Florida Land Loans for Zoned SFR Lots: A Practical Guide to Gelt Financial’s New Program
If you’ve ever tried to purchase land or secure financing for vacant land, you know the loan process is vastly different from obtaining a traditional mortgage for your primary residence or dream home. Even borrowers with strong credit approval can struggle to find lenders willing to offer flexible terms for raw land loans, lot loans, or farm credit scenarios.
That’s exactly why Gelt Financial is launching a new Florida land loan program designed specifically for a more predictable subset of land deals: lots zoned for single-family residential (SFR) with existing zoning, located exclusively in Florida, with a targeted footprint from Orlando to Miami.
Whether you’re looking to expand your property holdings or development plans, this program can help you acquire additional land or build on existing lots.
This guide walks you through the details that make this program different, who it’s designed for, and the key loan terms borrowers and brokers should understand before they apply.
What Are Florida Land Loans?
A land loan is financing secured by a parcel of property rather than an improved structure. Unlike a construction loan that funds building your dream home, or a mortgage on an existing new home, land loans are designed to help you purchase the ground itself, the perfect lot where you intend to build, develop, or hold for the future.
Land financing can be used for several purposes:
- Acquiring a parcel as an investment
- Purchasing a buildable lot in an active market
- Refinancing land to access equity through a cash-out transaction
- Consolidating land debt under a new loan structure
Because vacant land doesn’t generate rental income or provide the same security as an improved property, lenders often view these financing options as higher risk. That’s the key difference between land loans and traditional mortgage products. Without a structure on the property, the value can vary based on market conditions, zoning changes, and development potential, all factors that affect how much lenders are happy to fund.
This means land loans frequently come with lower loan amounts relative to property value, higher down payments, and stricter qualifying criteria than you’d see with a standard home mortgage.
What Makes Gelt Financial’s Program Different?
Rather than trying to finance every type of land scenario, Gelt Financial’s approach is focused and strategic. Our mortgage experts designed this program to serve a specific type of borrower and property profile:
- Zoned SFR (single-family residential) – Zoning must already be in place
- Florida only – No out-of-state properties
- Orlando to Miami corridor – No rural properties
- Clear intention – Purchase or cash-out refinance transactions
By narrowing the eligible property types and geography, the program is designed to provide convenience and speed. Borrowers get access to faster underwriting, more predictable loan terms, and fewer surprises during the mortgage process. Lenders can walk through the application with confidence knowing the collateral meets consistent standards.
This targeted focus doesn’t just benefit the loan process—it helps borrowers achieve their goals faster, whether they’re ready to start building, planning future development, or simply creating value by securing the right piece of land.
Eligible Transaction Types: Purchase and Cash-Out Refinance
Gelt Financial’s Florida land loan program is designed to support two primary financing scenarios:
1. Purchase Financing
If you’re looking to purchase land in Florida’s competitive markets, this program provides the funding you need to secure your perfect lot. Many buyers intend to build their dream home or develop the property for commercial purposes down the line. With this program, you can move quickly, close on the property, and start planning your next steps without delay.
This is especially valuable in active markets where buildable lots move quickly, and sellers expect proof of financing and a quick closing timeline.
2. Cash-Out Refinance
Already own a qualifying parcel? You may be eligible to refinance and convert your equity into working capital. This option is ideal for borrowers who purchased land with cash, have seen the value appreciate over time, or want to access funding for other projects while maintaining ownership of the land.
Cash-out refinancing gives you the flexibility to discuss your future plans, whether that’s building a new home, funding a construction loan on another property, or simply improving your financial balance sheet, while keeping your land as part of your long-term plan.
Complete Loan Guidelines: What You Need to Know
Here are the core loan terms and requirements straight from the program:
- Maximum loan amount: Up to $300,000
- Maximum LTV: 50%
- Minimum credit score: 640
- Loan term: Up to 24 months
- Amortization: 15-year amortization available
- Zoning: Must be in place (SFR only)
- Location: Florida only (Orlando to Miami corridor)
- Property type: No rural properties
Let’s break down what these mean in real life.
Maximum Loan Amount: $300,000
This program is designed for small-balance land financing, with a maximum loan amount of $300,000. That makes it especially relevant for borrowers and brokers handling deals that many larger lenders choose not to prioritize. It’s the perfect fit for acquiring buildable lots or securing financing for land that will become part of a larger development plan.
Maximum LTV: 50%
Loan-to-value is one of the most important factors in land lending. A maximum LTV of 50% means you’ll need to bring substantial equity into the deal, either as a down payment on a purchase or as existing equity in a refinance.
