Buying a Home Sight Unseen During a PCS
Updated: Oct 5
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. Wide-angle lenses and editing can make rooms look bigger and brighter.
Ask for a 3D tour and floor plan with measurements, so you can see how your furniture will fit.
Do a live video tour with your agent. I open closets and cabinets, run the water, check under sinks, and stand outside so you can hear the street. I'll point out anything that looks off, but I'm not a home inspector, so we'll still need one.
Look at the neighborhood remotely. Use satellite and street-level maps, drive the commute virtually at rush hour, and check for highways, rail lines and flight paths.
Protect yourself in the contract
Get a professional home inspection, and ask the inspector to walk you through the findings on video.
Read every document: the seller's disclosure, any HOA or condo resale packet, and the VA appraisal.
Check flood zones and permits for additions and finished basements.
Do a video final walk-through before closing, to confirm repairs were made and nothing has changed.
Closing from a distance
Virginia has allowed remote online notarization since 2012. It uses special notary platforms, not plain FaceTime or Zoom. Ask your title company early whether you can close remotely, or whether you'll need a mail-away closing or a power of attorney. Wire fraud targets remote buyers. Always confirm wiring instructions by calling a number you already know. My scams guide explains the warning signs.
Apps and tools that help
Mortgage calculators to test payments with taxes and insurance included.
Home search apps for alerts on new listings. Their price estimates are only a starting point.
Mapping apps to check commutes and nearby services.
E-signature and document apps your agent and lender use, so you can sign quickly from any time zone.
In Northern Virginia
Homes here can go under contract quickly, so remote buyers need a plan before they start. I'll set up showings around your schedule and time zone, and give you an honest read on each home and street. Start with my Northern Virginia PCS guide and the neighborhood guide.
Sources: Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, notarization guidance; Virginia DPOR, residential property disclosures.
Last reviewed: October 2026
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