Remote work has made portable careers possible for many military spouses. Whether you work in project management, tech, health care administration or run your own business, you need a workspace that moves with you. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I help families find homes with room to work, and make the most of homes that don't have an obvious office. Find your space You don't need a spare bedroom: A close

A PCS means starting over. You leave behind trusted doctors, mechanics and the neighbors you could call in a pinch. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I know how much easier a new duty station feels once you have a local team. Your real estate agent can help you build one. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Your agent's network The home purchase ends at closing, but owning

Many service members who bought in the last few years have mortgage rates of 6% or more. When rates move, the question I hear is simple: when does refinancing actually make sense? As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I help families think through the timing so they protect their equity. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Talk with a VA-approved lender about your own numbers.

The Financial Power of Green Upgrades Energy efficiency is no longer just a trend. In 2026, it is a key driver of home value and lower monthly housing costs. For military families navigating frequent moves, smart energy upgrades improve daily comfort and help your home stand out when it is time to sell or rent it out. An Important Update on Federal Tax Credits If you read about energy tax credits in past years, the rules have changed. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in

Keeping your home and renting it out when you PCS is one of the most common ways military families build wealth. It's also a real business with real legal duties. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've helped many families make this choice, and the ones who do well treat it like a business from day one. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. If you're still deciding whether t

"Should we buy now or wait?" is the question I hear most, from buyers and sellers alike. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, my honest answer is that your orders usually decide the timing, not the market. What you can control is how you plan for the season you're in. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. What the market looks like right now Here's a snapshot as of early Octobe

On July 4, 2026, the United States marked 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. Every Fourth of July since, the fireworks remind us of the ideals that define the country: freedom, opportunity and self-determination. For service members and veterans, those ideals are personal. You've spent your career defending them. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've seen how much it means to a military family

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for military families it often lands right in the middle of PCS season. Moving trucks fill the neighborhoods and the boxes pile up. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I spend this season helping families find their next home. But I never forget what this day is for: remembering the men and women who died serving our country. How Memorial Day began Memorial

Father's Day is a good excuse to look at the most underused space in many homes: the garage. Today's buyers often see it as more than storage. It can be a workshop, a home gym or a place to charge an electric car. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I look at upgrades through one question: will it make daily life better and help when you sell or rent? This article is general information, not tax, legal or finan

A VA disability rating can lower what you pay to buy and own a home, but the benefits depend on your rating and where you live. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I make sure veteran buyers know about these before they choose a lender or a county. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. No VA funding fee Most VA borrowers pay a one-time funding fee. On a first-use purchase with

The moving truck has left, and you're standing in your new living room surrounded by boxes. Trying to unpack everything on the first afternoon leads to exhaustion. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've learned that the secret to a calm first day is a Day 1 kit: the essentials you carry yourself, so you're not digging through boxes. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Bedd

St. Patrick's Day is about luck, but buying a home shouldn't be. A home is likely the biggest purchase your family will make, and a professional inspection is your best look at its condition. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I encourage every buyer to get one. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. The VA appraisal isn't an inspection A VA appraiser checks the home's value a

Many military families buy their next home from another duty station or overseas. It can work very well, but only if you replace the in-person visit with a careful process. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've helped many families buy homes they first walked into at closing. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. See the home every way you can Look past the listing photos.

Buyers decide how they feel about a home in the first few seconds, usually from the listing photo or the curb. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've seen simple exterior work make a real difference for sellers on a PCS timeline. Why it matters A University of Texas at Arlington study found that curb appeal can account for up to 7% of a home's sale price. The exterior is also the first photo in your listing,

For military families, home is often a moving target. You might celebrate Easter in a new base house, a rental or a home you're about to sell. We call these our homes of the moment. The space may be temporary, but the memories aren't. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've hosted holidays in a lot of homes of the moment. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Invite your chos

April is the Month of the Military Child, and many of us wear purple to show support. Military kids are remarkably brave. Most move six to nine times during their K-12 years. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've watched my own family and many others go through it. With the right plan, a move can build resilience. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Include kids in the ho

A PCS is a financial event as much as a logistical one. Even with government allowances, families often pay for things that aren't reimbursed. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've seen how much calmer a move is when there's money set aside. Many families aim for a few thousand dollars before orders arrive. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Costs that catch families off

For families with children, schools often decide where to live. Researching them from another duty station takes some planning. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've helped many families sort through school options before the moving truck arrives. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Start with what your child needs Before you look at any ratings, list what matters most fo

Every VA home loan starts with one document: the Certificate of Eligibility, or COE. It shows your lender that you meet the service requirements for the VA home loan benefit. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I ask every VA buyer to get their COE before we start touring. It takes one step off the list when you're ready to make an offer. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice.

Sometimes orders and a deployment land at the same time, and the spouse at home ends up running the move, the home sale or the purchase alone. As a military spouse for more than 30 years and an Arlington Associate Broker with 560+ transactions, I've helped many families get through a solo PCS. The key is getting the paperwork right before your service member leaves. This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Start with the right power of attorney