A local broker, not a national call center
When you’re financing a home in Fort Lauderdale, you want someone who knows your market — the neighborhoods, the condo associations, the insurance carriers that will and won’t write in your zip code, and the realtors who close deals here. Turtur Home Loans is based in South Florida and works almost exclusively with Broward and Palm Beach County buyers. We’re not a 1-800 number routing you to a stranger in another state.
Didier Latortue (NMLS #1649918) personally reviews every application. You get one point of contact from pre-approval through closing — the same person who answers your texts at 9pm if a counteroffer comes in.
Loan programs available in Fort Lauderdale
Every standard program works here. Each one fits a different type of Fort Lauderdale buyer.
- Conventional. 3%-20% down, best rates for buyers with 700+ credit. The right choice for most buyers in single-family or townhome purchases under $806,500 (the 2026 Broward conforming loan limit).
- FHA. 3.5% down, credit scores down to 580. Common for first-time buyers in neighborhoods like Tarpon River, Sailboat Bend, and parts of Lauderhill and Sunrise. FHA has condo-specific approval requirements, and not every Fort Lauderdale building is FHA-approved — we check that for you upfront.
- VA. 0% down for eligible veterans and active-duty service members. Particularly strong fit for buyers in the Naval Reserve Center area and around the Coast Guard station. No monthly mortgage insurance, no PMI ever.
- Jumbo. For loans above $806,500. Common on the beach, Las Olas Isles, Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, Bay Colony, and Harbor Beach. We work with portfolio lenders that have flexible jumbo guidelines.
- Condo loans. The trickiest product locally. Fort Lauderdale is condo-heavy and many buildings have warrantability issues. We’ve closed in over 100 South Florida condo buildings and can usually tell you in 24 hours whether a building will finance and on what terms.
- DSCR and investor loans. For short-term and long-term rental properties in popular Fort Lauderdale investor zips (33301, 33304, 33305, 33308, 33312). Qualifies on the property’s projected rent, not your personal income.
- HELOC and cash-out refinance. For tapping equity in your current Fort Lauderdale home for renovations, investments, or debt consolidation.
Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods we close in regularly
Different parts of Fort Lauderdale have different financing nuances.
- Las Olas Isles, Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, Bay Colony — high-end waterfront. Most purchases here are jumbo. Insurance is the gating factor; we coordinate with your insurance agent before the appraisal to avoid last-minute surprises.
- Coral Ridge, Imperial Point — established single-family neighborhoods with strong values. Conventional financing dominates.
- Victoria Park, Poinsettia Heights, Lake Ridge — popular with first-time buyers and young professionals. FHA and 3%-down conventional work well.
- Downtown / Las Olas / Flagler Village — condo territory. Building warrantability matters; we’ll check before you waste time.
- Sailboat Bend, Tarpon River — historic district homes, occasionally older construction quirks. We pair you with the right insurance options.
- Riverland, Edgewood, Lauderdale Manors, Melrose Park — affordable single-family. Strong fit for FHA, VA, and Hometown Heroes.
Local cost realities
A typical Fort Lauderdale purchase has costs national calculators get wrong. Plan for:
- Property tax. Broward County millage runs roughly 1.0%-1.3% of assessed value. Homestead exemption (file by March 1) knocks $50,000 off your taxable value once you occupy the home.
- Hurricane and wind insurance. Required by lenders. Budget $1,800-$4,500/yr for single-family, $1,200-$3,000/yr for condos depending on age, roof, and location. Coastal zip codes (33301, 33304, 33308, 33316) skew higher.
- Flood insurance. Required for many properties east of US-1 or in FEMA AE/VE zones. Cost varies wildly ($500-$5,000+) depending on elevation and zone.
- Doc stamps and intangible tax. Florida-specific closing costs. $0.35 per $100 of note plus 0.2% intangible tax on the mortgage.
Why Fort Lauderdale buyers choose us
- Same-day pre-approvals during business hours; 24-hour turnaround otherwise.
- 40+ lender relationships — we shop your loan rather than locking you into one bank’s pricing.
- Local closing partners — title companies, appraisers, and inspectors who work in Broward every day.
- One point of contact from “let’s talk” through “here are your keys.”
- No application fee, no junk fees. You only pay for the appraisal (~$500-$600) once you have a property under contract.
Fill out the form on this page or call (754) 224-5704. Turtur Home Loans, NMLS #2836215 — licensed Florida mortgage broker.
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