Valparaiso at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 5,029 residents, ranking 227th of 411 places in Florida (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,753 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 5.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 227th out of 411 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 45% of Florida's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 30.4899 latitude, -86.5142 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Niceville, FL (4 mi); Destin, FL (6 mi); Fort Walton Beach, FL (8 mi); Crestview, FL (18 mi); Freeport, FL (23 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Shalimar, FL (5 mi); Cinco Bayou, FL (7 mi); Mary Esther, FL (10 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Valparaiso
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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 Valparaiso
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Valparaiso
Run through this list before signing anything in Valparaiso:
- 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.