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Advertising Homes For Sale or Rent Near US Military Bases
July 2012
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
Letter from the Editor

With the searing heat that has gripped the country this past week, there is little doubt that summer is here! Hopefully this translates into lazy days by the pool or a fun family vacation. Each year we publish a list of military travel ideas that we hope that it will inspire you to get out and experience something new. Read our "Travel Deals for Military Families", to find affordable ways to plan your next vacation.

 

If you are on the fence about renting or buying your next home, be sure to read our Featured Article, "A Buy vs. Rent Guide for Military Families", that will offer some guidance that may assist you in making this difficult decision.

We have always encouraged our customers to market their home in as many mediums as possible, so we are pleased to share a great article from our business advertiser, John and Michelle Mullins of Touchstone Realty, in our Real Estate Corner segment this month.

It is also our pleasure to introduce our new business advertisers, who have recently chosen to advertise their services with our customers, in our "Welcome" segment. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the wonderful companies that offer their services to our military community.
  
This month we are happy to see Fort Campbell   on our list of Top 20 bases. The Top 20 reflects the bases that are viewed the most within the previous month.  If you have a home to sell or rent especially in one of these areas, don't hesitate to advertise your home on MilitaryByOwner.

Be sure to follow our boards on Pinterest, for great ideas on PCSing, real estate photography and military life.  
We love to talk with our customers, so if we can be of any assistance to you, please feel free to contact us.

You can reach us via email, phone (866-604-9126), live chat, Facebook and Twitter (@militarybyowner). We look forward to speaking with you!

Monica 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monica Schaefer View our profile on LinkedIn    

Editor

Media Relations Manager

MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Relocation Tips 
Simple Solution for a PCS Mess
  

If you are one of the thousands of military families that are relocating to a new duty station this summer, you undoubtedly have spent time preparing and organizing for the move. My experience has been, that no matter how far in advance I start putting things in order, something is inevitably out of order by the time we begin unpacking boxes.


Does this picture look familiar to you? Cord Confusion I like to call it "cord confusion". It all made sense while it was neatly placed in a drawer, but as soon as it is dumped into packing paper and shoved into a box, it looks more like a brain teaser puzzle. But here is a super easy solution that will pay dividends well beyond the day of your pack out.

  

Read more 

 

 



In This Issue
Relocation Tips
Featured Article
Real Estate Corner
Featured Home
Military Life
Testimonial
Resources

Quantico Live Blog

About Us



_________________________________________________
Welcome

MilitaryByOwner.com would like to welcome the following new business advertisers from June to our website. Should you be in the need of their services, be sure to contact them, or any of our other business advertisers on MilitaryByOwner.com. 

 

Want to see your name or business here? Contact [email protected] for our 2012 Media Kit. 

 

Real Estate Agents:

 

Jason Smith, Exit More Real Estate, Fort Drum 

Nikki Johnson, Weichert Realtors, Fort Belvoir 

Nalini Maharaj, Coldwell Banker, 29 Palms MC Air Combat Center 

Anthony Canizares & Melanie Chadwell-Norris, RE/MAX, MacDill AFB 

Cathy DesMarais, Prudential Tropical Realty, MacDill AFB 

MaryAnn Campbell,  Long and Foster Companies, Fort Belvoir 

Carolyn Butterbaugh, Townsend Real Estate, Fort Bragg 

Samantha Masaoka, Windermere Real Estate, Whidbey Island NAS 

Greg & Connie Stiger, Integrity Real Estate Group, Fort Belvoir 

Kathy Flinchum, ERA American Realty of Northwest Florida, Inc, Eglin AFB 

Pet Care and Kennels

  

Air Animal Pet Movers, MacDill AFB  

 

Property Management

  

Charleston Asset Management (Scott), Charleston AFB

Andrew Clewett, Ultimate Abode, LLC, Randolph AFB

Jennifer Fugazzi, Paramount Homes Real Estate Co.,Vance AFB

Jay Ribler, Novastar Real Estate, Pentagon

 

Apartment Communities

 

The Meridian at Stanford Ranch, Beale AFB  

 

Home Builders

 

Ryland Homes, Fort Belvoir 

Korndoerfer Homes, Great Lakes Naval Training Center 

Curtis Homes, Patuxent River NAS 

Precision Properties, Fort Bragg 

 

Services:

 

Khera and Associates, Fort Meade (Tax Preparation & Planning) 

Century Link, Fort Bragg 

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Article
A Buy vs. Rent Guide for Military Families     

Monica Schaefer
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
 

Real estate website, Trulia, reported this week that rental amounts across the United States raised an average of 5.4% over the last 12 months.  The demand for rental propertiesfrom homeowners who were displaced due to foreclosure or those unable to qualify to buy a home, account for the steep increase. While Trulia also reports that home prices are starting to rise, they pale in comparison at 0.3% over the same 12 months.

