★★★★★
"Did an outstanding job. A number of issues with the condo association. Michael worked through them and kept me informed the entire time. Very responsive. Highly recommend."
Punta Gorda · Port Charlotte · Sarasota · North Port · Cape Coral
Mortgage advice that respects your time, money, and goals
I'm Michael Zachman, a Florida mortgage advisor with CrossCountry Mortgage. I help buyers, homeowners, and Realtors put together financing that actually fits their life, not just this one deal.
Same-day pre-approvals on complete loans
4.97 / 180 verified reviews
★★★★★
“Hands-down the best. Caring, communicative, and have great options.”
4.97 / 180 verified · Experience.com & Google
Scotsman Guide
Top Originator · 2026
0.00★
180 verified reviews
0+
Years in Florida mortgage
Same-day
Pre-approvals on complete loans
Backed by
CrossCountry Mortgage
Ranked #1 retail mortgage lender by Scotsman Guide for three consecutive years (2021–2023).1 Over $51 billion funded and 131,000+ families served in 2025. That scale gives my clients access to a broad set of conventional, jumbo, government, and portfolio loan programs.
#0
Retail mortgage lender in America
Scotsman Guide · 3 consecutive years
Scotsman Guide · 3 consecutive years
$0B
Funded in 2025
131,000+ families served
131,000+ families served
0+
Loan products under one roof
Direct seller/servicer · Fannie, Freddie, Ginnie
Direct seller/servicer · Fannie, Freddie, Ginnie
1 Source: Scotsman Guide Top Retail Volume rankings. Rankings reflect prior calendar-year production and are not indicative of future performance or individual loan outcomes. Loan program eligibility is subject to credit, income, asset, property, and occupancy review.
What that backing means for your loan
Speed. Certainty. Coverage. Accountability
CCM's scale gives me the engine. How I run your loan is the steering. Here's what changes on every deal I touch.
Speed
No broker middle layer. Underwriting, processing, and closing all live inside CCM, so we clear conditions in hours, not days. Same-day pre-approvals on complete loans.
Certainty
I structure and underwrite your loan myself on day one. If something's going to trip us up (reserves, DTI, condo warrantability, post-Ian insurance), you hear it from me at the start, not three days before closing.
Coverage
120+ products under one roof: conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo to $5M+, bank statement, P&L-only, asset-based, HELOC, condo portfolio, non-warrantable.2 If your situation is a little unusual, chances are we still have a program that fits.
Accountability
One name on your loan from pre-approval to clear-to-close: mine. No bait-and-switch handoff to a call-center processor in another time zone. One person you can hold accountable.
2 Loan program availability is subject to credit, income, asset, property, occupancy, and underwriting review. Not all applicants will qualify for every program shown.
Why work with me
Built to win the house. And own it well
Today's market doesn't always reward the highest bidder. It rewards the cleanest offer. My job is to put you in the strongest position the moment you find the right house, and to keep you in the strongest financial position long after you get the keys.
/ 01
Pre-approvals that hold up
My pre-approvals come after a full review of income, assets, and credit, not just a soft check. Doing the hard part upfront means fewer surprises later. Same-day turnaround on complete loans. Pre-approval is not a commitment to lend.
/ 02
Speed when speed is possible
I aim for 21 to 30 days on a conventional purchase. When the loan is clean and everyone plays their part, I've closed in as few as 8 days.3 Refinances and complex loans take longer. I'll give you an honest timeline at application, not a marketing number.
/ 03
A direct line for you and your Realtor
No call queues. No 12-person handoff. You and your agent talk to me at every step. Same number from the first call to the closing table. Real answers the same week you ask the question.
/ 04
A strong offer, not just a strong rate
In a competitive market, a well-structured pre-approval and a lender that listing agents trust can matter as much as the bid itself. I work closely with your agent to position your offer for the best chance of acceptance.4 The goal: financing that clears underwriting cleanly and serves you well for the life of the loan.
3 Closing times shown reflect select past transactions and are not typical for every loan. Actual timelines depend on loan complexity, third-party turn times (appraisal, title, insurance, HOA, condo review), and borrower responsiveness.
4 No mortgage professional can guarantee offer acceptance. Outcomes depend on seller terms, market conditions, and other factors outside the loan officer's control.
Reviews
180 verified five-star reviews.
One standard.
