Student loans and your mortgage plan.

Do not assume student debt is ignored

Lenders may use the reported payment, documented repayment terms or a calculated payment under their guidelines. Deferment, forbearance and income-driven repayment can be treated differently. A physician loan does not universally exclude student debt.

The residency and fellowship exception

Doctor Loan Silver may exclude student loans in deferment, forbearance or a documented $0 income-driven repayment plan only if the borrower is an eligible resident or fellow AND qualifies with residency or fellowship income. If either condition is missing, standard Fannie Mae student-loan guidance applies to Silver. The FCM/AMB materials describe a similar training-income exception, with their own calculations outside it.

An attending contract changes the analysis

Being in training today does not automatically remove student debt when qualification uses a future attending salary. A $0 payment also does not automatically mean the lender will exclude the debt. Ask which income and repayment documentation the underwriter will use.

Bring a current statement

• Outstanding balance and the loan servicer.
• Current repayment plan and required monthly payment.
• Any deferment or forbearance end date.
• Documentation of an upcoming payment change, if known.

Plan for the payment after training

A mortgage that works during a temporary student-loan payment reduction may feel very different later. Build a household budget that includes anticipated student payments, taxes, insurance, savings and other recurring expenses.

Keep the decisions connected

Before changing a student-loan repayment arrangement to qualify for a mortgage, speak with your servicer or a qualified adviser about the broader consequences. Sasha can explain the mortgage calculation while you evaluate the student-loan decision separately.