In Florida, hard money is a common tool for investors who need to close quickly or buy a property that needs work. The lender focuses on the property's value and your plan for it, and expects to be repaid through a sale or a refinance within a short period. Use the city pages below to see local housing data, then talk with a licensed loan officer about cost, exit options and the documents involved.
Call to talk with a licensed loan officer. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Florida foreclosure process: judicial. Section 702.01 requires all mortgages to be foreclosed in equity, meaning through a court action. Short-term loans carry real risk if the exit plan slips, so know how default is handled before you sign.
Florida transfer taxes: Documentary stamp tax. Applies to deeds and other documents that transfer an interest in Florida real property, as well as notes and recorded mortgages; it is normally paid to the county clerk or recording official when the document is recorded. Your Loan Estimate or closing statement lists what applies to your deal.
Where the numbers point in Florida
Counties with the most investor loans with balloon or non-amortizing terms (2024):
| County | Investor loans with balloon or non-amortizing terms (2024) |
|---|---|
| Pinellas County | 603 |
| Lee County | 510 |
| Miami-Dade County | 490 |
| Duval County | 456 |
| Hillsborough County | 438 |
| Broward County | 389 |
| Orange County | 319 |
| Palm Beach County | 298 |
| Brevard County | 249 |
| Polk County | 212 |
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 865-8230. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Hard Money Lenders by city in Florida
- Alachua
- Alafaya
- Altamonte Springs
- Apollo Beach
- Apopka
- Arcadia
- Asbury Lake
- Atlantic Beach
- Auburndale
- Aventura
- Avon Park
- Azalea Park
- Bardmoor
- Bartow
- Bay Harbor Islands
- Bayonet Point
- Bayshore Gardens
- Beacon Square
- Bee Ridge
- Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace
- Belle Glade
- Belle Isle
- Belleview
- Bellview
- Beverly Hills
- Bithlo
- Bloomingdale
- Boca Raton
- Bonita Springs
- Boynton Beach
- Bradenton
- Brandon
- Brent
- Broadview Park
- Brooksville
- Brownsville
- Buenaventura Lakes
- Callaway
- Cape Canaveral
- Cape Coral
- Carrollwood
- Casselberry
- Celebration
- Cheval
- Citrus Hills
- Citrus Park
- Citrus Springs
- Clearwater
- Clermont
- Clewiston
- Cocoa
- Cocoa Beach
- Cocoa West
- Coconut Creek
- Combee Settlement
- Conway
- Cooper City
- Coral Gables
- Coral Springs
- Coral Terrace
- Country Club
- Country Walk
- Crawfordville
- Crestview
- Crystal Lake
- Cutler Bay
- Cypress Gardens
- Cypress Lake
- Dade City
- Dania Beach
- Davenport
- Davie
- Daytona Beach
- DeBary
- DeFuniak Springs
- DeLand
- Deerfield Beach
- Delray Beach
- Deltona
- Destin
- Doctor Phillips
- Doral
- Dundee
- Dunedin
- East Lake
- East Lake-Orient Park
- East Milton
- Edgewater
- Egypt Lake-Leto
- Elfers
- Englewood
- Ensley
- Estero
- Eustis
- Fairview Shores
- Fellsmere
- Fern Park
- Fernandina Beach
- Ferry Pass
- Fish Hawk
- Flagler Beach
- Fleming Island
- Floral City
- Florida City
- Florida Ridge
- Forest City
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Meade
- Fort Myers
- Fort Myers Beach
- Fort Myers Shores
- Fort Pierce
- Fort Pierce North
- Fort Walton Beach
- Fountainebleau
- Frostproof
- Fruit Cove
- Fruitland Park
- Fruitville
