Top Tips for Buying a Home Near Your New Duty Station: A Military Spouse’s Guide

Buying a home during a PCS can be overwhelming, especially with family needs, a tight timeline, and market factors to consider. Here’s what I’ve learned as a military spouse moving through multiple duty stations, plus how MustWants can help make your home search easier with expert resources and trusted agents.

1. Research the Neighborhoods

• School and Community Resources: Start by researching local schools and community amenities. For military families, it’s often these community aspects—like family activities and military support groups—that make the biggest difference. The MustWants platform offers a visual map with school scores and walkability, all located within the webpage. In the near future crime, commute times, and more visual data options will be added tailored to your family’s needs.

• Commute Time to Base: Commute times vary depending on local traffic and base entry points. Take a drive during peak hours if possible. MustWants is working to add a detailed mapping tool to calculate commute distances from your chosen key locations!

2. Understand the Local Housing Market

• Budgeting and Timing: Military moves often coincide with peak housing season, which means higher prices and competition. MustWants helps by providing visual mapping resources on local BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) rates and insights on housing market trends to help military families avoid overspending.…