 

With record low mortgage interest rates and home prices, should military service members who have dreamed of owing their own home, jump into the real estate market?

 

Because frequent relocation is part of the military landscape, many military service members have shied away from investing in a home.  However, discuss this idea with enough people and you will find that there are definitely two sides of this camp.

 

 



Real Estate Corner
Marketing Your Home
 

John & Michelle Mullins

Touchstone Realty

 

Now that you have decided to sell your home and have determined the fair market price, it is time to begin thinking about the most effective way to market your home to potential buyers. Whether you intend on selling your property yourself or have contracted with a licensed real estate agent, there are many ways of increasing the exposure of your home to the buyer market.

 

Remember, when you hire a reputable real estate agent, they will coordinate and incur the costs of the majority of your home's marketing needs. In addition, they have access to a network of other real estate offices and agents within their Multiple Listing Service. Networking is key when trying to sell a home!

 

Below are some ideas that you, or your agent, can use to create greater market exposure of your home:  

  • Make a List of Special Features: Write down all of the fabulous and unique features of your property. What are some of the characteristics you truly love about your home? What improvements have you made to your property recently? Be as descriptive as possible. Use this list to help design flyers, and other marketing materials for your home. If you are working with a REALTOR�, provide them with this list so that they can create these flyers and advertisements for you.  
  • Newspaper Advertisements: Place an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper. Many real estate offices advertise their listings in local newspaper publications as well.  
  • Real Estate Publications: There are many magazines and publications that feature homes currently on the market. Again, many REALTORS� frequently advertise their listings in these publications. Also, some local areas have For Sale By Owner publications in which you can promote your home if you choose not to work with an agent.  
  • Signs: Place a For Sale sign on your front lawn for additional exposure. Make sure there is contact information, such as a phone number, so that interested buyers are able to schedule a showing. Many REALTORS� use Talking Signs where a buyer can call and hear pre-recorded information about your home. If you live off of the main thoroughfare, you may want to use Directional Signs to point interested parties towards the location of your property.  
  • Real Estate Flyers: Design flyers that you can distribute throughout the community. Also, place an information box in your front lawn so that passers-by can find out details about your home. Include color photos highlighting some of the unique features of your property. Provide as many property details as possible to intrigue a potential buyer. Also, provide contact information so that the prospective buyer can schedule a showing.  
  • Networking: Tell friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers that you are placing your home on the market. They may know someone who is currently looking to buy. Also, if you use a real estate agent, they have a network of real estate offices and agents who are members of their Multiple Listing Service. Your REALTOR� can also send out announcements to their customers to let them know you have listed your home. Even if their customers aren't interested, they may know someone who might be interested in your home.  
  • Open Houses: Host an open house at your home. Make sure your home is in immaculate condition as you will have many people wandering your house looking through closets and cabinets. If you are selling your home yourself, be prepared to answer the many questions prospective buyers may have, such as the age of the roof, water heater, air conditioner, and furnace. These are important details to a prospective buyer. If possible, prepare flyers and other literature about your home that details all of this information. Place this literature in a prominent place in your home.  
  • The Internet: The Internet is a great way to market your home. If you choose to work with a real estate agent, many now have personal websites where they are able to feature their listings. In addition, your property will be included in a listing database where potential buyers are able to search for listings that meet their specific home criteria. Property listings on websites offer color photos, as well as property details.  
  • Virtual Tours: A virtual tour is video or moving photographs of your property. Your agent can create a virtual tour of your home to include on their website. Virtual tours are a great way to show potential buyers the special features of your house. The moving photography enables buyers to get a feel for the atmosphere of your home so that they can decide if it matches their needs.

