Life in the military is often complicated with relocations. You might find yourself relocating from one coast to the other. If your PCS lasts a few years, you might be more interested in buying. Your first priority is finding the right real estate agent to buy a home. The right real estate agent can help you find and buy [...]
Are you ready to purchase a home? In that case, keep reading because we will help you find your dream home. Let’s assume that you have been pre-approved and already have a budget in mind; this means that you are ready to start home shopping. It can be overwhelming just thinking about looking at several houses, so you should [...]
Veterans Affairs provides different types of home loans. It is a valuable benefit for those currently serving military members, veterans, and surviving spouses of qualifying veterans who have died because of military service. This enables those eligible to purchase their home with better buying benefits. Consequently, there are several VA Loan Home Options to apply for and avail. The [...]
The economy is rapidly changing. Real estate values have fluctuated greatly over the past several years. If you’re wondering how much your home is worth, there are a couple of things you should know. Your home won’t have a single price tag. Realistically speaking, your home has three different price tags. Before you set your eyes on a home [...]
Buying a home is a complicated decision to make for civilians. You can imagine that it’s much tougher for those on active military duty. For civilians, buying a home involves questions like, is the money available? What if we want to move in a decade or so? The decision is tougher for military members because they have other factors [...]
As military personnel move from time to time according to their assignment, choosing the homes to buy and the place they will be staying for the period of their deployment will become a major source of concern. The piece of property will not only have to have top amenities but will also need to be as close to the [...]
Military spouses don’t have it easy, as frequent relocations come with challenges. PCS is a part of military jobs, and it’s something that military spouses have to try and adapt to. Buying your first home as a military spouse can be somewhat complicated. We’ve put together a few things to know before you buy a new home for your [...]
You'll want to get your finances sorted out when going through PCS or a permanent change of station. Moving isn’t just about looking for suitable realtors and condos to buy. Making sure you have your travel expenses in order can be a lifesaver. There are two options that you’ll have when traveling from your old station to your new [...]
If you have to relocate due to a PCS order, you can expect to be reimbursed by the military to a certain extent. The military will provide allowances that will cover certain fees and costs that are incurred during your moving process. These allowances will not completely cover all of your costs, but they will certainly be very helpful [...]
Making the decision to buy your first home is never easy. Big decisions like these often require plenty of thought and asking for advice. You may have plenty of concerns. Your indecisiveness will worsen if you have little to no information on the market and what it takes to buy and maintain a home. Using your VA loan benefits [...]
A military spouse tends to have a uniquely rewarding, albeit challenging role at times. When marrying someone in the military, moving will be a huge part of your life. It really depends on where your partner will be assigned next. Fortunately, we have prepared the best tips that all military spouses should know before buying their first home. The [...]
Picking a new home is never easy, so choosing the best real estate agent for your next move is critical to making the process as seamless as possible. This is especially difficult for active duty military service members, who can be re-assigned at any given moment. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders may be something to dread when you [...]
The most common way of receiving travel pay from the military is through a voucher. According to the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the turnaround processing time for travel vouchers is 6 business days. The payment is deposited into your financial institution account once approved. All service members have access to the VA travel pay benefits, but [...]
Before we explore what MilPCS is, let’s first discuss PCS. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station orders. Contrary to the name, it does not mean that the place you will be stationed is permanent. Around 700,000 service members get transferred to new assignments every year. This is certainly something to consider when you purchase a home. So, what [...]
There are many things to consider when buying your home. It is not just the home itself that you must mull over, but perhaps the most important aspect is how much it costs. However, it may come surprising that it is not just one price tag that you should consider, but there are three in particular: Market, replacement, and [...]
Being a spouse of a military recruit does come with a lot of unique challenges. Not only will you have to get used to the fact that your spouse might have to leave on long-duty tours, but you will also have to move regularly if they receive a PCS order. A PCS order is essentially a long-term relocation order, [...]
