Marcus Lefebvre
Five star rating, no written review.
Tampa, Florida
A Tampa mortgage broker who knows the building, the flood map and the insurance bill
I'm a mortgage broker licensed in Florida, and I arrange home loans for Tampa buyers and owners from South Tampa to New Tampa. As a broker I compare loan programs from multiple wholesale lenders for your file instead of offering one bank's menu. I started in 2004 and I'm still here.
Written by Travis Penny, Mortgage Broker, NMLS #1649161
Tampa neighborhoods, different files
- South Tampa, Hyde Park, Palma Ceia and Davis Islands. Older homes, higher price points and many addresses in FEMA flood zones. Jumbo and flood insurance questions come up early here.
- Downtown, Channelside and Harbour Island. Mostly condos and towers, so the association's budget, reserves, insurance and milestone inspection status matter as much as your credit.
- Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights and Ybor City. Bungalows, renovated homes and some mixed use buildings. Age of roof and electrical can affect insurance before it affects the loan.
- Westchase, Carrollwood and New Tampa. Newer single family communities, often with an HOA and sometimes a CDD assessment that shows up in the monthly payment.
- Brandon, Riverview and Wesley Chapel. Newer construction, where builder incentives and timing matter.
All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will qualify. Program terms and availability can change. This page is for general education and is not a loan offer or a commitment to make a loan. Travis Penny, NMLS ID #1649161, is a mortgage broker with Vision Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #1286953. Equal Housing Opportunity.
The Tampa Bay insurance and flood factor
After the 2024 storm season, homeowners and flood insurance are often the line in a Tampa payment that surprises people. I ask for an insurance quote on the address early, before inspection deadlines run out. Federally backed loans on homes in a special flood hazard area require flood insurance. Many owners use Citizens Property Insurance, Florida's state backed insurer, when private coverage is hard to place. An elevation certificate and a wind mitigation inspection can change a quote.
Loan options I arrange in Tampa
- Conventional, including 3% down for eligible first time buyers. Not everyone will qualify.
- FHA, with 3.5% down at a 580 or higher credit score.
- VA for eligible service members and veterans, including MacDill families, with no down payment required for eligible buyers with full entitlement.
- Second home loans for Tampa winter homes you use yourself.
- Bank statement and other self employed programs, non warrantable condo loans and DSCR loans for investment properties.
Why a broker in Tampa
A Channelside condo that one lender turns down may fit another lender's condo guidelines. A self employed buyer in Westchase may fit a bank statement program a branch doesn't offer. My job is to match the file to the lender before you're under contract.
Next step
Tell me the neighborhood, the property type and whether it's a primary home, second home or investment, and I'll tell you what to gather first.
FAQs
Do I need flood insurance to buy a house on Davis Islands or in South Tampa?
If the home is in a FEMA special flood hazard area and the loan is federally backed, flood insurance is required. Much of Davis Islands and parts of South Tampa sit in those zones, so I check the flood map for the address and ask you to get a quote before inspection deadlines.
Can I get a mortgage on a Channelside or downtown Tampa condo with a special assessment?
Often yes, but the building matters as much as you do. Lenders review the association budget, reserves, insurance and any milestone inspection or structural reserve study. If the building doesn't fit conventional guidelines, I look at non warrantable condo programs.
What does a Tampa mortgage broker do that a bank doesn't?
I compare programs from multiple wholesale lenders for your file. That matters for condos, self employed income and investment properties, where one lender's no isn't every lender's no.
Can I use a VA loan near MacDill Air Force Base?
Yes, if you are eligible. VA doesn't require a down payment for eligible buyers with full entitlement. A condo still has to meet VA's project requirements, so I check that first.
How much is homeowners insurance going to add to my Tampa payment?
It depends on the roof age, construction, elevation and flood zone, so I don't guess. I ask you to get a quote on the specific address early. A wind mitigation inspection and an elevation certificate can lower it.
I'm moving from Maine to Tampa. Can you handle both sides?
I'm licensed in Maine and Florida, so I can arrange the Tampa purchase and talk through what happens with the Maine home, whether that's selling, keeping it as a second home or something else.
What clients say
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