Buying a Home in Davie, FL as an International Buyer

Can international buyers buy a home in Davie, Florida?

Yes. Foreign nationals can buy a single family home in Davie, Florida with a valid passport, no U.S. Social Security number, and no U.S. credit history. Many pay cash, and others use a foreign national mortgage that typically starts around 25 to 30 percent down. The parts that catch international buyers off guard are the U.S. tax exposure and buying from abroad, and both are manageable with the right team around you.

The United States puts no general ban on foreign ownership of real estate. If you are relocating, investing, or buying a second home, Davie is a straightforward market to buy into once you understand three things: how you will pay, what the U.S. will tax, and how you actually close when you are thousands of miles away. Here is what I walk my international clients through before they write an offer.

How international buyers finance a Davie home

You have two paths. The first is cash, which many international buyers choose because it is simple and it makes your offer stronger. The second is a foreign national mortgage, a loan built for buyers who do not have a U.S. financial footprint.

A foreign national loan does not require a Social Security number, a U.S. credit score, a U.S. visa, or U.S. based income. Lenders qualify you on documents you already have. Expect to provide:

• A valid passport and your current immigration or visa status
• Foreign income documentation such as pay records or tax filings
• Recent statements from your international bank
• A reference letter from your bank in some cases

Foreign national loans usually start around 25 to 30 percent down, and they can run higher on larger loan amounts or certain property types, so confirm current terms with a lender who actually runs these programs. Rates sit above a standard conventional loan because the lender is taking on more unknowns. If you are buying to rent, ask about a program that qualifies on the property’s projected rental income rather than your personal income. The rest of the purchase looks like any other Davie deal, and I lay out the full sequence in my Davie home buying guide.

The U.S. taxes and laws to plan for before you buy

This is where international buyers save or lose real money, so plan it before closing, not after.

Tax when you sell. When you sell later, the IRS requires your buyer to withhold 15 percent of the gross sale price under a law called FIRPTA, which you reconcile when you file your U.S. tax return. A lower rate or an exemption can apply on lower priced homes the next buyer will occupy. This is the same rule that trips up foreign sellers, and the mechanics are worth reading in the foreign seller FIRPTA guide.

Estate tax. This is the one most people miss. For a nonresident who is not a U.S. citizen, only about $60,000 of U.S. situated assets is exempt from federal estate tax, and the rate reaches as high as 40 percent, per the IRS. A Davie home can sit far above that exemption, so how you hold title matters. Work with a cross border tax advisor before you buy, because the structure is hard to change after the fact.

Tax when you rent. If you rent the home out, the U.S. generally taxes that rental income at a flat 30 percent of the gross unless you make an election to be taxed on your net income instead. That election almost always saves money, and a cross border tax advisor sets it up.

Florida ownership law. Florida also limits real estate purchases by buyers domiciled in certain countries the state designates, with extra rules for property near military installations and critical infrastructure. The law has moved through the courts, so confirm your eligibility with a Florida real estate attorney before you write an offer. You can read the bill itself on the Florida Senate site.

Property tax. Florida’s homestead exemption and its Save Our Homes assessment cap require permanent Florida residency, which most visa holders do not have. Plan your property tax around the full assessed value, especially in your first year, and confirm your status with the Broward County Property Appraiser. Budget the rest of the monthly picture with the Davie cost of living breakdown.

How to buy a Davie home from abroad

You do not have to be in Davie to buy in Davie. I have a simple sequence for buyers who are overseas or in another state.

1. Get your money ready first. Line up a foreign national pre approval or a proof of funds letter so your offer is taken seriously.

2. Tour by video, but tour honestly. On a live video call, ask your agent to open closets, run the shower to check water pressure, and walk the street so you see the neighbors and the setting, not a staged photo.

3. Write the offer with an inspection period so you can verify condition before you are committed.

4. Price the insurance and check the flood zone before you commit. In South Florida these two numbers move your monthly payment more than buyers expect. Check any parcel on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and I break the zones down in the Davie flood zone guide.

5. Close remotely. Florida allows remote online notarization, so you can sign the closing package over a recorded video session. If that does not work in your country, the title company can run a mail away closing, where they overnight the documents, you sign in front of a local notary near you, and you ship them back. If you cannot sign at all, you can grant a power of attorney to someone you trust, which must be in writing, signed before two witnesses and a notary, and approved by your lender in advance.

6. Protect your money at the wire. Wire fraud is the single biggest financial risk at closing. Criminals spoof email and send fake wire instructions right before you fund. Always confirm the wiring details by phone using a number you already have, never a number from an email. Title insurance does not cover a fraudulent wire, so this step is on you.

Where international buyers focus in Davie

Most international buyers I work with are looking at two things. Some want a gated single family community in the western 33330 corridor with land and privacy. Others want no HOA acreage where they can keep horses or simply spread out. Both are single family, and that is the market I represent. I do not handle condos or townhomes, so this guide stays on houses, estates, and acreage.

The median single family sale price in Davie is $739,000 (single-family median, per BeachesMLS, as of Aug 17, 2026), and I track prices at the community level because Davie’s price bands vary a lot by area. That is the number that actually matters when you are comparing a home in Davie to what your money buys back home, and it is the kind of thing I run for every buyer before we make an offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner buy a house in Davie, Florida without a green card?

Yes. You do not need a green card, a visa, or U.S. citizenship to buy a home in Davie. You can buy with a valid passport, and you can pay cash or use a foreign national mortgage. The bigger planning items are your U.S. tax exposure and how you hold title, not your immigration status.

Do international buyers need a U.S. credit score to get a mortgage in Florida?

No. Foreign national mortgage programs do not use a U.S. credit score or a Social Security number. Lenders qualify you on your passport, your immigration status, foreign income documentation, and international bank statements. Expect a larger down payment than a U.S. resident would put down, usually starting around 25 to 30 percent.

Can I close on a Davie home from another country?

Yes. Florida allows remote online notarization, so you can sign over a recorded video session. If that is not available where you are, the title company can run a mail away closing with a local notary, or you can grant a power of attorney to someone in Florida to sign for you. Set up whichever path you need early, because your lender has to approve a power of attorney in advance.

What taxes do foreign buyers pay when they sell a Davie home?

When a foreign owner sells, the buyer must withhold 15 percent of the gross sale price under FIRPTA, per the IRS, which you settle up when you file your U.S. return. A reduced rate or exemption can apply on lower priced homes the next buyer will live in. Separately, nonresident owners face U.S. estate tax with only about a $60,000 exemption, so plan the ownership structure with a cross border tax advisor before you buy.

Is South Florida a good place for international buyers?

South Florida is one of the most active markets in the country for international buyers, and Broward County carries heavy international ownership. Davie specifically gives you single family homes, acreage, and equestrian property that are harder to find closer to the coast. The process is well worn here, which means the lenders, title companies, and advisors you need are already in place.

Talk to a Davie Real Estate Expert

Buying from another country is the case where a local advocate matters most, because you cannot walk the street or read the home yourself. If you have not signed with an agent yet, that is exactly the work I do, from reading a home over video to writing an offer that protects you. If you are already working with an agent, I am happy to give an honest second opinion, and talking you into leaving them is not my style. Schedule a Davie strategy call and we will map your financing, your tax setup, and your path to closing before you make an offer.

Anthony Spitaleri

Living in Davie Florida

954-235-5783

Davie, Florida

livingindavieflorida.com

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