Gainesville and Alachua County Mortgage Broker

Skyline Mortgage helps buyers and homeowners in Gainesville and the rest of Alachua County compare loan options from multiple lenders. We serve the area from our office in Palm Coast, and we work with Gainesville borrowers by phone, video and secure document upload. We do not have a Gainesville office.

As a licensed mortgage broker (NMLS #2386002), we help you compare programs and Loan Estimates. The lender you choose underwrites, approves and funds the loan.

Parents buying a home near UF

A common Gainesville question is whether parents can buy a home or condo for a student. How the loan is set up decides the occupancy type, and occupancy changes the loan options and costs.

  • The student buys and lives there, and a parent co-borrows. Under Fannie Mae rules, only one borrower has to live in the home for it to be a principal residence, so a parent can join as a non-occupant co-borrower in many cases (Fannie Mae: occupancy types). Other programs have their own rules.
  • The parent buys alone and the student lives there. This is generally treated as an investment property, not a second home, unless the parent also uses it part of the year as a true second home. Investment properties have different pricing and requirements. Fannie Mae has a narrow exception for parents housing a disabled adult child who can't qualify alone.
  • Renting rooms to roommates. Ask how the lender treats rental income, and check city rental rules and any HOA or condo rental limits first.
  • Condos near campus. Lenders review the building's reserves, assessments, rental share and insurance. See our Florida condo mortgage guide.

Other Gainesville considerations

  • Sinkholes and insurance. North Central Florida has limestone geology where sinkholes can occur. Florida insurers must cover catastrophic ground cover collapse, and broader sinkhole coverage is often optional and priced separately (s. 627.706, F.S.). Ask your insurance agent what the policy covers before you close. See homeowners insurance and mortgage approval.
  • Flood zones still matter inland. Some areas near creeks, lakes and wetlands are in high-risk flood zones. Check the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. If the home is in a FEMA special flood hazard area and the loan is federally backed or regulated, flood insurance is generally required.
  • UF and UF Health employees. Ask how lenders treat your job offer, academic contracts or residency and fellowship income. Rules vary by lender and program.
  • First-time buyer assistance. The City of Gainesville and Alachua County run down payment assistance programs with income limits, homebuyer education and their own lists of participating lenders. Check current funding and eligibility with each program, and ask us how assistance would fit with the loan options you're comparing.
  • Rural Alachua County. Areas outside Gainesville, such as around High Springs, Alachua, Newberry and Hawthorne, may be eligible for USDA loans depending on the exact address and household income. See USDA loans.
  • Older homes. Many homes near campus and in established neighborhoods are decades old, so insurers may want a 4-point inspection. If the home needs work, see rehab loans.
  • Property taxes. Taxes reset after you buy. See Florida property taxes after you buy.

Loan options for Alachua County borrowers

Florida guides for Gainesville buyers

How it works from Palm Coast

  1. Call or request a consultation. Tell us the area, the price range and your timeline.
  2. Review documents. We list what the lender will likely need and review your income, assets and credit.
  3. Compare options. We walk through Loan Estimates from the lenders that fit, including costs, not just the payment.
  4. Apply, underwrite and close. You sign with a local title or closing agent, and we keep the file moving remotely.

See our Florida mortgage broker page for statewide information.

Call (407) 663-4743 or contact us to talk about a Gainesville purchase or refinance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Skyline Mortgage have an office in Gainesville?

No. Our office is at 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Unit C211, Palm Coast, FL 32164. We serve Gainesville and Alachua County borrowers from Palm Coast by phone, video and secure online document upload.

Can parents buy a house in Gainesville for their college student?

Yes, and how the loan is set up matters. If the student buys and lives there, a parent can often co-borrow without living there, and the home can count as a principal residence. If the parent buys alone and the student lives there, lenders generally treat it as an investment property.

Is a home I buy for my child a second home?

Generally not. Under Fannie Mae rules, a second home must be occupied by the borrower for part of the year. If only your child lives there, it's generally an investment property, except in a narrow case for parents housing a disabled adult child.

Do I need sinkhole insurance in Gainesville?

Lenders generally require property insurance, and Florida policies must cover catastrophic ground cover collapse. Broader sinkhole coverage is often optional. Ask your insurance agent what the policy covers and whether the lender has any added requirements.

Are there first-time home buyer programs in Gainesville?

Yes. The City of Gainesville and Alachua County run down payment assistance programs with income limits, homebuyer education and participating-lender lists. Check current funding and eligibility with each program.

Is Alachua County eligible for USDA loans?

Some areas outside Gainesville may be eligible, depending on the exact address and household income. Check the address on USDA's eligibility site, and ask us whether a USDA loan fits.

Contact us(407) 663-4743