90 days or more out: plan
- Send me your orders and report date.
- Look up your BAH on the Department of Defense calculator.
- Request your VA Certificate of Eligibility if you plan to use a VA loan.
- Start your pre-approval. We set the budget before we set the search.
- Decide between on-base housing, renting and buying. I will give you an honest read on which fits your timeline.
60 to 30 days out: hunt
- I send homes that fit your allowance and your drive-time limit.
- We tour by live video, and I show you what the listing leaves out: road noise, slopes, the neighbors.
- If you take a house-hunting trip, we use it to see your short list in person.
- We write the offer around your report date.
30 days to arrival: close
- Inspection and any repair requests.
- Appraisal and final loan approval.
- Signing. If you are travelling, signing by power of attorney or remotely can often be arranged. Tell me early so the lender and escrow can set it up.
- Keys, timed for when you land.
If your timeline is shorter
It can still work, but something has to give: either you rent briefly first, or we narrow the search hard. Call me the day you get orders and I will tell you which.