A signed offer is
your strongest card.
A fellow with a signed staff offer can qualify on full attending income before a single attending paycheque has landed. It is the most powerful position in physician lending.
The short answer.
A Canadian fellow with a signed attending or staff offer can qualify for a mortgage using the full attending income before the first attending T4, which is the strongest physician qualification profile. Lenders accept the signed offer as qualifying income, often allowing a close 90-180 days before the start date.
Why the signed offer is so powerful.
Most physician qualification relies on projected income, an estimate based on specialty averages and a training contract. A signed attending offer replaces the estimate with a contracted number. The lender uses the actual attending salary stated in the offer, even though no attending paycheque has landed.
That turns a fellow into, effectively, a pre-qualified attending. It is the single strongest position in physician lending, allowing purchase at full attending capacity months before the role begins.
Timing the purchase.
Lenders that accept signed offers typically allow a close 90 to 180 days before the start date, depending on the program. That lets a fellow secure a home before relocating and starting the new role, rather than scrambling after.
No signed offer yet?
Questions doctors ask.
All guidesCan a fellow get a mortgage before becoming an attending?
Yes. A signed attending or staff offer is accepted as qualifying income by physician-program lenders, so a fellow can qualify on full attending income before the first attending paycheque, often closing 90-180 days before the start date.
Is a signed offer required for a fellow to qualify?
No. Projected-income programs qualify fellows on specialty career averages and the fellowship contract alone. A signed attending offer strengthens the file and allows qualification on the contracted salary, but it is not strictly required.
How far ahead of my start date can I close?
Lenders that accept signed offers typically allow a close 90 to 180 days before the attending start date, depending on the program, which lets you secure a home before relocating.
