There are U.S. lenders that finance Brazilian buyers in Surfside with no local credit history. What decides the deal is which Brazilian documents they accept and in what format they want them.
A lender that cannot pull an U.S. score asks for equivalent proof from the home country: the Brazilian income tax return, proof of earnings, statements from Brazilian banks and, almost always, a bank reference letter. What is particular to the Brazilian buyer is that Brazil requires residents to declare assets held abroad to its own authorities, so the financed unit in Surfside will appear in two separate files: the lender's and the Brazilian declaration. Making the amount, the date and the named owner agree in both is something to settle before signing, with an accountant in Brazil, not when the filing deadline arrives.
In Surfside you buy by asking the building for paperwork before you ask the unit, and that is what sets it apart along this coast. Structural scrutiny of oceanfront condominium stock is, on this stretch, the most demanding in the county, and the practical consequence is that the building's file outweighs the buyer's: the lender and the carrier want to see inspection history, the reserve study, and the minutes in which the board decided what to repair and how to pay for it, before they look at the solvency of whoever signs. For someone who cannot show up in person that means two separate, mandatory counterparts: the manager or the board, which holds the minutes, the budget and the assessments already voted, and the town counter, which keeps the recertification file and any open correction orders. Ask the manager which assessments are approved and which are still under study; ask the town whether there are open files on that address; ask your closing attorney what the estoppel says about debts and pending approvals; and ask the lender what it requires from the building, not from you, in order to approve.
What is specific to Surfside
A small town on the barrier island, between Bal Harbour and Miami Beach, low-rise and residential in feel. Low- and mid-rise oceanfront buildings, and single-family homes towards the bay. Collins Avenue is the spine; no rail, and the same causeways as the rest of the island.
- the building's structural and recertification history, with the detail now expected on this stretch of coast
- the state of the reserve fund and whether there is a current reserve study
- the town's rules, which differ from Miami Beach's despite the proximity
What to verify, step by step
- Ask each lender whether it runs a foreign-national programme without local credit history, and request the full document list in writing.
- Confirm whether it accepts the Brazilian income tax return and supporting documents in Portuguese, or requires sworn translation.
- Ask which identification it accepts from a Brazilian buyer and at which stage of the file it is needed.
- Ask the lender for the bank reference letter template it accepts and take that to your bank in Brazil, instead of sending the standard letter.
- Ask an accountant in Brazil which details of the transaction are needed for the declaration of assets held abroad, and request those same details in writing from the lender.
- Confirm that the Surfside building you are interested in is financeable for that lender before making an offer.
Mistakes that cost money
- Forgetting that the financed unit also enters the declaration of assets held abroad before the Brazilian authorities, and learning this after the deadline has passed.
- Sending Brazilian statements without asking how many months the lender wants or in what format, and then repeating the whole exercise.
- Searching for an unit before knowing whether there is financing and of what size.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a Brazilian bank finance the purchase in Surfside?
- Lending secured on a Florida property is usually done by an U.S. lender. If your bank in Brazil offers some alternative, ask it directly and request the terms in writing.
- Does the lender ask for the declaration of assets held abroad?
- No: that is an obligation towards the Brazilian authorities, separate from the lender's file. What must be declared and when is a question for an accountant in Brazil.
- Can you buy in cash and finance later?
- Some buyers do. The terms are set by each lender, so it is worth asking before closing rather than after.
Where to check it
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — borrower rights and how to compare mortgage offers
- Florida DBPR — whether a broker, appraiser or contractor holds a current licence
- Internal Revenue Service — the non-resident owner's federal tax obligations
- Town of Surfside — the rules of the municipality Surfside belongs to
Official bodies. Specific figures are requested there, not copied from a listing.
Updated 2026-11-06
More about Surfside
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- Buying Property in Surfside from Brazil: Documents and Steps
- Best Property Types for International Buyers in Surfside
- Condo, Townhouse or House in Surfside: Which Property Type Fits Your Needs?
- Waterfront vs. Non-Waterfront Property in Surfside: What Buyers Should Compare
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