Are you looking for the best military realtors near you in California? At PCS JOES, we connect military families with veteran and military spouse agents, each bringing first-hand military expertise. Additionally, you’ll receive specialized VA loan guidance, valuable local insights, and exclusive savings—serving all CONUS locations!
Start your PCS journey with confidence. Get started now with our free PCS Concierge Service!
Why Find Military Realtors Near You with PCS JOES?
Military relocations come with specific needs, from quick timelines to special financial considerations like VA loans. Our PCS JOES military realtors near you offer:
- Direct PCS Experience: Because our agents are veterans and military spouses, they understand PCS moves firsthand. As a result, they make your transition smoother and more manageable.
- VA Loan Expertise: PCS JOES agents are expert negotiators and experienced in dispelling common VA loan myths that often concern sellers.
- Local Knowledge: We connect you with agents who understand military lifestyle needs, including nearby schools, base access, and family-friendly neighborhoods.
How PCS JOES Connects You with the Best Military Realtors Near You in California
At PCS JOES, our team of veteran and military spouse agents is fully committed to making your relocation as seamless as possible. Additionally, we’ve developed a streamlined process to connect you with the best military realtors near you. Here are just a few ways our agents can support you during your move:
Exclusive Network of Veteran and Military Spouse Agents
At PCS JOES, we partner exclusively with agents who are veterans or military spouses themselves. Because of their firsthand knowledge of PCS’s and military relocation challenges, you can be confident that you’re working with professionals who truly understand what you’re going through.
Customized Home Search for Military Families
Our veteran and military spouse realtors consider factors unique to military families in California, including proximity to base, commute times, and access to amenities such as schools and healthcare facilities.
VA Loan and PCS Financial Guidance
As experts in VA loans, our team will walk you through the VA loan process, ensuring you maximize your benefits. We also offer exclusive savings and incentives, helping make your move more affordable.
Visit the official VA Home Loans page to learn more about eligibility, benefits, and how to apply. You can also check out our VA home loan benefits page to see how it can help you with your next move. Or start with the VA’s main site for more veteran resources.
Speedy and Responsive Service for PCS Moves
Since PCS moves often require quick decisions, our network is fully trained to provide prompt and responsive support. This way, you can quickly sell your existing home and, at the same time, find a new home that fits your needs within your PCS timeline.
Special Savings with Our 10% Military Bonus
At PCS JOES, we appreciate your service. For this reason, we offer an exclusive 15% military bonus to our service members and their families. Here’s how it works
- For Buyers: Our military bonus provides a 10% agent-commission credit toward your closing costs.
- For Sellers: Our military bonus provides a 10% reduction in listing fees not reserved for buyer-agent commissions.
This exclusive bonus is our way of saying thank you, and it’s just one of the many ways PCS JOES supports military families during their PCS moves. Find out how much you can save today. Try our Savings Calculator today!
PCS JOES Veteran Realtor of the Month
Los Angeles
Matt Brien – Los Angeles Veteran Realtor
Realtor ☆ Air Force Veteran
California: Fort MacArthur, Los Angeles, Los Angeles AFB, Torrance Bio:Matt is a licensed Los Angeles veteran Realtor, seasoned real estate investor, and prior military officer serving Los Angeles, CA. With extensive military experience as an Air Force Contracting Officer managing multi-million-dollar acquisitions for the Department of Defense, Matt brings unparalleled expertise to the home buying and selling process. Dedicated to helping military families and veterans, he makes every step smooth and stress-free. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, Matt, your trusted veteran Realtor is here to help you achieve your real estate goals.
Availability
After filling his full-time commitment as a Captain and Contracting Officer for Space Systems Command, Matt transferred to the reserves where he still serves our country. His primary availability hours are:
- Weekdays: 5 pm – 8 pm
- Weekends: 8 am – 9 pm
Ready to Get Started?
If you found Matt through our Google profiles link, visit our Los Angeles Veteran Realtor page here to connect with him directly. Otherwise, click the Contact Agent link below to get started now.
Less…California Military Bases We Serve
- Beale AFB
- Edwards AFB
- LAAFB
- Los Angeles AFB
- Los Angeles SFB
- March Air Reserve Base
- Travis AFB
- Vandenberg AFB
- Fort Irwin
- Presidio of Monterey
- Fort Hunter Liggett
- Sierra Army Depot
- Naval Base San Diego
- Naval Base Coronado
- Naval Base Point Loma
- Naval Air Facility El Centro
- NAS Lemoore
- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
- Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
- Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
- Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
- Coast Guard Island Alameda
- Training Center Petaluma (Coast Guard)
- Sector San Francisco (Coast Guard)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I Need a Home Inspection with a VA Loan?
Absolutely. While a VA loan includes a required VA appraisal, it’s important to know that an appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. The VA appraisal assesses the property’s value and basic safety standards, but it won’t uncover hidden issues like a failing HVAC system or plumbing problems.
A home inspection goes deeper, giving you a detailed picture of the property’s condition. This can save you from costly surprises and ensure your investment is sound. Plus, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing you’ve done your due diligence.
Why Hire a Home Inspector?
Hiring a professional inspector helps you:
- Identify potential repairs or maintenance needs.
- Make informed decisions about moving forward with the purchase.
- Negotiate repairs or credits with the seller if issues are found.
