Longwood at a glance
- Population: 16,794 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 135th-largest of 411 places in Florida.
- 2020 Census base: 15,095 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 11.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 135th out of 411 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 67% of Florida's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 28.7014, -81.3484 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Casselberry, FL (3 mi); Altamonte Springs, FL (4 mi); Winter Springs, FL (5 mi); Maitland, FL (5 mi); Winter Park, FL (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Lake Mary, FL (4 mi); Eatonville, FL (7 mi); Edgewood, FL (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Longwood
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 APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Florida lending rules that apply in Longwood
The table lists the Florida rules that apply to a loan made in Longwood, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Longwood
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Longwood:
- 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.