Archive for the 'Military Relocation' Category
If you’re moving to the Northern Virginia area you’ve found a great area to call home. For families who are moving to the area with children figuring out the local school systems is a top priority. As an agent we can not make recommendations about area schools but we can provide you public information and reports provided by other sources. Fairfax County Schools were recently ranked #5 in the nation by Education Weekly and Thomas Jefferson HS in Fairfax County as been ranked the top high school in the nation by US News and World Report.
When it comes to learning more about the schools in the neighborhood where you are considering buying or renting there are a number of resources that you can check. With most of the county websites you can put in the address of the property you are interested in and it will give you the schools for each grade level. You then can read more about each individual school. Many families also check the Great Schools site to check on individual school ratings and you have friends or family already living in the area they are a good resource for you to check with as well.
If you are enrolling a child for the first time in a Northern Virginia Schools you will need to come with the child yourself and have the following ready when you arrive to register. Some counties may have additional requirements but this list covers the basics of what you need:
Birth certificate for the child
Your proof of residence (lease or sales agreement)
Original Transcripts from their previous schools
Physical report within the last 12 month
TB test results
Immunization record
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HAP-Military Families There May Be Help for You
May 27th, 2009 Categories: Military Relocation, Selling Thoughts
Military families stationed at Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Quantico and other Military District of Washington installations who purchased a home prior to July 1, 2006 may find that Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) may offer some relief if you have upcoming PCS orders to move.
This week I had the opportunity to start working with a family applying for HAP benefits. The official guidelines for the program are still pending but the counselor I spoke with in Savannah says they already have over 1300 applications waiting. We have a listing agreement in place (one of the requirements) and as soon as the final program rules are announced we will be ready to market their home.
The HAP program is aimed towards helping:
Active Duty Military Personnel with PCS orders who are upside down on their mortgage
Wounded soldiers who must relocate due to medical conditions (wounded after 9/1/2001)
Surviving Spouses (death of military member after 9/1/2001)
According to the Homeowners Assistance Program information the Department of Defense (DoD) will reimburse the covered groups up to 95% of their loss if their homes was purchased prior to July 1 2006.
If you live in Northern Virginia and you are anticipating PCS orders this summer and you qualify for HAP, now is the time to start gathering your documents and call the HAP Field Office for our area (located in Savannah) at 800-861-8144 for additional information.
Download information on how to apply for the HAP program.
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Military Sponsors-Do You Remember the Days?
May 22nd, 2009 Categories: Military Relocation, Real Estate Ramblings
If you have been in or around the military as long as I have, there are some things you remember fondly and others that weren’t so great. One of the best things our family encountered was our “sponsor.” The member of your unit who started sending you information about your new assignment before you arrived. The sponsor was assigned to help make the transition from one installation to another as smooth as possible.
Back in the day the sponsor loaded up packets of information and mailed them off to you. There were maps, directions to various locations on the installation, local lore, things to do and what ever else was available. Gaining the knowledge of their experience before you arrived was invaluable.
Today much of what a new arrival is looking for can be found on line. The “sponsors” have faded away and been replaced by friends who may already be stationed in the area or Realtors® who know the area installation themselves. No matter what you find on-line the personal connection and knowledge still say more than a cut and dried outline you find in the in-processing handbook.
Knowing what you should consider before you arrive, learning more about what is available both on and off the installation and hearing real world experiences are important. Had our sponsors not told us about how easy it was to bring our pets to Okinawa or to leave our electronics at home when we went to Germany we might have given up our family pets or destroyed our stereo as soon as turned it on.
We were then able to take our personal experiences and pass them on to the next group of incoming personnel at every stop we made. That is the great part about blogging, passing along those experiences to anyone who finds themselves with orders to the area. Sure I can send you to list of canned links about the installation or I can tell you a story now and then about what it’s like to stand in line for your ID card, or walk the trails or play a round of golf to me that is what being a sponsor is all about.
If you are relocating to Fort Belvoir, Quantico, Fort Meyers, the Pentagon or any of the Military District of Washington I’d be glad to be your sponsor. I may not know what is happening when you get to your desk but I can give you more than just a list of links to help you make the transition.
