Moving From Arizona to Davie, FL: What to Know (2026)

What should you know before moving from Arizona to Davie, FL?

The move from Arizona to Davie is mostly a climate and water story, not a sticker shock story. I talk with buyers every month who are making some version of this exact move, often from Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tucson, and the pattern holds. You already live in a low tax state with ranch space and sunshine, so the jump is not as dramatic as leaving New York or California. What actually changes is the weather, the insurance bill, and the way you protect a home against water instead of wildfire. Here is where the real differences live.

The tax math: Florida takes your income tax to zero

Arizona is already friendly on taxes. It charges a flat state income tax of 2.5 percent, per the Arizona Department of Revenue. Florida goes one step further and charges no state income tax at all, which is written into the state constitution and confirmed by the Florida Department of Revenue. That zero applies to wages, Social Security, pension income, and withdrawals from a 401(k) or IRA.

For a working household or a retiree drawing down accounts, the income tax you stop paying every year is real money you can redirect to a mortgage or to insurance. Just do not treat it as the whole picture. Property taxes and insurance recapture some of the difference, so the honest comparison is the full monthly carrying cost on a specific home, not the income tax line by itself.

On property tax, Florida’s effective rate tends to run higher than Arizona’s statewide average, so confirm the actual Broward number for any home you are considering with the Broward County Property Appraiser. The offset for a primary residence is the homestead exemption, which reduces your taxable value and caps future assessment increases once you qualify. New residents often miss the filing window, so read the Florida property tax exemptions that go beyond homestead and the full Davie property taxes guide before your first January in the home.

Climate, water, and insurance: the real adjustment

In Arizona you plan around heat and wildfire. In Davie you plan around humidity, hurricane season, and water. South Florida sits in a wet subtropical zone, and parts of Davie sit in FEMA flood zones that affect both your insurance cost and your lender’s requirements. Before you fall for a specific home, check its flood zone on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get familiar with local storm patterns through the National Weather Service in Miami.

Insurance is the line that surprises Arizona buyers the most. Home insurance in South Florida runs well above what you are used to paying in the desert, driven by wind and flood exposure rather than fire. Get real quotes early, because the premium can change which home makes sense. I walk buyers through this before any offer, and the step is important enough that it has its own guide: homeowners insurance before closing on a Davie home. Budget for it as a fixed part of the move, not an afterthought.

What your housing budget buys in Davie

Davie is a single family town with room to spread out, which tends to land well with people coming from Arizona ranch and horse country. The current single family median in Davie is $893,000, and the town is built around large lots, acreage, and equestrian neighborhoods rather than high rises. If you keep horses or just want land, Long Lake Ranches (33330) and the broader acreage areas give you a familiar way to land in South Florida.

Overall living costs in Davie run modestly higher than most of Arizona, with insurance doing most of the lifting and groceries a bit more as well. The best way to see it clearly is to put both budgets side by side, which is what the Davie cost of living guide is built for. If you want the full relocation picture, start with moving to Davie, Florida, and if you are comparing no income tax moves, the move from Texas to Davie covers a similar tradeoff from another low tax state.

Here is how I tell Arizona buyers to plan the move:

1. Build your real cost comparison: income tax saved, housing, and insurance in one sheet, not just the home price.

2. Get a mortgage preapproval with a Florida lender who quotes insurance up front.

3. Check the flood zone and pull insurance quotes before you make an offer on any home.

4. Plan your homestead timing: you qualify once you own and occupy the home as your primary residence, then file with the county, generally by March 1.

5. Decide early between acreage and a gated community, because they are different searches with different budgets.

Every situation is different, and your real number depends on the specific home, its flood zone, and its insurance quote. That is exactly the comparison I build with buyers before we tour a single property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida really have no state income tax?

Yes. Florida charges no state personal income tax, which is confirmed by the Florida Department of Revenue. That covers wages, Social Security, pension income, and retirement account withdrawals. Coming from Arizona, you move from a flat state income tax to zero, though property tax and insurance offset part of the gain.

Is it more expensive to live in Davie than in Arizona?

Overall, living costs in Davie run modestly higher than most of Arizona, and home insurance is the single biggest driver of that gap. Housing and groceries can also run a bit higher. Compare full monthly carrying costs on a specific home rather than headline numbers, and use the Davie cost of living guide to run your own math.

Can I find horse property in Davie like Arizona ranches?

Yes. Davie is one of the few towns in South Florida built around acreage and equestrian living, with large lots and bridle paths in areas like Long Lake Ranches (33330). The land use is different from a desert ranch, since you plan around water and humidity rather than dry heat, but the room to keep horses and spread out is there.

How soon can I get the homestead exemption after moving from Arizona?

You qualify for Florida’s homestead exemption once you own the home and occupy it as your permanent residence as of January 1, then you file with the Broward County Property Appraiser, generally by the March 1 deadline. The exemption lowers your taxable value and caps future assessment increases, so the timing of your closing and move in matters.

Talk to a Davie Real Estate Expert

If you are planning a move from Arizona to Davie and want your real number instead of a headline, the next step is a direct conversation. Anthony is a Davie native and Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker Realty who builds the full relocation comparison, housing, taxes, and insurance, before any property tour. Schedule a free strategy call and start the move with a plan.

Anthony Spitaleri

Broker Associate, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Realty

Creator of Living in Davie, Florida

Davie, Florida | Serving Davie, Weston and surrounding Broward markets

954-235-5783

Florida License BK3281907

@livingindavieflorida

Written by Anthony Spitaleri, Broker Associate, REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty and a Davie native. More about Anthony