3.5% down — and it can be a gift
With a 580+ credit score, FHA requires just 3.5% down — and the entire amount can come from a family gift. On a $400,000 Miami home, that's $14,000 instead of $80,000.
FHA Loans · South Florida
The FHA program exists for one reason: to make homeownership reachable for people who don't have a perfect file — modest savings, a credit history that's still recovering, income that's solid but new. It's the most popular first-time buyer loan in Miami-Dade, and when it's the right fit, it changes families' trajectories.
Plain English
An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which lets lenders accept smaller down payments and more flexible credit than conventional loans allow. The trade-off is mortgage insurance premium (MIP) — an upfront fee plus a monthly amount that, with minimum down payment, typically lasts the life of the loan. That's not a reason to avoid FHA; it's a reason to treat it as a stepping stone: buy the home now, build equity and credit, then refinance into conventional and drop the insurance when the numbers work.
With a 580+ credit score, FHA requires just 3.5% down — and the entire amount can come from a family gift. On a $400,000 Miami home, that's $14,000 instead of $80,000.
Past credit events — collections, a bounced year, even a past bankruptcy with seasoning — don't automatically disqualify you. FHA reads the story, not just the score.
FHA often approves debt-to-income ratios that conventional won't — critical in Miami, where prices run high relative to wages.
FHA charges upfront and monthly mortgage insurance that usually lasts the loan's life at minimum down. I show you the full cost next to conventional — no surprises at the closing table.
FHA is a great door, not necessarily a forever home for your money. Once your equity and credit grow, we refinance to conventional and drop the MIP. I flag the moment it makes sense.
Renovation financing for fixer-uppers, and streamline refinances that lower your rate later with minimal paperwork — the FHA toolkit goes beyond the purchase.
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Honest answers
580+ for the 3.5% down payment; 500–579 may qualify with 10% down. Below-620 files get more scrutiny, but they close — the story around the score matters.
FHA limits adjust annually and vary by county; Miami-Dade's limit is set above the national floor because of local prices. Call me for the current figure and whether your target price fits.
Yes — the entire 3.5% can be gifted by a family member, documented with a gift letter. Very common for first-time Miami buyers.
With the minimum down payment, monthly MIP typically lasts the life of the loan. The standard strategy is to refinance into conventional once you have 20% equity — I track that moment for my clients.
Only in FHA-approved buildings, which are limited in Miami. If your target building isn't approved, conventional or non-QM routes may work — I check before you write an offer.
Sí — la consulta, los documentos y el cierre, completamente en español.
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Call, text, WhatsApp, or start the secure application — whichever feels easiest. Free consultation, no obligation, no hard credit pull to start.