My online relocation guides:
Fort Belvoir Relocation
Pentagon Relocation Guide
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With three properties set to close using VA loans in the next 10 days an oddly familiar tale is being heard from the lenders. VA appraisers are backed up two to three weeks in getting reports done!
With new appraisal rules in place and the popularity of VA loans soaring in Northern Virginia delays have become inevitable. With more VA buyers in the wings I’m learning that we may need to push our hope for 30 day closings to 45 days to be realistic.
The good news is that VA loan benefits are a fantastic opportunity for home buyers and learning to be patient for your new home is just a small sacrifice to pay.
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Military Families-Help if Your Landlord Defaults on Their Mortgage
April 6th, 2009 Categories: Military Relocation
The current real estate market in Northern Virginia has proved a rude awakening for some military families stationed at Fort Belvoir or the Pentagon who signed a lease in the last year. Landlords with adjustable rate mortgages or too many speculative properties to handle are collecting rent and not paying their mortgages. The result? A surprise knock on the door for the county sheriff with an eviction notice for the tenants.
If you are a family stationed at one of the military installations in our area you may find some relief available for you from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Not many service members know that under section 531 in the SCRA anyone looking to evict an active duty service member from a rental property that is their primary residence must have a court order. Strangely enough this applies to rent that is less than $2831.113 per month. Where that number came from is a mystery but in our area that covers a significant number of leases. Service members can apply to the court to stay their eviction or reduce their rent until their case works its way through the legal process.
As of July 2008 service members who are being forced to leave their rental property due to foreclosure can apply to their base legal services and transportation office to seek financial assistance with their move. In addition to the assistance you may find through your base you can also seek “cash for keys” from the lender who is foreclosing on the property.
Recently a family stationed at Fort Belvoir that I had placed in a rental last year on a multiple year lease got that surprise knock on the door. Through some research we figured out the brokerage who would be handle the foreclosure listing and were able to assist them with “cash for keys” opportunity that provided them some money to help with their move. They are currently working with their transportation office to see about assistance with additional moving expenses. If you are active duty military family stationed at Fort Belvoir or the Pentagon, RUN to your local legal office if you are notified of your landlords impending foreclosure.
Some lenders have been providing the opportunity for tenants to remain in foreclosed homes until the end of their lease. If you are lucky you may find that you can stay put but if not hopefully this information will help you defray some of the costs associated with a mid-lease move
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Military Families Making Tough Decisions When the Orders Arrive
March 12th, 2009 Categories: Military Relocation
Over the last few years many military families making the move to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or any of the installations within the Military District of Washington made the decision to purchase a home when their orders arrived. With quick appreciation and fast sales it made the choice easy. Now with prices lower and the market slow trying to make the choice between buying and renting is harder.
VA loans make buying a home in Northern Virginia with no money down a snap. With lower prices military members can buy more house today than they could before. With sellers often making a contribution to the closing costs up to the allowable VA limits it gets even easier to keep your money in your savings. But is it the right choice?
If this tour is your first to our area and you know that you are coming back in the next five years, buying and using your home as a rental after you leave could be a viable option. Understanding the costs associated with owning a rental property including maintenance, management fees and tax implications are a big consideration. If you know your current tour is less than three years, you have to weigh the risks of breaking even or even a loss when you go to sell. There are tax benefits to owning your own home but do they outweigh the concerns you may have when you go to sell?
Finding a rental can take as much time as finding a home to buy. The more flexible you are in what you are looking for will be helpful. If you focus on only one type of home or only one school district then you will need to understand that your choices may be limited. If you own a pet or two the available homes shrinks even further. None of this is insurmountable it just means that you need to be realistic.
Before you decide which is the right choice for you, talk to your financial advisor and a mortgage professional to understand how buying or renting will impact you. Then find an agent who is willing to work with you no matter which decision you make. Just as with buying a home if you decide to rent work with an agent who knows the local neighborhoods, transportation options and school districts.
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When is a Fort Belvoir Address Not A Building on Post?
December 31st, 2008 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Military Relocation
When most people think of a Fort Belvoir address they immediately think of the U.S. Army Post. However Inlet Cove shares the Fort Belvoir postal address with its close neighbor. Inlet Cove is one of newer zero lot line neighborhoods that were built in Northern Virginia between 2002-2005.
