By John Aretos of Police Mortgage
Thinking optimistically, the answer to that would be “Yes”. Thinking practically, the answer is “Maybe,” because the future’s promised to no one. I think I’m a broken record on that one.
The reality is that no one really knows for sure what opportunities will present themselves in 2026. There is no patrolman credit union in the country that could guarantee an outcome for rates or home prices next year.
I think there are some things in place economically that could help us and could point us towards some lower interest rates down the road. As I sit here today, I don’t think that should be relied upon by anyone. That’s a part of the narrative that I think might be a little bit off. I’m victim of it, too. I have an obligation to follow the markets because of the profession that I’m in. I follow the bond market very closely in particular.
There is a potential crisis on the horizon with the 10-year treasury which I think is a reflection of America’s debt, and it’s not a good reflection. Over the years we’ve accumulated so much debt that we are now perhaps drowning in that.
However, there are some things on the horizon that should address that and may bring us back to some equilibrium. I’m an optimist. I think within any market, you’re going to have ups and downs, obviously.
That’s why you don’t want to wait too long if you are interested in buying a property. You have to be prepared to take advantage when the rates do drop. Simply put, if you’re trying to buy a home and you’re waiting for rates to drop, don’t wait.
Get pre-approved for a police home loan now. Then you can wait. Then you can play the market a little bit and see what happens.
Police Mortgage occasionally offers promotions and incentives with lower interest rates and with different loan products. So, we may be able to offer some additional assistance on most home loans for police.
As we go into 2026, I do think there’s going to be a time when there will be an opportunity to take advantage of lower mortgage rates. First-time home buyers in particular have to be ready for that beforehand.
Come in and see us or give Police Mortgage a call. We offer exceptional service and we love to educate potential home buyers. The majority of the folks we deal with are working off of low savings. They’re salt-of-the-earth folks who have worked hard in blue-collar jobs their whole lives. They come from a background where there’s just a small amount of money saved. We understand that and can advocate for almost anyone to buy a home.
If you’re a curious person and you’re on Zillow and you’re looking at properties and you have this dream of buying a beautiful home, you’ve got to get to it now. It doesn’t mean you’re committing any money. It doesn’t cost you anything to get a preapproval. All of our preapprovals are complimentary.
We’re going to give you the information. Selling you isn’t our thing. If somebody wants to buy a home, they’re going to want to buy a home. I’ve never had one person walk into my office and say, “Hey, should I buy a home?” They already made that decision that they’re interested in doing it.
Qualifying a client for the payment portion of a law enforcement mortgage based upon the debt and income ratio is an important step in the process. Police Mortgage qualifies a potential buyer on the top line income. This is very important to know.
In other words, if a police officer is in the first year on the job and earning approximately $70,000 a year, we take $70,000 and divide it by 12. In this scenario the monthly number would be $5.833.33. Then we take 45% of that, in this case that would be $2,625. That’s the maximum that police officer could afford with principal, interest, taxes, insurance, as well as any other monthly debt payments.
That’s one of the reasons why when Police Mortgage preapproves somebody, we’re not giving clients the maximum they could qualify for. We’re going to give you a number that you’re comfortable with.
If a realtor wants to push you into a higher price situation, it’s up to you to make that determination if you can afford it. We will probably tell you that you qualify for more home but also ask what you are comfortable paying on a monthly basis.
We advocate for home ownership but we also advocate for financial responsibility. Utilizing credit properly and with discipline keeps our clients out of trouble. Of course, I want everyone that I talk with to buy a home, but we’re also aware there’s a responsibility that goes with that. If you don’t have the right mindset, then maybe you shouldn’t be buying a home.
So, will there be opportunities in 2026? Probably but there are no guarantees on anything. If you saved enough money, if you are a good user of credit and responsible, you will probably be able to make your own opportunity. Then we can preapprove you for an excellent mortgage for police officers. It will be processed efficiently and there will be no surprises at closing. Having that wonderful experience is an opportunity to itself.
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.
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 National Police 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!
