Florida Keys & Coastal Florida Specialist

The Mortgage Lender
Who Knows Your Waters.

Coastal Florida's most dedicated mortgage advisor, specializing in jumbo loans, DSCR investor financing, vacation rental properties, and everything in between. Where complex deals meet a straight answer.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.9/5 Β· 395+ Google Reviews
NMLS #1983384
Licensed in Florida
Quick Rate Estimate
NO CREDIT PULL Β· 60 SECONDS
Property Type
Purchase Price
Down Payment
Estimated Monthly Payment
$4,197
Principal & Interest Β· ~6.875% rate estimate
Lock In Your Rate β†’
Estimate only. Actual rate depends on credit, property, and market conditions. Contact Eli for an exact quote.
395+
5-Star Reviews
$500M+
Loans Funded
12+
Loan Products
24/7
AI-Powered Response

Built for Every Coastal Deal

Whether you're buying your dream Keys home, closing investor deals, or sending clients to a lender you trust, The Mortgage Dock was built for you.

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Homebuyers

From your first coastal condo to your dream Keys estate, we find the financing that actually fits your life and gets you to the closing table.

  • Conventional loans with as little as 3% down
  • VA loans with $0 down for veterans
  • 5% Down Jumbo loans on high-value properties
  • FHA loans for first-time buyers
  • Fast pre-approval, often same day
  • Clear communication from application to close
Start Your Pre-Approval
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Real Estate Investors

DSCR, vacation rental, foreign national, commercial, we specialize in the deals most lenders can't touch. Your income, your way.

  • DSCR loans, qualify on property cash flow
  • Short-Term Rental (Airbnb/VRBO) financing
  • 5% Down Jumbo for investment properties
  • Foreign national investor loans
  • Multi-unit and commercial financing
  • Pad-split & creative deal structures
Discuss Your Deal
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Realtor Partners

Your reputation depends on who you refer. We close on time, communicate every step, and make you look like a rockstar to your clients.

  • Same-day pre-approvals for your buyers
  • 24/7 AI assistant answers client questions
  • Dedicated partner portal coming soon
  • Creative financing for tough deals
  • Clear status updates, always
  • We never cherry-pick your clients
Become a Partner

More Ways to Say Yes

With 12+ loan products, there's almost always a path forward. Especially for the deals that other lenders turn away.

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Conventional Loans
Standard financing for primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. Competitive rates with 3 to 20% down.
Most Popular
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5% Down Jumbo Loans
High-value coastal properties don't require 20% down. Finance luxury Keys and Miami properties with as little as 5%.
Florida Keys Specialty
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DSCR Investor Loans
Qualify based on property income, not personal tax returns. The investor loan built for scale.
Investor Favorite
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Short-Term Rental Loans
Airbnb and VRBO financing that accounts for actual rental income. Built for coastal vacation markets.
Florida Keys Specialty
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VA Loans
$0 down, no PMI, competitive rates for veterans and active-duty military. One of the best mortgage products available.
Zero Down
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Self-Employed Loans
Bank statement loans and 1099 programs for entrepreneurs who can't show traditional income on paper.
Alternative Income
🌎
Foreign National Loans
International investors buying U.S. real estate. We finance non-citizens and non-residents in Florida.
International
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Commercial Loans
Multi-unit, mixed-use, and commercial real estate financing for serious portfolio builders.
Portfolio
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FHA Loans
Government-backed with lower down payment requirements and flexible credit guidelines. Great for first-time buyers.
Low Down Payment
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Pad Split Loans
Specialized financing to maximize rental income through room-by-room leasing strategies.
Investor
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Traditional Jumbo Loans
Mortgage products for high-value properties exceeding conventional loan limits, with multiple term options.
Luxury
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Don't see your situation?
Talk to Eli. Creative deal structures are our specialty.
Let's Talk

Nobody Knows Coastal Florida Financing Like We Do

Flood zones, HOA restrictions, vacation rental income qualification, STR regulations, coastal deals come with complexity that most lenders walk away from. We lean in.

