By Vivian Abraham of Police Mortgage
How is Police Mortgage different from other providers? The obvious first answer would be that we offer Killed in the Line of Duty Loan Protection. This is a special debt cancellation benefit created exclusively for active Law Enforcement Officers. This complimentary benefit will cancel up to $850,000 of the outstanding balance of a police home loan should the unthinkable happen to an officer due to a line-of-duty incident.
That peace of mind is important. I have officers calling me that are starting to hear about us and the Killed in the Line of Duty Loan Protection. They want to make sure that their family is taken care of. That is one of the biggest reasons Police Mortgage is different.
The difference is also in the great products that we have coupled with the level of service that we give our first responders. That’s personally important to me, especially given the friends and family I have that are on the job.
It’s about understanding their mentality, understanding their lifestyle, and understanding their hours are nonstop. I personally make myself available at any time. It can be after office hours. I can get an email at nine o’clock at night from a first responder and, odds are, I’m going to respond. If it’s the weekend and I get a question on home loans for law enforcement I’m going to respond.
This isn’t just a 9-to-5 job for us. First responders are shopping for police home loans when they’re not working. Maybe that’s after five o’clock during the week. Maybe it’s on the weekends. I have to make sure I’m available to them. I’m going to make sure that clients feel that they can come to me at any time. It doesn’t matter the question. It doesn’t matter the day or time.
A home is a big purchase. Even if you’ve done it once or twice already, it’s never going to stop being a big purchase. It’s huge so I want my first responder to always feel like they are my person of the moment. My attention is all on them.
If you’re even thinking about the topic of purchasing, just give us a call. It’s just a conversation. I’m getting to know you as an individual, separate from being a first responder, and trying to figure out what your goals are.
Depending on where you’re currently living, there may be law enforcement mortgage programs available including grants. I’m going to look for those programs because we’re looking to help you get into a home. We’re going to help you make that purchase, whether it’s your first time or your sixth time.
I think the biggest piece for me is helping clients become financially stable. I can think of countless situations where a first responder needs a loan but may not be in the best financial situation. I always have an attitude of let’s see what we can do.
Maybe a client has run into a speed bump. Maybe their credit score isn’t where we need it to be. We can connect them with our credit counselor and put together a plan so we can help them get what they need.
I have had a couple of purchase transactions closed last year where credit scores weren’t the greatest. They were actually lower than 630. We worked together with our credit counselor and we made it. By the end of the year, we closed on their homes.
Those are the success stories that make me feel that Police Mortgage is different. I feel good about myself and about helping first responders.
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!