Every review below is tied to a real, closed loan and verified by an independent platform. Not a friend, not a paid placement. Read them in full on Experience.com and Google.
Experience.comVerified
★★★★★ 4.96 · 147 reviews
See all on Experience.com →
GooglePublic
★★★★★ 5.0 · 33 reviews
Leave a Google review →
★★★★★
"It was a very smooth and very professional experience. The entire team made the process smooth and everyone was amazing to work with. Definitely recommend Michael for any type of loan."
★★★★★
"Mike and his team get our client referrals and just closed an amazing deal for me personally. Being in real estate, I have worked with several lenders, but he and his team are hands-down the best. Caring, communicative, and have great options."
★★★★★
"Mike made navigating the mortgage process easy. He was very timely in responding to messages and emails. He took his time explaining what was going on from the initial application through closing."
★★★★★
"Thank you so much for taking great care of us. You and your team are world class, and I appreciate the relationship both professionally and personally."
★★★★★
"Michael and his team were phenomenal. They were very kind and patient with us. They kept us informed through every step of the loan process and gently nudged us when we were slow to respond."
Reviews shown reflect the individual experiences of past clients. Testimonials are not paid and have not been edited for content, but they are not a guarantee of similar results on any future loan. Your experience, loan terms, and timeline will depend on your specific financial profile and market conditions at the time of application. Review counts and averages as of June 2026: 147 reviews on Experience.com (4.96 avg) and 33 reviews on Google (5.0 avg).
No credit pull · No contact info up front
See your range right now. In 20 seconds
Three questions. No SSN, no phone, no email. You'll see a real price range and a realistic monthly payment right away. Want me to tighten the number? That's the next conversation.
What I help with
Every loan I close, I price like it's my own
Purchase
Conventional, FHA, VA. For first homes, move-ups, and second homes on the coast.
Learn more →First-time homebuyer
Low down-payment programs, credit guidance, and a walkthrough of every closing cost so nothing catches you off guard.
Learn more →Refinance
Lower the rate, change the term, or pull some equity. I'll only suggest it if the math actually works in your favor.
Learn more →Cash-out & HELOC
Use your equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or a second property, without losing your low first rate.
Learn more →Jumbo loans
Boca Grande, Casey Key, Siesta Key, Burnt Store. Up to $5M+ with relationship pricing where it makes sense.
Learn more →Self-employed
Bank statement programs, P&L-only, and asset-based options built for business owners and 1099 earners.
Learn more →
I know this market block by block
From Charlotte Harbor canals to Siesta Key. I price loans the way each market actually sells
A Punta Gorda Isles sailboat-water canal home prices differently from a Port Charlotte inland ranch, from a Sarasota walkable downtown condo, from a North Port new-build, from a Burnt Store Marina waterfront condo. I'll tell you what your payment actually looks like in your ZIP, with real insurance, real flood, and real HOA numbers. Not a national average.
Punta Gorda
Port Charlotte
Sarasota
North Port
Venice
Englewood
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Naples
Tampa
Boca Grande
See neighborhood guides →
One direct line
No call center. No handoff chain. Just me
The person you talk to on your first call is the same person you'll sit across from on closing day. I run every loan personally, from the first numbers I pull up to clear-to-close, and the number you used to ask your first question is the same one that answers the last.
- I structure and underwrite your loan upfront so closing day stays calm
- Monday status updates on every active loan. No chasing
- You and your Realtor get me on the phone, not a queue
- 10+ years closing across SWFL and the Palm Beach Coast
For Realtors
I'll make you look good at the closing table
Co-branded marketing, same-day pre-approvals on complete loans, and weekly status updates you don't have to chase me for. I work for your buyer like they're my own.
- Same-day pre-approval letters on complete loans
- Co-branded property flyers within 24 hours
- Monday status updates on every active loan. No chasing
- One direct line, same one your buyer uses
- Every loan structured and underwritten upfront so the contract date holds
Calculator
What would the payment actually look like?
Realistic Southwest Florida defaults pre-loaded. Drag the sliders to see how the numbers move.
Estimated monthly
$1,921
per month, principal + interest
Add ~$550/mo for FL property tax, hurricane & flood insurance, and HOA estimate.
