Buy a home in Fort Lauderdale with as little as 3.5% down. Here's how FHA loans work in Broward County — from beachfront condos to single-family neighborhoods — and how to get pre-approved.
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Fort Lauderdale blends walkable downtown condos, classic beach-town single-family neighborhoods, and a steady stream of relocating buyers. FHA loans fit a lot of these buyers: 3.5% down, flexible credit from 580, and the ability to use gift funds. Because Broward County is a designated high-cost area, FHA buyers here have more borrowing room than in most of Florida — but as with the rest of South Florida's coast, condo approval is the detail to watch.
Broward County is a designated high-cost area, so its 2026 single-family FHA limit is $667,000, above the $541,287 statewide floor — meaning you can finance higher-priced Fort Lauderdale homes than in most of Florida. Confirm Broward County's exact limit with HUD's official FHA loan-limit lookup. Still, high-end waterfront homes and luxury condos can exceed the limit, so many FHA buyers focus on mid-market condos and single-family homes in neighborhoods like Victoria Park and Coral Ridge.
Like Miami, much of Fort Lauderdale's inventory is condominiums — and FHA financing requires the building to be FHA-approved (or your unit to qualify for Single-Unit Approval). Older beachfront buildings frequently aren't approved, so checking status early saves heartbreak. We verify approval before you offer; our FHA condo guide explains how. Single-family neighborhoods like Rio Vista and Coral Ridge are simpler FHA purchases, and sellers can contribute up to 6% toward closing costs.
You don't have to cover the down payment alone. FHA allows gift funds, sellers can contribute up to 6% toward closing costs, and Fort Lauderdale buyers can often pair FHA with assistance from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and Broward County's local SHIP-funded programs. Funding and eligibility change frequently, so we'll help you confirm what's currently available — see our FHA down payment assistance guide.
We help buyers throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, including Victoria Park, Coral Ridge, Las Olas, Rio Vista, Wilton Manors, and Coral Springs. Wherever you're looking, we'll explain your FHA loan limit, rate, and monthly payment — and get you pre-approved fast.
Get a free FHA rate quote and pre-approval from a lender who knows the Fort Lauderdale market.
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