Military and VA Home Buying on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Keesler Air Force Base, the Naval Construction Battalion Center, the Coast Guard, and one of the largest veteran communities in Mississippi. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expect Realty is a veteran-owned brokerage, and PCS moves and VA loans are a regular part of our week, not a specialty we had to look up.
Whether you have orders to Keesler, you are separating and want to stay on the Coast, or you are a veteran buying your first home with your VA benefit, this page covers what is different about buying here as a service member or veteran and how we handle it.
Talk with a military-friendly agentSearch homes near KeeslerWhat does a VA loan do for you on the Gulf Coast?
The VA home loan is one of the strongest financing tools available to anyone, and the Coast's price points make it go a long way. The program is a guarantee from the Department of Veterans Affairs on a loan from a private lender, which is why a VA lender who works on the Coast every week matters.
- Typically no down payment required within the loan limits that apply to you
- No monthly mortgage insurance, which lowers the payment compared with a low-down-payment conventional or FHA loan
- Competitive interest rates and limits on the closing costs a veteran can be charged
- Sellers can pay certain closing costs on the buyer's behalf; we negotiate that for you
- A one-time VA funding fee, which is waived for many veterans with a service-connected disability rating
- Reusable: you can use your entitlement again after selling or paying off a home, and in some cases while still owning one
Eligibility and loan terms are set by the VA and your lender, not by us. We will connect you with a VA-experienced lender to confirm your entitlement and get a pre-approval before you shop.
Pros and cons of a VA loanThe Mississippi Veterans' Home Purchase Board
Mississippi runs its own home loan program for veterans through the Veterans' Home Purchase Board, with below-market rates for eligible Mississippi veterans and active-duty service members buying a primary residence in the state. It can be used on its own or compared against a federal VA loan, and we have helped buyers do both.
If you are stationed at Keesler or the Seabee base and plan to stay, or you grew up in Mississippi and are coming home after service, ask us about it early. The program has its own application and processing timeline, so it works best when it is part of the plan from day one.
How the Veterans' Home Purchase Board worksHow does buying a home during a PCS to Keesler work?
Most of our military buyers find and close on a home without living here first. The sequence below is how we run it, and it works the same for the Seabee base in Gulfport, the Coast Guard, and civilian moves to Ingalls or Stennis.
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Orders in hand, call us
We plan backward from your report date: pre-approval, house-hunting trip, inspection, appraisal and closing, with buffer for the VA appraisal.
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Shop from your current base
We send homes that fit your commute and BAH, then walk them on video. You rule neighborhoods in or out before you spend leave on a trip.
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One house-hunting trip
Showings, the lender meeting and a drive of the gate-to-door commute are scheduled before you land. Most buyers go under contract on that trip.
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Close, even from away
VA appraisal and inspections happen locally. If you cannot be here, we close with a power of attorney or remote notary and hand you the keys when you arrive.
Near Keesler AFB
Biloxi, D'Iberville, Ocean Springs and St. Martin put you 10 to 20 minutes from the gate, with newer construction north of I-10 and Back Bay waterfront south of it.
Near NCBC Gulfport
Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian are the short commutes to the Seabee base, with the widest range of price points on the Coast and beachfront a few minutes south.
Buy or rent while on active duty?
It depends on your time on station, BAH, and whether you would keep the home as a rental after your next orders. We will run the numbers both ways with you.
PCSing out? Selling a home on a military timeline
Orders rarely line up with the market. When you are leaving the Coast, we price from the comps for a first-week sale, market the home while you are still in it, and use rent-back agreements so you are not paying for two homes or moving twice. If the timing is tight, we can also bring you an instant cash offer to compare against a traditional listing.
Keeping the home as a rental instead? We can connect you with local property management and help you decide which option leaves you better off.
How selling worksRead before you PCS
- Making a PCS Move to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS
- PCS to Keesler AFB: An Introduction to Biloxi and South Mississippi
- Should You Buy a Home in Biloxi While on Active Duty?
- Pros and Cons of a VA Loan
- Veterans' Home Purchase Board Offers Additional Savings to Home Buyers
- Relocating to the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Military and VA questions we hear most
Have a question we did not cover? Call the office at (228) 215-1861.
Can I use a VA loan to buy a home near Keesler Air Force Base?
Do I need a down payment with a VA loan?
Can I buy a home before I arrive on the Coast?
What if my orders change after I go under contract?
Does Expect Realty have agents who are veterans or military spouses?
Orders to the Coast? Let's plan it.
Call (228) 215-1861 or send a note with your base and report date, and a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expect Realty agent who works with military buyers will reach out, usually the same day.