Why You Need Our Veteran Real Estate Agents Near You When Relocating to Destin, FL
- Avery Daniels
- 5 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Getting orders to Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field, or the surrounding area usually comes with a long list of questions. Where should we live? What will the commute look like? Which neighborhoods make it easy to meet new people? And if you’re buying before you arrive, how do you make that decision without really knowing the area?
Those are questions our team understands personally.
At The Locals Group, our connection to the military community isn’t just through the clients we serve. Military life is part of our own families’ stories!
Kristie’s family’s Air Force journey has taken them from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., to RAF Lakenheath in England and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana before bringing them to Eglin Air Force Base. Her husband’s career has included flying Presidential helicopters, HH-60 rescue helicopters, supporting the nation’s missile mission, and now serving in the Eglin and Duke Field community.
Kersten and her family spent 10 years stationed in the Eglin and Duke Field area with 7th Special Forces Group. Through years of deployments and military life, she saw firsthand how important it is to find not only the right home, but the right community and support system when moving somewhere new.
Avery and her husband, Jeff, arrived in Niceville in 2019 when his military career brought their family to 7th Special Forces Group at Duke Field. When his time in the military eventually took a different direction, they made the decision to stay. They had fallen in love with the area and knew it was where they wanted to raise their children.
That experience is also a big part of how we approach real estate today. We remember trying to figure out which town, neighborhood, and lifestyle would actually work for our families when we were the ones relocating here.
We know finding a home during a PCS isn’t really just about the house.
That’s what we mean at The Locals Group when we take our clients “beyond the keys.” The keys get you into the house. Our job is to help you understand the area well enough to choose the place that feels like home.
Why Veterans Need a Dedicated Military Real Estate Agent
PCS orders can move quickly. You may be searching for a home in Florida while still stationed across the country or overseas, with a report date already on the calendar. Add in your base housing allowance (BAH), VA financing, and navigating where you want to live, and there is a lot to coordinate.
Working with a Military Relocation Professional means having someone who understands how those pieces work together. BAH can help establish your housing budget, while taxes, insurance, Home Owners Association (HOA) fees, and interest rates determine what that budget actually looks like each month. Having a lender who regularly works with VA buyers is equally as important, which is why we connect our clients with professionals who understand the benefits and struggles of military transactions.
Location matters too. If you are stationed at Eglin AirForce Base, Duke Field, or Hurlburt Field, knowing the duty stations, surrounding communities, and commute times to and from can impact your home search.
Military buyers can be put at a disadvantage when an agent:
Does not understand PCS timelines or BAH
Is unfamiliar with VA appraisals and the Tidewater process
Does not understand VA seller concession and closing costs limits
Does not have a trusted list of lenders who specialize in VA lending
Does not understand base locations and realistic commute times
Cannot accommodate clients who are TDY, deployed, or buying remotely
Military relocation is about more than finding a house near a base. It is making sure the location, financing, timeline, and people involved all work together to make the move as smooth as possible.
What Our Clients Say About Our Veteran-Friendly Real Estate Agents
Avery Thompson was incredible throughout our journey of finding our home in Niceville.
From the very beginning, she went above and beyond for our family and made us feel genuinely cared for every step of the way. Her work ethic, responsiveness, knowledge, and kindness are unmatched. Buying a home can be overwhelming, especially during a military move, and she made the entire experience so much smoother and more enjoyable. We are beyond thankful for her and would recommend her to anyone without hesitation!
Kersten made selling our home such a smooth and easy experience!
We were out of state and needed quite a bit of work done before listing, and she took care of everything for us. Her professionalism, communication, and care made what could have been a stressful time completely stress-free. We can’t recommend her enough!
I highly recommend Avery for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. She is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and generally cares about helping people find the right place for them. From everything I’ve seen she’s hard-working, responsive, and always willing to go the extra mile for her clients. If you’re looking for someone who is dedicated, trustworthy, and easy to work with, Avery is a great choice!
Kersten Bowman was amazing to work with! Very knowledgeable about the Florida market, always responsive, and truly listened to what we wanted. The whole process was smooth and stress-free, and we couldn’t be happier with our new home. I highly recommend The Locals Group to help purchase your home during a military move!
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Veteran Real Estate Agents vs. a Generic Agent or Online Directory
VA Loan Expertise | PCS Timeline Management | Base-Area Local Knowledge | Communication While on Duty/TDY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TLG's Veteran-Focused Team | X | X | X | X |
Online Directory Match | X | |||
General Agent | X | X |
VA Loan Basics Every Military Buyer Should Know
Criteria | Benefit |
|---|---|
Funding fee % | For purchase loans with less than 5% down, the current fee is 2.15% for first use and 3.3% after first use. With 5% or more down it is 1.5%, and with 10% or more, it is 1.25%. |
Entitlement | Your Certificate of Eligibility establishes your VA home loan entitlement. VA benefits can also be used again after certain circumstances such as selling or refinancing a previous VA-financed home. |
No down payment/no PMI | Qualified buyers may purchase with no down payment, subject to VA requirements and appraisal value, and there is no PMI or MIP requirement. |
Disability waiver | The VA funding fee is waived for certain borrowers, including Veterans receiving or eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability. Other exemptions also apply. |
Best Areas Near Eglin AFB for Veteran and Military Homebuyers
There is no single best neighborhood when you are PCSing to the Destin area. Where you will be working, how much of a commute you are comfortable with, and the lifestyle you want outside of work can point you in very different directions. These are four communities we often recommend considering when making a military move to Destin.
Bluewater Bay is an established community located in Niceville, just east of Eglin Air Force Base. It is roughly 10 to 15 miles from Eglin, depending on where you are within the community and which gate you use. Duke Field is farther north, typically around 20 miles away. Actual drive times can vary quite a bit with gate and commuter traffic.