Our military-friendly realtors can connect you with trusted inspectors and help you understand the results.
If you’re considering whether to hire a home inspector, check out this helpful article on why a home inspection is so important. This guide from Realtor.com covers what to expect from the inspection process and how it can protect your investment.
Determining how much home you can afford is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process. Here’s how to calculate it and make a confident decision:
1. Evaluate Your Monthly Budget
Understanding how much home you can afford starts with your budget. Calculate your total monthly income and subtract current expenses like debt payments, savings, and discretionary spending. Financial experts recommend spending no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing, including your mortgage, taxes, and insurance.
2. Use Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
If you’re in the military, your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) can help determine how much home you can afford. BAH rates vary by location and rank, so check your current rate to estimate how much it will contribute toward your housing costs.
3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
A lender’s pre-approval is one of the best ways to know exactly how much home you can afford. Pre-approval considers your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and VA loan eligibility. Military buyers using VA loans often qualify for higher amounts thanks to competitive rates and no down payment.
4. Use Online Affordability Calculators
Online tools designed for military buyers can help you estimate how much home you can afford. These calculators factor in income, debts, interest rates, and loan types to give you a realistic affordability range.
Need Help Calculating How Much Home You Can Afford?
Use our trusted lender’s VA loan calculator from Loan Depot to quickly estimate your budget. This tool factors in VA loan benefits, interest rates, and your unique financial situation to give you an accurate idea of what you can afford.
5. Account for Hidden Costs
To avoid surprises, factor in additional expenses like property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance costs. If you’re using a VA loan, consider whether the VA funding fee applies to your situation, as it can impact your overall budget.
Still asking yourself, “How much home can I afford?”
Let the PCS JOES Concierge service help! We’ll connect with our military-friendly lenders to help you form your budget and get preapproved. Trust PCS JOES to simplify your home-buying journey.
Receiving a low home appraisal can feel like a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to derail your plans. There are several ways to address the issue and keep your home-buying journey on track. Here’s how to handle the situation, including VA-specific options designed to help military buyers.
1. Renegotiate the Sale Price After a Low Home Appraisal
A low home appraisal provides an opportunity to renegotiate with the seller. Many sellers are open to lowering the price to match the appraised value, especially if they’re motivated to sell. Your realtor can guide you through this process using the appraisal report as leverage.
2. Cover the Difference Out of Pocket
If renegotiation isn’t successful, you can choose to pay the difference between the appraised value and the contract price out of pocket. For instance, if the contract price is $300,000, but the home appraisal comes in at $290,000, you’d cover the $10,000 gap. This option might make sense if the home is your dream property or you’re confident in its long-term value.
3. Challenge the Home Appraisal with VA-Specific Options
If you’re using a VA loan, you have unique options to challenge a low appraisal:
Tidewater Initiative: Submit Comparable Properties
Not satisfied with the initial home appraisal? Your lender can invoke the Tidewater Initiative. This allows your real estate agent to submit additional comparable properties to better reflect the home’s value. The appraiser then reviews these comps before finalizing the report. Learn more about the Tidewater process here.
Reconsideration of Value (ROV): Appeal the Appraisal
Even if the home appraisal is finalized, hope isn’t lost. Your lender can request a Reconsideration of Value (ROV) through the VA appeals process. By providing updated market data or additional comparable sales, they can push for an adjusted appraisal.
4. Walk Away with Appraisal Contingency Protection
If the low appraisal creates a financial gap that can’t be resolved, you can back out of the deal without penalty. Most contracts include an appraisal contingency, which protects your earnest money if the deal falls through due to the appraisal.
5. Use Seller Concessions or VA Loan Flexibility to Offset a Low Home Appraisal
Some sellers may offer concessions, such as covering closing costs, to offset a lower appraisal. VA loans also provide flexibility, such as rolling certain costs into your mortgage. Work with a military-friendly lender to explore these options.
PCS JOES Can Help You Navigate a Low Home Appraisal
A low home appraisal doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. Whether it’s leveraging VA-specific options like the Tidewater Initiative, renegotiating, or requesting a Reconsideration of Value, PCS JOES is here to guide you every step of the way. Sign up for our free PCS JOES Concierge Program to take control of your home-buying journey today!
Yes, our Free PCS Concierge service supports all major military bases and most smaller ones across the continental United States (CONUS). With over 500 veteran and military spouse real estate agents in our network, we’re ready to assist you wherever you’re stationed.
What Happens if We Don’t Have an Agent Near Your Base?
While rare, there may be instances where we don’t have an agent immediately available in your area. This typically occurs when someone retires or relocates to a region far from any military bases. In such cases, we leverage our extensive network of lenders and realtors to quickly connect you with a trusted agent who has a military background.
This process is fast and efficient—most of the time, we can secure a vetted agent for you within 24 hours.
Why Choose PCS JOES?
Our network is built specifically for military families. By working with agents who are veterans and military spouses, you’ll receive expert guidance from someone who truly understands the unique challenges of PCS moves and military life.
We’ve Got Your Six
No matter where you’re heading, PCS JOES is here to help make your move seamless. Sign up for our Free PCS Concierge service today to connect with a military-friendly real estate expert who’s ready to assist you! Serving all CONUS military bases.
Got orders? Check out Military One Source for relevant base-specific information
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