The Florida Mortgage Maestro is Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, a Florida-licensed mortgage broker serving clients statewide through Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC (NMLS #376205). He works remotely rather than from an in-person Florida office, and he compares many wholesale sources for each borrower instead of offering one bank’s product line.
This article covers who Duane is, how a broker differs from a single-source bank, how a soft credit pull mortgage review protects your score, and which Florida programs he helps buyers and refinancers use. Everything here is meant to be checked, starting with the license numbers.
By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, Florida-licensed mortgage broker serving clients statewide.
Verifiable Credentials Behind the Florida Mortgage Maestro Name
Duane Buziak is a Florida-licensed mortgage broker (NMLS #1110647) whose sponsoring company is Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC (NMLS #376205). NMLS stands for the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, the registry where regulators list a loan originator’s licenses and any disciplinary history. Search both numbers at nmlsconsumeraccess.org before you share any financial information with anyone, including him.
Duane serves clients statewide and works remotely. There is no storefront to visit, and he does not present himself as a neighborhood branch. Applications, document collection, and rate comparisons happen by phone, email, and secure online portals, which is how most Florida purchases and refinances are handled anyway.
“Maestro” is a job description rather than a slogan. A mortgage has moving parts: loan type, rate, points, assistance programs, insurance costs, and a closing date that often depends on a seller’s contract. Duane coordinates those pieces into one plan so the numbers on paper turn into a closing that works for the borrower.
His profile also cites recognition in the Scotsman Guide Top 114 broker listing. The ranking year and selection criteria are set by Scotsman Guide, so confirm them at the source rather than relying on any broker’s own website, including this one.
The people he works with fall into a few groups:
- Florida homebuyers, including first-time buyers who need help sorting out down payment options
- Homeowners refinancing to lower a payment or take cash out, with cash-out refinances available up to 90% of value
- Veterans and active-duty buyers using VA financing or Florida’s military-focused programs
- Borrowers with lower credit scores or unusual files who need someone to find the right fit
What a Mortgage Broker Does That a Single Bank Cannot
A broker shops many wholesale sources on behalf of one borrower, while a bank can offer only its own products. Duane Buziak can compare hundreds of wholesale sources at one time, which matters most when your file does not fit a standard box: a lower credit score, a cash-out refinance up to 90%, a self-employed income pattern, or a closing date that cannot slip.
The comparison below shows how the three common routes differ. A table would normally go here, so each row is written out by category instead.
- Product range. Duane Buziak as broker: FHA, VA, conventional, and Florida Housing assistance across many sources. Single-source bank: only that bank’s loan menu. Large online retail option: a fixed menu, usually strongest on standard conventional loans.
- Rate shopping. Duane Buziak: one intake produces comparisons across many sources. Bank: one rate sheet, which you must compare against other banks yourself. Online retail: one rate, with comparison shopping left to you.
- Credit-pull method. Duane Buziak: a soft-pull eligibility review first, hard pull only when you proceed. Bank: usually a hard pull at application. Online retail: varies, and many start with a hard pull.
- Florida program knowledge. Duane Buziak: matches borrowers to Florida Housing assistance and VA options. Bank: depends on whether that bank participates. Online retail: typically generic national guidance.
- Close-speed flexibility. Duane Buziak: can route a tight timeline to sources set up for fast closings. Bank: bound by one internal queue. Online retail: bound by one internal queue, though often efficient on simple files.
Brokers are paid differently from banks, and it is fair to say so plainly. A broker’s compensation is disclosed and built into the transaction, either from the borrower, the source funding the loan, or a combination. That is why the safest comparison is the Loan Estimate, the standardized three-page form every borrower receives within three business days of applying. Put two Loan Estimates side by side and compare the rate, the lender-charged fees in Section A, and the cash needed to close. The claim that brokers cost more than banks is a guess until you do that comparison.
Duane does not promise “no closing costs,” and you should be wary of anyone who does. In some situations a seller credit or a slightly higher rate can leave you with little to nothing out of pocket at closing, but the cost is still there, just moved. The Loan Estimate shows where it went.
How a Soft-Pull Pre-Approval Protects Your Credit
Duane Buziak’s NoTouch Credit Pull lets him review your eligibility without a hard inquiry, so shopping does not lower your score. In plain terms, it is a soft inquiry review: it does not register as an application for credit, unlike the standard pre-approval, which typically triggers a hard pull right away.
The difference between the two pulls matters. A hard pull is recorded as an inquiry on your credit report and can nudge your score down slightly; it happens when you formally apply for credit. A soft pull is visible only to you, does not affect your score, and is used for things like checking your own report or pre-screening offers. Working with a soft pull mortgage broker means you can see realistic options before committing to anything that touches your file.
Duane also works with VantageScore 4.0 where the investor accepts it. Federal regulators moved in 2025 to allow that model for conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but adoption varies by investor and loan type, so he confirms acceptance file by file rather than assuming it.
A soft-pull review is not underwriting. It tells you which paths look viable. Before closing, underwriting generally still requires a hard credit pull, verified income, an appraisal, and documents. A no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval is a screening step that saves you from guessing, not a loan commitment.
The sequence usually runs like this:
- Quick intake. You share your goal, rough income, debts, and timeline.
- Soft-pull review. Duane checks eligibility with no credit hit on your mortgage application stage.
- Option comparison. You see programs, estimated payments, and trade-offs.
- Formal application. Only when you choose to proceed does the hard pull and full underwriting begin.
Florida Programs Duane Buziak Can Match to Your Situation
Duane helps borrowers use FHA, VA, conventional, and Florida Housing down payment assistance (DPA), matched to the person rather than the other way around. Program terms change, so confirm everything below at floridahousing.org before relying on it.
