Quick Answer
Before buying in Davie, ask about roof and system ages, permit history, insurance claims history, flood zone designation, HOA dues and reserve funding, planned assessments, school assignment, and why the seller is moving. Ask all of them during the inspection period, while termination is still costless.
01
Questions about the structure
How old are the roof, AC, water heater, and electrical panel? Have there been leaks, and where? Is the panel a brand insurers refuse? Were additions, enclosures, or pools permitted and closed out?
In South Florida the roof and the panel decide insurability more often than anything else. Get documentation, not verbal assurances.
02
Questions about water
What is the flood zone designation and has the property ever flooded? How does the lot drain during heavy rain? Is there a history of insurance claims for water intrusion? For canal-front properties, what is the seawall condition and who maintains it?
Current flood mapping is published by FEMA's flood map service, and the designation directly affects both your lender's requirements and your annual carrying cost.
03
Questions about the association
What are the dues and what do they include? When were they last raised? Is a special assessment pending or discussed? What are the reserve balances and when was the last reserve study? Are there rental restrictions, pet limits, or vehicle rules?
Ask for the last two years of meeting minutes. Associations discuss their real problems in minutes long before those problems become assessments.
04
Questions about the neighborhood
What is the school assignment and has the boundary changed recently? What is planned on the nearby vacant parcel? How is traffic at 8am on a weekday? Are short-term rentals common on the street?
Davie's mix of equestrian, university-adjacent, and gated communities means these answers vary dramatically within a few miles.
05
Questions about the numbers
What will taxes be after reassessment at my purchase price? What is the actual insurance quote for this address? What are dues plus any capital contribution? What is the total monthly cost, and does it still fit the ceiling I set?
Ask these before the inspection period ends. Afterward, the answers become expensive.
06
Questions for the seller's side
Why are they selling, and by when do they need to be out? Has the home been under contract before, and why did it fail? What repairs or replacements have been done, and are receipts available?
You will not always get answers, but the pattern of what is and is not answered is informative.
07
Questions for yourself
Do I plan to be here five years? Would I still be comfortable with this payment if my income dropped for six months? Am I buying this house, or am I tired of looking?
The last one has ended more bad purchases than any inspection report. If the honest answer is fatigue, pause. Then read home buying mistakes to avoid.