Old Davie Homes for Sale — Historic & Acreage Davie
A straight read on Old Davie — what it actually is, who it fits, and what to check before you write an offer. No spin.
Old Davie is the historic, rural heart of Davie, in Broward County — Old Florida "cracker" and cowboy heritage, larger lots, and in many pockets, genuine acreage with horse and livestock zoning. This is inland Broward, not a coastal or boating area, and it's not a cookie-cutter subdivision — the appeal is space, the equestrian lifestyle, and character. It fits a family that wants land, room for horses, or an Old Florida homestead feel. Because it's rural and acreage-oriented, the checks are different from a typical subdivision: the exact zoning and permitted use for the parcel, whether it's on a well and septic and their condition, the usable acreage and flood zone, and the zoned schools.
I've sold homes across Davie and Broward County since 1996. Here's the honest version of Old Davie — the parts that matter when you're buying historic and acreage property, and the parts most listings skip.
What Old Davie actually is
Old Davie is the historic, rural core of Davie, Broward County — the part of town that kept its Old Florida "cracker" and cowboy roots. You'll find larger lots, horse and livestock zoning in many pockets, and genuine acreage rather than the tight suburban subdivisions elsewhere in Broward. To be clear on geography, this is inland Broward, not coastal — the draw is land, the equestrian lifestyle, and character, not water access or a gated amenity package.
The right buyer here is usually a family that wants land, room for horses, or an Old Florida homestead feel. Because it's rural and acreage-oriented, the due diligence is very different from a suburban subdivision: the exact zoning and permitted use for the specific parcel — horses, livestock, outbuildings, and how much of the acreage is actually usable; the utilities and land — whether the property is on a well and septic, which many rural parcels are, and their condition, plus the flood zone and any easements; the zoned schools for the address; and the specific home's condition, since many of these are older structures. That's where I focus before you offer.
Pre-offer checklist for Old Davie
- Zoning and permitted use — the first question for acreage: Confirm the exact zoning and permitted use for the specific parcel — whether horses or livestock are allowed, how many, what outbuildings or barns are permitted, and how much of the acreage is actually usable versus wetland or easement. In rural Davie this varies parcel to parcel, so I verify it from the county rather than assuming from the neighborhood.
- Well, septic, and the land: Many rural Old Davie parcels are on a private well and septic rather than city utilities, so confirm whether the specific property is, and get the well and septic condition, age, and any permits verified. Also confirm the flood zone and any easements, since those affect what you can build and your insurance.
- The schools — verify by address: Schools are served by Broward County Public Schools, a separate district from Palm Beach County, and assignments are by address and can change, so verify the exact zoned elementary, middle, and high schools at browardschools.com for the specific home before any offer.
- The home's condition: Many Old Davie homes are older structures, so confirm the roof, systems, windows, and any updates for the specific home, and price any work honestly. On an older or historic home I pay particular attention to the roof, electrical, and plumbing and to insurance considerations.
The honest trade-off
Who thrives in Old Davie: the buyer who actually wanted land, horses, or Old Florida character — confirmed the parcel's zoning and permitted use, verified the well and septic and usable acreage, checked the flood zone, and understood an older home's condition going in.
Who regrets it: the buyer who wanted a low-maintenance suburban home and underestimated what rural acreage takes — the well and septic upkeep, the zoning limits, and the older-home maintenance. All knowable up front.
Honest alternative: if you want a low-maintenance, move-in-ready suburban home with city utilities and an HOA that handles the grounds, that's a different Davie search, and I'll point you to those communities. But if land, horses, or Old Florida character is the goal, Old Davie is one of the few places in Broward that still offers it — I'll just get the zoning, the well and septic, the land, and the home's condition straight first. That's the job.
Thinking about Old Davie?
Call me at 561-201-4717 and I'll verify the parcel's zoning and permitted use, check the well and septic and usable acreage, confirm the flood zone, and review the home's condition with you. Or grab the free Buyer's Guide first.
Old Davie FAQs
What is Old Davie, and is it a coastal or boating area?+
Can I keep horses or livestock in Old Davie?+
Are Old Davie homes on a well and septic?+
What schools serve Old Davie?+
What condition should I check on an Old Davie home?+
How far is Old Davie from a hospital?+
Brian Wilder · The Wilder Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Wellington
In business since 1996 · Over 1,500 homes sold · 5th-generation Palm Beach County family
Call/text: 561-201-4717
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Verify school zones at browardschools.com, and confirm the specific parcel's zoning and permitted use, the well and septic condition, the usable acreage and flood zone, and the home's condition independently before any offer.