Physician Loans in Houston, TX
Built for doctors, residents, and fellows at the Texas Medical Center — the largest medical complex in the world — and across the greater Houston metro.
Why Physician Loans Exist
Conventional loan underwriting was designed for W-2 employees with 5+ years of work history and minimal debt. That profile fits almost no physician at the point of buying their first home. You finished residency with $200K–$400K in student loans, you started an attending position recently, and you have limited savings — not the 20% down a conventional loan wants to see. Physician loans underwrite differently — future income accepted via offer letter, student loans excluded or IBR payment used, and no PMI even at 0–5% down.
What Houston Physicians Actually Need to Know
Most physician loan programs exclude student loan debt from DTI entirely or use your IBR payment — not the 1% of balance standard. On a $300K+ student loan balance, that difference alone moves many TMC physicians from denied to approved.
Attending physicians can close up to 90 days before their start date with an executed offer letter. No paycheck required to qualify.
Zero — even at 0% down. On a $650K Houston home, conventional PMI runs $300–$500/month. Physician loans eliminate that cost entirely.
0% down up to $1M, 5% down up to $1.5M, 10% down up to $2M — depending on lender and your profile. We shop 50+ lenders to find the best fit.
Many TMC-adjacent Houston neighborhoods require flood insurance that adds $150–$400/month to your payment. We build flood zone status into your budget from the first call — not as a surprise at closing.
Why Houston Specifically
Physician-appropriate Houston neighborhoods include West University Place, Bellaire, Tanglewood, River Oaks, The Heights, Sugar Land, and Katy. Flood zone status varies significantly by street — we verify before you make an offer.
Common Scenarios We See
- →MD Anderson or Houston Methodist attending finishing fellowship at TMC, $300K in student loans, offer letter in hand, needs to close before start date
- →Baylor College of Medicine or UTHealth resident buying during training with future attending income used to qualify
- →Memorial Hermann or HCA Houston physician relocating from out of state, unfamiliar with Texas flood zone considerations
- →Private practice physician in West University or Sugar Land, self-employed 2+ years, needs physician loan with bank statement or full-doc option
Houston Physician Loan — By Hospital System and Neighborhood
The Texas Medical Center alone has 60+ institutions. Where you work inside that complex — and which neighborhood you're buying in — changes the loan conversation.
Fellowship-trained oncologists, surgeons, and specialists finishing at MD Anderson or Houston Methodist are some of the highest-earning physicians in Texas — and some of the most loan-ready. Physician mortgage loans in Houston at this stage use your executed offer letter to qualify, exclude student debt from DTI, and close with 0% down up to $1M. West University, Bellaire, and Tanglewood are within range.
Residents and fellows training at Baylor or UTHealth carry high student loan balances against modest stipend income. Physician loans for Houston doctors at this stage underwrite on future attending income — not what you're earning during training. You can close before your first paycheck.
Physicians joining Memorial Hermann or HCA are often relocating from out of state and unfamiliar with Houston's flood zone geography. Flood insurance in Harris County can add $150–$400/month to your real payment — we build that into your budget from day one, not as a closing table surprise.
Physicians buying in Houston's suburban corridors — Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland, The Woodlands — often have self-employment income, partnership distributions, or split W-2 and 1099 structures. We match those files to lenders who understand physician economics, not just standard payroll documentation.
Ready to run your numbers?
We'll cover student loan treatment, down payment options, flood zone awareness, and max purchase price — in one 30-minute call.
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a loan commitment, rate guarantee, or offer to lend. All loans subject to credit approval. Rates, terms, and program availability subject to change without notice. Not all programs available in all areas. Shalanda Smith · NMLS #554554 · Keys by Shalanda · Powered by Secure Choice Lending · NMLS #1689518 · Equal Housing Opportunity · shalandasmith.com · 254.935.9331.