover The Best Lenders in California

Answer just a few questions about your career, where you're buying, and how much you want to borrow. Our service will then show you the exact programs you're eligible for from vetted physician loan specialists who will guide you through every step of the process – obligation-free!

1. Bank of America

  • BBB Grade: A-
  • JD Power Score: 747

Bank of America is one of California’s original providers of physician home loans and boasts a high score in the 2023 JD Power U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study.

They offer 97% financing for loans up to $850,000, 95% on loans up to $1 million, 90% on loans up to $1.5 million, and 85% on loans up to $2 million.

Like many other doctor mortgage loans, Bank of America stipulates that the loan must be used to purchase your primary residence, not a rental, vacation, or investment property.

Bank of America offers fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable mortgage rates. These loans can also be used to purchase a new home or to refinance your loan on your existing property.


2. BMO Bank

  • BBB Grade: A+
  • JD Power Score: NR for mortgages

BMO Bank (formerly BMO Harris Bank) is another great option for medical doctors and dentists interested in purchasing a home.

This lender offers all standard fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage products in all states, except New York.

BMO offers three financing options in California:

  1. 100% financing up to $1 million
  2. 95% financing up to $1.5 million
  3. 90% financing for $1.5 – $2 million

BMO also doesn’t require primary mortgage insurance, which will lower your monthly mortgage payments compared to a conventional mortgage.


3. Citizens Bank

  • BBB Grade: B
  • JD Power Score: 710

Citizens Bank’s physician loan program will provide up to 95% financing and refinancing options for medical professionals and current medical professional residents, fellows, and interns who have completed residency within the last ten years, including:

  • Doctors of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
  • Doctors of Dental Surgery (DDS)
  • Doctors of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Like other doctor loans, the Citizens Doctor Loan is available with fixed and adjustable mortgage rate repayment plans. You can use Citizens’ built-in calculator to determine your estimated loan payment.


4. Evolve Bank & Trust

  • BBB Grade: A
  • JD Power Score: NR

Evolve Bank & Trust Medical Professional Program is available to those just graduating from medical school, dental school, veterinarian school, or those who are 10 years or less out of residency or fellowship.

Evolve’s lenders are knowledgeable and experienced, which allows for a streamlined application process. You can find more information about the bank’s mortgages for physicians by working with an advisor in your area, which you can find using this Home Loan Center tool.


5. Flagstar Bank

  • BBB Grade: A+
  • JD Power Score: 591

Flagstar Bank can customize a specialty loan program for physicians in California. One of this lender’s biggest benefits is its availability to a wide range of professions, including:

  • Medical residents with educational licenses
  • Medical Doctors (MD)
  • Doctors of Osteopathy (DO)
  • Doctors of Dental Surgery (DDS)
  • Doctors of Dental Medicine (DMD)
  • Doctors of Optometry (OD)
  • Doctors of Ophthalmology (MD)
  • Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
  • Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
  • Nurse Practitioners (NP)
  • Registered Nurses (RN)
  • Physician Assistants (PA)
  • Pharmacists (PharmD)
  • Veterinarians (DVM)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Attorneys
  • ATP Pilots

Flagstar Bank’s borrowers can secure up to $1 million without a down payment if they have at least a 720 credit score. It will provide loans up to $1.5 million with a low down payment.

While it isn’t rated in the JD Power Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study, the lender was included in the 2023 Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction and scored in the middle of the pack.


6. KeyBank

  • BBB Grade: A+
  • JD Power Score: 724

KeyBank provides loans of up to $3.5 million to medical professionals. Borrowers can use KeyBank loans for attached or detached single-family homes, condos, and planned unit developments as long as it is owner-occupied.

When you apply for a KeyBank doctor loan, you’ll be provided a personalized service that works for your unique needs.

KeyBank loans are only available to interns, residents, fellows, doctors, dentists, clinical professors, researchers, or managing physicians with a current license and a degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).


7. Truist

  • BBB Grade: A+
  • JD Power Score: 728

Truist offers a few down payment options for MDs, DOs, DPMs, DDSs, and DMDs in California. Licensed residents, interns, and fellows can secure financing for up to $1 million with low down payment requirements.

Practicing doctors can qualify for up to $1 million with no money down and $1.5 million with 5% down. With 10.1% down, you could qualify for as much as $2 million toward your dream home.

Like all doctor loans, you will not have to pay PMI, but the loan must go toward an owner-occupied property. If you have deferred student loans, Truist won’t consider your payments in your DTI ratio.

Medical professionals practicing for 15 years or more are not eligible for Truist’s doctor loan programs unless they are part of Truist Wealth.


8. UMB Bank

  • BBB Grade: B+
  • JD Power Score: NR for mortgages

UMB Bank’s physician loan program is called Mortgage Portfolio Professional Loan Program.

It is available to MDs, DOs, DDSs, DMDs, ODs, and PharmDs, but only attending physicians are eligible for 100% financing up to $1 million.

Attending physicians are also eligible for 95% financing for loan amounts up to $1.5 million. Residents can secure up to 90% financing with a limit of $2 million.

