Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital is a 400-bed advanced tertiary medical center and the largest hospital in Boca Raton, with more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff. It is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center, a nationally recognized leader in cardiovascular care, oncology, women’s health, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and the neurosciences — and it is part of the Baptist Health South Florida system, which operates 12 hospitals, more than 4,500 physicians, and 200-plus outpatient centers, urgent care facilities, and physician practices across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. For 25 consecutive years, Baptist Health has been named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, and in the 2024–2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, it earned more high-performing honors than any other health system in South Florida.
The physician employment landscape in Boca Raton extends beyond the hospital. The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University — a 308,000-square-foot university-affiliated tech and health innovation hub in North Boca — recently secured Baptist Health as a lead tenant and is attracting a growing cluster of health technology and life sciences companies. ModMed, the Boca-based electronic health records and practice management platform recently acquired by Clearlake Capital at a $5.3 billion valuation, represents the physician-facing health tech tier that draws clinically trained executives and physicians in non-traditional roles alongside the hospital system. BioStem Technologies acquired a four-acre parcel at FAU Research Park in late 2025 with city-approved incentives for job creation. The Boca Raton physician employment ecosystem is anchored by the hospital and extended by a biotech and health tech sector that is actively growing.
Physicians arriving in Boca Raton carry the financial profile that medical training creates: student loan obligations that can exceed $300,000, employment contracts that begin before the first paycheck, and earning capacity that far exceeds what recent tax returns show. Boca Raton’s price structure — where quality single-family homes in physician-preferred communities begin at $800,000, West Boca new construction starts at $1.4 million, and anything in East Boca’s established neighborhoods requires Jumbo financing — means that without a physician-specific program, the home that fits the career is out of reach at the moment of arrival.
Ryan Lehrman, NMLS #235295, structures physician mortgage loans for Boca Raton’s medical and health sector community — from residents matching to Baptist Health programs to attending physicians, health tech executives, and specialists establishing private practices in Palm Beach County.
No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) — On a $1.4 million Lotus Edge home, PMI at standard rates adds $500 to $700 per month to the payment for buyers with less than 20% down. Physician loans eliminate PMI entirely, regardless of down payment size — preserving cash that can go toward student loan payments, relocation costs, or establishing financial reserves in a new city.
Flexible Down Payment Options — Most physician programs allow 0% to 10% down without PMI, depending on loan amount and program tier. A physician purchasing a $1.6 million home in Boca Bridges with 10% down preserves $144,000 in liquidity — a significant difference for someone who has spent their 20s and early 30s in training rather than accumulating savings.
Student Loan Flexibility — Medical school debt of $200,000 to $400,000 is common in Boca's physician population. Standard conventional underwriting treats student loans at 1% of balance per month in the debt-to-income ratio — which adds $3,000 to $4,000 per month to DTI for a typical physician borrower and frequently disqualifies them from purchasing a home appropriate to their income level. Physician mortgage programs use actual IBR or deferred payment amounts instead, dramatically improving qualifying ratios and making meaningful Boca Raton neighborhoods accessible on a physician income.
Contract-Based Income Verification — Physicians joining Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, private specialty practices, or health technology roles at FAU Research Park companies can qualify using their executed employment contract before receiving a single paycheck. The signed offer letter, start date, and compensation structure are the qualifying documents — two years of tax returns showing residency stipend income are not required.
Jumbo Physician Programs — Given Boca Raton's price structure, most physician purchases in desirable communities require Jumbo financing. Physician Jumbo programs extend the full benefit structure — no PMI, IBR student loan treatment, contract income — to loan amounts well above $832,750. A physician purchasing a $2 million home in Boca Bridges or a $1.8 million property in Woodfield Country Club has options that do not require them to document two years of attending income history.
Program-Specific Matching — Not all physician loan programs cover every credential or loan amount equally. Ryan identifies the specific program that fits the credential, income structure, and purchase price before any application is submitted.
MD (Doctor of Medicine)
DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)
DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine)
DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)
OD (Doctor of Optometry)
DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)
PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)
PA-C (Physician Assistant — Certified)
APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse)
Residents and Fellows (including those matching to Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital and affiliated Palm Beach County programs)
For physicians purchasing in Boca Raton’s family-oriented residential communities — West Boca neighborhoods including Mission Bay, Boca Falls, and Boca Isles in the $700,000 to $1.2 million range; entry-tier Boca Bridges homes from $900,000 to $1.4 million; and Central Boca neighborhoods where physicians establishing careers at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital most frequently settle. No PMI, IBR student loan treatment, and contract income verification make this the standard program for residents and newly minted attendings arriving in Palm Beach County.
