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Welcome to the Mortgage Beat podcast. Brought to you by Police Mortgage: For First Responders Who Are Second To None! Mortgage Beat gives insight into the home-loan process specifically for police officers, firefighters, and other public-safety professionals. The podcast is hosted by Police Mortgage CEO, John Aretos.

Season 2

New Construction Loans

Episode 40 of Mortgage Beat

Dylan Walsh and John Aretos discuss the complexities of borrowing for a new construction.

Going to the Maximum

Episode 39 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and Dylan Walsh join CEO John Aretos to discuss the prudence of buying the most house you could possibly afford.

School Districts and Property Values

Episode 38 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and John Aretos discuss factors concerning school districts when it comes to property taxes and property values.

HOA Considerations

Episode 37 of Mortgage Beat

Dylan Walsh and John Aretos discuss considerations of buying a property and the pre-approval process when a home owners’ association is a part of the equation.

Conversations

Episode 36 of Mortgage Beat

Sometimes you just want to have a conversation. Police Mortgage loves having discussions with first responders concerning their home-buying needs. CEO John Aretos explains why.

For Sale By Owner

Episode 35 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos talks about the pros on cons of the “For Sale By Owner” strategy.

Renovations and Upgrades

Episode 34 of Mortgage Beat

Taking money out of your home to make upgrades may be prudent under certain circumstances. CEO John Aretos explains when it makes sense.

The Final Walkthrough

Episode 33 of Mortgage Beat

There are two components of the final walk-through when buying a property. CEO John Aretos details both and talks about why the amount of earnest money plays a factor.

Pre-Approval Costs

Episode 32 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and Dylan Walsh join CEO John Aretos to point out the fees some lenders charge for a pre-approval.

The Unpredictability of 2024

Episode 31 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and Dylan Walsh join CEO John Aretos to discuss the strategy of obtaining a mortgage today with an expectation of refinancing at a lower rate in 2025.

 

Waiting for Rates to Fall?

Episode 30 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and Dylan Walsh join CEO John Aretos to discuss the strategy of postponing your home-buying search until mortgage rates begin to fall.

Possible Rate-Saving Options in 2024

Episode 29 of Mortgage Beat

Vivian Abraham and Dylan Walsh join CEO John Aretos to discuss how FHA and VA loans may offer better rates than conventional mortgages for some home buyers.

Home Inspection Failures

Episode 28 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos provides common reasons why a property may fail a home inspection.

Home Inspections

Episode 27 of Mortgage Beat

Why are home inspections imperative and what’s the difference from an appraisal? CEO John Aretos provides answers to both.

Spring Rates 2024

Episode 26 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos details how a mortgage affects your credit score as well as what mortgage professionals look at when it comes to your past use of credit.

Mortgages and Your Credit Score

Episode 25 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos details how a mortgage affects your credit score as well as what mortgage professionals look at when it comes to your past use of credit.

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

Episode 24 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos gets home buyers ready for 2024 by explaining many nuances that the average consumer may not consider when beginning a search for a new property.

Market Update 2024

Episode 23 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos gives a brief update on mortgage rates and his outlook on homebuying for 2024.

 

Insurance Considerations

Episode 22 of Mortgage Beat

There are different types of insurance associated with buying a new home. CEO John Aretos shares his expertise on what homebuyers need to understand.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Episode 21 of Mortgage Beat

In this first episode of the Mortgage Beat’s second season, John Aretos talks about National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day as well as what it means to Police Mortgage and to him personally.

Police Mortgage – For First Responders Who Are Second To None.

Season 1

Bonus Episode 2

Episode 22 of Mortgage Beat

In this bonus episode, CEO John Aretos looks to next year and talks about expanding the brand in 2024.

Bonus Episode 1

Episode 21 of Mortgage Beat

In this bonus episode of the Mortgage Beat, John Aretos gives his opinions on the market in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Season One Finale

Episode 20 of Mortgage Beat

In this final episode of the Mortgage Beat’s first season, John Aretos looks back at the best tips and episodes of 2023 and looks forward to season two in 2024.

VA Loans

Episode 19 of Mortgage Beat

In honor of Veterans Day this week, CEO John Aretos details VA loans and why Police Mortgage recommends this option quite frequently.

Where First Responders Should Buy

Episode 18 of Mortgage Beat

While some municipalities, like Chicago, require their first responders to live in that city, other regions are different. CEO John Aretos provides a few tips for public-safety professionals when determining where to buy a home.

Strategy and Respect

Episode 17 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos discusses strategies for home buying and refinancing as well as the respect the Police-Mortgage team has specifically for law enforcement.

 

Talk to the Loan Officer First

Episode 16 of Mortgage Beat

Why should home buyers speak with a loan officer at least 60 days before they seriously begin looking at properties? John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage, gives you the reasons.

Tapping Into Your Equity

Episode 15 of Mortgage Beat

Is there ever any logic to tapping into the equity of your home? CEO John Aretos provides his expert opinions.

Killed-in-the-Line-of-Duty Loan Protection

Episode 14 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos details the importance of a unique feature on loans for active-duty police officers.

Investment Properties

Episode 13 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos details the differences among a primary residence, a secondary residence, and an investment property. He also dives into the nuances of applying for a loan in each scenario.

The Next Up-and-Coming Market

Episode 12 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos pontificates on what might be the next “up-and-coming” housing market where people may want to flock to in the future.

Housing Markets

Episode 11 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos shares his insights on different housing markets in the United States and his perspectives on the immediate and intermediate future.

The Down Payment

Episode 10 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos shares his expertise on the old idea of putting 20% down when buying a home and details some of the different options such as VA and FHA loans.

Paydowns, Differentials, and Rate Locks

Episode 009 of Mortgage Beat

Within the context of the rising-rate environment of 2023, CEO John Aretos shares his insight into successfully obtaining a mortgage that is comfortable for the customer.

Homebuying the Second Half of 2023

Episode 008 of Mortgage Beat

Given the current rate environment, CEO John Aretos discusses different scenarios for homebuyers in various stages of life and shares a story from his family as an example.

First-Time Homebuyers and Flexibility

Episode 007 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos delves into the rising-rate environment of 2023 and the flexibility needed from first-time homebuyers.

The 2-1 Buydown

Episode 006 of Mortgage Beat

An old program has become new again in the interest-rate environment of 2023. It’s called the 2-1 Buydown Mortgage and John Aretos explains exactly what that is.

Rising Interest Rates

Episode 005 of Mortgage Beat

With the Federal Reserve raising its key interest rate on July 26, John Aretos gives his opinions on the mortgage market and where rates may be headed from here.

Being Prepared

Episode 004 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos stresses the importance of preparation before looking at properties or even speaking with a realtor when beginning your home-buying journey.

Different Professions

Episode 003 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos talks about the different professions in public safety – including firefighters, EMTs, RNs, and police officers – and how that may require different approaches in the mortgage pre-approval process.

The Pre-Approval

Episode 002 of Mortgage Beat

CEO John Aretos details the mortgage pre-approval process and how homebuyers can be prepared with the proper information before the initial meeting.

Why Police Mortgage

Episode 001 of Mortgage Beat

Police Mortgage CEO John Aretos discusses the uniqueness of Police Mortgage and his passion for serving first responders.

Vivian Abraham
BRANCH MANAGER
NMLS #2451439
 

I have my bachelor’s in business administration and have been involved in the banking industry for over 10 years. During that time, I managed two of the Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union branch 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 in 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.

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!

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!

Dylan Walsh
Loan Officer
NMLS #180970

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!

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!