Keep Your Massachusetts Home. Add a Florida Winter Home.Chris Galli & The Galli Team
Spending winters in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Wellen Park or Bradenton without selling up north? We plan both homes together: second-home financing, your Massachusetts equity, two payments, and the Florida condo, insurance and tax details that surprise snowbirds.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll map how to keep your Massachusetts home and buy in Florida.
Prefer to talk? Call 941-529-1040 or book a call.
Who helps Massachusetts homeowners buy a second home in Florida?
Chris Galli, Region Manager at Novus Home Mortgage, and The Galli Team help Massachusetts homeowners keep their home up north and finance a winter home in Sarasota, Manatee, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Wellen Park and Bradenton. With offices in Worcester and Bradenton, one team knows both markets. Selling and moving for good? See our moving to Florida from Massachusetts guide.
What should Massachusetts snowbirds know before buying in Florida?
Second home or investment?
A one-unit winter home you use part of the year and control yourself can usually be financed as a second home. Rent it out as a business or let a manager control bookings, and it's generally an investment property with different rules. Occupancy is a promise in your loan documents, so be upfront.
Your Massachusetts equity can help
A HELOC or cash-out refinance on your Massachusetts home can cover the Florida down payment or a cash purchase. The new payment counts toward your debt-to-income ratio, so plan both loans together. Start with a free Mortgage Check-Up.
Two payments, one approval
Lenders add your Massachusetts payment, the new Florida payment and your other debts, then divide by gross income. Fannie Mae's automated system allows up to 50%. Rent from a second home can't be used to qualify.
Florida condo rules changed
After Surfside, Florida requires milestone inspections for condo buildings three or more stories tall, generally at 30 years, plus structural integrity reserve studies. Buildings with unfinished critical repairs can't get Fannie Mae financing until the work is done, so we check reserves, HOA fees and assessments early.
Insurance is its own budget line
Florida policies carry wind (hurricane) coverage and deductibles, and flood is a separate policy. Lenders require flood coverage in high-risk flood zones, and Citizens requires it on all its homeowner policies with wind coverage starting January 1, 2027. Get quotes before you offer.
No homestead on a second home
Florida's homestead exemption (up to $50,000) is only for a permanent residence, so a winter home pays non-homestead taxes. Changing domicile has tax effects in both states, so talk to a tax professional. We don't give tax advice.
Where do Massachusetts snowbirds buy on Florida's Gulf Coast?
Sarasota
Bayfront city living near the barrier-island beaches, with condos, villas and single-family homes.
Lakewood Ranch
The master-planned community spanning Manatee and Sarasota counties. Budget for HOA and community district fees.
Venice & Wellen Park
Venice's walkable downtown and beaches, and Wellen Park's newer master-planned neighborhoods in south Sarasota County.
Bradenton & Manatee County
Home to our Florida headquarters, with riverfront neighborhoods and golf communities near Anna Maria Island.
What does carrying both homes look like?
Debt-to-income math for a couple keeping a Massachusetts home and adding a Florida condo. Made-up numbers; yours will differ.
| Massachusetts housing payment | $2,400 |
| Florida payment (P&I, taxes, insurance, HOA) | $3,100 |
| Car loan & card minimums | $500 |
| Gross monthly income | $15,000 |
| Debt-to-income ratio | 40% |
More ways we can help
Can I carry both homes?
Enter your Massachusetts payment, the Florida home and your income to estimate the Florida payment, total housing cost and debt-to-income ratio. The rate box is blank on purpose so you use a real quote.
For the Florida tax rate, use the total millage from the home's tax bill or the county Property Appraiser; it varies by taxing district. Doesn't include mortgage insurance, flood insurance or district fees. Example only, not an approval or loan offer. All loans subject to credit approval.
I've been in this industry for over 29 years, and I started The Galli Team for one reason: too many good people were being told "no" by lenders who didn't know how to structure their deal.
With an office in Worcester and our headquarters in Bradenton, our team lives on both ends of the snowbird route, so we know what you're juggling: two homes, two tax bills, two insurance policies and one budget. We look at the whole picture, both homes and both states, before you ever make an offer.
Why snowbirds choose us over big banks
A second home in another state takes a team that knows both ends.
| Big Banks & Online Lenders | The Galli Team ✦ | |
|---|---|---|
| Response time | 24 – 72 hours | Within 2 hours |
| Offices in Massachusetts and Florida | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plans the MA equity loan and the FL purchase together | Rarely | ✓ |
| Florida condo review before you offer | After the contract | ✓ |
| Bank statement loans for business owners | ✗ | ✓ |
| Lending states | Varies | All 50 states |
Don't take our word for it.
Real people. Real loans. Real results.
"Chris, Julie and Rosa were very helpful purchasing my vacation home in Florida. Available all hours. Will definitely use them again!"
"This is my 5th property purchase and the smoothest transaction by far! I will be using Chris as my go-to mortgage lender from now on."
"Chris and his team were great to work with. Always available, kept us updated throughout. We closed early with no surprises. Highly recommend!"
Snowbird second-home questions, answered.
No vague answers. We explain exactly how this works before you ever fill out a form.
Get My Free Loan Plan →Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B2-1.1-01, Occupancy Types (fanniemae.com) and Freddie Mac Guide 4201.12, Second Homes; Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (fanniemae.com); Fannie Mae Project Standards FAQs (critical repairs); Florida Senate summary of SB 154 (2023) milestone inspections (flsenate.gov); HB 913 (2025) SIRS updates via Rimkus and Withum; Citizens Property Insurance flood requirement (citizensfla.com); Florida Dept. of Revenue PT-113 homestead brochure and Manatee County Property Appraiser (manateepao.gov); Florida Senate analysis of CS/SJR 2-F and Ballotpedia on Amendment 3 (2026). Checked October 2026; rules, laws and insurance requirements change, so confirm before you buy. Not tax or legal advice.
Ready for winters in Florida?
Keep your Massachusetts home and add one on the Gulf Coast, with a plan built for both. Guidance over gimmicks.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll map how to keep your Massachusetts home and buy in Florida.