Mortgage Lender in St. Petersburg, Florida
When you are buying a home in St. Petersburg, you deserve a real loan officer on the other end of the phone, not a call center three states away.
See what you may qualify for
Answer a few quick questions to get a personalized starting home price range.
No credit pull. No obligation. No calls unless you ask for one.
Takes about 3 minutes. Not a loan application or commitment to lend.
St. Petersburg market snapshot
LiveWe know St. Petersburg, not just the state average
St. Petersburg sits on the tip of the Pinellas Peninsula, which means buyers are often weighing flood zone designations and wind mitigation requirements alongside the usual mortgage questions. Whether you are drawn to a craftsman bungalow in the Grand Central District, a condo near Beach Drive in Downtown St. Pete, or a single-family home in Pinellas Point or Disston Heights, each neighborhood comes with its own insurance landscape. A loan officer familiar with Pinellas County can help you understand how those factors interact with your financing before you are under contract, not after.
First-time buyers in St. Petersburg frequently ask about Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, a government-backed loan program that allows a lower down payment and is available to buyers with a range of credit histories. FHA loans do carry a mortgage insurance premium (MIP), a fee on FHA loans that protects the lender, so it is worth comparing that cost against other options. Down payment assistance (DPA), help covering the cash needed to close, is also available through state and county programs, and our team can walk you through what you may qualify for without making promises about approval.
Closing timelines in the Tampa Bay area can move quickly when inventory is competitive, which is one reason buyers benefit from working with a mortgage lender and broker who can communicate clearly about where your file stands. Intra-Mortgage is licensed in Florida and works across the full range of loan types, so we can match the product to your situation rather than the other way around. If you are browsing neighborhoods from Kenwood to Shore Acres and wondering where to start, a conversation with our team costs nothing and gives you a clearer picture of what the buying process actually looks like.
A licensed lender with real roots
We're not a lead-generation site that sells your information. We're a licensed mortgage team, and we're here in Florida.
A real team
You work with a licensed mortgage team and a loan officer who knows this market, not a national portal that sells your information to the highest bidder.
Market knowledge
We know St. Petersburg's neighborhoods, appraisers, title companies, and county quirks, because we close here every week.
A human, not a call center
You get one loan officer with a direct line, not a 1-800 number and a different rep every time you call.
Multi-state licensed
Licensed across OH, IN, PA, TX and more. Moving out of state later? We can likely still be your lender.
The right loan for your situation
Not sure which fits? See what you may qualify for above, or read the full guide on any option below.
FHA Loans
As little as 3.5% down with a 580 credit score. The most flexible path for first-time and credit-building buyers.
FHA in St. PetersburgConventional
3–5% down for strong-credit buyers. Mortgage insurance drops at 20% equity — the long-term cost winner.
Conventional guideVA Loans
Zero down, no monthly mortgage insurance, for eligible veterans and active-duty service members.
VA loan benefitsRefinance
Lower your rate, shorten your term, or tap equity. We'll run the break-even math honestly.
Refinance optionsFirst-Time Buyer
Down payment assistance, education, and step-by-step guidance built for people buying their first home.
First-time buyer guideNot sure yet?
Compare FHA vs. Conventional side by side, or talk to a loan officer who'll run both on your actual numbers.
Compare loan typesDown payment assistance in St. Petersburg
Florida buyers can often stack state, county, and city assistance on top of an FHA or conventional loan to cover part, sometimes all, of the down payment. What you qualify for depends on your income, the home, and the program.
No credit pull to start, we'll check your assistance eligibility with you.
Real footprint
We close loans across the entire Greater St. Petersburg metro, city neighborhoods, suburbs, and the core counties we serve.
St. Petersburg Neighborhoods
Suburbs
From "just looking" to keys in hand
A clear four-step path, with a real person guiding you at each stage.
Get pre-qualified
Answer a few questions, no credit pull, no obligation. We'll tell you what you can realistically afford in St. Petersburg.
~60 secondsApply & get pre-approved
A full application and verified pre-approval letter, the kind St. Petersburg sellers take seriously in a multiple-offer situation.
1–2 daysUnderwriting & approval
Your file goes through full underwriting, appraisal, title, and conditions handled by a team you can actually reach.
2–3 weeksClear to close
Sign, fund, and get your keys. We coordinate with your title company to keep closing day smooth.
Day of closeJoe Heister and Katie Smith are outstanding to work with. Joe is professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about his clients — he goes above and beyond to make sure everything goes smoothly from start to finish.
I'm a real estate agent and have known Joe Heister for over 15 years. I have always respected him as a lender with integrity who consistently puts his client's interests first.
As a first-time homebuyer, I had so many questions about the mortgage process, but Katie made everything so much easier. From the beginning she took the time to explain every step and answered all my questions patiently.
I recently refinanced with loan officer Mitra Dhital, and he was very helpful and professional throughout the process. He explained everything clearly and made the experience smooth and stress-free.
Thank you to Keshabi Acharya for making our home buying experience so smooth and stress free. She was very quick to respond and very knowledgeable on the topic of loans.
I worked with Joe Heister and Katie Smith and the process was seamless. Professional, organized, and low rates. Highly recommend.
St. Petersburg mortgage FAQs
No. Different loan programs have different credit requirements. FHA loans, for example, are designed to serve buyers with a range of credit histories. The best starting point is a conversation with a loan officer who can review your full picture, including your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), how much of your monthly income goes to debt, and other factors alongside your credit score.
If the home you are buying is in a designated flood zone, your lender will require flood insurance as a condition of the loan. Flood insurance is a separate policy from standard homeowners insurance. The cost varies based on the property's elevation and flood zone classification. This is worth factoring into your overall monthly budget before you make an offer.
Down payment assistance (DPA) refers to programs that help buyers cover the upfront cash needed to close. These can come from state agencies, county programs, or other sources and may be structured as grants or deferred loans. Eligibility depends on income, purchase price, and other factors. Our loan officers can explain which programs may apply to your situation.
Yes, and sellers in a competitive market like St. Petersburg increasingly expect to see it. Pre-qualification gives you a realistic sense of your price range and shows sellers you are a serious buyer. It is not a loan approval, but it is a meaningful first step that puts you in a stronger position when you find a home you want.
Sometimes. FHA loans can be used for condos, but the condo development itself must meet FHA approval requirements. Not every building in St. Pete qualifies, so it is worth confirming the status of any specific building early in your search. Our team can help you check that before you get too far into the process.
Closing timelines vary depending on the loan type, the condition of the property, and how quickly all parties move. A conventional loan may close in roughly 30 days under normal circumstances, while FHA loans can sometimes take a bit longer. Local factors like appraisal scheduling in a busy Pinellas County market can also influence timing. Your loan officer can give you a more specific estimate once your file is underway.
Florida loan guides
In-depth guides on loan programs, limits, and buyer assistance across Florida.
Get pre-qualified for a St. Petersburg home loan
See what you qualify for in about a minute, or talk to a loan officer who actually knows the Greater St. Petersburg market.