  • Flood Zone Expertise
    FEMA flood zone properties require specialized underwriting. We know how to structure coastal deals correctly the first time.
  • Vacation Rental Income
    Airbnb and VRBO income qualification is handled differently here. We use actual rental data to maximize your borrowing power.
  • Jumbo Coastal Markets
    The Florida Keys median home price exceeds $700K. We specialize in jumbo financing with low down payment options.
  • Liveaboard & Marina Properties
    Unique property types that banks won't touch. We have programs for the deals everyone else declines.
Key West
Marathon
Islamorada
Key Largo
Miami & Miami Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Stuart
Jensen Beach
Palm City
Hobe Sound
Port Salerno
West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Gardens
Jupiter
Boca Raton
Delray Beach
Boynton Beach
Naples & Fort Myers
The Florida Keys Market
Why a specialist matters here
$742K
Median Home Price, Florida Keys
65%
Properties in Flood Zone
$280/night
Avg. STR Nightly Rate, Keys
$990K+
Average Waterfront Home

Most lenders have never financed a flood-zone vacation rental with a seawall and an HOA restriction. We do it regularly.

Discuss Your Coastal Deal

Coastal Risk Score

Enter your property address and answer 2 quick questions. Get your flood zone risk tier instantly, and understand what it means for your financing options.

Step 1 of 2, Property & Contact Info

No spam. Your info goes directly to Eli, no third-party lists.

AI Mortgage Concierge Β· Always On

Meet Marina Vale

The Face of The Mortgage Dock

Marina isn't just a chatbot. She's a coastal mortgage expert trained on every loan program, market, and client scenario Eli handles, available 24/7 on your website, SMS, Facebook, and Instagram. She qualifies leads, answers complex questions, and routes hot prospects directly to Eli's pipeline the moment they're ready.

24/7 Always available
<30s Response time
5+ Channels covered
Marina Vale
AI Mortgage Concierge
Coastal Markets DSCR & Jumbo Lead Capture Florida Keys STR Financing Flood & Insurance
Marina Vale AI
Online now, always available
Hey! πŸ‘‹ I'm Marina, your mortgage guide at The Mortgage Dock. Whether you're looking to buy in the Keys, finance an Airbnb, or just want to know what you qualify for, I'm here 24/7. What can I help you with?
I want to buy a vacation home in Islamorada. Is 10% down possible?
Great choice, Islamorada is incredible! Yes, 10% down is absolutely possible on a second home. Depending on the purchase price, we'd look at conventional financing or our 5% Down Jumbo program if it's over the conforming limit (~$832,750). Want me to get Eli's eyes on your situation today?

Your 24/7 Mortgage Expert Never Sleeps

Marina Vale AI is the intelligent assistant built specifically for The Mortgage Dock. She qualifies leads, answers complex mortgage questions, and makes sure Eli's team is always one step ahead.

  • Instant response, 24/7 on your website, Facebook, Instagram, and SMS. No lead left waiting at midnight.
  • Mortgage-intelligent, trained specifically on Eli's loan products, coastal markets, and qualification criteria. Not a generic bot.
  • Lead qualification, Marina collects contact info, property type, and intent, then routes hot leads directly to Eli's pipeline in real time.
  • Omnichannel, one AI agent across website chat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, SMS, and Google Business chat.
  • CRM integration, every conversation syncs to your pipeline automatically. Follow-up sequences triggered the moment a lead engages.
Talk to Marina Now β†’

From Conversation to Closing

We've removed every unnecessary step. Here's how it works when you work with The Mortgage Dock.

1

Quick Conversation

Tell us your situation, live with Eli or instantly with Marina. No credit pull, no commitment.

2

Get Pre-Approved

We review your docs and issue a pre-approval letter, often same day. Strong letters that sellers and agents respect.

3

Lock Your Rate

Once you're under contract, we lock in your rate and move to underwriting immediately. No delays, clear communication.

4

Close & Done

We coordinate everything with your title company and realtor. You show up, sign, and get your keys.

Start the Process

What Clients Are Saying

4.9 stars across 395+ Google reviews. Real people, real closings.

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"Eli walked us through every step of buying our Keys vacation home. The process was smooth, we closed on time, and he even explained the flood zone issues that our agent hadn't mentioned. Incredible experience."

Michael R.
Vacation Home Buyer Β· Key West
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"I've sent 8 buyers to Eli this year. Every single one closed. He's the first person I call when I have a client with a complex situation, DSCR, foreign national, jumbo, doesn't matter. He finds a way."

