Medical Relocation · Guide
Buying on a deadline
Residency, fellowship, or a new attending position usually comes with a start date, and not much slack around it. I've lived this move with my own family. Here's a realistic timeline from first call to keys.
Work backward from day one
In a perfect world we start 4 to 6 months before your start date: search, offer, close, move, settle. In the real world, physicians often call me with eight weeks. Both work; they just require different strategies. The first thing I do is build your timeline backward from the start date, with buffer for the things that always take longer than expected (inspections, appraisals, and anything involving a moving truck in June).
Get the money sorted early
If you're eligible for a physician loan (low or no down payment, no PMI, designed for MDs, DOs, and DDSs), talk to a lender before you fall in love with a house, not after. I went through this with my wife and her lending team when we moved here, so I know the paperwork rhythm and the pitfalls, like how employment contracts and start dates affect underwriting. Get pre-approved, know your real number, and keep the lender in the loop as the timeline shifts.
Search remotely without flying blind
Most of my relocation buyers start the search from another state. Here's how we do it well: I walk homes for you. Not a highlight reel, an honest walkthrough with video, including the stuff listing photos hide. We narrow to a short list remotely, then you fly in once for a focused weekend of in-person showings. One trip, well planned, beats three anxious ones.
Build in a soft landing
Even with a perfect timeline, have a Plan B for the gap between arrival and closing: a month-to-month rental, an extended stay, or a lease-back from the seller. I'll help you think through which one fits your situation. The goal is that a delayed closing is an inconvenience, not a crisis.
A realistic week-by-week sketch (12-week version)
- Weeks 1–2: offer accepted; inspections and appraisal scheduled.
- Weeks 3–4: inspections done; negotiate repairs; appraisal in.
- Weeks 5–8: financing locked; title work; start the mover quotes.
- Weeks 9–10: final walkthrough; closing; keys.
- Weeks 11–12: move, unpack the essentials, breathe.
An illustrative timeline. Every transaction is different, and loan details depend on your lender.
Deadlines focus the mind. With a clear plan and someone on the ground here, a tight timeline is very doable. I've done it myself.
Common questions
How fast can you buy a house when relocating for a medical job?
A focused 8 to 12 week timeline is very doable: remote search with an agent walking homes for you on video, one well-planned in-person weekend, then closing. Start 4 to 6 months out if you can; tighter timelines just need a sharper plan.
What is a physician loan?
A mortgage designed for doctors (MD/DO/DDS and others), typically with low or no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Talk to a lender experienced with physician loans before house-hunting; employment contracts and start dates affect underwriting.
Should I rent first when relocating to Ann Arbor?
Not necessarily, but build in a soft landing (month-to-month rental, extended stay, or seller lease-back) so a delayed closing is an inconvenience, not a crisis.