Agent Intel with Tobin Seven

What You Need to Know About Rural Housing Programs

Rural Housing Programs Defined According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development’s purpose is to provide, “Well built, affordable housing [that] is essential to the vitality of communities in rural America. Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Programs give families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, or repair affordable homes located in […]

Top Tools to Assess School Performance

For many military families with children, one of the greatest decision points when buying a home at a new duty assignment comes down to the quality and reputation of schools. However, when you are a newcomer, it may be difficult to get a pulse on what a particular school is like. Before you do any […]

Commuting and the Home Buying Decision

There are a variety of considerations when purchasing a home and one that is becoming increasingly important is the commute time and distance to and from work. Whether you are taking your personal vehicle, riding public transit, or carpooling with neighbors, a commute can have a significant impact on your quality of life. The past […]

The Small House Movement: Is Less Really More?

According to PropertyShark, over the past 100 years, homes in the United States are now 74% larger and personal living space went up 211%. On average, today, the typical U.S. home boasts around 2,430 square feet as opposed to that of our grandparents’ generation at around 957 square feet. Whether your current home falls above […]

Five Things Homeowners Should Know

1. Expect an adjustment to the costs of home ownership. For many first-time homeowners, the adjustment to the costs of owning a home can feel unexpected and expensive. Going from renting where most maintenance and upkeep costs are covered by a landlord to footing the bill yourself can come as a surprise. In addition to […]

How to Buy Your Not-Forever Home

August 9, 2018January 24, 2019 Agent Intel Leave a comment

Ahhh, your forever home. You know, the one you dream about when you close your eyes at night. The one with the backyard big enough to BBQ and the perfect spot for a vegetable garden. It’s close enough to your family but not too close. A magical, mythical place where you can paint the walls […]

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Home Improvements You Can’t Ignore

August 8, 2018August 8, 2018 Agent Intel Leave a comment

There are two kinds of people in this world when it comes to home improvements: the handy types who roll up their sleeves and are prepared to take on any project, and those who call in the paid professionals. That first group? Empowered, self-confident. The latter? Not big fans of electrocution or flooding. Us? We […]

Rent v. Own: Four Factors for Military Families to Consider Regarding Housing

August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 Agent Intel Leave a comment

66,100,000. That’s how many blogs, articles, resources, and opinions Google generously spits back when we type in “military families own or rent.” Obviously, renting versus owning a home is a quandary that’s very much on the minds of lots of folks. In the name of convenience (we don’t imagine you’ve got time to read over […]

5 Ways to Uncover the Secrets of Your Next Duty Station

August 1, 2018March 7, 2019 Agent Intel Leave a comment

PCS’ing to a new duty station can be scary, intimidating, and overwhelming all at the same time. And you have no choice but to buck up and move there. Even if you don’t have a network to rely on for insider information, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a firm grip on what the area […]

Navigating a Damage Claim

August 1, 2018January 24, 2019 Agent Intel Leave a comment

You prepared, researched like a BOSS, and have the perfect house lined up at your next duty station. Way to work it! Moving day arrives, and you entrust thousands of pounds of your life to a crew of packers and movers and hope/PRAY for the best! Now, listen friends — sometimes this goes smoothly and without any […]

5 Mistakes Military Homebuyers Make

August 1, 2018January 24, 2019 Agent Intel Leave a comment

Too often, military families feel like homeownership is out of reach. Maybe they’ve heard of friends being upside-down on a house in a bad market, desperate to sell. Or perhaps they struggle to find and keep renters in their home once they move away. Because of horror stories like this, many military families choose to […]