Buy, Rent or Renovate

All in One Home and Relocation Guide

Whether you are still in the military, transitioning out or officially departed service, the MilitaryOneClick resource is a planner for the many details for each move.  Check out information--web links, articles and more:

Home Listings – Buying and Renting
Allowances & Reimbursement
Buying or Selling a Home
Finding a School
Planning Your Move
Road Trips
Temporary Lodging
Your Community

External Website: Military One Click

Rental Listings: Avoiding Scams

The Federal Trade Commission offers tips on how to avoid and report home, apartment and vacation rental scams.

External Website: Federal Trade Commission

Home & Property Purchase: Multiple Listing Service

The Multiple Listing Service at MLS.com is a free search to find real estate MLS listings for sale by Realtors® and other realty professionals that are members of your local MLS Multiple Listing Service.  MLS.com also features real estate news, common real estate questions and answers, real estate classes, mortgage information and a mortgage calculator. Find homes for sale, new homes and resale homes, new construction, acreage, lots, land, commercial property and investment property in all 50 states.

External Website: Multiple Listing Service

What You Need to Know: Rental and Homeownership Assistance

This site is a good starting point to become familiar with federal rental assistance, homeownership, and home buying assistance programs as well as programs sponsored by your state or local government or other organizations.  Click on the state that interests you for the federal Housing and Urban Development office contact and other helpful information.

External Website: Housing and Urban Development

Home Loan Tips: Federal Trade Commission

This Federal Trade Commission site offers information on shopping for home mortgages, paying mortgages, foreclosure and reverse mortgages.

External Website: Federal Trade Commission

Home Loans and Housing-Related Assistance (Department of Veterans Affairs)

VA assists those who are eligible by providing a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

Private lenders such as banks and mortgage companies provide loans, a portion of which the VA guarantees. This enables the lender to provide you with more favorable lending terms.

Chapter 3, Home Loan Guaranty, of the VA Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors provides information on loan uses, eligibility (active duty, veterans, Reserves, Guard and surviving spouses), loan rates and other associated costs.

External Website: VA Housing Loans and Housing-Related Assistance

Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)

The Home Affordable Refinance Program, HARP, was created by the Federal Housing Finance Agency specifically to help homeowners refinance their mortgage at a lower rate or more other favorable terms if:

• Their mortgage originated on or before May 31, 2009.
• They are current on their mortgage payments, but have little to no equity in their homes. 
• The bank, credit union or mortgage company loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

It is a program intended for homeowners who owe as much or more than their homes are currently worth.

No minimum credit score and closing costs can be bundled into the new loan, which means you don't need much cash up front.

The end date to get a HARP refinance is December 31, 2016.  Check the HARP web site to verify if the HARP program is extended past this date.

See the flyer below for HARP eligibility criteria. 

HARP Eligibility Criteria

External Website: Federal Housing Finance Agency

Making Home Affordable Program (MHA)

The Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) ® is a U.S. Department of the Treasury & U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development strategy to help all America's homeowners  avoid foreclosure, stabilize the country's housing market, and improve the nation's economy.

Medical bills, separation, divorce, changes in employment, business struggles and a host of other life situations can threaten loss of a home.  Homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low rates.  If homeownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program offers means to avoid foreclosure. Additionally, there are options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth.

Active Duty Military Option:  Eligible active duty military homeowners and other families who are permanently displaced by a job-related move may be eligible for a mortgage modification.

The deadline for this program is December 31, 2016.  Check the Making Home Affordable Program site for future deadline extensions.

External Website: Making Home Affordable

Home Improvement Tips: Federal Trade Commission

This Federal Trade Commission site offers information about remodeling, contractor hiring issues, weather damage, pest control, home warranties and many other topics.

External Website: Federal Trade Commission

Home Improvements: HUD Federal and Community-based Programs

The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal agency site offers information regarding home and property renovation/improvement financing and consumer tips about doing repairs yourself, hiring others and avoiding fraud.

External Website: HUD

Farm Loans (USDA)

USDA Provides Loans for Farms and Homes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides loans and guaranties to buy, improve or operate farms. Loans and guaranties are generally available for housing in towns with a population up to 20,000. Applications from veterans have preference.

For further information, contact:

Farm Service Agency or Rural Development, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250

Apply at:

USDA Locator:  Local Department of Agriculture offices are usually located in county seats.

External Website: USDA Information for Veterans

Homes on the Homefront (Home Donations to Veterans)

Homes on the Homefront helps military veterans and family members realize their own American dreams.  Homes on the Homefront receives donated homes to award to deserving military families around the country through partners like Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Meritage Homes.

Eligibility criteria and application:  https://mafa.operationhomefront.net/hfvqualify.aspx

External Website: Homes on the Homefront

Housing/Automobile/Clothing Grants for Disabled Veterans

Housing Grant

Eligible veterans and servicemembers with service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a housing grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help build a new specially-adapted house, to adapt a home they already own, or buy a house and modify it to meet their disability-related requirements.

Eligible veterans or servicemembers may now receive up to three grants, with the total dollar amount of the grants not to exceed the maximum allowable. Previous grant recipients who had received assistance of less than the current maximum allowable may be eligible for an additional grant.

Additionally, supplemental financing in the form of a loan guaranty may also be available.

Other Allowances

What other services should a disabled veteran consider?  There are three (3) "Allowances":

Automobile

Clothing

Aid and Attendance or Housebound Veterans

External Website: VA Housing/Automobile/Clothing Grants for Disabled Veterans

Property Tax 101

"Property Tax 101" may help you better understand state median, county, and national comparison property taxes. Some tax map, records, and assessor information is also posted. It's important to factor in all your tax liabilities when considering property purchases and working within a household budget. When considering property purchases, it's always best to contact the city/town, county, and or state tax assessor offices to secure the most current information to make sound financial decisions.

This site is a free public service not affiliated with any governmental organization. According to their site their information is derived from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Tax Foundation, and Maine Revenue Services. Be sure to note the dates of their information.

External Website: Property Tax 101