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Author: Zakir Mahsood

Lower Mortgage Rates

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage Well, the Fed did cut rates this past week by 50 basis points, and I think for some it surprised them because the Fed was supposed to maybe cut just a quarter point. I was of the opinion that it was going to be a half point, primarily […]

The Final Walkthrough

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage There are two components to the final walkthrough. The first part is to address what was found in the inspection.  The attorneys likely communicated a week before and agreed that the required work was done to the property, but you want to make sure that it was taken […]

Pre-Approval Costs

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage   It’s important to know if there are any pre-approval costs or fees when you visit any bank or loan office. For instance, when you visit a financial institution, like a patrolman credit union, for a loan the loan officer will likely pull what is called a tri-merge […]

Waiting for Rates to Fall

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage   As you wait for rates to fall the competition will likely heat up. So, I say, go see a professional who is knowledgeable about police home loans and get pre-approved now to beat the rush. When you see the headlines stating that the Fed cuts rates, the […]

Home Inspection Failures

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage   The phrase “failing a home inspection” is loosely defined. I think there are degrees of failure. A failure is basically something found in the inspection that is such a big issue that an appraisal would find it and then the lender, such as Chicago Patrolman Credit Union, […]

Home Inspections

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage   A home inspection is critical for the whole process, whether it be for a police home loan or the purchase of practically any property. Home inspections matter regardless of how you plan to buy. You can buy a house as is. You can have a home inspection […]

Mortgages and Your Credit Score

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage The Chicago Patrolman Credit Union philosophy has long since focused on encouraging wise money management and that, of course, includes the understanding of credit scores. I think if you’re buying a home just to make your credit better that that’s the wrong reason. However, if a first responder […]

Condominiums, Right of First Refusal, Transfer Taxes, and More

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage There are a number of aspects to home buying that not everyone understands when they walk into a patrolman credit union location. Condominium units are one example. With condominiums you have what’s called the right of first refusal. This is something that’s unique to a condominium association. FHA […]

Insurance Considerations

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage There are several types of insurance to consider when buying a home. The first that we commonly talk about is homeowners insurance. That can take on different forms. For instance, if you’re buying a condominium unit your homeowners insurance is usually included in your association dues. That covers […]

VA Loans

By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage I can talk about VA loans all day. The main reason is  that I have so much respect for our veterans and our active military who are defending our freedom across the world. I come from a military family. My father served in the Navy during the Korean […]

Vivian Abraham
LOAN OFFICER
NMLS #2451439
 

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 National Police 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.

EMAIL VIVIAN ABRAHAM
Patrick Doah
Loan Officer
NMLS #2025761
 

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! 

EMAIL PATRICK DOAH
Connor Walsh
Loan Officer
NMLS #2221708
 

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!

EMAIL CONNOR WALSH
Dylan Walsh
Loan Officer
NMLS #1809703

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!

EMAIL DYLAN WALSH
John Aretos
CEO
NMLS #268165

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!

 

EMAIL JOHN ARETOS