Sebastian at a glance
- Population: 26,846, the 101st-largest community in Florida out of 411 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 25,037 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 7.2% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: the 101st-largest of 411 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 75% of places in Florida rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 27.7792 / -80.4827, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Palm Bay, FL (16 mi); West Melbourne, FL (22 mi); Melbourne, FL (25 mi); Fort Pierce, FL (26 mi); Port St. Lucie, FL (35 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Orchid, FL (4 mi); Indian River Shores, FL (8 mi); Fellsmere, FL (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Sebastian
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Florida lending rules that apply in Sebastian
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Sebastian
A few practical steps will make the process in Sebastian less costly:
- 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.