Key Terms
- A Hawaii physician mortgage loan, or “doctor mortgage,” comes with high loan limits and up to 100% financing, in some cases.
- Lenders often extend favorable treatment to student loan payments with a doctor loan, making it easier to qualify for a mortgage.
- Physician mortgages don’t require private mortgage insurance (PMI) even with a 0% down payment, resulting in smaller mortgage payments.
Called “The Aloha State” by some and the “Paradise of the Pacific” by others, Hawaii was the last state to enter the United States, but is a favorite to many. This archipelago consists of 137 volcanic islands and sits off the West Coast of the United States in the Pacific Ocean. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, there are 4,462 doctors living in the state of Hawaii.
For many, including healthcare providers, owning a home in Hawaii may seem out of reach. Data from the Hawaii Association of Realtors shows the average sales price for single-family homes is $505,500 on the main island. If you are looking for a home on the island of Kaua’i, the average sales price for a single-family home jumps to $1,028,000.
Taking advantage of this market could be your goal. If so, and you are a medical doctor, a Hawaii physician mortgage loan program could help you to do so affordably. These programs may require a very low down payment, or even no down payment, too.
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Pros/Cons of doctor mortgage loans in Hawaii
Hawaii physician mortgage loans could provide the edge you need to make a home purchase in the Aloha State’s complex real estate market. Before you commit to one of these loans, however, take a minute to consider both the pros and the cons.
The pros associated with Hawaii physician loans are many and include:
- Little to no down payment required
- Higher mortgage limits for more purchasing power
- No private mortgage insurance required, resulting in lower monthly payments
- Favorable consideration of student debt
With all those pros there are some cons to keep in mind. More purchasing power can cause borrowers to purchase “more house” than they can afford, for example. These loans can come with higher interest rates in some cases, as well. Also, a financial institution offering one of these products may also require that you enter into a secondary relationship with them by opening an account.
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Is a Hawaii physician mortgage loan right for you?
At this point, you may be asking yourself if a Hawaii physician mortgage is the best fit for you. Here are some things to consider:
- The median price in Hawaii is high, and a doctor mortgage can provide you with greater purchasing power.
- If you are in an established job to which you are fully committed, the time is right to purchase a home.
- Physician mortgage loans can come with higher interest rates when compared to conventional home loans, but that can be balanced out by the advantages, including the friendly consideration given to student debt.
Examples of doctors who take out physician loans in Hawaii
Let’s take a moment now to go through some scenarios in which a physician might take out a physician loan in Hawaii. Reviewing these may help you determine for yourself whether or not you want to move forward with one of these financial products.
A general practitioner who doesn’t have down payment
Kainoa is a general practitioner on Oahu with a thriving practice. Cash flow is tight right now, but he does want to buy a larger home for his family. With prices the way they are, a 20 percent down payment will wipe out the family savings account.
As an alternative, Kainoa decides to go with a physician mortgage loan. It will allow him to purchase with zero down and also give him access to more purchasing power in the competitive Hawaiian housing market.
A physician who has a large student loan debt balance
Samantha took out a number of student loans to get her through undergrad and medical school. It was all worth it from her perspective, given that she is now on the verge of starting an importing fellowship at North Hawaii Community Hospital.
She plans on staying on the Big Island for the rest of career, and it has occurred to her that she should probably buy a home now before her job gets even busier. Unfortunately, all of her student debt works against her with conventional loans, skewing her DTI ratio dramatically. A doctor mortgage is her best option, giving her a way to finance a home, even with too much debt.
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