FHA Loan Florida — 3.5% Down at 580 FICO, 500 Minimum Credit Score, 2026 Loan Limits Up to $990,150
An FHA loan in Florida requires a minimum down payment of 3.5% for buyers with a credit score of 580 or higher. If your score sits between 500 and 579, you can still qualify with a 10% down payment. The 2026 Florida FHA loan limit reaches $990,150 in Monroe County, $667,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and $541,287 across the rest of the state. Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225) is licensed to originate FHA loans throughout Florida. No hard credit pull to get started.
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FHA Loan Florida — The Short Answer
An FHA loan in Florida requires a minimum down payment of 3.5% if your credit score is 580 or higher. If your score falls between 500 and 579, you can still get approved, but the down payment requirement rises to 10%. The absolute minimum credit score for FHA financing in Florida is 500 — below that, FHA is not available under any circumstances. These rules come from HUD Handbook 4000.1 and apply the same way whether you are buying in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, or Miami.
Florida FHA loan limits for 2026 are set at three tiers. Monroe County, home to Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys, carries the state’s highest limit at $990,150 for a single-family home. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties sit at a mid-tier limit of $667,000, reflecting South Florida’s higher home prices. Every other Florida county, including Orange, Hillsborough, Duval, and the rest of the state, sits at the national floor of $541,287. Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225) is a licensed Florida mortgage broker, and we can usually tell you within minutes whether your credit profile clears the 580 threshold or where you stand if it doesn’t. Call 888.958.5382 or start your application online with no hard credit pull.
At a Glance
FHA Loan Florida — 2026 Program Snapshot
Complete program parameters for an FHA loan in Florida as originated through Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225).
| Parameter | FHA Loan — Florida 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Down Payment (580+ FICO) | 3.5% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value |
| Minimum Down Payment (500–579 FICO) | 10% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value |
| Minimum Credit Score | 500 FICO — borrowers below 500 are not FHA-eligible under any circumstances |
| 2026 FHA Loan Limit — Monroe County | $990,150 (1-unit) — highest in Florida |
| 2026 FHA Loan Limit — Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach | $667,000 (1-unit) |
| 2026 FHA Loan Limit — Remaining FL Counties | $541,287 (1-unit) — Orange, Hillsborough, Duval, and most of the state |
| Maximum DTI | 43% standard; up to 56% with AUS approval and compensating factors |
| Florida Down Payment Assistance | State and county programs can pair with an FHA first mortgage; income limits apply |
| Gift Funds | Entire 3.5% down payment can be a gift from a family member, employer, or approved organization |
| Upfront MIP | 1.75% of the loan amount; can be financed into the loan |
| Annual MIP | Approximately 0.50–0.55% depending on LTV, on 30-year loans |
| Eligible Properties | 1–4 unit owner-occupied; FHA-approved condos; PUDs; townhouses |
| Seller Concessions | Up to 6% of purchase price toward closing costs (not applicable to down payment) |
| States Licensed | Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut |
Why Florida Is Different
Why Florida FHA Loan Limits Vary by County
Florida is one of the more complicated states in the country when it comes to FHA loan limits, because unlike a state with one or two cost tiers, Florida has three. Most of the state sits at the national floor, but South Florida and the Keys are priced differently than the rest of the state, and HUD adjusts the FHA limit county by county to reflect that. If you are comparing numbers from an older article, double check the year, because these figures are reset every January and 2026 brought a meaningful increase over 2025.
Monroe County Sits in a Class of Its Own
Monroe County, which covers Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys, carries a 2026 FHA limit of $990,150 for a single-family home — the highest in the state by a wide margin. That number reflects how limited the buildable land is throughout the Keys and how much demand there is for second homes and vacation properties that get converted into primary residences. If you are buying in Key Largo, Marathon, or Key West itself, FHA financing stretches considerably further than buyers elsewhere in Florida might expect.
South Florida’s Tri-County Area Sits in the Middle Tier
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties all carry a 2026 FHA limit of $667,000 for a single-family home, up from roughly $654,000 in 2025. That is meaningfully above the statewide floor, which matters in cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach where home prices have climbed steadily. Buyers in this tri-county corridor often need every bit of that higher limit, especially when shopping for a single-family home rather than a condo.
