Question 1

Does Palm Beach County carry the same hurricane building costs as Miami-Dade or Broward?

Accepted Answer

No, and it's a real cost difference most people miss. The Florida Building Code assigns High-Velocity Hurricane Zone design wind speeds to Miami-Dade and Broward counties only. Palm Beach County builds and rehabs under the general Florida Building Code wind provisions, not the HVHZ product-approval and impact-protection regime that governs the two counties to the south. We don't have a verified dollar figure for how much that saves on a rehab budget, so get quotes on your specific scope rather than assuming a number, but the product set (windows, doors, roofing, shutters) is genuinely different and lighter here than in Miami-Dade or Broward.

Question 2

What exit price should I underwrite to in Palm Beach County?

Accepted Answer

To the submarket, not the county median, because the spread is enormous. As of June 2026, mid-tier home values run $210,145 in Pahokee, $289,679 in Belle Glade, $402,831 to $486,025 across Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, and Royal Palm Beach, $575,479 to $702,538 across Boca Raton, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter, and $2,145,595 in the town of Palm Beach itself, all in the same county. A single county-wide number tells you nothing about what your specific flip will sell for. Pull comps at the ZIP or neighborhood level, run them through the fix and flip calculator, and price to the submarket you're actually in.

Question 3

What's the flip rate and profit margin for West Palm Beach right now?

Accepted Answer

Not published, so don't buy anyone's claim to the contrary. West Palm Beach doesn't appear in ATTOM's Q1 2026 U.S. Home Flipping Report's metro lists for flip rate, gross profit, or ROI. What is published: Florida statewide ran a 6.6% flip rate in Q1 2026 with a $75,000 typical gross profit and 28.3% ROI, both above the national $66,000 and 25.4%. The only large Florida metro ATTOM named was Miami, at 5.5%, among the lowest large-metro flip rates in the country. Underwrite your specific Palm Beach County deal on its own comps and carry, not a metro reputation.

Question 4

Is there a Miami-Dade style surtax on the deed here?

Accepted Answer

No. Palm Beach County pays the plain statewide rate. Florida charges 70 cents per $100 of consideration on a deed in every county except Miami-Dade, where the rate is 60 cents per $100 plus a 45 cent per $100 discretionary surtax. Miami-Dade is the only surtax county in the state. Palm Beach County takes the standard 70 cents per $100 on the deed and 35 cents per $100 on the note, the same statewide mechanics documented for Tampa, with no local surtax on top.

Question 5

What will my property tax bill actually be as an investor, without homestead?

Accepted Answer

Higher than the '1.02% effective rate' you'll see quoted, and it swings by city. That widely repeated figure blends homesteaded property carrying Save Our Homes-capped assessments built up over decades. An investor is assessed at market value with the cap reset on purchase and subject to the 10% non-homestead annual cap, not the 3% homestead cap. At the county-wide base millage plus a municipal rate, that works out to roughly 1.42% of assessed value in Royal Palm Beach or Jupiter, 1.59% in Boca Raton, and 2.04% in West Palm Beach, before any fire or library district adders. Pull the parcel-level estimate from the Property Appraiser rather than budgeting the blended county average.

Question 6

Should I worry about a condo association's finances before I buy a flip?

Accepted Answer

Yes, more here than almost anywhere else in the country. Florida law now requires milestone inspections for condo buildings three habitable stories or taller at 30 years of age (or 25, at a local enforcement agency's option) and structural integrity reserve studies every 10 years, and associations can no longer vote to waive reserves for structural items. The county's condo price index is down 5.8% year over year and 17.0% off its late-2023 peak, with the oldest garden-condo stock hit hardest: Century Village down 15.1% year over year, Palm Springs down 10.3%. An association behind on its inspection or reserve funding can carry a special assessment that isn't on the seller's disclosure yet. Whether Palm Beach County has adopted the 25-year local option isn't published, so confirm the building's status with the association and the local building department before you close.

Question 7

How much of my fix and flip deal will USA Mortgage finance?

Accepted Answer

We fund up to 90% of the purchase price and up to 100% of your rehab budget, with the total capped against the after-repair value (ARV). Rehab money is released in draws as the work is completed.

Question 8

What interest rate and points should I expect on a flip loan?

Accepted Answer

Our fix and flip pricing starts around 9.99%, interest-only, with origination typically 1 to 3 points depending on your experience, leverage, and the deal, and every quote is subject to underwriting. Across the market most flip loans run roughly 9% to 12%. On most flip loans, including ours, interest is charged on the full loan amount, rehab budget included. Paying interest only on rehab funds as you draw them exists in the market, but it is the exception, not the rule.

Question 9

Do I need flipping experience to qualify?

Accepted Answer

No. We work with first-time flippers as well as full-time operators. Experience mainly affects your leverage and rate, since a longer track record earns higher loan-to-cost and better pricing. A newer investor can still get funded with a sound deal, a realistic budget, and a clear exit.

Question 10

How fast can a fix and flip loan close?

Accepted Answer

We can get you a term sheet the same day on a complete application, and we typically fund within 48 hours of clear title. The main variable is how fast title and insurance come together, which is why a full close usually runs 5 to 7 days. Because we are the lender and underwrite in house, there is no second layer of approval to wait on.

Question 11

Is there a prepayment penalty if I sell quickly?

Accepted Answer

No. Our fix and flip loans have no prepayment penalty, so paying off early when the property sells costs you nothing extra. Terms run 6 months, and because there is no penalty, selling sooner never costs you extra.

Question 12

Do you check credit or require income documents?

Accepted Answer

We run credit, but this is an asset-based loan, so the property, your budget, and the ARV matter most. We do not ask for W-2s or tax returns to qualify a flip. We will want to confirm you have reserves to carry the project to its exit.

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