What is the 80% LTV rule for home equity cash-out in Florida?

The 80% LTV (loan-to-value) rule is a lender guideline that limits your total mortgage debt after a cash-out refinance to 80% of your home's appraised value. It protects both the lender and ensures you retain at least 20% equity. Florida has no state law that restricts cash-out amounts — the 80% cap is set by conventional loan guidelines. Non-QM and portfolio lenders may allow up to 85% in some cases.

Can I get a cash-out refinance if I am self-employed in Florida?

Yes. Jhenesis Mortgage offers bank statement loans and P&L-based cash-out refinances for self-employed borrowers who do not show qualifying income on their tax returns. These are non-QM loans that use 12 or 24 months of business or personal bank statements to document income instead of W-2s or tax returns.

What neighborhoods in Central Florida have the highest home equity right now?

Based on the Jhenesis Mortgage micro-market index, the highest price-per-square-foot zip codes in Central Florida are Winter Park (32789) at $350/sqft, Windermere (34786) at $330/sqft, Dr. Phillips (32836) at $320/sqft, and Bay Hill (32819) at $310/sqft. These neighborhoods also show the strongest annual appreciation rates, ranging from 5.3% to 6.2%.

Home Wealth and Equity Calculator - Jhenesis Mortgage | Florida Mortgage Broker

Q: Can I use my home equity to buy an investment property in Florida?

Yes. A cash-out refinance converts your equity into cash, which you can use as a down payment on an investment property. With a DSCR loan — available through Jhenesis Mortgage — you qualify based on the rental income the property generates, not your personal tax returns or W-2 income. This makes DSCR loans ideal for self-employed investors, real estate professionals, and anyone whose income doesn't appear cleanly on a tax return.

Q: What credit score do I need for a cash-out refinance in Florida?

Conventional cash-out refinances generally require a 620+ credit score. A score of 680 or higher qualifies for better rates. Non-QM cash-out loans through Jhenesis Mortgage can work with scores as low as 620, even for self-employed borrowers, foreign nationals, or ITIN holders.

Q: Is this home equity calculator accurate?

The Jhenesis Home Equity Calculator uses a neighborhood price-per-square-foot index based on recent sales data for Central Florida zip codes. It provides an educational estimate, not an appraisal. The actual appraised value of your home may be higher or lower depending on condition, upgrades, lot size, and market timing. Use this calculator to understand your equity range, then schedule a call with Stacy Ann Stephens at Jhenesis Mortgage for a lender-level review.

Home Equity Calculator Central Florida | Instant Free Estimate | Jhenesis Mortgage

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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only based on a neighborhood price-per-square-foot index updated periodically. Results do not constitute an appraisal, guarantee of value, or commitment to lend. All loan products subject to credit approval and eligibility requirements. Stacy Ann Stephens | Mortgage Broker | NMLS #1933745 | Jhenesis Mortgage NMLS #2532705 | Equal Housing Lender.

How to calculate your home equity in Central Florida — in 3 steps

Most homeowners have never looked at their equity as a working asset. Here’s how this calculator turns a raw estimate into a real wealth number — and what to do with it.

Enter your address details

Select your zip code, enter your home’s heated square footage (find it on your tax record or a past listing), and your current mortgage balance from your most recent statement.

Get your equity snapshot

The calculator multiplies your square footage by the neighborhood price-per-sqft index to estimate value, then applies the 80% LTV rule to show exactly how much equity you can access — right now.

See what that equity can do

Three scenarios show you the monthly savings from debt consolidation, the investment property you could buy with a DSCR loan, and the value added by a strategic renovation — all from that one equity number.

What the 80% LTV rule means for Central Florida homeowners

The 80% LTV (loan-to-value) rule is the single most important number in a cash-out refinance. It means your total mortgage debt after the refinance cannot exceed 80% of your home’s appraised value. Florida has no state law restricting this — the 80% limit comes from conventional loan guidelines set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Here’s the math. A Winter Park home worth $700,000 has an 80% LTV ceiling of $560,000. If the homeowner owes $400,000, the maximum cash-out is $160,000. That $160,000 can pay off credit card debt at 22% APR, fund a 20–25% down payment on an investment property, or finance a renovation that adds equity back to the home.

Non-QM and portfolio lenders — which Jhenesis Mortgage works with directly — sometimes allow up to 85% LTV for well-qualified borrowers. Self-employed homeowners, foreign nationals, and ITIN holders who may not qualify for conventional financing have additional cash-out options through bank statement and non-QM programs.

