Lake Clarke Shores at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,542 residents, ranking 247th of 411 places in Florida (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 3,566 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 247th of 411 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 40% of places in Florida rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 26.6456, -80.0753 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Palm Springs, FL (2 mi); Lake Worth Beach, FL (2 mi); Palm Beach, FL (4 mi); Greenacres, FL (4 mi); Lantana, FL (4 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Glen Ridge, FL (2 mi); Cloud Lake, FL (2 mi); Atlantis, FL (4 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Lake Clarke Shores
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Florida lending rules that apply in Lake Clarke Shores
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Florida, and therefore in Lake Clarke Shores.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lake Clarke Shores
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lake Clarke Shores:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.