One of my most favorite and popular series I've authored since jumping into the blogging fray has been "Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying!" a fun and informative collection of 10 articles created specifically to guide 1st Time Buyers through the home purchasing process. As a veteran who proudly served on-board a submarine in the US Navy, my first two homes were purchased using VA financing. Living here in Kitsap County WA, home to the Bangor Sub Base and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, many of my Buyer clients are Active-Duty military and choose VA loans when buying their homes. Given the unique nuances and pros/cons of VA financing, I thought it would be helpful to publish a series of articles geared towards helping Active-Duty service members and veterans to better understand the VA loan... 09/16/2009

Just found this Video online and thought it the perfect simple explanation -     I have several first time home buyers at the moment and we have all been talking about the new First-Time Home buyer Credit.  This is the new 2009 First-Time Home buyer Credit.  The $8,000. tax credit that is a credit and NOT a loan.  This credit DOES NOT have to be paid back and as everything there are exceptions.  The exceptions are...   Must use the home as a principle residence for at least three years or face recapture of the tax credit amount. Certain exceptions apply. Ask your tax adviser or read Form 5405 So back to the "Who is Eligible?".  You can claim the tax credit if you are a first-time home buyer.  Have you ever purchased a home?  If the answer is YES you STILL MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE.   The first-... 09/08/2009

Bremerton WA - Naval Base Kitsap Military Relocation.  I have been doing a lot of research the last couple of months on our own PCS (permanent change of station) and while speaking with Jay this morning a light went on. Maybe I will blog about it.  I did write several blog articles last year during the Military Relocation contest and even turned that month long series into a blog of its own - NavalBaseKitsapRelocation.com.  I don't update it but use it as a stand alone type of information site.  With Jay having chose his next set of orders and receiving his next duty station we will be planning our PCS over the next couple of months.  Jay is stationed in Anchorage, Alaska at the moment.  We have two households, one in Anchorage and one here in Bremerton, Washington.  We will continue to... 06/15/2009

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE...... That's the song that I sing when my husband heads out on a deployment. Yep, he is in the Navy but I have never had the pleasure of being involved with a Navy command. We have spent all of our years together hanging out with the Marine Corps. Deployment can be a very difficult time in a military family's life so; we have to find the positives. Saving all the deployment pay is one! The first tour to Iraq that my husband went on was my first deployment experience as a military spouse. I knew a little about the extra pays and was eager to learn more. I did pay attention at the Deployment Brief. I took all the pamphlets and brochures I could carry. I remember the LtCol standing at the front of the meeting room leaning on the overhead projector and emphasizing abo... 05/29/2009

Times have changed for all home buyers.  The days of being able to receive very substantial market equity in a three year time span has all but disappeared in most areas.  In the Kitsap County area we have been lucky that our market although slow and undergoing a huge price correction we haven't been as hard hit as areas like Florida or California.  However, we hear daily the horror stories of the housing market which has most active duty military wondering if now is the right time to buy.  Over the last 5 years we saw the active duty member feel comfortable purchasing even with a PCS due in a short three years because of the escalation of value in several markets. With that now gone what does an active duty member do?  The decision to purchase is tougher today than it was. But, with ed... 05/20/2009

05/18/2009

“And you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”                                                                 John 8:32 Okay, so the topic of VA appraisals here in Kitsap County WA isn’t on quite the same level playing field as Biblical Truth, but the principle is still the same. One of my marketing catch phrases is ‘providing knowledgeable empowerment’ for my clients. By that, I mean, one of my primary goals is helping to more fully educate my clients through my years of experience, training, and education as a real estate professional, so as a result, they are more empowered to make intelligent and prudent decisions regarding buying or selling real estate. One of the potential pitfalls of a VA loan transaction is the appraisal process. To learn more about how Buyer... 05/15/2009

    LOCATION Naval Base Kitsap is located in Kitsap County of West Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula. Naval Base Kitsap is composed of Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor and Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton. Naval Base Kitsap is part of the Navy Region Northwest. Bangor is the submarine community and Bremerton is the Ship community. Bremerton is also connected to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (IMF). Bremerton is located in the city of Bremerton and Bangor is located closely to the town of Silverdale. Centrally located to both bases is Naval Hospital Bremerton which also falls under the Navy Region Northwest. NHB sailors and families use the facilities on Bremerton and Bangor. Naval Hospital Bremerton is a fully accredited acute care and obstetrical hospital. My husband was stationed at Naval Hospital... 03/01/2009

Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com     If you are in the United States Military and receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) it is. This is a huge financial opportunity that not many Military members take advantage of for fear of the real estate market and the lack of education concerning real estate ownership. The average homeowner receives tax breaks associated with home ownership. The yearly property taxes and yearly interest payments are tax deductible on their yearly tax return. The average Military homeowner receives tax breaks associated with home ownership. The yearly property taxes and yearly interest payments are tax deductible on their yearly tax return, also. However, the Military member receives all of these tax breaks with tax free money since the basic housing allo... 01/01/2009

Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com ETA: Military.com has made an early release - follow the link to see the new rates.  I will be putting together a Naval Base Kitsap article soon. 2009 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates   Well, it’s almost that time of year! How many times over the last few weeks have you seen the question posted on military boards across the net? If you look in the right places you will always find the right answer.  I don’t hold much stock in military boards when it comes to important information. I always make sure that I find the source is a .mil site.  That way you know the information is correct. Here is the link that gives the date - Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) The Department of Defense, Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee page is ... 12/09/2008

Your Military Relocation Guide to Naval Base Kitsap | You Are Gonna Love West Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula! This is the moving van that hauled our Household Goods (HHG's) on our military PCS to Naval Base Kitsap from the desert of  Southern California.    Every year it is estimated that one third of Active Duty Military members have to plan and execute a permanent change of duty station or PCS in military speak.  The most important part of a PCS is to take charge, it's your PCS!! There's lots of help available but you are going to have to find it and ask for it.  The military will also help with the moving expenses but you are going to have to know your allowances and your entitlements and you are going to have to request them and follow all the rules.  When it comes to a PCS you... 03/28/2008