Sue Botelho

Meet Sue Botelho: Your Trusted Mortgage Expert in the Panhandle

Sue believes there is nothing more rewarding than helping people achieve their dreams, and for many, owning a home is a big part of that dream. She loves being part of the joy when a homebuyer closes on their new home and knowing that her expertise helped make that happen smoothly and on time. It’s not just the buyers who are happy — Realtors, too, appreciate a seamless process that leads to timely closings.

With over two decades in the mortgage industry, Sue brings a unique blend of empathetic communication and expert knowledge of mortgage guidelines. She is deeply committed to understanding each client's specific needs and providing tailored solutions that make the homebuying or refinancing journey as smooth as possible. Sue and her team have successfully guided many clients who initially felt that the mortgage process would be overwhelming, and we've turned those concerns into smiles and celebrations.

As the Branch Manager for the Panhandle Region of Waterstone Mortgage, Sue is nationally recognized as a mortgage planning and program guideline expert. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on “Good Morning America,” and has shared her expertise as a speaker at Mortgage Revolution, a leading national conference for industry professionals.

In the local market, Sue is affectionately known as “the condo queen.” She frequently speaks on the ever-evolving aspects of condo lending, from condotels to non-warrantable condos, and is passionate about staying up to date on all the latest developments. Her background in accounting helps her serve self-employed borrowers with precision and accuracy, ensuring their tax returns are managed effectively.

Whether you're purchasing a vacation property, an investment property, or your primary home, Sue is well-versed in a wide range of loan products — from government-backed loans like FHA, VA, and USDA to alternative income loans such as DSCR and bank statement loans.

Sue grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, attended the University of Alabama, and made her way to the beautiful Emerald Coast in 1983. Since entering the mortgage industry in 1998, she has developed a reputation for being an "outside-the-box" thinker. She enjoys finding creative solutions to help clients who may have been denied elsewhere, turning "impossible" situations into success stories.

Sue’s business is 100% referral-based, built on trust, positive experiences, and a commitment to finding the best mortgage solutions to meet my clients’ long-term financial goals. Past clients, real estate agents, financial advisors, accountants, attorneys, and title companies continue to refer clients to Sue because they know she deliver results.

When she’s not working with clients, Sue enjoys the sun and sand of Ft. Walton Beach, cheering on the Florida State Seminoles and the Washington Commanders, and spending quality time with her family, including her two children and four wonderful granddaughters. She loves camping, football, and enjoying everything the Emerald Coast has to offer.

If you're looking for a mortgage expert who will guide you through every step of the process and help make your homeownership dreams a reality, Sue is here to help.

Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Branch License # 41DBO-61189.