Conventional Home Loans for Police Officers

Last Updated on May 7, 2021 by Maggie Looker

Whether you’re a first time home buyer, looking to upgrade or downsize, or are looking to buy a second home or cabin, you’ll need to secure a mortgage loan to pay for your home. There are several different types of home loans available to police officers, both government-backed and commercial. The conventional home loan is an available option for police officers to use to buy a home. We break down the specifics of qualifying for this home mortgage loan.

What Are Conventional Loans

Conventional loans are the most popular type of home mortgage loan in the U.S., with over half of all home loans being conventional. Conventional home loans for police officers are available through mortgage companies, banks, and credit unions. Unlike government-backed loans, like FHA, USDA, and VA loans, conventional home loans have lower down payment terms, no upfront funding fees, and have more favorable mortgage insurance terms. Police officers who are first time home buyers can qualify for conventional mortgage loans.

Advantages of Conventional Loans

You can use a conventional loan to purchase a second home or a rental property. There is no restriction on the use of the house you buy.
They have fixed interest rates, meaning that the interest rate does not change throughout the loan’s life.
Conventional loans for police officers can have a higher loan limit compared to government-backed loans.
Requires as little as 3% of the purchase price for down payments.
There are no up-front funding fees.
Conventional loans have more flexible term lengths and down payment amounts.

Disadvantages of Conventional Loans

Higher credit scores are required to secure a conventional loan. Typically, credit scores of 620 are needed, versus as low as 500 for a FHA loan.
If you wish to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), you’ll need a down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price.
There are stricter guidelines to qualify for a conventional home loan because these loans are not backed by the government. It is up to each lender to decide if they are willing to finance you the money. This can be a challenge some times for first time home buyers with either lower credit scores or lower down payment amounts.

How Is a Conventional Loan Different From a Government-Backed Loan?

Conventional loans refer to loans that are not government-backed. They are offered by private lenders such as banks and mortgage companies. Their terms, like length to pay back or what the house can be used for, are different from government-backed loans. Conventional Loans require higher credit scores than government-backed ones, typically around 620.

Government loans also have limited closing costs while conventional home loans for police officers do not. When you get a government-backed loan, the house you buy must be your primary residence, while conventional loans allow you to buy a second home, cabin, or investment property.

Conventional Loan Interest Rates

Interest rates for on conventional mortgage loans are slightly higher than government-backed mortgage loans for police officers, such as FHA loans. The interest on home loans is determined by how much it costs the bank to borrow you the funds. They also look at your financial profile, or how likely you are willing and able to pay the loan back. The more it costs the bank to borrow, the higher your interest rate is going to be. Remember that higher interest rates make your loan more expensive over the life of the loan. Currently, however, interest rates are at or near historic lows, which means now can be a smart time to get a deal on a mortgage.

Getting a conventional loan for police officers while interest rates are low means a few things. For one, you will most likely not need to refinance your mortgage any time soon, which will save you money on refinancing closing costs. You might also be able to afford a conventional loan in a shorter term interval, for example, 20 years instead of 30 years. By reducing the number of years on your mortgage, you will pay less in interest over time. However, keep in mind payments almost always go up in total dollars you’ll pay each month when the amount of years goes down, even with a lower interest rate. This is because the total amount borrowed is the same, but you have a shorter timeframe to pay it back.

Loan Qualification

To qualify for a conventional mortgage for police officers, you will typically need to have a credit score of 620 at the lowest. Some lenders do have a higher minimum, since it is up to their discretion who to loan money to. Make sure to talk to your lender and ask what their requirement is before getting too far. Your lender will also ask about your debt to income ratio, which should be around 36%. This means that your debts (car loan, current mortgage, credit card debt, etc.) do not make up more than 36% of your total income. You will also need to provide proof that you have at least 3% of the down payment, although having 20% or more can help you avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

A lender needs to verify whether you can afford the down payment and monthly payments for the loan you need. A good rule of thumb is that your mortgage payments should not exceed 28% of your monthly income. A conventional loan has a variety of other costs that you must pay upfront when closing on your home. These include origination fees, broker fees, underwriting fees, and closing costs. Don’t forget about homeowners insurance, an appraisal and inspection before you get to closing either. Lenders must verify that you can afford these costs. Here are some of the items your lender will ask for to consider you for a loan:

Proof of Income

The mortgage company or bank will not give you a loan unless you can prove that you have a regular stable income. Most lenders will require that you provide thirty days of pay stubs showing year-to-date income, two years of federal tax returns, and sixty days statement of assets (things like investment accounts). You will also need to provide W-2 forms from the last two years.

Assets

As mentioned above, the lender needs to know that you can afford to make the mortgage payments and the down payment. They will need to see bank and investment account statements to prove that you have funds. Sometimes, people will have a family member or friend gift them the money for a down payment on a home. In order for that to happen, there must be documentation that this money is in fact a gift that does not need to be repaid. Before accepting the gift, talk to your lender so they are aware of the gift and can direct you on how to conduct the transaction properly. Also, make sure to get the gift transaction letters notarized.

Employment Verification

Lenders only give money to people with a stable work history. Although you must provide pay stubs, the lender may call your employer to verify your employment status and salary. In case you changed employers recently, they may also contact your previous employer.

We understand that as a police officer, this can be more difficult than someone with a typical office job. Homes for Heroes mortgage specialists understand the unique employment challenges that police, corrections officers, and other law enforcement professionals face and will work with you to make sure you have what you need to submit your application for a conventional loan. Just sign up today to get connected with one of our affiliates in your community and get you on your way to a loan approval.