VA loans · Fort Stewart & Hunter
VA loans near Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield
Orders to Fort Stewart or Hunter? Let's get your house sorted before the movers are.
Lucy is a military spouse, and the VA home loan is her specialty. She works from Richmond Hill and Savannah, so she knows the ground between the two posts, the drive to each gate, and the questions that come up when you're buying from somewhere else.
The program itself, with the requirements and the documents, is on the VA loans page. This page is about the part that's specific to here.
Buying from a distance
Buying before you get here
You don't have to wait until you've reported to start. With your orders in hand, Lucy can start the file, pull your Certificate of Eligibility, and line up a real pre-approval while you're still at your current duty station.
A few things that matter when you're buying from a distance:
Your orders matter
You have to plan to live there
Pick an agent who knows the area
Income
How BAH fits in
Your housing allowance counts as income when you qualify, along with base pay and other steady allowances. A PCS changes your BAH rate, because it's set by where you're stationed, so Lucy works out early which figure the lender will use for your file. No surprises the week before closing.
Off post
Where people live
Many people stationed here live off post. Here's how the map shakes out:
- Hinesville is the city right outside Fort Stewart's main gate.
- Richmond Hill and south Bryan County sit between the two posts, which helps when one of you works at each, or a job off post is part of the plan. More on Richmond Hill and Bryan County.
- Savannah and Pooler put you closer to Hunter Army Airfield, which is inside the city of Savannah. More on Savannah and Pooler.
Lucy can't tell you where you should live. She can tell you what each choice does to the loan.
The part worth knowing
The coastal question nobody mentions
Parts of this area are low-lying, and some homes sit in a flood zone. If a house needs flood insurance, that premium becomes part of your monthly cost, and that's what you qualify on. Lucy checks the flood zone early, before you fall in love with a house, so there are no surprises at the closing table.
Thinking ahead
When you PCS out
You'll probably move again. It's worth thinking about now:
- Keeping it as a rental is often possible once you've lived in it. You can have more than one VA loan at a time, as long as together they stay within your allotment (the VA calls it your entitlement), so Lucy works out how much you have left for the next one.
- Selling and paying off the loan restores your full allotment, which puts the full amount you can borrow on a VA loan back on the table for your next home.
Every situation is different, so send Lucy the details and she'll walk you through yours.
Answers
Questions people ask.
General answers. Every file is different, so treat these as a starting point rather than a quote.
Can I buy a house before I report to Fort Stewart or Hunter?
Usually, yes. With your orders, Lucy can start the file and get you a real pre-approval from where you are now. The VA expects you to move in within a reasonable time after closing, and a spouse's move-in can count if you can't be there yet.
Does BAH count as income for a VA loan?
Yes, along with base pay and other steady allowances. Because a PCS changes your BAH rate, Lucy confirms early which figure the lender will use.
Is it better to live in Hinesville, Richmond Hill or Savannah?
That's your call, and it depends on where you work and what you want nearby. Lucy will show you what each choice means for the loan, including flood insurance on coastal homes.
Can I keep my house as a rental when I PCS?
Often, yes, once you've lived in it. You can have more than one VA loan at a time as long as you stay within your allotment, and Lucy works out how much is left for your next purchase. Selling and paying off the loan restores your full allotment.
Keep reading.
Requirements, documents and the funding fee
Between the two posts
Closer to Hunter