As a military member relocating to Naval Base Kitsap do you purchase a home?

It is a very complicated process which needs some investigation and education before making a decision. You should ask yourself some questions like these at the minimum.

• Do I have upfront money to buy a home?
• Can I get financing?
• Is my tour of duty going to be longer than 2 years before the next PCS?
• Will I have the opportunity to do another tour here or will I have an opportunity to come back?
• If I had to be a long distant landlord would I have the time or recourses?
• Could I afford a property manager?
• What if I had to pay the mortgage for 2-3 months while the home is waiting for new renters?

So after you have considered all the possibilities, searched the internet for information and asked around your shop. Are you ready to buy?   

BUYING VS. RENTING

Being a military spouse and real estate professional it was still a decision that I wavered back and forth.  After sitting down and writing out all the pros and cons my husband and I decided to purchase.  My husband is in the Untied States Navy and at the time we decided to purchase we were looking at the second tour to Iraq, at living in southern California and at a PCS 30 days after his re-deployment. We didn't know where we were going, how long we would be there or how the finance industry would view our dreams. 

My husband left for Iraq and I knew that I wanted our next PCS to be a "door to door". I started to look at houses in the Bremerton, Washington area over the internet. Having my license but not practicing in the state of Washington I had to find a real estate agent too. I was lucky because I had several contacts from my days of selling homes in Washington.  On a trip up to Washington I viewed a property and made an offer with my POA. As I was walking across the parking lot of the real estate office my husband just so happened to call from Iraq.  I told him what I was doing and promised to email pictures when I arrived back home.  I can tell you that it was not a totally smooth process, but I can also tell you that I am writing this article in the home office of the house that we purchased so, all in all a happy ending. Well, almost. My husband didn't receive orders to the Bremerton area. He received orders to ALASKA!!!  We are now building equity in a home we will retire to in several years. I live here and he lives there and we are Continental frequent flyers. What's that phrase "Semper Gumby"?  Yes we are! I am back to the profession I love, he loves Alaska and we have the house we plan to retire in or so we think at the moment.

Do you own your home? Are you afraid of having to sell in 3, 4 or 5 years?  If you are smart and do the right things then homeownership for a military member should not be scary!!!!

Check out my website - Puget Sound Real Estate Today   and make sure to look at the Military section.  I offer a huge military discount for both buyers and sellers. It is my way of giving back.

Remember you receive the BAH rate for where you are stationed and not where you live. So if you decided to live in Seattle you will still receive the BAH rate for the Naval Base Kitsap area.  I still see it today the question of if you have more than one dependant do you get a higher BAH rate? No you do not.

In the Bremerton area there are 556 homes on the market in the Price range of $92,500 - $1,249,000.00.

There are Craftsman, Craftsman Bungalows, Cape Cods, Cape Cod Bungalows, Ranch Style, Split -level and Split entry, New homes, Old homes, any style home you can dream of.  Homes on the waterfront, homes with the view, homes in a tight knit neighborhood and homes on land. 

Here in this area we are blessed with "history" homes.

The Craftsman (1905-1930)

• Wood, stone, and sometimes stucco siding
• Low-pitched roof
• Wide eaves 
• Exposed roof rafters
• Porch with thick square or round columns
• Some with stone porch supports
• Exterior chimney made with stone
• Open floor plans
• Numerous windows
• Some windows with stained or leaded glass
• Beamed ceilings
• Dark wood wainscoting and moldings
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seating

Cape Cod (1600-1950):

• Steep roof with side gables
• Small roof overhang
• 1 or 1½ stories
• Made of wood and covered in wide clapboard or shingles
• Symmetrical appearance with door in center
• Dormers for space, light, and ventilation
• Multi-paned, double-hung windows
• Shutters
• Formal, center-hall floor plan
• Hardwood floors
• Little exterior ornamentation

Craftsman Bungalow (1905-1930)

• One and a half stories
• Most of the living spaces on the ground floor
• Low-pitched roof and horizontal shape
• Living room at the center
• Connecting rooms without hallways
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seats

Cape Cod Bungalow

• Steep roof with side gables
• Small roof overhang
• 1 or 1½ stories
• Made of wood and covered in wide clapboard or shingles
• Symmetrical appearance with door in center
• Hardwood floors
• Little exterior ornamentation

We have homes with style and character - with secret rooms with retro door knobs.Did you know that Art-Deco was the style of the 1940's? We have homes with big porches, stately overhangs, high pitched roofs and dormer windows. The list goes on and on and on - There are not many places in the Pacific Northwest that can boast such home detail and Bremerton is one of the areas where these homes are still affordable.

My home is a 1941 Cape Cod Bungalow built during the Art Deco era and I love it!! Join me in the joy of homeownership!!

New Construction

Here in Kitsap County new home prices are lower than our sister communities in Seattle.  Right now in the Bremerton area you have a choice of 15 homes in different stages of construction under the listed price of $250,000.  Some even have buyer bonuses. A few have $5,000.00 Buyer Bonuses.

These homes are between 1300-1800 square feet, 3 & 4 bedroom plans with 2 or 2.5 baths.  There are some homes with extra "bonus rooms" and some with unfinished basements so you can build some "sweat equity" and finish out that sought after media room or that family play room.

NEW HOMES UNDER $250,000

Maybe you would rather live the easy Townhouse life instead.There are several different types of townhouses in the Bremerton area also.  The most popular are the 2 per building style.  These units only share one wall and have a nice size single garage.  A couple of the larger units have a bonus room on the third floor.  There are several with gas fireplaces and gourmet kitchens with a stainless appliance package.

Currently there are 20 Townhouses under the listed price of $250.000.  Some even have a $5,000.00 Buyer Bonus. 

NEW TOWNHOUSES UNDER $250,000

If you would like more information on any of these properties please send me a note so that I can send you photos and more detailed information.   

This concludes the articles for week one of our Naval Base Kitsap | Online Relocation Package. Next week's series Close-up | Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard | four articles about the place you are going to call home.  We will look at the areas to reside, the local shopping scene, school district information and those special base amenities.

Until then...Have a Fine Navy Day!

If you have any questions about real estate in Bremerton Washington, contact Jo Soss with Skyline Properties, Inc. at (360) 990-1433 or visit her personal website Puget Sound Real Estate Today where you will be able to search for homes and find more Bremerton Real Estate information.

Click here for my ONLINE RELOCATION PACKAGE, but make sure to click here to register for the mailed out RELOCATION PACKAGE ,  which includes the Washington State Visitor's Guide (143 pages of information including maps), the 2007-2008 Seattle Visitor's Guide (113 pages), several other brochures and maps of the area. This RELOCATION PACKAGE is jam packed with over 2lbs of outstanding material! Free to you just for the asking!