3.5% down. 580 FICO floor. Flexible DTI. The most forgiving loan on the market for first-time buyers, credit-rebuilders, and anyone who needs a yes when conventional says no.
FHA is government-insured (HUD), which is why it can take borrowers conventional won't. The trade-off is permanent mortgage insurance on most modern FHA loans.
3.5% down with 580+ FICO. 10% down with 500–579. Gift funds, DPA, and seller credits all allowed.
Official: 500. Practical: 580 (most lenders). We have relationships that hit the real 580 floor.
Most counties: $524,225. Monroe (Keys): $1,209,750. Collier, Palm Beach: higher than standard. We'll pull your county's exact limit.
UFMIP: 1.75% of loan (financed). Annual MIP: ~0.55% with 5%+ down. Permanent on most FHA loans — refi to drop it.
43% standard. Up to 50–55% with manual underwriting and compensating factors. FHA stretches further than conventional.
Primary residence only. SFR, FHA-approved condo, 2–4 unit (must owner-occupy one). Manufactured homes allowed with restrictions.
FICO 580–680, DTI above 43%, recent credit events (BK 2+ years, foreclosure 3+ years), or you need 100% gift funds. The forgiving underwriting is the whole point.
FICO 700+ with 5%+ down — conventional almost always beats FHA on long-term cost because conventional PMI drops off and FHA MIP doesn't. See conventional →
Teachers, nurses, EMS, law enforcement, military: up to 5% down payment assistance, max $35k. Pairs well with FHA. We do this stack regularly.
Most luxury waterfront condos are NOT FHA-approved. Single-unit approval (SUA) is possible but adds 2–3 weeks. We pre-screen the project before contract.
Standard play: buy with FHA → ride 12–24 months of coastal FL appreciation → refi to conventional once you're at 80% LTV → drop MI permanently. Plan for it from day one.
30 minutes. We'll look at your credit, income, and savings — and tell you whether FHA, conventional, or VA is the smartest play for your file.
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