PCS is what the military calls a Permanent Change of Station. In other words, PCSing in the military automatically means that you will be assigned to another duty station. Your orders will show you where and when you are expected to move. This is an inevitable part of your military career, which allows you to experience different parts of [...]
For many people, getting your very own home is a milestone in life that deserves a lot of celebration. Still, things might be slightly different for military personnel who are about to be relocated due to a MilPCS order. A MilPCS order is a long-term relocation, so chances are that buying your first home as a military recruit will [...]
VA loans are some of the best sources of financial aid for military personnel who have to move because of their MilPCS order. These loans often feature low rates and low down payments, so you should have few issues finding your dream house if you have recently relocated to another base. That said, your VA loan options are vast, [...]
PCS, or permanent change of station, is a term that those outside the military won’t be familiar with. You might have heard it from a friend in the military or because one of your relatives is going through it. A permanent change of station is when a military member is transferred from their existing station to a different one [...]
The living situation of a military member isn’t as complicated as many assume. A few variabilities depend on the person's service and rank. If you or your loved one is considering joining the military, you might want to know when they’ll be allowed to live off base. Those already in the military might be thinking about reassessing their living [...]
The simplest answer is no. Buying a house on a military base is not possible because the government most likely owns the houses in the base area. It is unlikely that any of the properties within the base would be available for sale. You may live in military housing, but you cannot own any of the properties there. With [...]
Almost every military recruit has to get a PCS order at least once in their life, and this is a big change. If they receive a PCS order, they will have to relocate to another destination along with their family. This is undoubtedly a big change, and if there is no proper preparation, it is easy for the whole [...]
If you are in the process of voluntary military separation, the US government may pay for one more final military move up to six months after your final exit date. However, it is worth noting that you may be forced to pay some of the cost out of your pocket if the location you are moving back to is [...]
If you or one of your loved ones is in the military, you might wonder, “what is MilPCS?” Military PCS or PCS is the permanent change of station in the military. A permanent change of station is when a military member is transferred to a unit located in a different area or state than his or her current station. [...]
Yes, you can become a homeowner even while on active duty. This has been a common question for service members with families as they want to secure their homes as early as possible. You can apply for a VA home loan if you are newly enlisted or have years of service under your belt. This will make buying a [...]
Buying a house is a long-term commitment that requires a lot of planning beforehand, especially if you are a military recruit who is facing a MilPCS order. This order requires you to relocate permanently to another base of operation, and your family will also have to move with you. This will be a big change, and you must prepare [...]
Many military recruits will find it quite challenging to find a place to stay after being ordered to relocate due to their MilPCS order. Some are actually wondering whether it is possible to buy a house on their military base! The short answer is, of course, a resounding no, as military bases cannot sell private houses to military recruits [...]
One of the best benefits provided by the VA is the VA home loan. This loan is available to different people, such as veterans, spouses of military members who died in service, and long-standing military members. The VA home loan program can help you with VA mortgages that don’t require a money-down option. How Do VA Home Loan Options [...]
Changing stations is a dreaded reality for many service members, especially those who have gotten married and have kids. A MilPCS relocation will cause a lot of disruptions in your daily life, and it can also be quite a financially challenging experience. Fortunately, the military will offer allowances that will help you adjust to your MilPCS relocation more easily, [...]
Are you in the military or a veteran and considering buying a home? Buying a home is certainly one of the most exciting things you can do. It’s an investment and a place for you to grow with your family and loved ones. The important thing is to not rush into it. Buying a home can be exciting, and [...]
Looking for homes for sale could be one of the biggest decisions in your life. Buying a home is a major investment, and finding the right people to help you with it can be all the difference in the world. While homes are major investments, they’re even riskier for those working in the military. The risk is due to [...]
Permanent status change can be associated with a lot of worry and stress. Most military personnel go through PCS every three or four years. It’s an entire process that can be troublesome. According to the Military Family Advisory Network, most members spend about $5000 out of pocket during PCS. That amount of money once in a lifetime can be [...]