By John Aretos, CEO of Police Mortgage
I can talk about VA loans all day. The main reason is that I have so much respect for our veterans and our active military who are defending our freedom across the world.
I come from a military family. My father served in the Navy during the Korean War. All of my uncles on my mom’s side served in World War II. Two of them were decorated with Purple Hearts. While I personally didn’t serve in the military I certainly have a ton of respect for those that do.
As far as deals are concerned, if we’re looking for the best deal possible it is almost always going to be a VA loan if you are eligible. One of the reasons is the qualification process. It’s a little different than the traditional guidelines for a conventional loan.
With VA loans there is no hard-debt ratio. There is a disposable income calculation but, generally speaking, if you’re having trouble fitting into a home from a debt perspective the VA loan will give you some flexibility there.
You also don’t have to put any money down, whether it be buying a home or even refinancing a home. That can come in handy when it comes to mortgages for police. You can even refinance up to 100% of the home’s value.
The credit requirements are actually going down as well. A 620 credit score used to be a hard floor. Now credit scores as low as 600 are being accepted.
There is a lot of flexibility with VA loans so it’s a great product for veterans. Our parent company, Chicago Patrolmen’s FCU, as a professional police credit union has a lot of respect for veterans. So, it’s a privilege that we do a number of VA loans.
Interest rates on VA loans are generally lower than that of a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage. So, there’s a benefit not only with the mortgage, because a veteran can come in and buy a home truly with no money down, but also with an affordable payment due to the rate.
There is a VA funding fee. However, if the veteran has a disability many times that funding fee can be waived. We at Police Mortgage are experts in VA loans so we are aware of the expanded definition of what a VA disability is.
It’s a privilege to work with veterans, especially when we can save them money. Save them money on mortgage insurance. Save them money on the rate. The VA loan is usually an excellent option for our veterans and we are happy to help them take advantage of it.
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.
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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!
