For many veterans and active-duty service members, the idea of “home” can feel different than it does for most people. Home may have been a place you left, a place you returned to, a place you weren’t in long enough to fully unpack, or a place you had to start over — again and again.
Each Permanent Change of Station (PCS) brings new logistics, new neighborhoods, new communities to learn, and often, a new set of decisions about whether to rent, buy, or sell. It’s a journey that requires resilience, resourcefulness, and an incredible amount of trust in the professionals who help along the way.
At Land Title Company, we have the honor of working closely with military families throughout Kitsap and Mason Counties — families who serve at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Bremerton, and beyond. We see firsthand the unique challenges and strengths that come with building a life that moves.
Buying or Selling During a PCS: What to Know
When service members move, timeframes are often tight. Orders can shift quickly. Family needs vary. And the decision to buy or sell can feel like a race against the calendar. That’s why having a team familiar with veteran home transactions matters.
Here are a few key ways the process may look different for military families:
1. VA Loans Are a Powerful Benefit — But Require Expertise
VA loans offer no down payment options and typically no private mortgage insurance, which can open doors to homeownership. However, they do come with specific requirements:
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A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirming VA benefits
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A VA appraiser who evaluates both market value and habitability
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Occupancy requirements, meaning you plan to live in the home (with allowances during deployment)
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Understanding how the funding fee works — and how disability ratings may reduce or remove it
A real estate agent and lender who work regularly with VA buyers can help avoid delays and ensure timelines stay on track.
2. Title Insurance Helps Ensure a Clean Transition, No Matter How Fast the Move
PCS moves often involve buying or selling quickly — sometimes from another state or even overseas. Title insurance:
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Confirms no one else has a legal claim to the property
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Clears outstanding liens, judgments, or old mortgages
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Protects your ownership long after closing
For families who may only live in a home a few years before moving again, peace of mind matters.
3. Escrow Coordination Keeps Things on Schedule — Even When You’re Not in the State
Escrow is the neutral third party that manages paperwork, funds, signatures, and closing instructions. For military families, this may include:
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Remote signings from another base, state, or country
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Working around deployment windows or underway schedules
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Coordinating Power of Attorney documents to allow a spouse to sign on behalf of the service member when permitted
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Ensuring documentation meets VA, lender, and Washington State recording guidelines
When timelines are tight, having an escrow team experienced with military schedules can make a significant difference.
4. Selling a Home When You Receive Orders
When orders arrive suddenly, there isn’t always time to prepare a home for market. Veterans and service members often lean on:
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Agents with strong relocation experience
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Lenders who understand move-out/move-in timing
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Title and escrow teams who can communicate clearly and quickly with all parties
We understand that sometimes homes are sold while boxes are still packed — and that’s okay.
Veterans Day: Honoring Service, Stability, and the Meaning of Home
On Veterans Day, we pause to honor those who have served and the families who served alongside them. We recognize that service often comes with sacrifice — in time, in plans, and in roots that are constantly replanted.
We believe that home is more than an address.
Home is belonging — to a community, to a future, to a place you choose.
So today, we say thank you:
To the veterans who carried duty wherever they lived.
To the active-duty members building lives between deployments.
To the spouses and children who adapt, rebuild, and support.
To the families just arriving, and those finally coming home to stay.
Your resilience strengthens our communities.
Your presence enriches our neighborhoods.
Your stories remind us why home matters.
We’re Here When You’re Ready
Whether you’re arriving, transitioning, or finally planting long-term roots, our team is here to ensure your closing process is clear, secure, and supported every step of the way.
If you or someone you know is preparing for a PCS or exploring homeownership with a VA loan, we’d be honored to help.
Land Title Company
Locally owned. Community committed.
Serving Kitsap and Mason Counties with care and experience.