For families, Bluewater Bay offers an established neighborhood feel with parks, playgrounds, walking paths, pools, tennis, golf, and a marina. It is also located within a highly regarded school district.
Kelly Plantation is a gated golf and waterfront community in Destin, roughly 15 miles from Eglin AFB and about 25 miles from Duke Field. The tradeoff for the longer commute is being right in Destin and only minutes from the beach, shopping, restaurants, and everything along the coast.
Families have access to a community pool, playground, tennis, pickleball, basketball, a dog park, and other recreational amenities.
Regatta Bay is another gated golf community in Destin, located roughly 17 miles from Eglin AFB and around 27 miles from Duke Field. This is a good community to consider for buyers who want to be closer to the Destin lifestyle and are comfortable trading a longer base commute for that location.
The neighborhood includes a pool, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, and golf.
Swift Creek is located in Niceville and is one of the communities we would consider for someone who wants a more residential setting while remaining convenient to the military bases. Eglin AFB is roughly 10 miles away, while Duke Field is approximately 15 to 20 miles depending on your route.
For families, Swift Creek offers larger homes and lots than you will find in many of the newer developments, along with community amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, walking paths, and playground areas.
One thing we always tell military buyers is not to choose a neighborhood based on mileage alone. There is no one neighborhood that is best. It is about finding what works best for your family, your commute, and the lifestyle you plan to have here.
How to Vet Veteran Real Estate Agents Near You: A Quick Framework
Choosing the right agent can make a big difference during a military move. Before deciding who to work with, here are a few things we recommend looking for:
Check their reviews. Look beyond the star rating and see what past clients have written about communication, local knowledge, and military moves.
Ask about PCS experience. An agent who regularly works with military families should understand report dates, compressed timelines, remote closings, and sight-unseen purchases.
Confirm their base area knowledge. Knowing the communities surrounding Eglin AFB, Duke Field, and Hurlburt Field is important, but so is understanding how gates, traffic, and duty location can affect your daily commute.
Pay attention to communication. PCS moves do not always happen during normal business hours. Your agent should be responsive and comfortable working around duty schedules, TDY, deployments, and different time zones.
Who do they work with regularly that will impact your closing? Trusted vendors can say a lot about the success, or lack thereof, of various agents.
At The Locals Group, these are the same standards we hold ourselves to because we have been there and experienced military relocation firsthand, both personally and professionally. We understand the challenges that come with a PCS and use that experience to help our clients navigate their own move with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a real estate agent "veteran-friendly"?
A veteran-friendly real estate agent understands the unique parts of a military move, including PCS timelines, VA loans and the costs associated with them, BAH, base locations, and the challenges of buying or selling while on duty, TDY, or relocating from another state.
Buying a home without ever seeing the area in person is common for military families. That is why we focus on more than just the house. We help our clients understand the location, community, and lifestyle that come with it, because what is outside your home can be just as important as what is inside.
Do I need a special agent to use a VA loan?
No. You do not need a specially designated real estate agent to use a VA loan. However, working with an agent and lender who regularly handle VA transactions can make a big difference. They understand VA appraisals, financing requirements, timelines, and how to structure a contract to potentially reduce your out-of-pocket costs. An experienced military-focused agent can also help you consider the potential resale of the home if PCS orders take you out of the area sooner than expected.
What's the best area near Eglin AFB for military families?
There is not one area that is best for every military family. A lot depends on which base you report to, your commute, and the lifestyle you want outside of work.
Niceville is a popular central option with established neighborhoods, schools, and convenient access to Eglin and Duke Field. Crestview is often a good fit for those reporting to Duke Field or 7th Special Forces Group. Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther can be convenient for Eglin and Hurlburt Field, while Destin appeals to families who want to be closer to the beaches and coastal lifestyle. Freeport offers a quieter setting with newer communities and access to the 30A area.
Ultimately, where you work plays a big part in where we recommend starting your home search.
How far in advance should I start house-hunting before a PCS move?
There is really no such thing as starting too soon when it comes to learning the area and touring neighborhoods. Getting familiar with the market ahead of time can make the actual home search much easier once your PCS gets closer.
Since a typical closing takes around 30 to 45 days, we recommend getting preapproved before seriously touring homes. Knowing your budget is important because it can also determine which communities and areas make the most sense for your search. Once you know your price range, you can focus on the locations that fit both your budget and the lifestyle you want.
What happens if a VA appraisal comes in low?
If a VA appraisal comes in below the agreed purchase price, there are several ways to move forward. The buyer and seller may renegotiate the price, the seller may reduce the price to the appraised value, or the buyer may choose to cover some or all of the difference in cash funds.
VA loans also have the Tidewater process, which provides an opportunity to submit additional comparable sales before a potentially low value is finalized.
We have been through this process with our clients, and our first job is always to advocate for them. Having an agent and lender who understand VA transactions can be especially important when navigating a low appraisal and determining the best way to move forward.
Does TLG work with all military branches?
Yes. The Locals group has worked and continues to work with active duty service members, veterans, and military families from all branches to purchase homes along the Emerald Coast. Our area has an incredibly diverse military community, including Air Force personnel stationed at Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, Army families assigned to 7th Special Forces Group at Duke Field, and service members from multiple branches who come to Niceville for training at the joint service EOD school.
Because every assignment looks different, there is no single area we recommend to every military family. We look at where you will be reporting, your commute, budget, family needs, and the lifestyle you want while you are stationed here.
Ready to Work With Our Veteran Real Estate Agents in Destin, FL?
Start a conversation with us today and let our experienced military veteran real estate agents help you make the process and lifestyle change smoother.
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