Los Angeles is home to two of the most prominent academic and quaternary care medical centers on the West Coast. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, licensed for roughly 915 beds and certified as a Level I trauma center, is affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and staffs more than 3,000 physicians and over 16,000 employees, making it one of the largest hospitals in Southern California by net patient revenue. Across town in Westwood, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a 520-bed academic medical center with Level I trauma designation for both adult and pediatric patients, seeing more than 50,000 emergency department visits a year, and housing UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital’s 156 beds on-site.
That concentration of teaching hospitals means Los Angeles sees a constant flow of incoming residents, fellows, and attending physicians relocating on a timeline that often starts before their first paycheck arrives. Physician mortgage programs are built for that gap — particularly relevant in a city where LA County’s conforming loan limit tops out at $1,249,125 while Westside neighborhoods near these hospital systems price well above that.
Reduced or No Down Payment. Many physician loan programs allow financing with 0-10% down, a meaningful advantage given how quickly LA's Westside neighborhoods near Cedars-Sinai and UCLA exceed standard Jumbo down payment thresholds.
No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Physician loans typically waive PMI even with less than 20% down.
Employment Contract as Qualifying Income. For physicians and researchers starting at Cedars-Sinai or Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center before their first pay period, a signed offer letter or contract can qualify in place of pay stubs.
Student Loan Flexibility. Physician loan underwriting typically calculates student loan debt using income-driven repayment terms rather than a standard amortization estimate.
High Loan Amounts Without Standard Jumbo Down Payments. Physician Jumbo programs allow LA's above-conforming loan amounts to be financed without the larger down payments a standard Jumbo loan would require.
Closing Timed Around Residency and Fellowship Start Dates. Structured specifically for the volume of incoming residents and fellows training across Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Health.
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Residents and fellows
For loan amounts within or near LA County’s conforming range, offering reduced down payment and no-PMI structures for practicing physicians and eligible professionals.
The most commonly used program for Boulder physician buyers, given that most single-family purchases in the city require financing above $879,750. Physi
For above-conforming loan amounts in neighborhoods convenient to Cedars-Sinai and UCLA, combining Jumbo-level financing with
physician-specific down payment and student loan treatment.
cian Jumbo programs extend all of the specialty qualifying accommodations — no PMI, favorable student loan treatment, contract-based income, low down payment — to loan amounts of $1.5 million to $2 million and above. Attending physicians at BCH Foothills, sub-specialists establishing practices in Boulder, and department-level practitioners buying in Mapleton Hill, Chautauqua, or Table Mesa all access their home financing through this tier.
For physicians building or purchasing new construction in Los Angeles, combining construction and permanent financing into a single closing, with underwriting that still recognizes an employment contract as qualifying income.
Experience underwriting physician contracts from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Comfortable qualifying residents and fellows on contract income before their start date
Physician Jumbo financing structured for LA's Westside neighborhoods near both hospital systems
Student loan documentation handled correctly under income-driven repayment guidelines
Confidential, direct communication from application through closing
Ryan Lehrman, NMLS #235295
Employment verification: A signed offer letter or employment contract, typically effective within 60-90 days of closing
Credit profile: Generally 700+ credit score, though some physician programs allow flexibility for residents with limited credit history
Down payment: As low as 0-10% depending on loan amount and lender program
Debt-to-income: Calculated using income-driven repayment terms for qualifying student loan debt, rather than standard amortization
Initial consultation — We review your contract, start date, and target Los Angeles neighborhoods, whether near Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Grove or UCLA in Westwood.
Pre-approval on contract income — I structure your file using your employment contract, even if your first paycheck hasn't arrived.
Property search — You shop with a physician-specific pre-approval letter across the neighborhoods convenient to your hospital system.
Underwriting — I coordinate underwriting around your specific documentation, including student loan and start-date considerations.
Closing — We time closing to align with your start date at Cedars-Sinai or Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Yes. Physician loan programs are built to use your signed employment contract as qualifying income, which means we can move forward with pre-approval and time closing around your start date rather than waiting for pay stub history.
Yes. Given that LA County's conforming limit tops out at $1,249,125 and many neighborhoods near Cedars-Sinai and UCLA price well above that, Physician Jumbo financing is common here, combining physician-specific down payment terms with above-conforming loan amounts.
Not directly, but it does affect how I document your file. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a large academic medical center with a high volume of incoming residents and fellows each year, and I've underwritten physician loans for staff there before, so I know how to verify your employment and structure contract-based income correctly.
Ready to finance your Los Angeles home with a program designed for your career? Let’s talk through your situation.
Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I moved to Phoenix to attend Arizona State University and have proudly called Phoenix home ever since.
My journey into the mortgage industry began with a friend’s encouragement, who saw how my energy and people-first mindset could make a difference. He was right — I found my calling.
I’ve always embraced what makes me different. With ADHD as my secret weapon, I thrive in fast-paced, detail-heavy environments. I’ve built my career on clear communication, creative problem-solving, and putting clients first, always.
Outside of work, my greatest motivation is my wife and three amazing kids. I’d be honored to help guide you through your lending journey with care, clarity, and commitment.