With its close proximity to Fort Belvoir you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that a large percentage of the owners are current or former military. With the main gate to Fort Belvoir, DeWitt hospital, the PX and Commissary just a stones throw away, it is easy to understand why military families gravitate to either one of the large townhouses or detached homes that dot the winding streets in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is small with only 255 homes but it does have a tot lot and swimming pool.
With the shops of Lorton Market, the restaurants at Lorton Station and the Lorton VRE just a few miles south of the neighborhood finding what you need, if you don’t shop on post is easy. Recreation opportunities abound in the area with the Accotink Wildlife Refugee and Mason Neck State Park. Interested in history? Then just across the street is Pohick Church founded in 1732 and Mount Vernon is just a few miles away.
If a PCS move Fort Belvoir is in your future give me a call. Whether you are renting or buying I’ll be glad to answer your questions and give you a tour. I’ve been in your shoes many times and understand the complexities of a military move. You can also check out my Fort Belvoir Relocation Guide for more information on the area.
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Fort Belvoir-Base Housing A New Look
November 5th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Military Relocation
The first question you might ask is why would a Realtor® write about base housing? Don’t you want to sell me a house? Certainly it would be nice if everyone who moved to Fort Belvoir would buy a home but in reality many families make the decision to live on base for a variety of reasons.
Our family had to make the same decision both in the US and overseas. We lived both on and off base depending on what housing was available for us and our location. Our 700 square foot house in Okinawa with neighbors who owned a water buffalo was an experience you don’t have everyday and one I won’t ever forget.
Anyone headed to Fort Belvoir will discover a wide variety of housing options. Recent construction has replaced many of the older duplexes with new townhouses and detached homes. Add in the town center and you might have a hard time distinguishing the neighborhoods on post with some outside the gates of the post. Obviously the Fort Belvoir housing office will be the official place for you to learn about which neighborhood and type of house you may be eligible for should you decide to look at post housing.
Driving around post you will find the base housing divided into 12 villages with homes ranging from the historic older brick homes in the Gerber and Belvoir Villages to the brand new “green” homes in Fairfax Village. Fairfax Village is the site of a LEED-Platinum certified neighborhood center. Platinum LEED-Certification is the highest award and the neighborhood also features a native species butterfly garden.
With the close by Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge for families to enjoy, aFairfax County elementary school on post and multiple recreation centers, living on post has certainly improved. If you decide that off post housing is a better fit for you please give me a call. I’d be glad to help you look at nieghborhoods that will meet your needs.
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Northern Virginia Commuting-It Can be A Real Pain
September 27th, 2008 Categories: Military Relocation, Out and About
Are you relocating to Northern Virginia? Are you worried about finding the right home in a neighborhood close to work or within a reasonable commuting time to your new job? A standard question for anyone new to Northern Virginia to ask is “how long will it take me to get from here to there?”
Fortunately it is a question I can answer from years of experience. The reason I feel qualified to speak to the commute is because prior to getting my real estate license I had successful careers in the private sector which required me to commute throughout the area.
For years I lived in different neighborhoods in Northern Virginia and commuted to other parts of the area, DC and even for a year to PA. I drove the streets during morning and afternoon rush hour, rode the metro, connector buses, VRE and even Amtrak. For three years I picked up slugs every morning for a commute into DC.
DC has been named the #3 worst commuting area by Forbes Magazine behind LA and SF so our ever changing traffic patterns can be a mystery for someone just moving to the area.
When a military family asks me if they can drive from Burke to Fort Belvoir at 7AM in the morning in less than 30 minutes experience tells me “yes” and I can give you multiple options for the drive. Ask me if you can slug from Springfield to the Pentagon in 20 minutes and I’m going to tell you “yes” because I did it for years. Ask me if you can get from Woodbride to Bolling AFB in 30 minutes and I’ll tell you no. Northern Virginia commuting changes with the seasons as well. When the time changes in the fall the evening commute can get longer due to nighttime driving conditions. And my best advice is if the weather channel even hints of one snowflake then you need to take public transportation if you want any chance of getting home at all.
If you are a buyer who is looking for realistic information about commuting in the Northern Virginia area give me a call. I can help you make buying decisions that include not only the neighborhood that works for your family but also an understanding of commuting patterns in Northern Virginia.
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