In any military relocation, one of your first decisions is whether to live on base in military housing or off base in a home you rent or purchase yourself.  There are advantages – and disadvantages – to either choice.

Some of the advantages of living on base include:

• Living costs are covered, including utilities.
• You save time and transportation costs because you are close to work.
• Your family has easy access to base facilities such as the Commissary, Exchange, MWR centers, and more.
• Military Police on base offers peace of mind for personal and family safety.
• You’ll have built-in camaraderie and support from neighbors in base housing who understand your lifestyle.

On the other hand, there can be downsides to living on a military base.  When your military relocation order comes through, base housing may not be available where you are going.  There may even be a waiting list, so even if you want to live on base, you may have to rent elsewhere until something on base becomes available.

As you think about settling inside the gates, be aware of the following:

• Housing on base may not be as new as off-base housing.  While some military bases have modern housing, many do not.  Base housing may be outdated and dreary.
• Base housing is assigned based on family size and rank.  This means that some assigned housing may be cramped and inadequate for family needs.
• Base housing is closely supervised.  There are rules for everything.
• Privacy can be an issue.  While your military housing neighbors may provide a support network, sometimes they are too close.
• Living on base tends to isolate you from community involvement that can lead to contacts for present or future jobs, friendships, and community resources.
• From a financial point of view, living on base offers no opportunity to build equity and take advantage of the benefits of home-ownership.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Generally referred to as a Permanent Change of Station or PCS, military relocation to a new Duty Station generally occurs about every 2-4 years, depending on a person’s military status and career.  Because of our strategic military location, most of Guam’s REALTORS® have experience with military relocation, and stand ready to help you as you change assignments.

Whether your PCS occurs stateside or overseas, you should make your decisions early on matters such as:

• Should I live on base or off base?
• Is buying or renting near the base the best option?
• Will I or my family be a good fit for the military housing?
• Does the civilian community welcome military families?
• What about schools, church, a job for my spouse?

You can learn more about these and other needs by selecting the articles here (click below):

• Living On or Off Base?
• Questions to Ask When You PCS
• Basic Allowance for Housing for Military Members
• Renting or Buying When You PCS?
• Getting a Jump Start on Home Ownership for Military Personnel
• Thinking Long Term – Planning for Retirement Near a Military Base

To learn more, contact Infinity Realty Guam today. Our REALTORS® have extensive knowledge when it comes to PCS and will provide quality service you deserve. Click here.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Rental properties have become an attraction of small investors in recent years.  Even though the phenomenal property value increases of past decades have slowed, long-term upward trends are expected to continue.  In fact, investing in rental properties has shown to be comparable to, or more profitable than, long-term stock market investments.

You can learn more about the basics of using rental properties as an investment tool by exploring some of these articles (click below):

• Before You Invest in Rental Properties
• How to Find Rental Properties
• What to Look for in Investment Properties
• Finding the Right Real Estate Agency
• Closing the Deal on a Rental Property
• Short-Term Vacation Property Investment
• It Pays to Have a Real Estate Investment Team
• How to Attract and Keep Long Term Tenants
• Rental Property Isn’t for Everyone

Rental properties offer investors the opportunity for an income stream while also allowing them to leverage their assets with a down payment and a loan secured by the property.

Additionally, rental properties offer tax benefits and deductions for landlords, but always check with a local tax consultant to determine real estate taxes for your area.

For some people, investing in rental property in a highly desirable vacation or retirement area can also offer a personal vacation getaway or future retirement home.

To learn more, contact Infinity Realty Guam today and talk with one of our REALTORS® about opportunities for investment.  Our team are also real estate investors so they have first-hand knowledge when it comes to investing in properties.  Click here.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.