Doctor Loan
No mortgage insurance, loan amounts up to $2 million, primary residence only.
Doctor Loan
Physician mortgages in DC
Doctor Loans for physicians, dentists and other doctoral-level clinicians buying a home in DC.
The program
What the Doctor Loan offers
No mortgage insurance
The Doctor Loan does not require mortgage insurance. A conventional loan with a small down payment does.
Student loan payments
Qualifying residents and fellows can leave certain deferred or forbearance student-loan payments out of the debt-to-income ratio.
Income from a signed contract
On a conventional purchase, a signed contract counts as income when the job starts between 30 days before and 90 days after closing.
Credit score of 680 or higher
The Doctor Loan requires a minimum credit score of 680.
Loan amounts up to $2 million
For a primary residence only. Second homes and rental properties are not eligible.
Fixed or adjustable
Fixed-rate and adjustable-rate versions. An adjustable rate can change after the initial fixed period.
Eligibility
Who qualifies
The program's published eligibility list covers:
- Physicians (MD or DO), including ophthalmologists and psychiatrists
- Dentists (DDS or DMD)
- Pharmacists (PharmD), veterinarians (DVM or VMD) and podiatrists (DPM)
- Nurse anesthetists with a doctoral degree (DNP or DNAP)
- Residents, fellows and interns holding one of these degrees
- Nurse practitioners and physician assistants, under related program tiers
Not on the list? Ask about conventional and jumbo loans.
Loan options
Doctor Loan compared with conventional and jumbo loans
Conventional
The standard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan. Mortgage insurance applies when the down payment is small.
Jumbo
For loan amounts above DC's 2026 conforming limit of $1,249,125.
FAQ
Doctor Loan questions
Is there a physician mortgage in DC?
Yes. District Mortgage offers the Doctor Loan, in fixed-rate and adjustable-rate versions, for physicians and other doctoral-level clinicians buying a primary residence in DC.
What credit score and loan amount does the Doctor Loan allow?
A minimum credit score of 680 and loan amounts up to $2 million. The debt-to-income ratio can go up to 50%, or 45% on adjustable-rate loans and some other versions.
How are my student loans counted?
Under the Doctor Loan, qualifying residents and fellows can leave certain deferred or forbearance student-loan payments out of the debt-to-income ratio. Conventional loans count those payments under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules. Send us your student-loan statements and we will show you the ratio under each program.
I start a new position in a few months. Can I buy now?
Possibly. On a conventional loan, Fannie Mae accepts a signed employment offer or contract as income when the job starts between 30 days before and 90 days after closing, on the purchase of a one-unit primary residence. For the Doctor Loan, send us the signed contract before you make an offer and we will check your start date against the program guide.
Does the Doctor Loan work for a condo?
That depends on the building. Every condo loan requires a review of the building's reserves, insurance, owner-occupancy and any litigation, and the review decides which programs the building qualifies for. We run it before you make an offer.
Are dentists, podiatrists or veterinarians eligible?
Yes. The published eligibility list covers MDs, DOs, dentists (DDS or DMD), podiatrists (DPM), veterinarians (DVM or VMD), pharmacists (PharmD) and nurse anesthetists with a doctoral degree, plus residents, fellows and interns with one of those degrees. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants fall under related program tiers.
Ask a question
A licensed DC loan officer will answer your question by email within one business day.
Get pre-qualified for a Doctor Loan
Pre-qualify in 2 minutes. Your assigned loan officer handles your file through closing.