Mortgage Loans in Hollywood, FL: FHA, Conventional, Investor and HomeTown Heroes
You can get a mortgage in Hollywood, Florida through William Ledesma at Bold Mortgage, a division of PRMG, who works with Hollywood buyers by phone, video and e-sign, together with local agents. Your options include FHA, conventional, jumbo, DSCR investor and bank statement loans, plus Florida HomeTown Heroes for qualifying first-time buyers. The right loan depends a lot on which side of Hollywood you buy in: beach condos, older homes near downtown, or newer homes out west.
Buying a home in Hollywood: what to know
Hollywood is a coastal city in south Broward County, between Fort Lauderdale and the Miami-Dade line. It was founded in the 1920s by Joseph W. Young, and parts of the city still have homes from that era. It is known for the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a paved oceanfront path lined with cafes and small hotels, and for Downtown Hollywood along Hollywood Boulevard and Young Circle, home of ArtsPark. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, with its guitar shaped tower, sits on the Seminole Tribe's Hollywood reservation. Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital are major employers, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades are close by.
Areas buyers look at:
- Hollywood Beach: oceanfront and Intracoastal condos, older beach cottages and small rental buildings.
- Hollywood Lakes: a historic neighborhood near the beach with 1920s to 1950s homes, many on lakes and canals.
- Emerald Hills: larger homes around a golf course, popular with families who want space.
- Hollywood Hills: mid-century ranch homes on tree lined streets near Topeekeegee Yugnee (T.Y.) Park.
- Western Hollywood: more suburban streets with newer homes, townhomes and some HOA communities.
The housing stock is a real mix. East of I-95 you find older homes, Mediterranean Revival and mid-century houses, and many condos from the 1960s and 1970s. Farther west, homes tend to be newer and more often in HOA communities. Buyers include young families, first-time buyers, retirees, Miami-Dade buyers looking for more space, and investors who want rentals near the beach.
FHA loans in Hollywood
FHA lets you buy with 3.5% down with a 580 or higher credit score. With a score from 500 to 579, you need 10% down, and lender overlays may apply. The 2026 FHA limit for a one-unit home in Broward County is $667,000. Limits are higher for 2 to 4 unit properties, and Hollywood has many small duplexes and triplexes near the beach and downtown that an owner occupant can buy with FHA.
You pay an upfront mortgage insurance premium, usually added to the loan, plus an annual premium paid monthly. With less than 10% down, it stays for the life of the loan unless you refinance.
For beach condos, the building must be FHA approved or the unit must qualify for single-unit approval. For older houses in Hollywood Lakes or Hollywood Hills, the home must meet FHA property standards, so peeling paint, roof problems and unpermitted additions can come up in the appraisal.
Conventional loans in Hollywood
Conventional loans allow 3% down for qualifying first-time buyers and 5% down for most others. With less than 20% down you pay PMI, which you can ask to remove at 20% equity and which ends on its own at 22% based on the original schedule.
The 2026 conforming limit in Broward County is $832,750. Waterfront homes in Hollywood Lakes, larger homes in Emerald Hills and luxury beach condos can go above it and need a jumbo loan. For condos, conventional loans require a warrantable building, so the reserves, insurance and repair status of the association matter. Second home buyers on the beach can often start at 10% down when the building qualifies.
Investor and DSCR loans in Hollywood
A DSCR loan qualifies you on the property's rent instead of your personal income. Expect 20 to 25% down. It is a good fit for LLCs, self-employed investors and people who own several rentals. William also offers conventional investment property loans and bank statement loans.
Rental demand in Hollywood comes from beach tourism, winter visitors, hospital staff at Memorial Regional and Joe DiMaggio, airport and port workers, and families who want to be between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Small multifamily buildings near the beach and downtown are popular with investors. If you plan short-term or vacation rentals, check city zoning and licensing rules and any condo or HOA rules before you buy.
Florida HomeTown Heroes and down payment help in Broward County
Florida HomeTown Heroes is a Florida Housing Finance Corporation program for first-time buyers, which generally means you have not owned a primary residence in the past 3 years, who work full time for a Florida-based employer. It gives 5% of the first mortgage, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000, as a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, transfer the deed, pay off the first mortgage or stop living in the home.
