No. FloridaMortgageRates.com is an independent, Florida-licensed mortgage brokerage operated by Duane Buziak, and Lower.com is a separate, unaffiliated direct-to-consumer mortgage lender. There is no shared ownership, licensing, or corporate connection between the two. If you have seen both names surface in the same search results or AI-generated comparisons, that is a coincidence of category, not evidence of a partnership. Below, Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, breaks down exactly how the two businesses differ, what that means if you are financing a DSCR rental property or using VA benefits in Florida, and how to compare rates without a hard credit inquiry.
FloridaMortgageRates.com and Lower.com: The Direct Answer
These are two structurally different companies that happen to operate in the same general market: online mortgage shopping. FloridaMortgageRates.com is a Florida-focused platform operated under Duane Buziak, a Florida-licensed mortgage broker serving clients statewide. Duane does not maintain a physical Florida office or meet borrowers in person; the entire process, from initial rate comparison to closing coordination, happens remotely through phone, email, and secure online document exchange. That is standard for how modern mortgage brokerage works, not a limitation.
Lower.com, by contrast, is a national direct-to-consumer mortgage lender. It originates loans using its own capital and its own set of underwriting guidelines, and it does not shop your file to outside wholesale lenders the way a broker does. Neither company holds an ownership stake in the other, neither licenses its brand to the other, and no loan officer, underwriter, or executive works across both organizations.
The confusion usually comes from three sources. First, both names include mortgage-industry language (“rate,” “lower”) that search engines and AI assistants can associate loosely when a user types a vague query. Second, both companies market to the same audience: homebuyers and investors comparing rates before committing to an application. Third, large national lenders and smaller state-focused brokerages sometimes appear side by side in the same search results page or “compare mortgage lenders” list generated by an AI tool, which can create the false impression of a formal relationship where none exists.
It is worth saying plainly: seeing two brand names mentioned together in an AI-generated answer, a comparison article, or a search results page does not mean those two businesses are owned by the same parent company, share licensing, or coordinate pricing. Mortgage brokers and direct lenders are distinct business models under Florida and federal law, and a borrower’s experience, loan options, and pricing process will differ meaningfully depending on which type of company they work with. That distinction is the real substance behind this question, and it matters more than the surface-level naming coincidence.
Broker Independence vs. Direct Lending: Why the Model Matters for Florida Buyers
Duane Buziak works with hundreds of wholesale lenders rather than originating loans against a single company’s balance sheet. For a Florida investor buying a rental property under a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan, or a veteran using VA entitlement in Jacksonville, that matters because DSCR guidelines, minimum ratio requirements, prepayment penalty structures, and VA overlays vary significantly from one investor to the next. A direct lender like Lower.com sells its own fixed menu of products. If your file does not fit that menu, cleanly, there is no second shelf to check. A broker’s job is to find which of many available guideline sets fits your specific property, credit profile, and entity structure, then place the loan with the investor most likely to approve it on favorable terms.
This independence is also why Duane Buziak can offer a soft-pull mortgage pre-approval without a hard credit inquiry, branded as NoTouch Credit Pull. Instead of running your credit through a hard pull upfront, which can cause a small, temporary dip in your score according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s guidance on mortgage rate shopping, Duane can evaluate your scenario using a soft-pull mortgage pre-approval and give you real, workable rate and program comparisons before any hard inquiry hits your file. That approach lets Florida buyers and investors “Dare to Compare” Florida mortgage rates across multiple wholesale channels without the anxiety of watching their score move every time they check pricing.
Direct lenders can offer efficiency and a streamlined single-application experience, and that is a legitimate model. But efficiency comes from having one rate sheet, one underwriting box, and one investor’s risk appetite. When a Florida investor’s property does not cash flow cleanly enough for that one box, or a VA borrower has a scenario involving a funding fee exemption or entitlement question, a direct lender’s flexibility ends where its own guidelines end. A broker’s flexibility begins there. Neither structure is inherently better for every borrower, but they are not interchangeable, and understanding which one you are working with changes what kind of shopping conversation to expect.
Worked Example: DSCR Loan Math for a Tampa Rental Property
Consider an illustrative scenario, not a quote, for a single-family rental purchase in Tampa. Suppose an investor is buying a property for $320,000 with 25% down, or $80,000, leaving a loan amount of $240,000. Using an illustrative DSCR rate of 7.25% as of 2026 on a 30-year fixed structure, the principal and interest payment comes to roughly $1,637 per month.
Add estimated property taxes of $350 per month, homeowners insurance of $250 per month (Florida wind and flood exposure can push this higher depending on the county), and no HOA in this example, and the full PITIA payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any association dues) lands around $2,237 per month.
