Orlando Mortgage Rates & Home Loans

Two Orlando markets, one broker

Orlando's housing market really is two markets sharing a map. There is the everyday Central Florida of Winter Park, Lake Nona, Oviedo, and Winter Garden, where first-time buyers, growing families, and move-up owners drive most of the demand, and where relative affordability compared to South Florida still pulls people in from out of state. Then there is the vacation-rental economy near Disney, Kissimmee, and the 192 corridor, where a large share of purchases are investment properties bought specifically to rent to tourists.

Those two markets need different loans, and a lot of lenders are only comfortable with one of them. As an Orlando mortgage broker we work across many wholesale lenders, so we can put a first-time buyer into the right low-down-payment program and turn around and structure an investor's short-term-rental purchase on the same day.

First-time and move-up buyers

For buyers, Orlando is one of the friendlier large Florida metros on price, and the program options are wide. FHA loans allow a low down payment and are forgiving on credit. Conventional loans go as low as three percent down for qualified first-timers. VA loans offer zero down for veterans and service members, and Florida and county down-payment-assistance programs can help with the cash to close. The trick is matching the program to your credit, savings, and plans, which is a conversation, not a form. We price them side by side so you can see the real monthly and cash-to-close difference.

Short-term rentals and DSCR loans

Few places in the country have Orlando's appetite for vacation rentals, and financing an investment property here is a specialty of ours. A DSCR loan qualifies the property on the income it generates rather than on your personal tax returns, which is ideal for short-term-rental buyers and for investors who already own several properties. There is no cap the way there is with conventional financing, and self-employed investors avoid the tax-return gymnastics. If you are buying near Disney or building a rental portfolio, this is often the cleanest path. See our DSCR / investor loans, and note that short-term-rental rules vary by city and county, so confirm zoning before you count on the income.

New construction and growing suburbs

Central Florida has been one of the most active new-construction regions in the state, especially out toward Lake Nona, Horizon West, Winter Garden, and the Osceola and Lake County growth areas. Builder financing can look convenient, but the builder's preferred lender is not always the best deal once you compare the full cost, and builder incentives are often tied to using it. We are happy to price your loan against the builder's offer so you can see the true difference, and we handle the timing and extended rate locks that new construction sometimes requires.

Insurance and the Central Florida advantage

Orlando sits inland, and that is a real financial advantage. Away from the coast, homeowners insurance and flood exposure are generally lower than in Miami or Tampa Bay, though flood zones still exist near the region's many lakes and low-lying areas, so it is worth checking any specific property. Florida's no state income tax, homestead exemption, and Save Our Homes cap all apply here too, and we estimate your taxes on a homesteaded basis so your Orlando mortgage payment is realistic.

Where we help across Central Florida

Orange County: Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Nona, Winter Garden, Horizon West, and Ocoee. Seminole County: Oviedo, Lake Mary, Longwood, and Sanford. Osceola County: Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and the Disney-area rental corridor. Lake County: Clermont, Minneola, and the fast-growing communities along the western edge of the metro.

Whether it is a first townhome in Oviedo, a family home in Winter Garden, or a short-term rental near the parks, the right loan and the right lender differ for each, and comparing them is exactly what we do.