By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage
You have to be prepared in advance when buying a home. If you're going to pick a house and
then go through the pre-approval process it's going to be a lot harder than if you knew what you
qualify for ahead of time. Once you have that lined up then if you need to act quickly you will
have the tools to do it. Having a pre-approval letter will allow you to act quickly.
This is assuming you're not a cash buyer. If you're a cash buyer you don't need it and you
probably don’t need Police Mortgage either. However, that doesn't describe most mortgages for
first responders. Most people have to have a mortgage and that’s why it's so important to get a
pre-approval so you can be ahead of the game.
Make sure that you have an actual mortgage pre-approval. This is what makes a pre-approval
different than a pre-qualification. When you obtain a pre-approval we're running your credit
report. We're going to verify your income and your assets.
We’re going to advise you in advance so you know exactly what you can afford. At Police
Mortgage we set you up for success. For example, we’re going to tell what will disqualify you
from an FHA loan if FHA is your best option. Once we provide you with a pre-approval it will be
good for 90 days.
Helping you be prepared and setting you up for success includes explaining some of the
nuances. That’s just the way of a professional police officers credit union.
We help you answer questions you may haven’t even thought of. For instance, are there city
transfer taxes and property taxes that may change how much home you can qualify for from a
debt perspective? Some providers don’t always disclose all of the costs but Police Mortgage
strives to give you a complete picture.
In some cases we even overestimate so that we over prepare you. We don’t want to get you
into a house by razor-thin margins. We want to leave a little bit of room for error. When you
come to Police Mortgage for a pre-approval you have peace of mind.
While the process can seem overwhelming at first, we try to simplify it as much as possible.
That’s why we often suggest coming to see us at least two months before you begin looking for
a property.
When it comes to buying a home, you want to be prepared. You also want to have the correct
tools. The pre-approval is definitely one of those tools.
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!