Central Florida home equity by zip code — 2025 index

The Jhenesis Mortgage micro-market index tracks the median price-per-square-foot for 24 Central Florida zip codes, updated quarterly. The highest-equity neighborhoods right now are:

Zip	Neighborhood	$/sqft	Appreciation
32789	Winter Park	$350	+6.2%
34786	Windermere	$330	+5.8%
32836	Dr. Phillips	$320	+5.5%
32819	Bay Hill	$310	+5.3%
32827	Lake Nona	$285	+5.0%

Your equity is a strategy, not just a number.

Stacy Ann Stephens is a licensed Florida Mortgage Broker with 24 years of experience helping homeowners turn equity into action — without the run-around.

Call (407) 630-9766 Schedule a free review

Frequently asked questions about home equity in Central Florida

These are the questions Stacy hears most often from Florida homeowners thinking about accessing their equity.

How much equity can I access in my Central Florida home?

Most lenders allow you to access up to 80% of your home’s current market value through a cash-out refinance, minus your existing mortgage balance. This is called the 80% LTV rule. For example, if your Winter Park home is worth $700,000 and your mortgage balance is $400,000, your maximum cash-out is $160,000 ($700,000 × 80% = $560,000, minus $400,000 owed).

Can I use my equity to buy an investment property in Florida?

Yes. A cash-out refinance converts your equity into cash you can use as a down payment on an investment property. With a DSCR loan — which Jhenesis Mortgage specializes in — you qualify based on the rental income the property generates, not your personal tax returns. This makes DSCR loans ideal for self-employed investors, foreign nationals, and anyone whose income doesn’t show cleanly on a tax return.

Can I get a cash-out refinance if I’m self-employed?

Yes. Jhenesis Mortgage offers bank statement loans and P&L-based cash-out refinances for self-employed borrowers who don’t show qualifying income on their tax returns. These non-QM programs use 12 or 24 months of business or personal bank statements to document income instead of W-2s.

How long does a cash-out refinance take in Florida?

A conventional cash-out refinance in Florida typically closes in 21 to 45 days. Working with a mortgage broker like Jhenesis Mortgage can accelerate the process — brokers have access to multiple wholesale lenders and match your file to the fastest path to funding at the best rate for your scenario.

What credit score do I need for a cash-out refinance in Florida?

Conventional cash-out refinances generally require a 620+ credit score. A 680+ score qualifies for better rates. Non-QM cash-out loans through Jhenesis Mortgage can work with scores as low as 620, even for self-employed borrowers, foreign nationals, or ITIN holders.

Is this home equity calculator accurate?

This calculator uses a neighborhood price-per-square-foot index based on recent sales data for Central Florida zip codes. It provides an educational estimate — not an appraisal. Your home’s actual appraised value will depend on condition, upgrades, lot size, and market conditions at the time of appraisal. Use this tool to understand your equity range, then schedule a call with Stacy for a lender-level review with real rates and a real timeline.

What zip codes does this calculator cover?

The Jhenesis Home Equity Calculator currently covers 24 Central Florida zip codes including Winter Park (32789), Windermere (34786), Dr. Phillips (32836), Bay Hill (32819), Maitland (32751), Lake Nona (32827), Downtown Orlando (32801), College Park (32804), Oviedo (32765), Lake Mary (32746), Avalon Park (32828), East Orlando (32825), Apopka (32703), Sanford (32771), Clermont (34711), Winter Garden (34787), and more. The index is updated quarterly.

About Stacy Ann Stephens, NMLS #1933745

Stacy Ann Stephens is a licensed Florida Mortgage Broker (NMLS #1933745) and dual-licensed Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams Realty Winter Park. With over 24 years of experience across Connecticut and Florida markets, she specializes in non-QM lending, DSCR investor loans, foreign national mortgages, ITIN home loans, and cash-out refinance strategies for homeowners who have been turned away by traditional lenders.

Stacy immigrated from Jamaica and witnessed the conditions that led to the 2008 housing crash firsthand — an experience that shaped her mission: give homeowners the insider knowledge that banks and corporate lenders keep to themselves. Her dual license as both a Realtor and Mortgage Broker means clients work with one trusted advisor from home search to closing — no disconnects, no surprises.

Jhenesis Mortgage · NMLS #2532705 · (407) 630-9766 · jhenesismortgage.com

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