The basics are the same as anywhere else—steady income, reasonable debt-to-income ratio, and a credit score that doesn’t make underwriters nervous. But Florida has some quirks. Your insurance costs will be higher than you expect, and lenders factor that into your debt-to-income ratio. If you’re buying in a flood zone, you’ll need flood insurance, which is separate from homeowners insurance and can be expensive.

We typically want to see a credit score of at least 620 for conventional loans, though FHA loans can go lower. Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 43% for most programs, but we can sometimes work with higher ratios if other factors are strong. The key is having all your documentation organized and being honest about your financial situation from the start.