 

John & Michelle Mullins 

Touchstone Realty, LLC  

Ft. Bragg NC area 

910-303-3051

MBOB6971 

 

 

   

 

  

 

 
Renae Hutsell   
 
Hutsell Realty and Insurance
Fort Bragg - Insurance





 High Speed Internet, TV,
Phone, Wireless

Fort Bragg - Services

 

    

 


MilitaryCarLot
MBO's Top 20
Hottest Bases

Eglin AFB    

 
Featured Home
Fort Bragg - North Carolina

For Sale By Owner  

Sanford, NC - Clearwater Hbr.     Featured Home NC

 

Price: $249,900.00

 

3 Bed, 2.5 Bath (Single Family)

 

Beautiful 2440 sq ft 3br/2.5ba home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Carolina Lakes. Carolina lakes is a gated, golf-course community with 7 lakes, Olympic size swimming pool, clubhouse, play ground, fenced storage, fitness trails, and tennis courts. Enjoy fishing, wake-boarding, swimming or just relaxing on the beach. The open eat-in kitchen has granite counter tops, tile back splash and tile flooring with lots of cabinet space. Formal dining room and formal living room have hardwood floors and crown molding. Large family room with a wonderful gas fireplace. A big master bedroom with a master bath featuring double sinks, jetted tub, separate shower, with a spacious walk-in closet. The remaining two bedrooms are good sized rooms. Huge recreation room with two separate walk in storage areas. The office off the bonus room can easily be used as a extra bedroom or guest room. An inviting front yard with a very large, nicely manicured fenced in backyard complete with sprinkler system. A lofted back deck and patio for grilling. Large two car garage. Home also has a boat pad for your boat, jet ski or just extra vehicle space. Realtors welcomed. Commission for buying agent.  

 

See more details of this home: MBO233279             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Life
American Forces Press Service
Programs Assist Veterans with Jobs, Education, Homes

 

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012 - Eligible military members and federal civilian employees who face financial loss when selling their primary residence may receive compensation, provided they apply for the Expanded Homeowners Assistance Program by Sept. 30.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages HAP on behalf of the military branches. The HAP, initially created by Congress in 1966, provides financial assistance to qualifying homeowners when a closure or significant change in operations at a military base leads to severe losses in the local real estate market.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, expanded the HAP to provide assistance to:

-- Deployed wounded, injured, or ill members of the Armed Forces (30% or greater disability) and forward deployed wounded, injured, or ill Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilian homeowners (including employees of non-appropriated fund instrumentalities) reassigned in furtherance of medical treatment or rehabilitation or due to medical retirement in connection with their disability;

-- Surviving spouses of the fallen;

-- Base Realignment and Closure 2005-impacted homeowners relocating during the mortgage crisis; and

-- Service member homeowners undergoing Permanent Change of Station moves during the mortgage crisis.

"The amended law now includes HAP relief for surviving spouses of the fallen, BRAC 2005-impacted homeowners relocating during the mortgage crisis, and service member homeowners undergoing permanent-change-of-station moves during the mortgage crisis," said Michael McAndrew, director of facilities investment and management office for the deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment.

Key expanded HAP deadlines and qualifying timeframes have already passed, McAndrew said, further escalating the urgency of swift benefit distribution and program closure.

"Reassignment order dates must range from Feb. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2010, and qualifying property purchases, or signed contracts to purchase must have occurred prior to July 1, 2006," McAndrew said. "BRAC reached its full implementation by Sept. 15, 2011."

The total benefit calculation, capped at $729,750, is based upon the home purchase price, McAndrew said.

"We've made every effort to try and make funds available to pay as many of these applications as we can, and so far we've been very successful in doing that," McAndrew explained, adding that the program is designed to minimize the housing market's impact, not negate it altogether.

"It's a great program, but we can't help folks if they don't apply," McAndrew said. "We need to know who is out there because there's no magic database in the department that tells us who may have been impacted."

Wounded, injured and ill and surviving spouse applications take priority and are not be subject to the Sept. 30, 2012, deadline for claims.

All applications are now centrally processed through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District. To apply, visit the HAP web site and follow application instructions.

 

 

Related Sites: 

Homeowners Assistance Program Questions and Answers  

 

 

 

 
Testimonial

I say this every time, but wanted to tell you guys one again. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! Have used you since you first started and rented the house every time. Customer service is awesome and always very fast.

I don't recommend many things, but I sure recommend you guys to all of my friends when they need to rent or are looking for a house to rent themselves. $$$$ well spent by me every time.

J.L.
MCB Quantico, VA

About Us

We love the fact that our number one source of advertising comes from our customer base and we would like to introduce ourselves to those who we have yet to have the privilege to work with.
 
Contact Us

MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
129 Lupine Dr.
Stafford, Virginia 22556
866-604-9126 
Office M-F 9:00am-5:00pm EST
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