This calculator is provided for educational and illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a loan offer, rate lock, or commitment to lend. Estimates assume sample interest rates, property taxes, and insurance figures that may not reflect current market conditions or your specific situation. Actual loan terms — including rate, APR, monthly payment, escrows, and closing costs — are determined after a full application, credit review, appraisal, and underwriting. Contact me for a personalized loan estimate.
Recent closings
Recently funded across Southwest Florida
First-time buyer
$315,000
Port Charlotte · Conventional 30-yr
Funded Apr 202622-day close
Jumbo purchase
$1,450,000
Boca Grande · Second home
Funded Mar 202628-day close
Self-employed purchase
$525,000
Punta Gorda Isles · Bank statement
Funded Mar 202626-day close
FHA purchase
$295,000
North Port · 3.5% down
Funded Feb 202619-day close
Second home
$680,000
Siesta Key · Conventional 30-yr
Funded Feb 202631-day close
HELOC
$165,000
Venice · Renovation
Funded Feb 202614-day close
Closing timelines shown reflect select past transactions on complete, well-prepared loans with cooperative third parties. They are not typical for every loan and are not a guarantee or promise of similar timing on future transactions. Actual closing times depend on appraisal, title, insurance, HOA, condo review, and underwriting turn times — many of which are outside the loan officer's control.
Frequently asked
The questions Southwest Florida buyers ask me first
How much home can I afford in Punta Gorda or Port Charlotte?
It comes down to your income, monthly debts, down payment, and credit score. But in Charlotte and Sarasota counties, your property taxes, hurricane insurance, flood insurance, and HOA/CDD fees move the math more than people expect. Good rule of thumb: housing under 28% of gross monthly income, total debt under 36%. I'll run real numbers for your ZIP in about 60 seconds. For context: median values sit near $322K in Punta Gorda, $314K in Port Charlotte, $423K in North Port, and $490K in Sarasota. Boca Grande and Siesta Key easily run $2 to $10M+.
How fast can I get pre-approved?
Same day, if your paperwork is complete. "Complete" means: two years of W-2s or tax returns, two months of bank statements, a credit pull authorization, and your ID. Get all of that to me by 10am and your pre-approval letter lands in your inbox before close of business.
What credit score do I need for a Florida mortgage?
620 is the floor for most conventional loans. FHA and VA can go as low as 500 with the right structure. Here's what most people underestimate in Florida: your DTI takes a real hit from hurricane insurance, flood insurance, and condo HOA fees in a way most states don't see. Your score matters. The full picture matters more.
How does hurricane insurance affect my approval?
A lot. Especially on the Gulf Coast. After Hurricane Ian, Charlotte and Sarasota county premiums climbed faster than almost anywhere else in the state. Insurance rolls into your monthly housing expense, and that's what lenders qualify you on. I always pull a real insurance quote before we issue the pre-approval, including wind and flood where they apply, so the number you see up front is the number you close at. No 11th-hour surprises.
Can I finance a condo in Punta Gorda, Sarasota, or Boca Grande?
Yes, but the building itself has to be "warrantable" by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. After Ian, a lot of Charlotte and Lee County buildings went non-warrantable due to deferred maintenance, special assessments, or insurance gaps. I have lender programs built for non-warrantable condos, 55+ communities, and high-investor-concentration buildings like Burnt Store Marina, Punta Gorda Isles condos, and many beachfront stacks. Send me the address and I'll pull the building's approval status before we go any further.
How long does closing usually take?
21 to 30 days is realistic on a clean conventional purchase. In some cases I've closed in as few as 8 days when the appraisal, title, insurance, and borrower conditions all lined up quickly. Those are not typical timelines and depend on a lot of factors outside my control. I won't promise a date I can't hit. I'll give you an honest schedule at application and update it every week.
What does it cost to refinance?
Usually 2% to 6% of the loan amount: appraisal, title insurance, doc stamps (Florida specific), intangible tax, and lender fees. On a $350K refi in Charlotte County that's roughly $7,000 to $10,000 all in. Rule of thumb I use: if your monthly savings pay back the closing costs in 24 months or less, it usually makes sense to do it.
Two ways to start
Pick the one that fits where you are
If you're exploring
See what I'd qualify for
Four questions, 60 seconds. No credit pull. You'll get a real number and a call from me. Not a robot.
Get my range →
If you're ready to talk
Book a 15-minute call
Direct to me. We'll talk numbers, timeline, and what the next 30 days look like.
I respond to most inquiries the same business day.
Call 561-657-7750 →