08/24/2026
🇺🇸 PCSing TO EGLIN AFB? SAVE THIS:
YOUR PCS SURVIVAL GUIDE
PCS season can feel like a whirlwind, orders, housing, schools, movers, financing, new jobs, new neighborhoods... all while trying to figure out an area you may have never even visited. 😵💫
So here's a little Eglin AFB PCS Survival Guide to help make at least the home-buying side a little easier.
🏡 FIRST: Don't choose an area based on the map alone.
Niceville, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Navarre and the surrounding communities can offer very different commutes and lifestyles. Before narrowing down where to live, find out where you'll actually be working and which gate you'll normally use.
💰 USING YOUR VA LOAN? WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO KNOWS VA.
VA loans are an incredible benefit, but they're also different from conventional financing. Things like entitlement, residual income, VA assumptions, appraisals and property requirements can matter.
If you're interviewing lenders, don't be afraid to ask:
“How much of your business is VA lending?”
You want someone comfortable with the VA process, not someone learning it during your transaction.
Two local lenders I personally recommend:
Sue Botelho | Waterstone Mortgage
📞 850-797-7946
📧 [email protected]
Michele Davis | Centennial Bank
📞 850-621-7040
📧 [email protected]
🚗 COMMUTE MATTERS MORE THAN MILES.
A home that's 10 miles from work isn't necessarily a 10-minute commute around here. Bridges, base traffic, school traffic and tourist season can make a big difference.
🌴 LEARN THE AREA BEFORE YOU PICK THE HOUSE.
One of my biggest suggestions for incoming families is to narrow down the community first and the house second. Think about what matters to your family—commute, yard, newer construction, proximity to the water, shopping, restaurants or being closer to Destin and the beaches.
🌀 AND YES...FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE MATTERS.
Before falling in love with a house, it's helpful to understand insurance costs, roof age, flood zones and other Florida-specific considerations. They can affect your monthly payment more than newcomers expect.
📋 YOUR QUICK PCS CHECKLIST:
✓ Confirm your actual duty location
✓ Talk with a VA-experienced lender
✓ Get pre-approved before seriously house hunting
✓ Compare communities AND commute times
✓ Budget for insurance and other Florida ownership costs
✓ Don't rely solely on Google Maps for commute estimates
✓ Ask lots of questions—especially if you're buying sight unseen!
❤️ Already stationed at Eglin or Hurlburt? Help our incoming families!
What's ONE thing you wish someone had told you before your PCS to the Emerald Coast?
Drop it below. 👇 Let's turn the comments into an even bigger Eglin PCS Survival Guide.