This conservative leverage is common across raw land loans because land values can fluctuate more than those of improved properties, and the timeline to convert or sell the property can vary with local market conditions. Lenders need that equity cushion to provide security if circumstances change.
Minimum Credit Score: 640
A 640 credit score sets the baseline for credit approval. This quick qualifying filter helps both borrowers and brokers determine whether the scenario is likely to move forward. If your credit is at or above this threshold, you’re eligible to apply and discuss the details with our team.
Loan Term: Up to 24 Months
Land loans are often used as bridge financing, short-term funding that gives you time to execute your plan. Whether you intend to sell the land, start building, or secure a construction loan to develop the property, a 24-month term provides the runway you need without unnecessarily extending risk.
This timeframe aligns with most land investment strategies and gives you the flexibility to choose your next steps when you’re ready.
15-Year Amortization Available
For borrowers who prefer predictable monthly payments, a 15-year amortization option is available. The interest rate is a key factor in determining your monthly payments and overall affordability, as it directly impacts the total cost of your Florida land loans for zoned SFR lots. Instead of interest-only payments, this structure allows you to reduce the principal balance over time, which can improve your financial position and provide more flexibility as your plans evolve.
Amortization also demonstrates to lenders that you’re committed to the long-term value of the property, which can strengthen your overall loan profile.
Why Zoning and Location Requirements Matter
Two of the most critical elements of this program are the zoning and location restrictions. Here’s why they exist, and why they actually benefit you.
Zoning Must Be in Place
Zoning defines what you can legally do with the property. If zoning is unclear, pending approval, or subject to change, the deal introduces uncertainty that affects both value and timeline. That’s a problem for lenders and borrowers alike.
By requiring that SFR zoning must already be in place, this program eliminates entitlement risk. You know exactly what the land is approved for, and so does the lender. This clarity speeds up the mortgage process and ensures everyone is working from the same set of facts.
Before you apply, make sure you have proof that the property is zoned for single-family residential use. This should be available through your local county or municipality, and it’s something you can verify online or by phone anytime during your due diligence process.
No Rural Properties
Rural land can be harder to evaluate, sell, and finance. It often has limited access to utilities, fewer comparable sales, and less predictable buyer demand. All of these factors make rural properties more difficult to underwrite and more challenging to liquidate if needed.
By excluding rural properties, this program focuses on land in more active, accessible markets along the Orlando-to-Miami corridor. This geographic concentration allows for more consistent appraisals, faster closings, and better overall outcomes for borrowers and lenders.
Who This Program Is Best For
Gelt Financial’s Florida land loan program is designed for:
- Investors acquiring SFR-zoned land in Florida
- Builders purchasing buildable lots in active markets
- Landowners seeking cash-out refinancing to access equity
- Borrowers with a credit score of 640 or higher
- Buyers who can meet the 50% LTV requirement
- Borrowers with a clear plan within a 24-month timeline
If you’re looking to secure financing for your perfect lot, start building your future, or convert land equity into funding for other projects, this program may be the right fit.
Broker Pre-Screening Checklist
If you’re a broker, here’s a fast checklist to help you determine whether a deal is worth submitting:
✅ Is the property in Florida (Orlando to Miami corridor)?
✅ Is it not rural?
✅ Is SFR zoning already in place?
✅ Is the requested loan amount $300,000 or less?
✅ Does the borrower have a credit score of 640 or higher?
✅ Does the loan-to-value fit within 50% max LTV?
If all these boxes are checked, the scenario is eligible and ready to discuss.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re purchasing your dream lot, planning to build a new home, or looking to access equity from land you already own, Gelt Financial is here to help. Our team of mortgage experts is ready to walk you through the application, discuss your financing options, and design a plan that fits your goals.
We’ve built this program to provide convenience, clarity, and flexible terms for borrowers who are serious about land investment and development. From the first contact to closing, we’re committed to making the loan process as straightforward as possible.
Contact us today to discuss your scenario: Gelt Financial – 561-221-0900
Let’s help you achieve your land financing goals and turn your future plans into reality. Whether you’re ready to apply now or just want to learn more about rates, terms, and eligible properties, we’re happy to answer your questions anytime.
Gelt Financial specializes in creative financing solutions for real estate investors and developers. Our land loan program is designed for borrowers who need access to funding with the flexibility to build, develop, or hold for long-term value creation. Contact us today to start your application.
