--- title: "FHA Loan Florida: 2026 Limits, Requirements and Down Payment" url: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/fha-loan-florida description: "How FHA loans work in Florida in 2026. Loan limits for St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties, credit and down payment rules, and mortgage insurance, explained simply." lang: en --- Skip to main content Image: Single-story Florida starter home with a green lawn and palm tree under a blue sky (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/fha-loan-hero-BM1KuezG.jpg) Treasure Coast home loans # FHA Loans in Florida A lower down payment and flexible credit rules make FHA one of the most popular ways to buy your first Treasure Coast home. ## FHA at a Glance - 3.5% down with a 580+ credit score - 10% down with a 500 to 579 credit score - 6% Sellers can pay up to 6% toward your closing costs - Gift Down payment can be a gift from family ## 2026 FHA Loan Limits on the Treasure Coast | County | Single-family limit | | --- | --- | | St. Lucie County | $603,750 | | Martin County | $603,750 | | Indian River County | $541,287 | ## FHA Mortgage Insurance (MIP), Simply Explained 1. ### Upfront MIP 1.75% of the loan amount, usually rolled into the loan. 2. ### Annual MIP Paid monthly. For most buyers it's about 0.55% of the loan per year. 3. ### How long it lasts Put less than 10% down and MIP stays for the life of the loan. Many buyers refinance later to drop it. ## Things to Know in Florida - ### Condos need FHA approval Condos must be on the FHA-approved list. Many Florida condos aren't, so check before you fall in love with one. - ### FHA appraisal The home must pass an FHA appraisal, which looks at safety and condition. - ### Pairs with assistance FHA can be combined with Florida down payment assistance, including Hometown Heroes (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/hometown-heroes-port-st-lucie) and local SHIP programs (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/homebuyer-assistance-programs). ## FHA vs. Conventional | Topic | FHA | Conventional | | --- | --- | --- | | Down payment | 3.5% | 3% to 5%+ | | Credit | More flexible | Usually 620+ | | Mortgage insurance | Often for life | PMI removable at 20% equity | | Best for | Lower credit scores or higher debt | Stronger credit | Compare more loan types on our Financing Options (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/financing-options) page, or see this week's mortgage rates (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/mortgage-rates-treasure-coast). ## FHA Loan FAQs What credit score do I need for an FHA loan in Florida? 580 for 3.5% down. Some lenders go lower with 10% down. What's the FHA loan limit in St. Lucie County for 2026? $603,750 for a single-family home. Can I use FHA for new construction? Yes, if the builder and home meet FHA requirements. Can I use FHA for a condo? Only if the condo is FHA-approved. We're Realtors, not lenders. Loan rules and limits change, so confirm details with a licensed lender. ## Talk to Peter and Kate. Want a lender who knows FHA? We'll connect you with local lenders we trust. Peter White 772-284-1419: +17722841419 Kate Ward 772-342-4006: +17723424006 The McKinney Team | REMAX Gold ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "RealEstateAgent", "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/#real-estate-agent", "name": "Peter White & Kate Ward, The McKinney Team | REMAX Gold", "url": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com", "telephone": "772-284-1419", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "140 NW California Blvd", "addressLocality": "Port St. Lucie", "addressRegion": "FL", "postalCode": "34986", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Vero Beach" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Sebastian" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Fort Pierce" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Port St. Lucie" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Stuart" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Jensen Beach" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Palm City" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Hobe Sound" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Indiantown" } ], "employee": [ { "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/#peter-white" }, { "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/#kate-ward" } ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/#peter-white", "name": "Peter White", "jobTitle": "Realtor", "telephone": "772-284-1419", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "REMAX Gold" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/#kate-ward", "name": "Kate Ward", "jobTitle": "Broker Associate", "telephone": "772-342-4006", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "REMAX Gold" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Peter White & Kate Ward, The McKinney Team | REMAX Gold", "url": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Financing Options", "item": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/financing-options" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "FHA Loans in Florida", "item": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/fha-loan-florida" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What credit score do I need for an FHA loan in Florida?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "580 for 3.5% down. Some lenders go lower with 10% down." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the FHA loan limit in St. Lucie County for 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "$603,750 for a single-family home." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I use FHA for new construction?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, if the builder and home meet FHA requirements." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I use FHA for a condo?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Only if the condo is FHA-approved." } } ] } ] ```