5 Relocation Tips When Moving to Hawaii for Military Service
Sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and friendly locals. These are the common reasons why people move to Hawaii. Hawaii is a beautiful palace with eight main islands. Although it’s not geographically located in America, it is a US state. Have you received a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to this tropical paradise? If you have, then you must be both scared and excited. Luckily, we will give you five tips for a successful move to military life in Hawaii.
Tip #1: Reach out to military members
No man is an island. Despite the fear of moving to a new place without knowing anyone, you can always find new friends. Reach out to military members who have previously relocated to Hawaii. Social media groups like “The Pearl Harbor Spouses” or “Hawaii Veterans Market,” can help you find other servicemen living in Hawaii.
They have experienced moving from one place to another and can help you adjust to your new environment. Once you also receive your PCS order to Hawaii, you will be assigned a sponsor. Your sponsor will give you the necessary information you need on your assigned base, so ask all the questions you want to ask.
Tip #2: Create an Inventory
Homes in Hawaii are smaller than the ones on the mainland. A standard three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is 1,500 square feet, which is pretty small. The bonus is that you will always be outside, so it may not be advisable to take a lot of stuff with you.
Create an inventory of all the items you need to ship. Buy insurance to ensure the safety of your items. Sort and prepare them before the moving company arrives for an efficient packing and moving process.
You can also ship a personally owned vehicle (POV). The government will pay for the shipping expense, which can total around $1000. The possible date of arrival is between two weeks to a month from the date of shipment. Once your vehicle arrives in Hawaii, it must pass a Hawaii State Safety Inspection and be registered with the Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicle Registration.
Tip #3 - Know about the Temporary Housing Allowance (TLA)
You will be directed to on or off-base temporary lodging. You are authorized to use your TLA for 30 to 60 days and check into a TLA-approved hotel until you find a more permanent solution. Here at HI Velocity Mortgage, we can help you buy a home and simplify the mortgage process while tailoring it to your financial needs.
Tip #4 - Consider Hawaii housing options
These are the three housing options for new military members in Hawaii:
- Living on Base: You can always choose to live on base. To do so, connect with your service and base’s housing office. They will show you available on-base homes, which may utilize all or most of your Base Housing Allowance (BAH).
- Renting off-Base: You must understand that rent in Hawaii is more expensive than on the mainland. Luckily, you will be given a BAH, depending on your status and grade. We can assist you in looking for a home for rent.
- Buying a Home: You can always buy a home and use a VA loan. We offer VA Loans with zero down payment. The Department of Veterans Affairs also guarantees it. This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of acquiring this loan and move into your new home.
Tip #5 - Understand Hawaii’s pet quarantine laws early
If you have your pets with you, you must learn about Hawaii’s pet quarantine laws. Hawaii is strict with these laws because of the delicate endemic ecosystem on the islands. They are also a rabies-free state, so you need to read and follow the rules.
Home Buying Experts in Hawaii
Moving from one place to another can be complicated. Yes, it can be scary at first, but, eventually, you will adjust to the new environment. And in a place like Hawaii, that will be no trouble at all.
Having a home of your own can help you adjust. Hi Velocity Mortgage is a group of Ewa Beach mortgage brokers that can help you look for a home. You can even try our VA loans. Give us a call today (808) 727-1055.