How to Finance a Property in Florida: A Complete Guide for Foreigners

If you think financing a property in Florida as a foreigner is complicated, let me tell you something: it's simpler than you think! 😎

Many Brazilians think that buying a house in the United States requires paying everything upfront — but that's not true. With a reasonable down payment and the right documents, you can finance your property in Florida with much more attractive rates than in Brazil.

And today I'm going to show you the step by step to do this safely and confidently. Let's do this together? 🚀

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Why Is It Worth Financing a Property in Florida? 💰

If you're looking for a smart way to invest in real estate in the US, financing is an excellent strategy. Here are the main reasons:

✅ Competitive interest rates: Rates for foreigners are around 6.5% per year, much lower than those of the Brazilian market.
✅ Minimum accessible entry: Many banks only require 30% to 40% input for foreigners.
✅ Long terms: Financing can be done in up to 30 years, which greatly reduces the value of the installment.
✅ You can keep part of your invested capital: Instead of paying for the property upfront, you can use this amount to diversify your investments and maximize your return.

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Com o financiamento, você pode comprar 2 imóveis em vez de 1 à vista e dobrar sua fonte de renda passiva!”

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Step 1: Choose the Property and Evaluate Your Financial Profile 🏠

Before starting the financing process, it is essential:

✅ Define the property value that you intend to purchase.
✅ Estimate the value of the entry (normally 30% to 40% of the total amount).
✅ Check your goal: Will the property be used as a residence, investment, or vacation rental? This decision can influence financing terms.

💰 Example: For a property of US$400,000, you would need to make a down payment of about US$120,000 (30%).

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Imóveis próximos à Disney, em Kissimmee or Lake Buena Vista, têm alta demanda para aluguel de temporada — o que ajuda a pagar as parcelas com a própria receita do imóvel.”

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Step 2: Get a Pre-Approval Letter 📋

The pre-approval letter is essential to show the seller that you have the financial means to close the deal — and it also helps you know how much you can invest.

📋 Documents Required for Pre-Approval:
✅ Valid passport.
✅ Proof of income (such as income tax returns or pay slips in Brazil).
✅ Recent bank statement.
✅ Proof of address.
✅ Bank reference letter (issued by your bank in Brazil).

🔎 Jen's Tip: “A carta de pré-aprovação acelera muito o processo e te coloca em vantagem na negociação.”

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Step 3: Choose a Bank or Financial Institution 🏦

The United States offers several financing options for foreigners. The best choices tend to be:

✅ Traditional banks as Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo.
✅ Specialized institutions in financing for foreigners, such as Lima One Capital and Merrill Lynch.

✅ The traditional banks They usually offer lower rates, but are more demanding in their analysis.
✅ The specialized institutions tend to have faster and more simplified processes.

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Trabalhar com uma corretora especializada facilita muito, pois ela pode conectar você diretamente com bancos que financiam estrangeiros.”

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Step 4: Prepare Your Complete Documentation 🗂️

To ensure your financing is approved without any hassle, have these documents organized:

✅ Proof of Income: It can be an income tax return, bank statement or pay slip.
✅ Bank Reference Letter: Issued by your bank in Brazil to prove your financial history.
✅ Proof of Address: Electricity, water or telephone bill.
✅ Valid Passport: Essential document to prove your identity.
✅ Proof of Entry: The bank will require you to prove that you already have the down payment available.

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Prepare sua documentação com antecedência para agilizar o processo — isso mostra que você é um comprador preparado e organizado.”

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Step 5: Property Appraisal and Approval 🏚️

After your documentation is approved, the bank will request a professional evaluation (appraisal) of the property you have chosen. This step is important because:

✅ Ensures that the property value is in line with the financing amount.
✅ Protects you from paying above market price.

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Mesmo que você esteja comprando à vista, fazer uma avaliação é uma excelente forma de garantir que você está pagando um preço justo.”

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Step 6: Contract Signing and Closing ✍️

This is the final step, where you sign the documents that formalize the financing and purchase of the property.

✅ During closing, you will need to pay the closing fees (closing costs), which generally vary between 2% and 5% of the value of the property.
✅ The process can be done remotely with a power of attorney or digital signature, if you are in Brazil.

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Contratar um advogado especializado durante o fechamento pode te ajudar a entender todos os detalhes legais e evitar surpresas.”

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Step 7: Strategy for Paying Installments with Your Own Property 💡

This is the part that many investors love! 😎

If you have chosen a strategic property for vacation rental, it is possible that the property itself will generate enough income to cover a large part (or even 100%) of the financing installments.

💰 Simulation Example:
✅ Property financed in the amount of US$1,000,000.
✅ Monthly installment: US$1,770/month.
✅ Average vacation rental revenue (Airbnb/VRBO): US$3,500/month.
✅ Result: You pay the installments with part of the profit and still generate extra income!

🔎 Jen's Tip: “Imóveis em áreas como Kissimmee, próximo à Disney, têm alta taxa de ocupação — ideal para cobrir as parcelas do financiamento com o aluguel.”

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Conclusion: Financing a Property in Florida is Simpler Than It Seems 🚀

With an affordable down payment, attractive interest rates, and long repayment terms, financing a property in Florida could be the key to achieving your dream home or boosting your equity with a passive income in dollars.

💬 Need help finding the right property and facilitating your financing? Call me and I'll explain everything and put you in touch with the best banks and experts in the market!

Let's make this dream a reality? 🚀🏡

Read also:

➡️ How to Generate Passive Income in Florida
➡️ Investing in a Vacation Home in Orlando
➡️ Dollarization of Assets with Real Estate in Orlando