Should I consider buying a home if I'm military? More specific details below.?

I absolutely think you should. The break even point is around 3 years and if you are staying 5, you stand to take advantage financially by owning both in equity and tax advantages. I do suggest hooking up with an experienced local realtor who can differentiate the neighborhood in higher demand since you will need to sell quick when the time comes. And by the way, where you are headed is a killer area of Florida.

It is a great time for anyone to buy, but don't limit your scope solely to new construction, as new construction neighborhoods represent a resale conundrum if not completed. The problem comes when your are ready to sell and new buyers have a choice of a new house vs yours, priced similarly in the same location, they will always pick the new house forcing you to wait until all the lots have been built. Good Luck.

Definitely. VA loans are low cash down and overall very buyer friendly and since you can't find a rental you like, it's absolutely worth it. Also interest rates are low (could change any time and prices will rise) and winter many sellers are more motivated.

Sounds like where you live is important and crappy rentals far outweigh nice ones everywhere.

If the worst happens and you have to rent it, your rental will stand out as a nice one and you can be picky on who you rent it to. But doesn't seem that will be the outcome so yes, buy now.

From the stand point of finances, you could possibly buy a home, live there five years and at least break even or maybe even profit from a re-sale depending on your original purchase price and the housing market at the time of re-sale.

There is really only one downside. If you are wrong about not be deployed during your five year stay, you could come home to what happened to this soldier. Read the article:

http://www.wfla.com/story/25297909/soldier-says-st...

"Rob" has a point. I bought a home in Albuquerque and couldn't sell it when I PCS'd out of there. I placed it with a property management agency for rental - which worked well for several years until a "bad" tenant got in there and did thousands $$$ worth of damage before vanishing. Not saying you absolutely shouldn't do it - just consider all the "what ifs" when you are later transferred.

you really think your military assignment will be 5 yrs? those in the housing industry will tell you that most homeowners are for about 7 yrs and then probably move up

if you can find something you like and the market remains good in your area when you are ready to sell, you probably will be money ahead as well as living where you prefer

SKIP it , simple.

as military u WILL move when told

at the worst time to sell.

u then become a LONG distant landlord

with little control over who rents and trashes

your place.

ONE lousy tenant can cost u 10,000s$ in

repair or legal actions.

rent small safe inexpensive.

get a library card and study about house

owner ship and the REAL costs of it.

rent cost v.s. mortgage is not the same.

Crunch the numbers (economic conditions, etc) but over the course of 5 years it is very possible for you to do better than just renting.