A house-hunting trip works best when the decisions happen before you land, not during it. Here's a checklist to help you show up ready.
Before Your Trip
- Get pre-approved so you know your real range before you start touring
- Share your must-haves and deal-breakers with your agent so a shortlist exists before you land
- Ask your agent for video walkthroughs or detailed photos of anything on the shortlist
- Look up current BAH for your rank and dependency status on the official Defense Travel Management Office calculator
- Block out the actual commute routes you'd use, and check typical drive times at the hour you'd really be driving them
What to Bring
- Your pre-approval letter
- A copy of your orders
- A notebook or your phone, for notes on each home right after you see it (they blur together fast)
- A tape measure, if furniture size is a concern
During Your Trip
- Drive the commute yourself, not just look at a map, if the timing allows
- Ask about HOA rules and dues on any condo or planned community
- Note the school district for each home if that matters to your household
- Ask your agent about the VA appraisal timeline for any home you're seriously considering
Narrowing It Down
- Rank your top choices the same day you see them, while it's fresh
- Talk through the real tradeoffs (price, commute, size, schools) as a household before deciding
- If you find "the one," ask your agent about writing an offer before you leave, rather than waiting
After You Get Home
- Stay in touch with your agent — a home matching your criteria can surface after you've left
- Confirm with your lender what remaining steps can happen remotely if you do move forward on something
- Revisit your timeline against your report date so nothing sneaks up
Short on time for a trip at all? Ask Rudy about touring homes virtually first and saving the trip for final decisions only.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Rodrigo Ballon with CrossCountry Mortgage, at 858-735-0255. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.