For attending physicians, department heads, senior specialists, and health sector executives whose target neighborhoods — Lotus Edge, Boca Bridges upper collections, established East Boca communities, Woodfield Country Club, and The Oaks — require Jumbo financing. Physician Jumbo extends the benefit structure of the standard physician program to higher loan amounts, without the standard Jumbo requirement to document two years of attending income. A cardiovascular surgeon at Baptist Health, an oncologist at the hospital’s Miami Cancer Institute satellite, or a health tech executive at a ModMed-tier company purchasing in the $2 million to $3 million range has options here that a standard Jumbo program does not accommodate.
Specific physician loan expertise for Boca Raton and Palm Beach County — not a generalist lender adding physician as a checkbox product
Jumbo physician programs for Boca Bridges, Lotus Edge, Woodfield, The Oaks, and East Boca's established neighborhoods
Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital contract familiarity — Ryan knows how to read and document hospital employment agreements
IBR student loan treatment that reflects the reality of medical education debt in a high-priced South Florida market
Physician One-Time Close Construction for buyers building in GL Homes communities and custom sites
Responsive communication designed for physicians who are not available during standard business hours
Ryan Lehrman, NMLS #235295
Professional Credential: MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DVM, OD, DPM, PharmD, PA-C, APRN, and residents and fellows in accredited programs, including Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital's specialty training programs. Specific program eligibility varies — confirm credential coverage at the time of consultation.
Employment and Income: Fully executed employment contract with defined start date and compensation. Residents and fellows qualify on current contract or signed forthcoming agreement. New attending physicians qualify using contract income before the first paycheck. Health technology executives in clinical roles at FAU Research Park companies may qualify under physician or professional programs depending on the specific role and credential
Student Loan Treatment: IBR and deferred student loan payments are used at the actual documented payment amount, not at 1% of balance. Physicians coming out of MD programs at University of Florida, Nova Southeastern, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, or out-of-state programs all qualify under this treatment as a standard program feature.
Credit: Minimum 700 for most physician programs, with some as low as 680. Thin credit histories from residency years are assessed contextually rather than penalized.
Initial Consultation — A focused conversation about your position at Baptist Health, a private Palm Beach County practice, or an FAU Research Park health sector role; your compensation structure; student loan balances; and your target neighborhood and price range in Boca Raton.
Program Selection — Ryan identifies the physician program — standard, Jumbo, or Construction — based on credential, loan amount, and income documentation structure.
Pre-approval — A fully underwritten pre-approval based on your employment contract and financial profile. In Boca's active West Boca new construction market, particularly with GL Homes, this document is the starting point for every meaningful conversation with a sales team or listing agent.
Application and Underwriting — Once a property is under contract, the full application proceeds on the pre-approved framework. For new construction, the application may proceed concurrent with the builder contract process.
Close — Physician loan underwriting is efficient when documentation is properly prepared. Ryan coordinates the timeline to close on schedule with the purchase contract or construction agreement.
Yes. Residents who have signed their employment agreement — whether for a Baptist Health residency, a fellowship within the system, or a post-residency attending contract — can qualify using that contract as income documentation. You do not need your first paycheck, and residency stipend income does not need to cover the full qualifying income for your purchase price. The physician loan program is designed to evaluate your career trajectory. Many residents use the window between contract signing and start date to identify and purchase a home so they arrive in Boca Raton already settled.
Under a standard conventional program, a $320,000 balance adds $3,200 per month to your debt-to-income ratio — regardless of your actual IBR payment. Under a physician mortgage program, your DTI calculation uses your actual documented IBR payment. If your IBR payment is $900 per month, that is what goes into the DTI calculation. The difference between $3,200 and $900 per month in DTI impact directly translates to a meaningfully higher qualifying purchase price — often the difference between a West Boca community that almost fits and one that genuinely does.
The future buy-in does not affect your current physician mortgage eligibility. Your qualifying income is your current contract compensation. Future equity transactions are not treated as current liabilities in the qualification process. Once the buy-in is complete and your income includes practice distributions, those can be documented through business owner and K-1 income programs for any future financing.
Ready to finance your Boca Raton 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.
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