First-Time Home Buyers

Your first Florida home — without the BS.

No call-center bait-and-switch. No hidden costs. Just a real broker walking you through what you actually qualify for, what it'll cost, and how to win in a Florida market that punishes confusion.

Loan options for first-time buyers.

The "right" loan depends on your credit, your savings, and your timeline. Here's what each one is actually good for.

FHA — 3.5% Down

Best for: 580–680 FICO buyers, lower down payment. Watch out: mortgage insurance is permanent (or until refi).

Conventional — 3% Down

Best for: 700+ FICO buyers, lower long-term cost. PMI drops off automatically at 78% LTV.

VA — $0 Down

Best for: active duty, veterans, surviving spouses. No PMI, ever. Best rates in the market.

USDA — $0 Down

Best for: rural FL areas (yes, parts of FL still qualify). Income limits apply.

FL Hometown Heroes

Best for: teachers, nurses, EMS, law enforcement, military. Up to 5% DPA, max $35k.

SHIP / DPA Stacking

County-level DPA can stack with state programs. Often 5–15% of purchase price as second mortgage or grant.

Common first-time buyer questions, answered.

How much house can I afford?

Roughly: housing payment up to ~36–43% of gross monthly income (depending on loan type and other debt). Use our affordability calculator to run real numbers.

How long does pre-approval take?

Same day if you have pay stubs, W-2s, bank statements, and ID ready. We can issue a pre-approval letter in hours, not days.

What credit score do I need?

FHA: 580. Conventional: 620 (better at 700+). VA: 580–620 (lender dependent). If you're below those, we'll talk about a 60–90 day credit plan to get there.

What if I have student loan debt?

Income-driven repayment counts at the actual payment for FHA and conventional (HomeReady). VA and USDA use 5% of balance. We pick the loan that minimizes the DTI hit.

What's the typical closing cost in Florida?

2–4% of purchase price for buyers (less the doc stamps on deed, which seller pays). We can structure seller credits and lender credits to cover most of it. Use the closing cost estimator.

Insurance reality check for coastal FL?

If you're buying anywhere within ~10 miles of the coast, get an insurance quote BEFORE you go under contract. We can do this for you in 24 hours. Insurance has killed more deals than rate ever has.

Let's get you pre-approved.

30 minutes. We'll go over your numbers, the loan options that actually fit, and a clear plan to get you to closing without surprises.

Book Your Free Strategy Call