In the Hampton Roads area, we don’t just have one military base. We have several. That opens our market up to a larger tenant demographic; service members and their families. At Doud Realty Services, we’re eager to help military tenants find homes. We’re also happy to work with military owners who need to rent out their homes when it’s time to act on new orders.
Let’s talk about our commitment to being station savvy, and how we make sure the rentals that we’re offering are just right for service members who are stationed at the various Hampton Roads military bases.
Who We’re Serving with Hampton Roads Rental Properties
Just how many military bases are we talking about?
More than you might imagine.
We checked with Military.com, and it turns out there are predominately Navy, but also Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard facilities. Obviously, our market is extremely "military friendly."
Hampton Roads, which includes cities such as Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, is a hotbed of military activity on the east coast. These are the bases that we are serving:
Naval Air Station Oceana.
Naval Station Norfolk.
Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex.
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Langley Air Force Base. ...
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story. Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
Fifth Coast Guard District
Marine Corps Forces Command
These installations keep us busy, and we’re happy to serve owners, tenants, and investors who are interested in providing housing for our United States military.
Renting to Military Tenants in Hampton Roads
Smart landlords and rental property owners will keep their rental properties available to anyone who meets their screening criteria. Fair housing laws won’t allow you to specifically target military tenants or avoid them. When you’re renting out a property in a market like Hampton Roads, however, you’re bound to have a high percentage of service members looking for homes.
When stationed at a new base, service members often need to find homes quickly. Many prefer off-base housing due to more flexible living arrangements, increased privacy, and opportunities to integrate with the local community.
There are some great reasons that welcoming military tenants makes sense for real estate investors and landlords. Here’s why we appreciate renting homes in a market that has such a heavy military presence:
High Demand. Military bases are hubs of consistent activity, ensuring a reliable flow of potential tenants. There are constantly prospective tenants moving into town, and that keeps our rental properties occupied. We’ve found there’s less of a vacancy risk when we’re renting out homes that are convenient to military bases.
Stable Income. It’s not difficult to verify the employment and income of your military tenants. Service members receive a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which means they are often financially equipped to pay rent regularly. This creates a lot of peace of mind for property owners.
Longer Leases. Many service members are stationed at bases for two to three years, resulting in fewer turnovers compared to other tenants. They’re unlikely to want to move every time a lease ends.
By understanding and meeting the needs of military personnel, landlords have the potential to establish a niche in this market while enjoying steady, dependable tenancy. There’s also a potential to build stronger relationships with tenants.
What Service Members Look for in Hampton Roads Rental Properties
If you want your property to stand out, it’s essential to understand what service members and military tenants value most when searching for off-base housing. These are some of the key considerations we have found are most important to this tenant base.
Proximity to the Base
Everyone wants to live close enough to work that they don’t have to suffer through long commutes. This is especially important when we’re talking about members of the military, who might be called in with a sense of urgency. The closer your property is to a military base, the more appealing it becomes. Long commutes are a significant pain point for service members who often work long shifts or are on call. Highlighting your property’s quick and convenient access to the base can be a major selling point.
Affordable Rent Within BAH Limits
Service members’ housing choices are often guided by their Basic Allowance for Housing, which varies by rank, location, and whether they have dependents. Research the BAH rates for the nearest base and set competitive rental prices that align with these allowances. You want to keep your rental values competitive and accurate while remaining profitable. Having a range to work with can help you set the right rents.
Military-Friendly Lease Terms
Military life comes with a lot of uncertainties, as anyone who has served can tell you. This means that flexibility in lease terms is valued. Consider adding a military clause to your lease agreement. This ensures service members can terminate their lease without penalty if they receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders or are deployed. You’re legally required to honor this anyway, but it helps your tenants to feel more secure when they see your acknowledgement of that in writing.
Family-Friendly Features
Many military families are moving with their families, and if they have spouses or children, you’ll want to be prepared for what they’re looking for as well. Many military tenants who fit this demographic are looking for properties with child-friendly amenities, such as fenced yards, nearby schools that are well-rated, or playgrounds. Highlight these features in your listings to appeal to families.
Positive Pet Policies
Don’t forget the four-legged military friends. Service members often travel with pets, particularly dogs. Properties that are pet-friendly with secure fencing, pet amenities, or nearby walking areas will naturally stand out from the competition.
Durability and Easy Maintenance
Given the short notice of many military moves, service members often prefer homes that are move-in ready and low maintenance. Ensure your property is well-maintained and equipped with durable materials to minimize future upkeep.
All of these are things that any tenant would look for when renting a property. By ensuring you have a well-maintained rental home with modern features and upgrades, you’re likely going to attract a good pool of qualified tenants, including members of the military.
Tips for Marketing Your Property to Military Renters
If you’ve been renting out homes for any amount of time, you’re probably pretty confident that you can provide what military tenants and their families are looking for. So, how can you position your property to attract them?
Attracting military tenants requires a focused marketing strategy. Here’s how we do it as professional property managers in Hampton Roads:
We List Our Homes for Rent on Military-Friendly Platforms
Websites like AHRN (Automated Housing Referral Network) or MilitaryByOwner.com cater specifically to service members looking for military housing. Listing your property here ensures it gets visibility within the right audience. We include our listings on these sites as well as all of the popular rental sites and social media platforms that we normally use as part of our marketing strategy.
Highlight Your Property’s Unique Features
This is Marketing 101. It does not specifically relate to military tenants, but it certainly helps us to get their attention. When creating your listing, emphasize features that resonate with military renters, such as close proximity to the base, pet-friendly policies, or flexible lease terms. This is going to get the right kind of attention and give military tenants a reason to choose your property over others when they’re deciding which ones they want to see.
Offer Video Tours
It’s possible your military tenants are looking at properties from somewhere else in the world. If they’re trying to rent a home before reporting for duty, you’ll have to be creative in the way you conduct showings. Consider video tours, live walk-throughs on FaceTime or WhatsApp, or other potential problem solving ways to show the home from afar.
Use Testimonials for Credibility
Reputation counts, especially when we’re talking about small communities like military members. If previous service members have rented from you, request testimonials about their experience. Positive feedback builds trust and attracts other military tenants. Use these reviews to attract new tenants and give them the confidence that you’ll provide a great rental experience.
Develop Relationships with Base Housing Offices
Many military housing offices offer resources for service members looking for off-base accommodations. Establishing a relationship with these offices can lead to referrals and direct recommendations.
Remember that military tenants often move on short notice. Simplifying the application process, providing clear communication, and ensuring rapid responses to inquiries can set you apart as a landlord. This is going to be attractive to anyone who is looking for a rental home, especially and including service members near a Hampton Roads military base.
We can help you rent your home to a reliable military tenant. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Doud Realty Services, Inc. We provide expert property management in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, as well as surrounding areas such as Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Newport News.