Why January is the Secret Weapon for Military Moves
January is often a month of recovery. Most people are winding down from the holidays and settling into a slow winter routine. In the world of real estate, many assume the market sleeps until the flowers start to bloom in April. But for military families, January is actually one of the most strategic times to take action. If you are expecting PCS orders or considering a move in 2026, using these first few weeks of the year to build a plan can be the difference between a smooth transition and a logistical nightmare.
The biggest mistake we see is waiting for the perfect time to start. In military life, the perfect time rarely exists. Orders get delayed, report dates shift, and deployments happen. By starting your planning in January, you are essentially building a buffer. You are giving yourself the gift of time so that when the moving truck actually arrives, you aren't making decisions out of desperation.
Fixing the Financial Foundation Early
The first step in any solid buying plan is looking at the numbers. Most military buyers plan to use the VA loan, which is a fantastic benefit, but it is not a magic button you press at the closing table. It requires preparation. January is the time to pull your credit reports and look for any surprises. Because our team is led by veterans, we know that life on the move can sometimes lead to administrative headaches, like a stray bill sent to an old address that ends up dinging your credit score.
If you find an error in January, you have months to fix it before you actually need to lock in an interest rate. This is also the time to secure your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). While this can often be done quickly, sometimes there are hiccups with the VA database. Getting it sorted now means one less thing to worry about later. We also suggest looking at the 2026 BAH rates for your potential new duty station. Knowing exactly what your housing allowance looks like allows you to set a budget that accounts for insurance, utilities, and those unexpected home maintenance costs.
Navigating the Chicagoland Landscape
If your path is leading you toward the Chicago area or Naval Station Great Lakes, January is the time to start your geographic research. Chicago is a massive region with distinct personalities in every neighborhood and suburb. The commute from a quiet suburb to the base or a downtown recruiting office can vary wildly depending on whether you are taking the Metra or driving the Kennedy Expressway.
We spend a lot of time helping families understand these local nuances. For example, property taxes in Illinois can be a bit of a shock if you are coming from a state like Florida or Texas. However, for many veterans, there are specific tax exemptions available in Illinois that can significantly lower your monthly payment. January is the perfect time to research these exemptions and see if you qualify. This kind of early research ensures that when you see a listing online, you are looking at the total cost, not just the sticker price.
The Value of a Team That Speaks Your Language
Real estate involves a lot of jargon, and military life involves even more. When you are trying to coordinate a move, you don't want to spend half your time explaining what command sponsorship or a power of attorney is to your real estate agent. You need a team that already understands the stakes.
Dorazio Real Estate is currently the only MIL-estate affiliated team in Chicagoland. This affiliation gives us access to a specific set of tools and a network designed to help military members move in and out of the Chicago area without the typical headaches. Because several members of our team are veterans ourselves, we speak the language. We know what a DLA is, we understand the stress of a DITY move, and we know that your report date isn't just a suggestion.
Handling the Logistics of a Long-Distance Move
A huge part of our work involves the referral flow. Many of our clients are coming to Chicago from across the country or even from overseas. Conversely, we help many local families who are heading out to their next duty station. January is the time to plug into this network.
If you are moving away from Chicago, we don't just put a sign in your yard and wish you luck. We use our network connections to find you high-quality agents at your next destination who specialize in military moves. If you are moving to Chicago, we can start walking houses for you via video calls while you are still at your current station. By starting in January, we can show you a variety of homes over several weeks. This helps you get a feel for the market trends and home styles in the area before you arrive for your house-hunting leave.
From Planning to Closing: The 2026 Timeline
The goal of a January plan is to move with confidence. When military families are proactive, they aren't forced to settle for whatever is left on the market during the peak summer scramble. You get to be the buyer who is pre-approved, educated on the local area, and ready to act when the right house hits the market.
The 2026 market is likely to be competitive. Inventory in desirable areas near bases is often tight. By having your paperwork ready early, your offer stands out to sellers. They see a buyer who has a solid VA pre-approval and a clear timeline. In a multi-offer situation, that level of preparation is often what wins the deal.
Taking the First Step This Month
You don't need to have everything figured out to start a conversation. You don't even need to be 100% sure you are buying. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is sit down with a family in January and help them realize that renting might be a better option for their specific timeline. We are here to provide honest, grounded advice based on our own experiences in the service and in the local market.
Building a strong buying plan is about removing the uncertainty. When you start early, we have time to address questions about inspections or appraisals calmly. If you are thinking about making a move in 2026, let’s use this month to get ahead of the curve. Reach out to the team at Dorazio Real Estate and let's start building a plan that actually works for your family and your future.
