Buying a home is a big decision, and having the right people in your corner can make all the difference. At Curbside Real Estate, we’ve built a network of trusted partners who understand the unique needs of physicians and medical professionals and are committed to making the home-buying process easier.
Our Featured Partner Series introduces you to the people behind the Curbside network. Through a handful of questions, we’ll share their expertise, advice, and a little of what makes them who they are beyond their professional credentials.
This month, we’re excited to introduce Sandi Frith of Alliant Credit Union.
Sandi is a highly accomplished mortgage loan professional with a 32-year track record and more than $4 billion in residential mortgage loans funded. She specializes in financing for medical professionals, as well as construction loans, first-time homebuyers, and luxury home financing.
With extensive experience navigating complex loan structures, Sandi takes a personalized approach to finding lending solutions that fit her clients’ individual needs. She has helped thousands of clients achieve their homeownership and investment goals and is known for combining deep lending expertise with exceptional service.
For Curbside clients, Sandi also brings an impressive geographic reach. She provides mortgage financing in every state except Maryland, making her a valuable resource for physicians and medical professionals who are relocating for residency, fellowship, or a new position, or simply looking to put down roots wherever their careers take them.
And when it comes to physician lending, Sandi knows the territory. She understands that medical professionals often have unique financial profiles, from student loan debt and employment contracts to residency and fellowship income and frequent relocations.
Her goal? Make financing the easy part.
We asked Sandi about physician home loans, common misconceptions, her best home-buying advice, her dream home, and what she values about being part of the Curbside network.
1. What do you do and how do you help medical professionals?
I specialize in Physician and Medical Professional mortgage financing, helping doctors and other healthcare professionals navigate the home-buying process from prequalification all the way through closing. After more than 32 years in mortgage lending, I know that medical professionals have unique financial profiles—student loan debt, employment contracts, relocations, residency or fellowship income, and sometimes very little time to deal with the mortgage process!
My job is to make financing the EASY PART! I help my clients understand their options, structure the right loan for their situation, and stay personally involved throughout the entire process. I’ve been a pioneer in physician lending for many years and helping medical professionals achieve homeownership is truly my niche—and something I love doing.
2. What’s one thing physicians should know before buying a home?
Talk to a physician-loan specialist before you start shopping!
Physician mortgages are very different from traditional financing. Depending on the program, physicians may be able to purchase with little or no money down, no PMI, and even qualify using a future employment contract before they’ve received their first paycheck.
The right financing conversation before you fall in love with a house can make a huge difference.
3. What’s the biggest misconception you hear from your clients?
That student loan debt means they won’t qualify for a mortgage.
Physicians sometimes come to me with significant student loan balances and assume homeownership needs to wait. That isn’t necessarily true. Physician loan programs were specifically designed with the financial journey of medical professionals in mind.
My advice is always: Don’t disqualify yourself before talking to someone who understands physician lending.
4. What’s your best piece of home-buying advice?
Build your team BEFORE you find the house.
Having an experienced Realtor and a lender who truly understands physician financing can make the entire experience dramatically easier—especially when you’re relocating, starting a new position, finishing residency or fellowship, or juggling a physician’s schedule.
And please… don’t buy the new car or open a bunch of credit cards for your new house before closing! 😉 Your mortgage lender will thank you!
5. And just for fun: What’s your dream home feature?
That’s an easy one! A spacious, beautiful kitchen that’s perfect for entertaining—plenty of room for everyone to gather, because somehow everyone always ends up in the kitchen anyway! 😊
And if I’m building my dream home, I absolutely need a huge, private outdoor space with a massive deck for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying a little peace and quiet. Basically, I want plenty of room for people when I invite them over…and plenty of privacy when I don’t!
6. Why Curbside? What do you value most about being part of the Curbside network?
The people and the shared commitment to serving physicians exceptionally well.
Curbside understands that medical professionals deserve experts who understand their careers, schedules, relocations, and unique financial situations. I love being part of a network where physicians can connect with professionals who genuinely understand their world.
For me, it’s also about trust and relationships. When I’m working with a Curbside client or Realtor, we share the same goal: give that physician an outstanding experience, communicate well, and get them into the home they love.
That combination of expertise, relationships, and taking great care of our physicians is exactly why I value being part of Curbside. 😊
Ready to start exploring your options? Get your Curbside Consult.
**This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or real estate advice. Consult with a professional advisor before making any significant financial decisions.