Marion County • Florida • NMLS #303217

Ocala’s Mortgage Broker — Local Knowledge, 200+ Lenders, One Conversation

16 years closing loans in Marion County. Over $100 million funded. 65+ five-star Google reviews. I’m Keith Meredith — and when you call this office, you talk to me, not a call center.

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Call Keith: 352-619-4959

16 Years in Ocala

Originated my first Marion County loan in 2010. I know the appraisers, the title companies, the builders, and the quirks of every Ocala neighborhood.

$100M+ Closed

Over $100 million in mortgages funded for Ocala buyers — purchases, refinances, manufactured homes, construction, USDA, and everything in between.

5★ from 65+ Reviews

Real Google reviews from real Marion County clients. Not aggregated, not bought — neighbors I’ve helped buy and refinance homes.

Keith Meredith, Ocala mortgage broker at Black Rock Mortgage, NMLS #303217

Meet Your Broker

I’m Keith — Born and Working in Marion County

I’ve spent the last 16 years originating mortgages right here in Ocala. I know what Marion County appraisers look for, why some Silver Springs Shores properties need extra documentation, and which builders in Calesa Township and On Top of the World will close on time.

I’m not a national lender’s third-tier rep working from Phoenix. I’m a local broker with a wholesale network of 200+ lenders, which means I shop your loan across the entire market — not just whatever one bank can offer. That’s why my clients get better rates and fewer surprises at closing.

— Keith Meredith, Division President · NMLS #303217 · Licensed in 40+ states

Read my full story →

Why Ocala Is Different (and Why Your Lender Should Know That)

Marion County isn’t Tampa, isn’t Orlando, and isn’t Jacksonville. It’s a unique mortgage market with specific advantages most national lenders never bother to understand:

USDA financing is huge here. Roughly 80% of Marion County qualifies for USDA Rural Development loans — meaning $0 down, lower mortgage insurance than FHA, and the most affordable financing available. Silver Springs Shores, Marion Oaks, Ocklawaha, Rainbow Park Estates, and Dunnellon all qualify. Even some properties just outside city limits qualify. A national lender often won’t bring this up.
Manufactured homes are a real market here. Marion County has dozens of established manufactured home communities — Spruce Creek South, Spruce Creek Preserve, Oak Run, On Top of the World’s MH sections, and many more. I close manufactured home loans routinely. Most “online lenders” won’t touch them at all.
New construction is booming. The World Equestrian Center has transformed northwest Ocala. Builders in Calesa Township, Trilogy at Ocala Preserve, Stone Creek, JB Ranch, Heath Brook, and dozens of subdivisions are constantly listing spec homes. I’m the preferred lender for several local builders and have closed new construction loans in nearly every major Ocala development.
Home insurance is dramatically cheaper. Compared to coastal Florida (Tampa Bay, Naples, Miami), Ocala insurance premiums run $400-$1,000 cheaper per year because we’re inland and out of the worst hurricane zones. Lower insurance = lower DTI = easier qualification.
The 55+ retirement market is a major segment. On Top of the World, Stone Creek by Del Webb, Spruce Creek, Trilogy at Ocala Preserve, JB Ranch — Marion County has more active adult communities than almost any other Florida county. I close reverse mortgages and downsizing purchases regularly.

Loan Programs I Close in Marion County

$0 Down

USDA Rural Development

Most of Marion County qualifies. $0 down, lower mortgage insurance than FHA. The single best program for Ocala buyers under the income limits.

USDA loans → 3.5% Down

FHA Financing

580+ FICO, seller can pay 6% closing costs, primary residence or multi-unit. 2026 Marion County FHA limit: $524,225.

FHA loans → $0 Down

VA Loans for Veterans

Active duty, veterans, and surviving spouses. $0 down, no monthly MI, competitive rates. We honor Marion County’s veteran community.

VA loans → 3% Down

Conventional

3% down for first-time buyers, 5% for repeat buyers. No mortgage insurance after 20% equity. Best for buyers with strong credit.

Conventional → Specialty

Manufactured Homes

Singlewide, doublewide, and triplewide. Permanent foundation required. Cash-out up to 80%. We close MH loans in Ocala every month.

Manufactured → One-Time Close

New Construction

Builder spec homes and custom builds. Preferred lender for several Marion County builders. FHA, VA, USDA, conventional options.

Construction → Up to $35K

Hometown Heroes

Florida down payment assistance for teachers, nurses, first responders, military, and other eligible professions. Available in Marion County.

Hometown Heroes → 10% Down

Bank Statement Loans

For self-employed borrowers whose tax returns understate income. 12 or 24 months of bank deposits qualify you. No tax returns required.

Bank statement → 62+

Reverse Mortgages

For Ocala’s 55+ community (62+ for reverse). Convert home equity to tax-free funds. No monthly payments. HECM-backed.

