Best Mortgage Lenders In Florida For 2025

Credit: ©️ Allard Schager/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate

Shopping for a home in Florida often means navigating a market of extremes, from modest homes in rural areas to multimillion-dollar mansions and high-rises in Miami. Overall, it’s a mixed picture for the housing market in the Sunshine State, with shifting conditions depending on where you’re looking, the property you want and other local factors. 

Median home prices and the number of homes selling above list price in Florida are up year over year, signalling strong demand, according to Redfin. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the number of homes for sale, overall supply and newly listed homes are down year-over-year.

If you’re planning to buy a home in Florida, comparing mortgage lenders is an important first step. Here are some of the best lenders in the state that have earned high marks from Bankrate and positive feedback from borrowers:

Best mortgage lenders in Florida

How to find the best mortgage lender in Florida

• Set your priorities. Before shopping for a mortgage, figure out what matters most to you. Do you want to talk to a loan officer in person? Or is handling everything online more of your style? Do you need a faster closing? Want to apply for and track your mortgage status through an app? Thinking through these questions will help you narrow down your list of potential lenders.
• Compare lenders. While you could work with a national lender, there are also several regional banks and credit unions in Florida. Don’t rule out these local options — they might offer you a better mortgage rate or terms. Look up customer reviews, complaint history, and ratings through trusted sources. Pay attention to responsiveness: how quickly lenders return calls and answer questions?
• Get prequalified or preapproved. If you’re still figuring out your homebuying budget, start with a prequalification. This gives you a rough idea of how much a lender might lend you based on basic financial info, without impacting your credit score. If you’re ready to shop for homes, skip the prequalification and ask for a preapproval, which involves a credit check.
• Ask about first-time buyer and down payment assistance.  Many mortgage lenders in Florida work with the state’s housing finance agency to connect eligible borrowers with more affordable mortgages and down payment help. Some programs aren’t limited to first-time buyers. Repeat buyers can apply too. Ask lenders about income limits, property requirements, and whether assistance must be repaid when you sell or refinance.
• Understand the lender’s flood requirements. The home you end up buying might be located in a flood zone or other high-risk area. Before committing to a lender, make sure you understand its requirements to ensure you’re able to obtain the financing you need. You may also want to get flood insurance quotes early so you can accurately budget for the total cost of homeownership.

Florida first-time homebuyer programs

Buying your first home can be overwhelming, but there’s help available. You might qualify for assistance from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the state’s housing finance authority. The organization works with lenders to offer a range of programs that can help you lock in competitive rates on 30-year loans, pay less for mortgage insurance and access cash to cover down payment and closing costs.

To take advantage of any of Florida Housing’s offerings, you’ll need to meet the IRS definition of a first-time homebuyer, which is that you haven’t owned a primary home for three years before buying a new one. You must also meet income, credit score and purchase price requirements and complete a homebuyer education course.

Next steps to get a mortgage in Florida

Explore these Bankrate resources to learn more about the homebuying process in Florida:

• Methodology
  

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  To determine the best mortgage lenders in Florida, Bankrate periodically evaluates more than 75 lenders for factors relating to affordability, availability and borrower experience, assigning each a Bankrate Score out of five stars. The best Florida mortgage lenders generally have a Bankrate Score of 4.9 stars or higher. Learn more about our methodology.