As military members with a transient lifestyle, you may not be able to purchase a home and live there until the mortgage is paid for. Over the course of a career, you may live in dozens of homes. But frequent relocation doesn’t have to mean opting out of making homeownership work for you. In fact, […]
Tag: Home Buying Tips
Coping with COVID-19’s Impact on PCS Season
Here are a few ideas to help you navigate this PCS season fraught with social distancing and travel restrictions. Fortunately, technology affords us some great solutions to both home shopping and selling in these interesting times. Ask for virtual home tours. A good real estate agent will be flexible and accommodating, and it never hurts […]
Questions to Ask Real Estate Agents
By: Jessica, U.S. Coast Guard Spouse Remember the awkwardness of a first date? Well, that’s kind of how it feels when looking for a real estate agent every time we move. We’ve tackled six moves in 14 years of marriage, so you can be sure I’ve had plenty of first-date feels when trying to […]
Picking the Perfect Type of Home
By: Jessica, U.S. Coast Guard Wife This summer marked my sixth move in 13 years of marriage. I kind of knew what I signed up for when I fell in love with a Coastie, but can’t quite say I had a full picture of the adventures…especially when it comes to all the “home sweet […]
First-Time Home Buyer Basics for Military Families
Being a home buyer is overwhelming, but being a first-time military home buyer adds a whole new twist. Not only are you going through the emotional process of choosing the right home for your family and your finances, but you’re also thinking through the layers of other circumstances that may impact your purchase. What if […]
Top 3 Reasons You Should Trick-or-Treat If You’re House Hunting
If you have kids or have ever opened your front door on Halloween night, you likely know that there are some unwritten rules we have about when it’s okay or not okay to go trick-or-treating. Children in costumes being pulled in a red wagon—okay. Pack of menacing-looking teenagers—not okay. And then somehow trick-or-treating in college […]
Why Generational Shifts in Homebuying Matter to You
In many real estate markets, younger buyers are now competing with older buyers for the same types of homes. Understanding the market forces at work and adjusting your priorities to find a home that’s slightly removed from the most desired pool of homes can open up valuable opportunities for military buyers. Who’s Who The Boomer […]
How to Improve Your Credit Score
If you’re even considering purchasing a home, you should be paying attention to your credit history. When was the last time you checked your FICO score? It’s a good idea to check your score at least annually to see what your score is and if there’s anything incorrectly reported that could be counted against you. […]
Desperation or Love?
If you’re in house-hunting mode (again), you can feel like you’re up against the clock. And if a new duty station is in the cards, that clock can feel more like a countdown timer on a ticking bomb. That does something to a person. It ups the level of stress. It causes panic to set […]
What We Wish You Knew Before Buying a Home
Experienced real estate agents are accustomed to working with clients who have a wide range of knowledge, from first-time buyers just learning words like “mortgage” and “escrow” to multiple property investors exchanging homes as tax shelters. Those of us who primarily serve a military market are more likely to work with clients looking for their […]