With VA loans, military service members and their families are in the unique position to build equity through real estate at a lower cost than non-military homebuyers.
A VA loan is a mortgage loan offered through a program established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that provides affordable mortgage options for military veterans, active service members and their families by easing some of the financial burdens associated with buying a home. VA loans are available to active and veteran service personnel and their surviving spouses with little to no down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and generally at a competitive interest rate. Since it was established in 1944, the VA mortgage program has helped millions of service men and women become homeowners and build a stable financial future.
Provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this program allows lenders to issue financing with more flexible eligibility standards and repayment plans.
VA loans come with several unique advantages that are designed to help military service personnel and their families become homeowners.
Eligible VA loan applicants get the benefits of zero down payment requirements, lower credit score minimums, comparatively lower interest rates, and other purchasing perks that can only be accessed with a VA loan.
VA loans offer generous terms compared to other mortgages and even to other federal loan programs. These benefits include:
VA home loans are offered specifically to qualified veterans. An ideal VA loan applicant is a military service member or surviving spouse with a relatively stable financial background. This is also a government insured loan, so it requires borrowers to live in the home, the VA benefit cannot be used for secondary residences or investment properties.
Veterans are required to pay a funding fee at closing that will range from 2.3% to 3.6% of the loan amount depending on whether the veteran has used their VA benefit before to purchase a home. This is financed directly into the total loan amount and is not required out-of-pocket.
Police Mortgage VA Loans qualify for Killed in the Line of Duty Loan Protection, a special debt cancellation benefit created exclusively for active, full-time Law Enforcement Officers.
Contact us to learn more about whether an VA loan is right for you.
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!
