Second Home Mortgages in St. Augustine Shores, FL

Buying a vacation or part-time home in St. Augustine Shores, Florida usually means a second home mortgage, a consumer loan for a property you use yourself for part of the time rather than one you rent out full time. This page covers how lenders define a second home, why that label must match how you will really use the place, and the insurance, association and rental questions worth raising with a local loan officer.

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Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about second home mortgages for a property in St. Augustine Shores. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.

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Second-home lending in St. Johns County

334Second-home loans in St. Johns County (2024)

3.1%Share of all home loans

$345,000Median second-home purchase loan (2024)

$339,300Median home value

Second homes made up 3.1% of 2024 home loans in St. Johns County (334 loans). A second home is financed as a home you use, not a rental, so the occupancy you state on the application has to match how you will use it.

What counts as a second home to a lender

Lenders separate homes into three groups: the one you live in, the one you visit and use, and the one you hold to earn rent. A second home falls in the middle. You stay there for some of the time, family and friends may use it, and you keep the say over its calendar.

Certain arrangements push a property out of the second home category. A rental pool or a management agreement that hands control of occupancy to someone else is one example. A timeshare is another. A home rented to tenants most of the time is a third. When you talk with a loan officer, describe your real plans for the property in plain terms so they can place it in the right group from the start.

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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.

Why the occupancy label on your application matters

Second home loans are often priced closer to a primary residence loan than to an investment loan, which makes the label tempting to stretch. Do not. Misrepresenting occupancy on a loan application is mortgage fraud, and it can lead to the loan being called due, along with other serious consequences.

If your honest plan is to rent the property out most of the time, an investment property loan is the right path, even if it costs more. If you will use it yourself for part of the time and rent it only occasionally, ask the loan officer whether the program you are considering permits that and what limits apply. Write down what you were told so your use of the home matches the loan you signed.

Who this tends to fit

You want a vacation home you will use yourself during parts of the calendar
Your income and debts can support payments on two homes
You will keep control over who stays in the home and when
You split time between your main home and another area
You are buying a one-unit home that is not a timeshare or in a rental pool

St. Augustine Shores offices and Florida rules for investors

Property assessment: St. Johns County Property Appraiser's Office.
Deed and mortgage recording: St. Johns County Clerk of Court and Comptroller - Recording Division. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.

Florida short-term rental tax registration: Florida sales and use tax on transient rentals. Rentals of accommodations for six months or less are subject to state sales tax and any county transient rental tax; the business must register before starting, and sales tax on transient rentals is always reported to the Department even where the county collects its own tax. Lenders may ask for proof of registration with booking statements.

Florida vacation rental licensing: Vacation Rental license. Florida treats a condo unit or a single-family to four-family dwelling rented as a transient public lodging establishment as a vacation rental, which must be licensed by DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants; licenses renew annually under s. 509.241, F.S.

Insurance, association rules and rental limits in St. Augustine Shores

Insurance on a vacation property can look different from coverage on your main home. Homes left empty for stretches, homes in coastal or storm-prone areas, and homes with pools or docks may need added coverage, and some lenders require flood or wind policies depending on the location. Get quotes before you commit so the cost does not surprise you at closing.

If the property sits in a condo or homeowners association, read its rules and budget. Some associations limit or ban short-term rentals, restrict pets or screen incoming buyers. The lender may also review the association's finances and insurance. Local rental registration and short-term rental rules can apply too, and the details for this area appear elsewhere on the page.

Before you call

Any rental limits from the association or local government you have found
Bank and investment statements showing funds for closing and reserves
Statements for the mortgage, taxes and insurance on your main home
A list of the questions you want to ask about occupancy and rental use
Pay stubs, wage statements or tax returns that show your income

Questions St. Augustine Shores investors ask about second home mortgages

What happens if I call a rental a second home on my application?

Stating the wrong occupancy on a loan application is mortgage fraud. Consequences can include the lender demanding full repayment and legal exposure. If you intend to rent the property out most of the time, apply for an investment property loan instead. If your plans are unclear, tell the loan officer so they can explain the categories and help you choose the one that matches your real use.

Does the home need to be far from where I live?

Many programs want a second home to be in a resort or vacation-type area or a reasonable distance from your main residence, though they do not all define it the same way. A home very close to your primary residence may raise questions about how it will be used. Ask the loan officer how their program views the location before you go under contract.

What should I check with the HOA before buying a vacation condo?

Review the dues, reserves, any planned assessments, insurance coverage and rules on rentals, guests, pets and renovations. Some associations ban short-term rentals or must sign off on each buyer. Lenders may also review the association's finances, and certain condo projects may not meet a program's standards. Getting the documents early helps you avoid surprises late in the process.

Can I rent out my second home sometimes?

Some programs allow occasional rental while others restrict it, and associations and local governments may add their own limits. A home rented most of the time is an investment property, not a second home. Ask the loan officer what your program permits before you list the home on Airbnb or Vrbo, and check the association rules and any local short-term rental requirements as well.

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Get answers about second home mortgages for a property in or around St. Augustine Shores. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.