By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage
The core of what we do at Police Mortgage is knowing how we would like to be treated in similar situations. I try to put myself in the position of our clients. In other words, if I were talking to a loan officer I think, “How would I want that conversation to go?” Maybe that’s a bit hokey, but that is how I want the first conversation with a potential client to go.
I am, at heart, a guy who loves talking. I enjoy the back and forth with people that you find in a friendly discussion. It’s just the way I think the interaction should be between two people. I know we all feel the same way at Police Mortgage when it comes to helping a first responder with a police home loan.
We’re not into the hard sell. We’re into having conversations. Of course, at the end of the day, it’s a sale. We certainly want our clients to use the products we recommend for them. But we’re also vocational to the extent that we advocate for homeownership.
At our core, we believe in helping the client take control of their situation with education and information. So, that’s where the process begins. When it comes to home loans for police, we want the client to have information that helps them feel empowered. As we go along, we offer education in a way that is very comfortable.
We don’t like putting pressure on the person or the process. Buying a property is enough of a big deal to begin with. We just enjoy having a conversation that happens to center on mortgages for police.
We want to stimulate discussion and invite questions. An important piece of that is listening on our part. Many times, through listening to a first responder’s wants and needs we can offer alternatives. Maybe you qualify for an FHA loan rather than a conventional loan. Maybe a condominium unit makes more sense than a single-family home. Especially when we are working with first-time homebuyers, we want them to ask questions. We love answering questions and providing that education.
We make sure that our conversations are handled with a lot of thought and with a lot of respect. Again, we advocate for home buying and the best way to advocate is by educating.
We invite conversations. We enjoy having conversations with first responders on home buying programs for police officers. Most people remember us and think of Police Mortgage because of the time we spend with them. Maybe that’s hokey but it’s the truth.
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!
