Military & relocation

Moving to Northern Virginia? Welcome.

I’m a military spouse, so I know what a set of orders does to a family’s calendar. I’ll help you learn the area and find a home to buy or rent, even before you arrive.

From one military family to another

I’ve been where you are.

My family has relocated many times, across the U.S. and overseas. I know the stress of house hunting on a deadline, the kids’ school questions, and trying to picture a neighborhood you’ve never seen. I bring that experience to every military family I work with.

Northern Virginia can be hard to sort out from a distance. Commutes change a lot depending on where you live, and the right neighborhood depends on your routine, your budget and how long you expect to stay. I’ll help you figure out where to look, whether to buy or rent, and how to time everything around your report date. One family I helped toured 19 homes in a single weekend, and we found the one.

Tamara Barnes with a client family and their dog
Where to live

Neighborhoods Near the Major Installations

Fort Belvoir

Along Route 1 in southern Fairfax County. Many families look in nearby Lorton, Springfield, the Alexandria area and Woodbridge.

The Pentagon

Living near Metro, VRE or a slug line makes the commute much easier. Alexandria, Springfield and Burke are popular choices.

Quantico

Along I-95 to the south. Woodbridge and the surrounding Prince William County communities are a natural fit, with Express Lanes and VRE for trips north.

Looking at Springfield? Read what buyers ask me most about living there

Buy or rent?

Choosing what’s right for your family.

It depends on how long you expect to be here, what your housing allowance covers, and whether you’d like to keep the home as a rental after your next move. I’ll walk you through the trade-offs honestly.

If you’re thinking about buying, ask your lender about a VA loan. It may let you buy with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. A VA funding fee usually applies unless you’re exempt, and I can introduce you to trusted local lenders who can walk you through it.

Buying or renting from out of state

You Don’t Need to Be Here to Get Started

1

Live video tours

I’ll walk homes with you on a video call and point out what photos don’t show.

2

Neighborhood scouting

I can check out the street and the commute for you, and tell you honestly what I see.

3

Sign from anywhere

Most paperwork can be signed electronically, so distance doesn’t slow us down.

4

Timed to your orders

We’ll plan your search, settlement or lease start around your report date.

Client reviews

Families Who Moved Here With Tamara

Andreas T.
“Tamara did an amazing job helping us find a house in the DC area. She went above and beyond multiple times in the house search (19 homes in 1 weekend), closing, and move-in periods, including taking the lead on coordinating all aspects of installing new carpet before we moved in. She understands the unique nature of buying a home while in the military because she’s lived the experience personally and has helped many others. Bottom line is she is trustworthy and I would highly, highly recommend Tamara for anyone in the military who is PCS’ing to the DC area.”
Peter R.
“We bumped into Tamara at an open house on our first day in town and quickly decided that she would be a great match as our agent. Tamara has great attention to detail, is proactive, and follows through when she tells you that she will do something. She has all the intangibles that you look for in an agent. I’m confident that our first offer on a home was accepted, because of Tamara’s guidance and negotiation skills. She was never pushy, and we could tell that she had our best interests in mind. As a former military spouse, she also understood the stress that we were under (with a short-notice Army move). Additionally, Tamara works very well with little kids. So if you have to bring your kids to look at homes, trust that they will never be a burden to Tamara. After we closed on our home, Tamara continued to be very helpful. She recommended a reliable and affordable handyman, along with several other credible contractors (floors, foundation work, etc.). Additionally, she loaned us her personal inflatable mattresses and other household items, while we waited for our household goods. If you’re looking for a realtor who is personable, genuine, and highly knowledgeable of the Northern Virginia area, you can’t go wrong with Tamara.”
Erik and Meredith
“We could not have asked for a better agent! We first reached out to Tamara before even arriving to Virginia, she responded immediately to my email and got the ball rolling for us, which was reassuring for a military family arriving from overseas. We started touring homes the day after we arrived, and Tamara was extremely accommodating - every day, for two weeks straight, she was showing us 3-5 houses and driving countless hours to make sure we found the perfect home. I’m most thankful for her keen eye and expertise, she provided helpful feedback and pointed out things within the homes that we would have accidentally overlooked. When we finally did make an offer on a home, we genuinely felt that Tamara had our back and was fighting for (negotiating) the terms/agreements we wanted. She was thorough in walking us through the processes and paperwork, which reassured us we were making a sound investment in our new home. We can’t thank her enough for being by our side through the entire process of buying our home.”
Kerry C.
“We first reached out to Tamara when we were living out of the country due to a military assignment. Tamara was responsive, knowledgeable and supportive from the very beginning. She set up online searches for our desired areas and gave us information on how the market was going that allowed us to refine our search. She went above and beyond when working with us to line up showings to meet our hectic schedules. Tamara listened to our wants and needs and helped guide us through the process. She respected our wishes when it came to budgets and offers but always provided us guidance and feedback. Tamara got to know our family and made the effort to understand what we needed. She gave us great recommendations when it came to finding other professionals such as lenders, title companies and inspectors. Her communication and patience made the experience very positive! Even in an insane market we found a home that we love! Thank you, Tamara!”
Stephanie H.
“We worked with Tamara in the past to find us a home for rent. We were pleased with our rental home. So when it came time to buy our 1st home 3 years later, she was the only one we wanted to work with. Not only is she professional, but she is very friendly, kind and so easy to work with! We are so excited to move into our new home in a few weeks! Our entire family thanks her!”
Vanessa H.
“Tamara assisted us in finding a rental in the fast-paced DMV market. We were moving from overseas and she was doing research so we hit the ground running. She was knowledgeable about market dynamics, thus we were educated and poised to move fast. Tamara is extremely personable and kind, and we enjoyed her company. She made a stressful transition flow with ease. She was professional yet assertive in problem-solving with the property manager. I wish we were staying in the area so we could work with her again to buy. Highly recommend!”
Michaele S.
“I connected with Tamara as a referral from someone else and I must say that I am very grateful. She was very proactive in finding listings that fit my needs and was very responsive throughout the entire process. She made it much less stressful.”
Questions

PCS and Relocation Questions

Where should I live near Fort Belvoir?

Popular areas near Fort Belvoir include Lorton, Springfield, the Alexandria area along Route 1 and Kingstowne, and Woodbridge a little farther south.

Where should I live if I work at the Pentagon?

Living near Metro, VRE or a slug line makes the Pentagon commute much easier. Alexandria, Springfield and Burke are popular choices.

Where should I live near Quantico?

Woodbridge and the surrounding Prince William County communities are a natural fit for Quantico, with the I-95 Express Lanes and VRE for trips north.

What is a VA loan?

A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible service members, veterans and some surviving spouses. It may allow you to buy with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. A VA funding fee usually applies unless you’re exempt.

Is Tamara a military spouse?

Yes. Tamara has relocated many times with her military family, throughout the U.S. and abroad, so she knows firsthand what a PCS move asks of a family.

Can I buy or rent a home before I arrive?

Yes. Tamara can tour homes with you on live video calls, check out neighborhoods and commutes for you, and handle most paperwork electronically, timed around your report date.

Plan your move

Tell me about your move.

Send me your report date or start date, where you’ll be working, and what you’re looking for. I’ll put together a short list of neighborhoods to consider.

Prefer to talk? Call or text 707-592-9696.

Flying in to house hunt?

How to plan a short house-hunting trip so you see the right homes and leave with a plan, or an offer.

Read the Tips

Got orders out?

Renting out your Northern Virginia home versus selling it, and the trade-offs to weigh before you go.

Rent or sell when you PCS