Sarah L.
Realtor Partner Β· Islamorada
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"Used the DSCR program for my Airbnb portfolio in Marathon. Nobody else would touch it, Eli structured the deal using the property's rental income and we closed in 28 days. Game changer."

James T.
STR Investor Β· Marathon, FL
G 4.9 β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 395 Google Reviews

Coastal Florida Mortgage Questions, Answered

Straight answers to what buyers and investors ask most about financing in the Keys and coastal Florida.

Can I get a mortgage for a short-term rental in the Florida Keys?

Yes. Short-term rentals in the Florida Keys are typically financed with a DSCR loan, which qualifies the property on its projected rental income rather than your personal income. Most lenders require 20 to 25 percent down and a 620 to 660 minimum credit score. Because the Keys have one of the strongest nightly-rate markets in Florida, many Airbnb and VRBO properties cash flow well enough to qualify on the rental income alone.

What is a DSCR loan and do I have to show my income?

A DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan is an investor loan that qualifies you on the property's cash flow instead of W-2s, tax returns, or pay stubs. The lender compares the property's monthly rent to its monthly payment. A ratio of 1.0 means the rent covers the payment exactly, and most programs want 1.0 or higher, though some allow lower ratios with a larger down payment. There is no personal income documentation, which makes it the most common loan for self-employed investors and full-time landlords.

How much do I need to put down on a jumbo loan in coastal Florida?

A jumbo loan is any mortgage above the conforming loan limit, which is roughly 832,750 dollars for most of Florida. On coastal and Keys properties, down payments typically run 10 to 20 percent depending on the loan amount, your credit, and whether it is a primary home, second home, or investment. Strong borrowers can often secure jumbo financing with 10 percent down and no mortgage insurance.

Do I need flood insurance to buy a home in the Florida Keys?

If the property sits in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, which covers most of the Florida Keys and much of coastal Florida, flood insurance is required when you finance the purchase with a mortgage. Premiums vary widely by elevation and flood zone, so the smartest move is to get a flood quote before you make an offer. We help clients price flood and insurance early so the full monthly payment is never a surprise at closing.

How does hurricane and wind insurance affect my mortgage approval?

In coastal Florida, lenders require windstorm coverage, and in high-risk areas this is often a separate wind policy or a Citizens policy. Because insurance is part of your monthly housing payment, a high premium raises your debt-to-income ratio and can change how much home you qualify for. We factor realistic Keys and coastal insurance costs into your pre-approval up front so your budget holds together through closing.

How long does it take to close on a home in Florida?

A standard financed purchase in Florida closes in 30 to 45 days. DSCR and other investor loans often move faster because there is no personal income to verify, and we have closed deals in two to three weeks when the appraisal and insurance line up quickly. Getting fully pre-approved before you shop is the single biggest factor in closing on time.

Can I buy a second home or investment property in the Keys with less than 20 percent down?

Often yes. Second homes can be financed with as little as 10 percent down on conventional financing, and many investment properties qualify between 15 and 25 percent down depending on the loan type. DSCR investor loans usually sit at 20 to 25 percent down. The right structure depends on how you will use the property, so it is worth a quick conversation before you assume you need a full 20 percent.

What credit score do I need to qualify for a coastal Florida mortgage?

It depends on the loan. Conventional loans generally start at a 620 credit score, VA loans are more flexible and have no set minimum from the VA itself, jumbo loans usually want 700 or higher, and DSCR investor loans typically start around 620 to 660. A higher score lowers your rate, but score is only one piece, and we regularly find a path for borrowers who assume they will not qualify.

Ready to Make a Move?

Tell us about your situation and Eli will personally reach out, usually within the hour. No hard sell, no pressure. Just a straight conversation about what's possible.

  • Free, no-obligation consultation
  • No credit pull for initial review
  • Same-day pre-approval in most cases
  • Available for coastal, jumbo, and complex deals
  • Florida Keys and coastal FL market expertise
  • Or chat instantly with Marina 24/7 below ↓
Direct Line
305.424.9005 eli@themortgagedock.com

Let's Talk About Your Deal

Fill this out and Eli responds personally, fast.

Your Advisor
Eli O. Sanderlin
Sr. Mortgage Loan Advisor Β· Coast2Coast Mortgage, LLC Β· NMLS #376205
NMLS #1983384 Licensed in Florida 4.9β˜… Β· 395+ Reviews Coastal FL Specialist