The heart of East Coast military life — from the Pentagon to the world's largest naval base.
The largest naval base in the world. Hampton Roads is one of the most military-dense housing markets in America.
Northern Virginia offers unmatched career opportunity — and DC-area housing prices to match, offset by the nation's highest BAH bands.
Crossroads of the Marine Corps, within commuting distance of the DC metro.
Air Force and Army together in Hampton, with affordable waterfront communities nearby.
Everything military families ask about before a PCS to Virginia — taxes, benefits, housing, schools, weather, and traffic.
Virginia taxes income, but is phasing in a substantial military retirement pay subtraction ($40,000+ per year). Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating receive a full property tax exemption on their primary residence — one of the strongest exemptions in the country, extended to surviving spouses.
Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake) is a perennial military buy-and-hold market — huge rental demand from constant PCS turnover. Northern Virginia is expensive but pairs with the highest BAH rates in the continental U.S.
Four real seasons: humid 90°F summers, colorful falls, and winters that bring occasional snow (more in NoVa, less on the coast). Hampton Roads carries hurricane and nor'easter exposure — flood zones and flood insurance are a genuine line item there, so check the FEMA map before you fall in love with a waterfront listing.
Northern Virginia has some of the worst traffic in the nation — I-95, I-66, and the Beltway crawl at rush hour, and Pentagon/Belvoir families plan lives around HOV and Express lanes (or the VRE and Metro). In Hampton Roads, the water crossings rule everything: the HRBT and Midtown tunnels back up daily, so buy on the same side of the water as your duty station.
Get pre-approved before you land. A VA loan specialist can have your numbers ready this week.
Call (719) 259-2246