Military Housing, rentals, home buying, real estate, VA home loans - Air Force Times

Moving: Where to find help for your next PCS

Air Force Crossroads

The Air Force Crossroads Web site has an extensive relocation section for members of all services, with links to installations and other Web sites related to moving.

Some sections are restricted to eligible users, which include active and reserve military members, Defense Department employees, military and Defense Department retirees, civil service personnel, and family members of these groups who are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

Contact: www.afcrossroads.com.

Automated Housing Referral Network

AHRN is an online housing referral network sponsored by the Defense Department that connects military renters with a wide range of rental properties in the area. It’s already operating in more than 80 communities, with more set to come online. All Air Force communities are expected to be part of the network by the end of the year.

Military personnel are the only prospective tenants who can register to use the Web site, but they can register an additional user, such as a spouse. Troops can search for listings that fall within a 20 percent range of the Basic Allowance for Housing rates in that area. The site includes listings for privatized housing. Troops can search for properties by other criteria, such as the number of miles from the installation, pets allowed, rent range, availability date, type of structure and whether the military housing office has inspected the property.

Local civilian property managers post and maintain their own listings and are monitored by the military housing office.

The service is free for service members and for property managers. It’s a tool that can help military members find housing in advance, which can help them make smoother door-to-door moves.

Contact: www.ahrn.com.

Military Homefront

This Defense Department Web site has information about planning and making a move, as well as detailed information about military installations, including schools, communities, recreation opportunities and other aspects of the new location. Click on “Troops and families” then “moving” on the left.

Contact: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.

Moving Station

Moving Station specializes in vetting real estate agents and then referring military people to those agents. The company has a subcontract with the Automated Housing Referral Network, which has a contract with the Defense Department.

Moving Station’s network of hundreds of real estate agents around the country has been vetted and continues to be monitored. Military families can choose from several agents. The company doesn’t directly charge real estate agents or service members; it gets a standard percentage after the sale of the house is closed.

Moving Station also offers personal advisers to troops who are selling or buying homes.

Contact: www.militarymovingstation.com.

SmartWebMove

SmartWebMove is a program for Navy and Army service members changing duty stations within the U.S., and members of other services stationed in the Washington, D.C., area.

The program, which can be accessed 24 hours a day, does not cover self-procured moves or shipping privately owned cars, boats and motor homes.

To use SmartWebMove, service members need their orders, proof of dependents and a power of attorney (if the move is being handled by someone else on the member’s behalf). Contact information such as an e-mail address or phone number is also required.

Contact: www.smartwebmove.navsup.navy.mil/swm/.

Sponsors

A sponsor is a service member of similar rank and job description at the new duty station who volunteers to help make a newcomer’s transition smoother. Sponsors typically provide newcomers with information about the new community, including housing options and real estate. They might also send maps and local newspapers.

Sponsors vary by service and location. Local commands can provide more information.