By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage
The most important tip I can give anyone is to always get a hold of your loan officer before you go under contract. It sounds obvious, but it’s not obvious, right? Sometimes people do that, but I see so many people looking for a police home loan that don’t.
I suggest speaking to a loan officer at least two months in advance of buying a home. Whether that be at a Chicago police credit union, a St. Louis police credit union, a bank in Guam, or Police Mortgage, please speak to a professional first. Obviously, we would love for Police Mortgage to be your first conversation. But definitely speak with a loan officer at the beginning of your home-buying process somewhere.
This is especially true if you are a first-time home buyer. In this case you likely don’t know what to expect. Sure, there’s lots of information online, but I still think that this is an industry, as much as it’s driven by technology, it’s still largely driven by people.
I don’t think that this is an industry that’s ever going to just forget about the human element. Maybe you can get an auto loan purely online without talking to a human being, but mortgages are still made by people.
So, I still think it’s very important to come in and talk to somebody or have a phone conversation. We are privileged at Police Mortgage when a police officer or first responder comes in to talk with us.
We will give you an accurate assessment of what you qualify for. We’ll also drill down into the scenarios of that qualification because a single-family home and a condo unit may paint a different picture in terms of qualification due to association fees, location, and a number of other factors.
We also talk about homeowners insurance with our clients since that will effect qualification levels. Homeowners insurance has gone through the roof.
We’re going to explain a lot of little aspects as they pertain to home loans for police because those usually slip through the cracks when you speak with inexperienced loan officers. When you speak to someone other than Police Mortgage, what happens more often than we would like to admit is somebody buys a house, they’re on their contract to get the loan approved, and property taxes or insurance premiums are much more than they expected which creates a problem.
We try to get ahead of that by discussing all costs during the pre-approval process. The are other things to understand in addition to the interest rate.
That’s why our conversations are more of a financial counseling discussion than just a preparation meeting. We get incredibly good results from that approach. This is going to be the biggest financial transaction that most people make in their lifetime. So, when it comes to police home loans, talk to a loan officer first. We would be honored if you choose us at Police Mortgage.
Police Mortgage specializes in conventional mortgages, purchase money transactions, FHA loans, and VA loans. Led by founder and CEO John Aretos, Police Mortgage is known and respected for providing clients with exceptional service, customized terms, quick and easy closings, and low money down options. To learn more about Police Mortgage, go to www.policemortgage.com or call 312-499-8878.
Police Mortgage for First Responders Who Are Second To None.
Chicago Office:
100 W. Randolph, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.
Springfield Office:
320 W. Washington, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786. | Phone: 888.473.4858
I have my bachelor’s in business administration and have been involved in the banking industry for over 10 years. During this time, I managed two of the Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union locations prior to transitioning to Police Mortgage. I have family members who are police officers with the Chicago Police Department. My work has been very rewarding, and I take pride in having assisted countless members and their families with their financial needs and financial wellness. My hobbies include exploring new restaurants in the city and running for marathons that support pediatric cancer foundations and Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Run To Remember. I come from a large family primarily from the south side of Chicago and love to share all the diversity and beauty the city has to offer with my two children.
I am honored to grow up in a multi-generational family of Chicago Police Officers. I joined Police Mortgage in the summer of 2020 and love the opportunity to help both first-time buyers and repeat clients alike achieve their dreams of purchasing a home. Having been born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, I happily live in the Lakeview neighborhood today. Along with my two younger sisters, I am a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a lifelong Chicago Bears fan. I have a strong passion for food and love exploring the vast array of restaurants throughout our city. Nothing makes me happier than spending a summer afternoon on a golf course with family and friends!
I joined my brother at Police Mortgage as a loan officer in August of 2021 after a 10-year career in sales and marketing. Most recently, I worked as a Senior Account Executive for Ricoh North America, an office electronics company, where my main responsibilities were building new client relationships and maintaining over 400 existing customer accounts. I believe my work experience has transferred over to the mortgage industry well, because I am able to multi-task effectively while working with multiple customers. The skillset I learned in my previous employment allows me to stay organized and to manage my time well for my customers. My number one goal is always to make the loan process as quick and painless as possible for our borrowers. I am excited to further develop the Police Mortgage brand with my brother. It is a unique situation, and I believe working in an office together allows us to help our borrowers even more due to streamlined communication and our ability to help each other with our respective files. I like to spend my free time relaxing, watching sports, exercising, going out to eat with my wife, and trying to keep up with our three daughters – all under five years old!
After graduating from the University of Missouri in 2015, I moved to Chicago where I began a career in marketing at a firm called Ansira. I sought a career change and contacted Police Mortgage, where I was first introduced to the mortgage industry. I have spent the last 5 years training with our CEO, John Aretos, who has taught me all of the intricacies of the mortgage process. I love finding solutions for our clients to help them purchase the home of their dreams. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when helping homebuyers, especially first-time homebuyers, all the way through the loan process, from pre-approval to closing day. I recently moved back to my hometown of St. Louis, where we opened a new office. I am excited to help start this new chapter for Police Mortgage. My wife, Megan, and I are happy to be back in our hometown. We are always checking out new outdoor events such as music or food festivals – anywhere we can take our dog, Remy!
As the CEO of an organization associated with serving the Police and their loved ones, I am privileged to play a role in helping our clients achieve their life’s financial goals. Our mission is to make the home buying or refinancing process as comfortable as possible, providing our clients with competitive products and excellent service.
I was born and raised in the Chicago metropolitan area, and I have a deep-rooted love and appreciation for the diverse culture which makes our city so special. My two older siblings and I grew up working in our parent’s restaurant, which instilled a work ethic and sense of family that I carry with me to this day.
I am a graduate of Indiana University and have been involved in the mortgage industry for nearly 25 years, helping thousands of clients save money or finance the home of their dreams. My passions are passing down my love of food, music, art, snow skiing, and red wine to my three children, who motivate me to be a better person each and every day!