- Fuller Heights
- Gainesville
- Gateway
- Gibsonton
- Gifford
- Gladeview
- Glenvar Heights
- Golden Gate
- Golden Glades
- Goldenrod
- Gonzalez
- Goulds
- Green Cove Springs
- Greenacres
- Groveland
- Gulf Breeze
- Gulf Gate Estates
- Gulfport
- Haines City
- Hallandale Beach
- Heathrow
- Hernando
- Hialeah
- Hialeah Gardens
- High Springs
- Highland City
- Hobe Sound
- Holiday
- Holly Hill
- Hollywood
- Homestead
- Homosassa Springs
- Horizon West
- Hudson
- Hunters Creek
- Hutchinson Island South
- Immokalee
- Indian Harbour Beach
- Indian River Estates
- Indiantown
- Inverness
- Inverness Highlands South
- Inwood
- Iona
- Islamorada, Village of Islands
- Ives Estates
- Jacksonville
- Jacksonville Beach
- Jan Phyl Village
- Jasmine Estates
- Jensen Beach
- Jupiter
- Jupiter Farms
- Kathleen
- Kendale Lakes
- Kendall
- Kendall West
- Kenneth City
- Key Biscayne
- Key Largo
- Key West
- Keystone
- Keystone Heights
- Kissimmee
- LaBelle
- Lady Lake
- Lake Alfred
- Lake Butler
- Lake City
- Lake Lorraine
- Lake Magdalene
- Lake Mary
- Lake Park
- Lake Placid
- Lake Wales
- Lake Worth
- Lakeland
- Lakeland Highlands
- Lakeside
- Lakewood Park
- Land O' Lakes
- Lantana
- Largo
- Lauderdale Lakes
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
- Lauderhill
- Laurel
- Lealman
- Lecanto
- Leesburg
- Lehigh Acres
- Leisure City
- Lely Resort
- Lighthouse Point
- Live Oak
- Lockhart
- Longboat Key
- Longwood
- Loughman
- Lutz
- Lynn Haven
- Macclenny
- Maitland
- Mango
- Marathon
- Marco Island
- Margate
- Marianna
- Mascotte
- McGregor
- Meadow Woods
- Medulla
- Melbourne
- Memphis
- Merritt Island
- Miami
- Miami Beach
- Miami Gardens
- Miami Lakes
- Miami Shores
- Miami Springs
- Micco
- Middleburg
- Midway
- Milton
- Mims
- Minneola
- Miramar
- Miramar Beach
- Mount Dora
- Myrtle Grove
- Naples
- Naples Manor
- Naples Park
- Naranja
- Navarre
- Neptune Beach
- New Port Richey
- New Port Richey East
- New Smyrna Beach
- Newberry
- Niceville
- Nocatee
- North Bay Village
- North Fort Myers
- North Lauderdale
- North Miami
- North Miami Beach
- North Palm Beach
- North Port
- North Sarasota
- North Weeki Wachee
- Northdale
- Oak Ridge
- Oakland Park
- Oakleaf Plantation
- Ocala
- Ocean City
- Ocoee
- Odessa
- Ojus
- Okeechobee
- Oldsmar
- Olympia Heights
- Opa-locka
- Orange City
- Orange Park
- Orlando
- Orlovista
- Ormond Beach
- Ormond-by-the-Sea
- Osprey
- Oviedo
- Pace
- Pahokee
- Palatka
- Palm Bay
- Palm Beach
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Palm City
- Palm Coast
- Palm Harbor
- Palm River-Clair Mel
- Palm Springs
- Palm Springs North
- Palm Valley
- Palmetto
- Palmetto Bay
- Palmetto Estates
- Panama City
- Panama City Beach
- Parkland
- Pasadena Hills
- Pebble Creek
- Pelican Bay
- Pembroke Park
- Pembroke Pines
- Pensacola
- Perry
- Pine Castle
- Pine Hills
- Pine Ridge
- Pinecrest
- Pinellas Park
- Pinewood
- Plant City
- Plantation
- Poinciana
- Pompano Beach
- Port Charlotte
- Port LaBelle
- Port Orange
- Port Salerno
- Port St. John
- Port St. Lucie
- Princeton
- Progress Village
- Punta Gorda
- Quincy
- Richmond Heights
- Richmond West
- Rio Pinar
- River Park
- River Ridge
- Riverview
- Riviera Beach
- Rockledge
- Rotonda
- Royal Palm Beach
- Ruskin
- Safety Harbor
- Samsula-Spruce Creek
- San Carlos Park
- Sanford
- Sanibel
- Sarasota
- Sarasota Springs
- Satellite Beach
- Sebastian
- Sebring
- Seffner