Borrowers can select 15, 20, or 20-year fixed-rate home loans. These loans can be used to purchase a new property or refinance a primary or secondary residence.


9. U.S .Bank

  • BBB Grade: NR
  • JD Power Score: 730

U.S. Bank’s Physician Mortgage Program is available to medical physicians, including residents, fellows, or doctors of osteopathy (DO), and lawyers.

It does not offer a zero-down payment option, but it’s possible to secure a $1 million loan for as little as 5% down.

Borrowers can put 10% down for $1.5 million loans and 15% down for loans up to $2 million. Like other doctor loan programs, primary mortgage insurance is not required.


How Physician Mortgage Loans Work in California

In California, physician loans can allow doctors to practice in the state by allowing them to secure loans using offer letters, employment contracts, and transcripts.

Doctors are in high demand and desirable for employment, so lenders will lower many eligibility requirements to attract medical professionals to the area.

Early career doctors can be excluded from the home-buying process because they often have high debt-to-income ratios, no credit, very little cash in their savings accounts, and minimal work experience.

Physician loans lower the approval threshold for mortgage borrowers because doctors are less likely to default on their loans and have high earning potential.

Pros & Cons

It’s important to consider the pros and cons of physician mortgage loans in California before deciding.

Pros:

  • Zero down payment: In many cases, you can get 100% financing and lower closing costs when you purchase a home with a doctor’s loan.
  • No PMI: Physician loans don’t tack on extra monthly costs for private mortgage insurance.
  • Student loans excluded: Physician loans don’t consider student loans in your DTI ratio, but they do include auto loans, credit cards, and other debts.
  • Purchase home before job: Physician loans can allow you to purchase your home before you start working as long as you have an employment contract, providing added security for medical professionals pursuing homeownership near their hospital.

Cons:

  • Interest rates: Some physician loans will have variable interest rates, which can fluctuate over time. In other cases, physician loans will have higher interest rates than conventional loans.
  • Residence requirements: To secure a physician loan, the property must be your primary residence. Most lenders will not approve borrowers who want to purchase a condo.
  • Can lead to purchasing more real estate than you can afford: Because physician loans aren’t subject to the same caps as conventional loans, home buyers can purchase more than they can realistically afford with very high monthly payments, especially if they have an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do doctors get better mortgage rates?

No, doctors do not get better mortgage rates. Physician mortgage loan programs, or doctor mortgage loans, are generally attractive because they don’t require a down payment or primary mortgage insurance (PMI), which can cut the initial costs of homeownership.

The interest rate on your loan will be calculated based on the Fed and the current state of the economy, but in general, doctor mortgage loans have higher interest rates than conventional loans.

What credit score do you need for physician mortgage loans in California?

You’ll need a credit score of around 700 to qualify for a physician loan. Generally, the higher your credit score, the more favorable your interest rates will be.

What are the qualifications for physician mortgage loans in California?

The qualifications for a physician loan vary depending on the bank and loan program. Physician loans are meant for healthcare professionals early on in their careers.

Doctor mortgage loans are also reserved for certain degrees, such as medical doctors with an MD or DO degree and dentists with a DDS or DMD degree.

For most physician loan programs, you must be within 10 years of residency and have a decent credit score of at least 700.

Is a physician loan the same as a conventional loan?

No, a physician loan is not the same as a conventional loan. Doctor mortgage loans have less stringent eligibility requirements than conventional loans.

Conventional mortgage lenders want borrowers to have strong credit histories, favorable debt-to-income ratios, and cash on hand before approving the loan, which not all medical professionals have.

With a physician loan, medical doctors can purchase a home with little to no down payment, but they’ll likely be subject to higher interest rates.

Who is a Physician Loan in California Best For?

Physician loans are a great option for medical doctors who want to purchase homes without the hassle of a down payment or paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Some examples of doctors who benefit from physician loans include:

1. Medical residents with significant debt and little cash

Conventional loan calculators factor student loan debt into your debt-to-income ratio, which can disqualify many medical professionals.

Physician mortgage loans do not consider student loans and will likely approve you if your debt-to-income ratio is less than 45%.

Conventional and FHA loans require a down payment of at least 3%, but you’ll have to consider mortgage insurance in your monthly expenses if you put down less than 20%. With a physician loan, down payments and PMI are often waived.

2. Current homeowners looking to refinance

If you’re a doctor who currently owns a home, you may benefit from refinancing with a physician loan.

Refinancing with a physician loan can be a good idea if you currently have an adjustable mortgage rate (ARM) and can get a fixed-rate mortgage.

3. Early career dentists and doctors shopping for loans

While physician loans often have higher interest rates than conventional loans, it’s not always the case.

If you’re shopping around for the best rate, it’s worth considering physician loans because some programs offer better terms if the area or bank is trying to attract long-term business.

A physician loan specialist can help you decide if a doctor mortgage loan is right for you.

According to Physician Loan Specialist Doug Crouse;

Physician loans in California are most often utilized by MDs and DOs, and more specifically physicians that are early in their careers and lack funds for a large down payment.
Doug Crouse Physician Loan Specialist with BMO Bank

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