Reverse →

Ocala Neighborhoods & Communities I Finance

Over 18 years I’ve closed loans in just about every Marion County neighborhood. Here are the areas I work in most often — and the financing realities specific to each:

Silver Springs Shores — Affordable single-family homes, mostly USDA-eligible. Great for first-time buyers under the USDA income limit.
Marion Oaks — Established neighborhoods with USDA eligibility throughout. Common price point: $250-350K.
On Top of the World — 55+ community. Mix of conventional, FHA, manufactured home (on permanent foundations), and reverse mortgages.
Stone Creek by Del Webb — 55+ active adult. New construction and resale. Higher loan amounts typical.
Calesa Township — Newer development near WEC. Lots of builder spec homes — I’m a preferred lender for the main builder here.
Trilogy at Ocala Preserve — 55+ luxury community. Conventional and jumbo financing common.
Magnolia at Ocala Preserve — All-ages section of Ocala Preserve. New construction.
JB Ranch — D.R. Horton community. New construction with builder concessions often available.
Spruce Creek South / Spruce Creek Preserve — Manufactured home communities. I close these MH loans regularly — most lenders won’t.
Heath Brook — Established gated community. Conventional financing typical.
Dunnellon / Rainbow River area — Mostly USDA eligible. River-adjacent properties have specific appraisal considerations.
Ocklawaha / Lake Weir area — USDA territory. Manufactured homes common.
Rainbow Park Estates — USDA-eligible. Affordable entry point.
Downtown / Historic Ocala — Older homes that sometimes need conventional financing due to FHA condition requirements.
NW Ocala (around WEC) — Booming with new construction. Higher price points, equestrian properties common.

If your neighborhood isn’t on this list, call me anyway — I’ve probably closed there too. Marion County is small enough that I’ve seen most of it.

2026 Marion County Loan Limits & Local Numbers

A few specific numbers Marion County buyers should know:

Program	Marion County Limit / Detail
FHA loan limit	$524,225 for single family (2026)
Conventional limit	$806,500 conforming (2026)
USDA income limit (1-4 person household)	~$110,650
USDA income limit (5+ person household)	~$146,050
VA loan limit	No cap for full-entitlement veterans
Typical Marion County home price	~$280K (median, 2026)
Typical Ocala home insurance	~$1,400-$2,000/year (existing), ~$500-700/year (new construction)

Loan limits update annually each January. I’ll always pull the current numbers for your specific scenario at pre-approval.

Local Broker vs. Online Mega-Lender

Online National Lender

You’re one of 50,000 files — a number in a queue
Loan officer changes 3-4 times during your file
Doesn’t know which Ocala appraisers are reasonable
Won’t touch most manufactured homes
Won’t suggest USDA — they don’t specialize in it
Call center, no direct line, hold times
One company’s rates, take it or leave it

Working With Keith

You talk to me — every call, every text, every question
200+ wholesale lenders competing for your loan
I know Marion County title companies and appraisers
I close manufactured home loans every month
I’ll tell you immediately if USDA fits you
Direct cell, evening texts, real responsiveness
I shop your loan across the entire market

Ocala Mortgage FAQ

Three reasons that matter on every loan. First, I know Marion County — the appraisers, the title companies, the surveyors, the inspectors. When you’re under contract on a property in Silver Springs Shores or Calesa Township, I can tell you who’s reliable and who slows things down. Online lenders work from scripts; I work from 18 years of local relationships. Second, I shop 200+ wholesale lenders against each other for your rate. A single online lender only offers their own pricing. Third, you call me directly. I answer my own phone — not a 1-800 number, not whoever’s working the queue today.

Probably yes. Roughly 80% of Marion County is USDA-eligible — including Silver Springs Shores, Marion Oaks, Ocklawaha, Dunnellon, Rainbow Park Estates, and most areas outside the Ocala city core. Even some neighborhoods right next to city limits qualify. The USDA’s property eligibility map will give you a definitive answer for any specific address. Or send me the address and I’ll check it for you. Combined with USDA’s $0 down requirement and lower mortgage insurance than FHA, this is usually the best deal for Ocala buyers who qualify under the income limits.

24 hours on weekdays. I’ll need your application, two recent pay stubs (or two years of tax returns if self-employed), two months of bank statements, and authorization to pull your credit. Most pre-approvals on a clean file are turned around same day if you get me everything by noon. Weekends take a bit longer because credit bureaus and verification services are limited.

Yes, regularly. Singlewide, doublewide, triplewide — as long as the home is on a permanent foundation with proper tie-downs and an engineer’s report. I close manufactured home loans in Spruce Creek South, Spruce Creek Preserve, Oak Run, On Top of the World’s MH sections, and dozens of other Marion County manufactured home communities every month. Most “online” lenders refuse manufactured homes entirely. I have wholesale lender relationships specifically for them. More on manufactured home financing.

Never required — federal law specifically prohibits builders from forcing you to use their lender. Builders prefer their preferred lender because they trust that lender will close on time. The good news: I’m already a preferred lender for multiple Marion County builders, so you get builder trust plus an independent broker shopping rates across 200+ lenders. Best of both worlds. If you’re under contract with a builder and want to compare their preferred lender’s offer against mine, I’m happy to do that side-by-side.

Most of my purchases close in 21-30 days from contract to keys. Refinances run similar. New construction varies based on when the home gets its certificate of occupancy. The fastest factors: a clean file, responsive client, and a property that doesn’t surprise the appraiser. The biggest delays I see in Marion County are property condition issues on older homes (FHA condition flags), title issues on inherited properties, and slow seller responses. I’ll flag risks at pre-approval so we don’t get caught by surprise.

Yes — Marion County is fully covered by Florida’s Hometown Heroes program. If you work as a teacher in Marion County Public Schools, a nurse at AdventHealth Ocala or HCA Florida Ocala, a first responder, military, or in dozens of other eligible occupations, you qualify for up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. The funds run out annually so apply early in the program year. I’ve closed dozens of Hometown Heroes loans for Marion County professionals.

Let’s Talk About Your Ocala Mortgage

Pre-approval takes 24 hours on weekdays. I answer my own phone. Call or apply online — I’ll give you a real answer, not a runaround.

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