- Seminole
- Shady Hills
- Siesta Key
- Silver Springs Shores
- Sky Lake
- South Apopka
- South Bay
- South Bradenton
- South Daytona
- South Gate Ridge
- South Highpoint
- South Miami
- South Miami Heights
- South Pasadena
- South Patrick Shores
- South Sarasota
- South Venice
- Southchase
- Southeast Arcadia
- Southgate
- Southwest Ranches
- Spring Hill
- Springfield
- St. Augustine
- St. Augustine Beach
- St. Augustine Shores
- St. Augustine South
- St. Cloud
- St. Pete Beach
- St. Petersburg
- Starke
- Stuart
- Sugarmill Woods
- Sun City Center
- Sunny Isles Beach
- Sunrise
- Sunset
- Surfside
- Sweetwater
- Tallahassee
- Tamarac
- Tamiami
- Tampa
- Tarpon Springs
- Tavares
- Temple Terrace
- Tequesta
- The Acreage
- The Crossings
- The Hammocks
- The Villages
- Thonotosassa
- Three Lakes
- Tice
- Timber Pines
- Titusville
- Town 'n' Country
- Treasure Island
- Trinity
- Union Park
- University
- University Park
- Upper Grand Lagoon
- Valparaiso
- Valrico
- Venice
- Venice Gardens
- Vero Beach
- Vero Beach South
- Viera East
- Viera West
- Villas
- Warm Mineral Springs
- Warrington
- Wauchula
- Wedgefield
- Wekiwa Springs
- Wellington
- Wesley Chapel
- West Lealman
- West Little River
- West Melbourne
- West Miami
- West Palm Beach
- West Park
- West Pensacola
- West Perrine
- West Samoset
- West Vero Corridor
- Westchase
- Westchester
- Westgate
- Weston
- Westview
- Westwood Lakes
- Whiskey Creek
- Wildwood
- Williamsburg
- Willow Oak
- Wilton Manors
- Wimauma
- Winter Garden
- Winter Haven
- Winter Park
- Winter Springs
- World Golf Village
- Wright
- Yulee
- Zephyrhills
- Zephyrhills South
- Zephyrhills West
Common questions
What happens if I cannot repay the hard money loan on time?
If the property has not sold or refinanced by maturity, the lender may offer an extension for a fee, or the loan may go into default. Default can bring added charges and, eventually, foreclosure. Ask about extension terms before you sign, keep reserves for delays, and contact the lender early if your timeline slips.
Do I need experience to get a hard money loan?
Experience helps but is not always required. Lenders often offer stronger terms to investors with completed projects, and a first-time investor might need to contribute extra cash, show a fuller plan or bring in a seasoned partner. Be honest about your track record; the loan officer can tell you which lenders work with first-time investors.
Why does hard money cost more than a regular mortgage?
These loans carry more risk for the lender: they are short, often fund properties in rough condition and rely on an exit that has not happened yet. Lenders offset that risk with a higher rate, points and fees. You are paying for speed and flexibility, so weigh the full cost of a hard money loan against the value of securing the deal you want.
Other investor loans in Florida
DSCR loansDSCR requirementsDSCR down paymentAirbnb / STR loansHard money for a primary homeFix and flip loansInvestor bridge loansPortfolio lendersBlanket mortgagesInvestment property loansHELOC on a rentalInvestor cash-out refiSecond home loansInterest-only investor loansPrivate money lenders
Related guides
- Hard Money vs DSCR Loan: Which Fits Your Investment Property?
- LLC Mortgage Basics: Financing a Rental in an LLC
- How to Compare DSCR Lenders and Loan Offers
Hard Money Lenders overview · Florida investor loan overview
- 2024 HMDA data