Real Estate 101

One of the biggest real estate questions you will face several times throughout your military career is whether to rent, buy, or sell a home at a given assignment.

Done properly, real estate can be a wonderful investment that outperforms many other types of investments including stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Done poorly, however, buying and selling real estate can lead to significant stress and potential loss of money.

Lt. Col. David Ruffin (USAF Ret.), a licensed real estate broker, has spent years developing a network of the best, most trusted real estate professionals nationwide. His wife Mary, a top-producing agent in Oklahoma, has dedicated over a decade of work assisting our military members and families with real estate. This booklet, focused for active military personnel, walks you through how to:

evaluate home ownership as an investment, both short and long term;
objectively decide whether to buy or rent at a given location;
understand the process and fees involved with buying or selling a home;
decide whether updating your home makes sense, and which updates to make.

This booklet provides a basic foundation so you can maximize your chances of real estate success and minimize as much risk as possible. Welcome to the exciting, and hopefully profitable, world of real estate investment!