The Rest of the State Sits at the National Floor
Orange County (Orlando), Hillsborough County (Tampa), Duval County (Jacksonville), and the great majority of Florida’s 67 counties all sit at the 2026 national FHA floor of $541,287 for a single-family home. That figure still covers the typical purchase price across most of the state, which is why FHA remains the most commonly used loan program for first-time buyers in Florida outside the highest-priced coastal pockets. Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225) originates FHA loans in every Florida county and can confirm the exact limit for your address before you make an offer.
Full Qualification Picture
FHA Loan Florida Requirements — 2026
Complete Checklist: Credit, Income, Down Payment, and Property
Everything you need to qualify for an FHA loan in Florida is covered below. These are the program rules as applied through Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225) in 2026.
- 580+ FICO: 3.5% minimum down payment; automated or manual underwriting eligible
- 500–579 FICO: 10% minimum down payment; automated underwriting only — manual underwriting is not available below 580
- Below 500 FICO: not eligible for FHA under any circumstances
- Qualifying score = lowest middle score across all borrowers on the loan
- Down payment is calculated on the lower of purchase price or appraised value
- Borrower’s personal savings (60-day account history required)
- Gift funds from a family member, employer, or approved organization (gift letter required)
- Florida state and county down payment assistance second mortgages
- Proceeds from the sale of a prior property
- Employer-paid relocation or assistance funds
- Standard back-end DTI: 43% without compensating factors
- With AUS approval and compensating factors: up to 56% DTI allowed
- W-2, self-employed, Social Security, part-time, and rental income all accepted
- Two-year employment history required; gaps must be documented and explained
- Down payment assistance monthly payment, if any, is included in your DTI calculation
- Owner-occupied 1–4 unit only; FHA-approved condos and townhouses eligible
- FHA appraisal required; property must meet HUD minimum property standards
- 2026 Monroe County FHA limit: $990,150 (1-unit)
- 2026 Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach FHA limit: $667,000 (1-unit)
- 2026 remaining FL counties FHA limit: $541,287 (1-unit)
Florida-Specific Assistance
Down Payment Assistance With an FHA Loan in Florida
How Florida Down Payment Assistance Works With FHA
A number of Florida state and county housing agencies offer down payment assistance programs that pair directly with an FHA first mortgage. These are typically structured as a low-interest or deferred second mortgage rather than a grant, so terms vary depending on the program and the county where you are buying. Income limits apply and vary by household size and location, so a household in Miami-Dade has a different cap than one in a smaller inland county. Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225) checks your eligibility against current Florida down payment assistance program guidelines before you submit an offer, so there are no surprises during underwriting.
Gift Funds Remain the Simplest Option
For many Florida FHA borrowers, the most straightforward path to covering the 3.5% down payment is still a gift from a family member. FHA allows the entire down payment to come from a gift with no minimum contribution required from the borrower’s own funds, as long as the donor signs a letter confirming no repayment is expected. We see this often with younger buyers in Orlando and Tampa who have steady income and good credit but have not yet built up savings on top of rent that has climbed sharply in recent years. Combining a family gift with the lower 3.5% requirement is frequently the fastest way to close.
Three Key Facts
Three Things Every Florida FHA Buyer Should Know
A single point of FICO score can be the difference between a 3.5% down payment and a 10% requirement. On a $400,000 home in Orlando, that is $14,000 versus $40,000 out of pocket. If your score is close to 580, ask Mortgage-World.com to review your tri-merge report; sometimes a small balance pay-down moves you into the lower tier before you apply. See our FHA loan with low credit score Florida page for more on the 500–579 tier.
Buyers searching for FHA loan limits often pull up an outdated table. Only Monroe County carries the highest $990,150 figure, while Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach sit at $667,000. Every other Florida county, including Orange and Hillsborough, sits at $541,287. Confirm your exact county before assuming any single number applies statewide.
FHA requires a 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance premium in addition to your down payment. It is a separate charge calculated on the loan amount, and most Florida buyers finance it directly into the loan rather than paying it at closing. The annual MIP, roughly 0.50–0.55%, is added to your monthly payment for most of the loan term.
Related Resources
Related Pages
A closer look at exactly how the 500 and 580 FICO thresholds apply to buyers, including how lender overlays can raise the practical minimum above the FHA floor.
Full guidance for borrowers in the 500–579 range, including the 10% down payment path and how Florida assistance programs factor in.
Comparing states? See how down payment assistance pairs with FHA financing to help lower the overall cost of purchasing a home.
A broader look at FHA program rules nationwide, including property standards, mortgage insurance, and the full underwriting process.
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Common Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions — FHA Loan Florida
