Areas We Serve · Palm Beach County, Florida

Home financing in Boca Raton, from an office on Glades Road

Boca Raton is where Justin Mackler and United Direct Lending are based, at 5550 Glades Rd, Suite 500. It is also one of the most varied markets in South Florida. A single week of applications can include a beachfront condo built in the 1970s, a gated country club home west of the Turnpike, and a new downtown residence near Mizner Park. Each of those asks different questions of the lender, the appraiser, and the insurance agent, and the earlier those questions are answered, the smoother the closing.

Boca Raton housing market snapshot

Boca Raton prices rose modestly over the past year while much of South Florida flattened. The city-wide typical value blends large numbers of older condos with country club and waterfront single-family homes, so the spread between property types is wide.

Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical Boca Raton home at roughly $575,000 (data through August 2026, up about 3.7% year over year). Palm Beach County's single-family median was around $650,000 to $660,000 in mid-2026 according to MIAMI REALTORS, while condo medians sat near $300,000. Waterfront and country club homes in east Boca and gated west Boca communities commonly trade well above $1 million, and some older condos trade well below the county condo median.

Market figures as of August 2026. Sources: Zillow Home Value Index: Boca Raton; MIAMI REALTORS: Palm Beach County mid-2026 market report.

Boca Raton neighborhoods and what they mean for financing

Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club
Deep-water estate homes on the Intracoastal and canals; expect jumbo financing, flood-zone review, and high replacement-cost insurance.
Downtown and Mizner Park
Newer mid-rise and high-rise condominiums with walkable dining and shopping; condo project review and HOA budgets matter as much as the unit.
Beachfront A1A condos
Many buildings date from the 1970s and 1980s, which puts milestone inspections, structural reserve studies, and special assessments front and center.
Camino Gardens and Boca Square
Established single-family neighborhoods near downtown with a mix of original ranch homes and newer rebuilds; roof age and wind mitigation shape insurance quotes.
Boca West and Broken Sound (west Boca)
Large gated country club communities, some in unincorporated Palm Beach County with a Boca Raton mailing address; equity or membership fees can affect cash to close.
Woodfield Country Club
Gated single-family community with larger lots and higher price points; HOA and club dues belong in the qualifying budget.
Boca Pointe and Boca Del Mar
Mixed condo, villa, and single-family sections around golf courses, often a practical step down in price from the luxury clubs.

Housing stock

Boca Raton mixes three distinct housing types. East of I-95 you find older ranch homes, newer rebuilds, waterfront estates, and a long line of beachfront condos. West of the city limits, the Boca address extends into large gated country club communities built mostly from the 1970s through the 2000s, many in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Age-restricted and 55+ communities are common in the west, and nearly every gated community has an HOA, and some add mandatory club memberships or capital contributions on purchase.

Condos and HOAs in Boca Raton

Boca's beachfront and Intracoastal condos are a focus of Florida's post-Surfside rules. Under s. 553.899, condo and co-op buildings of three or more stories need a milestone inspection once they reach 30 years of age and every 10 years after, and Palm Beach County's building division describes a 25-year schedule for buildings within three miles of the coastline. Buildings of three or more habitable stories also need a structural integrity reserve study (SIRS), and associations can no longer waive reserves for the structural items it covers. For buyers, the practical effect is that some older buildings have levied large special assessments for concrete restoration, roofs, or windows, and a building with unfinished critical repairs can be ineligible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac financing until the work is done. Downtown buildings are newer but can raise their own questions, such as commercial space, rental restrictions, or developer control.

Flood and windstorm insurance

Flood exposure in Boca Raton follows the water: properties on the barrier island and along the Intracoastal and canals are more likely to sit in FEMA high-risk zones that require flood insurance on a federally backed mortgage, while much of inland and west Boca is mapped in moderate- or lower-risk zones where flood coverage is optional but often inexpensive. Palm Beach County is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone that applies to Broward and Miami-Dade, but wind coverage remains the largest insurance cost for most homes. A current wind mitigation inspection documenting roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, and opening protection can lower premiums, and Florida law requires insurers to offer those discounts. Larger Boca homes can exceed Citizens' replacement-cost eligibility limits, so buyers of high-value homes should line up a private carrier early.

Loan programs that fit Boca Raton

  • Jumbo Loans — Many east Boca, waterfront, and country club purchases exceed the conforming loan limit.
  • Conventional Loans — Works well for the large share of condos and villas that pass Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac project review.
  • No-Doc and Non-QM Loans — An option when a condo building is non-warrantable or a borrower's income does not fit agency rules.
  • Bank Statement Loans for the Self-Employed — Boca has a deep base of business owners and self-employed professionals whose tax returns understate cash flow.
  • Bridge Loans — Helpful for move-up and downsizing buyers who want to buy their next home before selling the current one.
  • Reverse Mortgage (HECM) — A planning tool some retirees in 55+ communities discuss with their advisors for a purchase or to access home equity.
  • Cash-Out Refinance — Owners with substantial equity sometimes use it to fund renovations or a special assessment, depending on qualification.

Local tips from Justin

  • Ask for the condo's most recent milestone inspection, SIRS, and budget before you write an offer, not after the appraisal.
  • In gated west Boca clubs, get the full list of transfer fees, capital contributions, and mandatory dues; they affect cash to close and qualifying.
  • Order a wind mitigation inspection on any single-family home you are serious about. The report can change the insurance quote, and insurance is part of your qualifying payment.
  • Confirm whether the address is inside Boca Raton city limits or unincorporated Palm Beach County; it affects which building department holds permits and inspection records.

Share a few details and Justin will follow up with real options for your Boca Raton purchase or refinance.

Boca Raton mortgage questions

Can I get a mortgage on an older beachfront condo in Boca Raton?

Often yes, but the building matters as much as the borrower. Lenders review the association's budget, reserves, insurance, and any milestone inspection or structural repairs, and buildings with unfinished critical repairs may not qualify for conventional financing. Non-QM portfolio loans can be an option when a building is non-warrantable.

Do I need a jumbo loan to buy in Boca Raton?

Not always. Many condos, villas, and townhomes fall within conforming limits, but a large share of east Boca and country club homes require jumbo financing. The loan amount, not the purchase price alone, decides which applies.

Is flood insurance required in Boca Raton?

It is required when the home is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and the loan is federally backed or from a regulated lender. Properties near the beach, Intracoastal, and canals are most likely to be in those zones. Lenders can also require it in other situations, so check the flood zone early.

How do country club fees affect my mortgage approval?

Recurring HOA and mandatory club dues are counted as part of your monthly obligations when a lender calculates your debt-to-income ratio. One-time equity or capital contributions add to the cash you need at closing. Getting exact figures early prevents surprises late in underwriting.

Can I meet with Justin Mackler in person in Boca Raton?

Yes. Justin works from United Direct Lending's office at 5550 Glades Rd, Suite 500, Boca Raton, FL 33431, and also meets by phone or video. Call (561) 922-0331 to set a time.

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This is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Program availability and guidelines change, and every loan is subject to credit approval and property eligibility. No rates, APRs, or payment examples are shown on this page.

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