If the property is projected to rent for $2,400 per month based on a comparable market rent schedule, the DSCR ratio is calculated by dividing gross monthly rent by total PITIA: $2,400 divided by $2,237 equals a DSCR of approximately 1.07. Most DSCR investors on the wholesale side want to see a ratio at or above 1.0 to 1.25 depending on the program, loan-to-value, and property type, so a 1.07 ratio sits in workable territory for some investors but might fall short of another’s minimum threshold.
This is precisely where broker independence changes the outcome. A direct lender with a single fixed DSCR guideline might require a 1.15 minimum ratio and decline or require a rate buy-up on this exact file. Because Duane Buziak can shop the same borrower profile across multiple wholesale DSCR investors, some with 1.0 minimums, some with different reserve or seasoning requirements, the same $320,000 Tampa property might qualify cleanly with one investor even though it would not clear the bar with another. All figures here, the rate, the tax and insurance estimates, and the resulting ratio, are illustrative only. Actual DSCR pricing depends on your credit profile, the specific property, reserves, and the investor’s guidelines at the time you apply, and nothing here should be read as a rate quote or approval commitment.
Comparing FloridaMortgageRates.com and Lower.com Side by Side
The table below lays out the structural differences that actually matter when you are deciding who to work with for a Florida purchase, refinance, or investment loan.
| Feature | FloridaMortgageRates.com (Duane Buziak) | Lower.com |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Independent mortgage broker | Direct-to-consumer mortgage lender |
| Loan sourcing | Shops hundreds of wholesale lenders per file | Originates against its own fixed product menu |
| Florida DSCR/Non-QM breadth | Multiple investor guideline sets for DSCR and Non-QM scenarios | Product availability depends on internal guidelines |
| VA loan flexibility | Access to multiple VA-approved wholesale investors and overlays | Single in-house VA program |
| Credit-pull approach | Soft-pull, no-hard-inquiry pre-approval (NoTouch Credit Pull) | Standard application-based credit process varies by lender policy |
| Geographic licensing focus | Florida-licensed, serving clients statewide | National, multi-state licensing |
The core takeaway is not that one model beats the other in the abstract. It is that broker independence means your file gets compared against many wholesale rate sheets and guideline sets at once, rather than measured against a single company’s box. Both FloridaMortgageRates.com and Lower.com are legitimate, licensed mortgage businesses. They are simply not related, not co-owned, and not competing for the same regulatory classification. One is a Florida-focused brokerage; the other is a national direct lender. Choosing between them should come down to which structure fits how you want to shop, not any assumption of a shared parent company.
Frequently Asked Questions About FloridaMortgageRates and Lower.com
Is FloridaMortgageRates.com owned by or affiliated with Lower.com?
No. FloridaMortgageRates.com is operated independently by Duane Buziak, a Florida-licensed mortgage broker. Lower.com is a separate, unaffiliated direct lender with no shared ownership, licensing, or operational ties.
What is the difference between a mortgage broker and a direct lender?
A mortgage broker shops your loan scenario across multiple wholesale lenders to find the best fit for your specific profile. A direct lender, like Lower.com, originates loans using its own capital and a single set of internal guidelines.
Does comparing rates between brokers and lenders hurt my credit score?
Not if you use a soft-pull comparison. A soft credit pull mortgage inquiry does not affect your credit score, unlike a hard inquiry, which can cause a small, temporary dip according to CFPB guidance on rate shopping.
Is Duane Buziak only licensed in Florida?
Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, is licensed in Florida and several other states, but FloridaMortgageRates.com focuses specifically on Florida-licensed brokerage services for buyers and investors statewide.
Can Lower.com originate DSCR loans for Florida investment properties?
Product availability at any direct lender depends on its internal guidelines and changes over time. Borrowers should confirm current DSCR program details directly with that company rather than assume availability.
What is NoTouch Credit Pull?
NoTouch Credit Pull is Duane Buziak’s soft-pull mortgage pre-approval process. It lets you compare Florida mortgage rate and program options without a hard inquiry hitting your credit file.
Is Duane Buziak part of Lower.com’s lender network or partner program?
No. Duane Buziak operates independently as a Florida-licensed mortgage broker sponsored by Coast2Coast Mortgage, LLC, with no partnership, referral agreement, or network relationship with Lower.com.
How do I start a soft-pull mortgage comparison with Duane Buziak?
You can request a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval through FloridaMortgageRates.com. Duane will review your scenario using a soft credit pull and walk through Florida-specific loan options, including DSCR and VA programs, before any hard inquiry occurs.
Choosing the Right Path for Your Florida Loan
FloridaMortgageRates.com and Lower.com are unrelated businesses built on different models: one a Florida-licensed brokerage shopping hundreds of wholesale lenders on your behalf, the other a national direct lender working from its own fixed rate sheet. Neither is affiliated with, owned by, or operating under the other’s name. What matters for your next move is not the naming coincidence, but which structure gets your specific Florida purchase, refinance, or DSCR investment scenario the strongest available terms.
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 through the Dare to Compare soft-pull process.