As of October 2026, the programs Duane commonly works with include:
- FL Assist: up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage, repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.
- FL HLP: up to $10,000 as a second mortgage at 3% that amortizes over 15 years, which adds a modest monthly payment (about $69 on $10,000 at those terms).
- Salute Our Soldiers: a Florida Housing option for eligible military members and veterans. Check current eligibility and benefits on the Florida Housing site.
VA loans deserve a separate note. The VA home loan program does not set a minimum credit score, but the investors funding the loan often do, so options for lower-credit veterans vary. Duane checks which sources will take a given file.
A three-variable DPA breakeven (hypothetical)
Assistance is not automatically a win. Some DPA-linked first mortgages carry a higher rate, so the question is how long the upfront help outweighs the extra interest. Suppose a $320,000 loan at 6.25% without assistance versus 6.75% with a $10,000 DPA. These numbers are illustrations, not quotes.
- Rate premium: 0.50 percentage points
- DPA amount: $10,000
- Payments: about $1,970 per month at 6.25% versus about $2,076 at 6.75%, a difference of roughly $105 per month, or $1,260 per year
- Breakeven: $10,000 ÷ $1,260 ≈ 7.9 years
In this example, if you expect to sell or refinance within about eight years, the assistance pays off. Beyond that, the higher rate costs more than the help provided, and you also owe the second mortgage back. If cash to close is your barrier, the trade can still be worth it. Duane runs this math with your actual quotes.
Income limits also apply. Most Florida programs tie eligibility to Area Median Income (AMI), which is set by county. Look up your county on HUD’s income limits dataset and compare it with your household income before assuming you qualify.
Why Florida’s No Income Tax Helps You Qualify
Florida has no state income tax, so more of your gross pay can reach your bank account, which gives you budget room. It does not change the debt-to-income (DTI) formula. DTI is your monthly debts divided by gross monthly income, so a Florida paycheck and an identical one in a taxed state produce the same ratio on paper.
The advantage is in what the ratio cannot show. Suppose two households each earn $96,000 per year ($8,000 per month), with a $2,400 proposed housing payment and $600 in other debts. Both have a DTI of 37.5% ($3,000 ÷ $8,000). If the other household’s state takes roughly 5% in income tax (an assumed round number for illustration), about $400 per month disappears before they ever see it. The Florida household keeps that cushion for insurance, repairs, or savings. Duane factors this in when judging whether a payment is comfortable, not just approvable.
Property taxes are the other Florida piece. Under Florida Statute 196.031, a homestead exemption can reduce assessed value by up to $50,000: the first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, and an additional $25,000 applies to value between $50,000 and $75,000 but not to school taxes. The exemption requires that the home be your permanent residence on January 1, so it does not apply in your first year of ownership. Your first tax bill may be higher than later ones, which matters when you budget the escrow. Confirm current rules with your county property appraiser.
Flood risk also affects the monthly payment. Check the property’s flood zone at the FEMA Map Service Center early. Flood insurance premiums are added to the housing payment, and a high premium can raise your DTI enough to change the loan you qualify for.
Getting Started with Florida Mortgage Maestro by Duane Buziak
Start with a no-credit-impact consultation, then compare options and choose a path. Nothing in the first step commits you to a loan or touches your score.
- Contact: reach out any time; support is available 24/7.
- Soft-pull eligibility check: Duane reviews your profile without a hard inquiry.
- Program and rate comparison: you see FHA, VA, conventional, and assistance options side by side.
- Application: you apply formally once you pick a path, and underwriting begins.
- Realtor coordination: Duane works with your agent on contract timelines, and he offers realtor referrals if you need one.
- Closing: sources set up for fast closes help when your contract has a short window.
Before you talk, run your own numbers. The mortgage calculator tools on the Florida Mortgage Maestro site give a quick payment estimate, and the CFPB mortgage calculator lets you see how rate and term shift the payment. Service is statewide and remote, so everything above happens by phone, email, and secure portal.
Common Questions About the Florida Mortgage Maestro
Who is the Florida Mortgage Maestro?
Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, a Florida-licensed mortgage broker serving clients statewide through Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC (NMLS #376205).
Does Duane Buziak have an office in Florida?
No. He serves Florida clients statewide, working remotely by phone, email, and secure online tools.
Is Florida Mortgage Maestro a legitimate mortgage broker?
You can verify it yourself. Search NMLS #1110647 and #376205 at nmlsconsumeraccess.org to see licensing and any regulatory actions.
Does checking my options affect my credit score?
Not at the first step. The soft-pull review does not affect your score. A hard pull is generally required later, at formal application and underwriting.
Is a broker more expensive than a bank?
Not necessarily. Costs depend on the specific offer, so compare Loan Estimates from each option rather than assuming.
Can first-time buyers get down payment help in Florida?
Often, yes, through Florida Housing programs such as FL Assist and FL HLP, subject to income, price, and credit rules. Verify current terms at floridahousing.org.
Can I do a cash-out refinance?
Yes. Cash-out refinances are available up to 90% of the home’s value, subject to your credit, income, and the property.
Can veterans use Florida Mortgage Maestro?
Yes. Duane helps veterans compare VA financing and Florida’s military-focused programs, with eligibility and investor requirements confirmed per file.
Check the Licenses, Then Compare Real Numbers
Duane Buziak is a statewide, Florida-licensed mortgage broker who compares many wholesale options for one borrower and starts with a soft-pull review, so you can see your choices without a credit hit. Look him up on the NMLS registry, ask for a Loan Estimate, and judge the numbers yourself.
Your dream home in Florida is closer than you think. Let’s turn your homeownership goals into reality with a personalized mortgage solution designed for your unique journey. Get your credit-safe consultation today and discover the loan options that fit your life, backed by trusted guidance every step of the way.