You need a 640 minimum credit score and homebuyer education, and Broward County income limits apply. Funding is released in rounds and can run out, so William checks availability the day you are under contract. A fully signed contract is needed to reserve funds. Program details are at Florida Housing.
Broward County also receives SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds for local down payment help, run by the Broward County housing office. Some cities in Broward run their own programs too, so ask William about options for Hollywood.
Insurance, flood and condo rules that affect your loan in Hollywood
- Flood zones: the beach, the Intracoastal and many lake and canal areas east of US 1 are in FEMA high-risk flood zones. If the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, flood insurance is required. Get a quote before you make an offer.
- Older homes: insurers often require a 4-point inspection on older houses, and a wind mitigation report can lower your premium. Roof age is a big factor.
- Citizens Property Insurance: the state backstop when private insurers decline. Citizens now requires many policyholders to carry flood insurance too.
- Condo safety laws: since the Surfside collapse, Florida requires milestone structural inspections for buildings three stories or taller and structural integrity reserve studies. Many Hollywood Beach towers are old enough to be affected. Buildings with unfinished critical repairs or underfunded reserves may not qualify for conventional or FHA loans, and some owners face special assessments.
- HOA fees: newer communities in western Hollywood often have HOA fees that count in your debt ratio.
Your action plan
- Book a clarity call with William: book a call.
- Start with no hard credit pull and set a budget that includes insurance and any HOA fee.
- Get pre-approved: start your pre-approval.
- Pick your program and check HomeTown Heroes and Broward help if you are a first-time buyer.
- Shop with a local agent who knows the beach buildings and flood zones.
- Get insurance quotes during your inspection period, lock your rate and close.
Hollywood mortgage FAQs
Where can I get the best conventional loan rates in Hollywood, FL?
Rates depend on your credit, down payment, property type and loan amount. Get Loan Estimates from more than one lender on the same day so you compare the same market. Bold Mortgage offers many loan programs, and William gives you a side-by-side comparison of your real options.
How do I qualify for an FHA loan in Hollywood?
You generally need a 580 credit score for 3.5% down, steady income and a manageable debt load. The home must meet FHA standards, and a condo must be in an approved building or qualify for single-unit approval. Approval depends on your credit, income, assets and the property.
Where can I apply for investor or DSCR mortgage programs in Hollywood?
You can apply with William at Bold Mortgage online or by phone. He offers DSCR, conventional investment and bank statement loans for single family homes, condos and small multifamily properties.
Can I use Florida HomeTown Heroes in Hollywood?
Yes, if you are a first-time buyer who works full time for a Florida-based employer, has a 640 score and meets Broward income limits. The home must be your primary residence. William checks funding once you have a signed contract.
Can I buy a duplex near Hollywood Beach and live in one unit?
Yes. With FHA you can buy a 2 to 4 unit property with as little as 3.5% down if you live in one unit, and part of the rent from the other units can help you qualify. Conventional loans also allow owner occupied 2 to 4 unit purchases. Check flood zone, insurance and the condition of older buildings first.
About William A. Ledesma
William A. Ledesma is a Florida licensed mortgage loan officer and Florida HomeTown Heroes specialist with Bold Mortgage, a division of PRMG. He helps buyers, homeowners and investors in Hollywood and across Florida, in English and Spanish. Every client gets a clear action plan from pre-approval to closing.
- Call or text: (786) 387-3676
- Email: will@williamledesma.com
- Office: 4960 SW 72nd Ave, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33155
- Client reviews: Read reviews from William's clients
More Florida mortgage guides: Miami Gardens, Aventura, Miramar, Pembroke Pines. Lea esta guía en español.
William A. Ledesma, NMLS #1232716. Bold Mortgage is a division of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. (PRMG), NMLS #75243, Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer License MLD1608. Equal Housing Opportunity. This page is general information, not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting guidelines and property eligibility. Loan limits, program terms and down payment assistance funding can change without notice.
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