A complete guide to selling your house due to military PCS. In this article we will discuss selling vs. renting, selling with an agent or FSBO, and tax consequences, plus many other helpful tips to consider when planning a PCS move away from Fort Bragg, NC.
Table of contents
- A guide to selling your home due to military PCS: Fort Bragg, NC
- What is Military PCS?
- You’ve received your PCS orders: What’s the first step in selling your house?
- How to sell a house due to military PCS orders: Fort Bragg, NC
- Military PCS: Should I rent or sell my house near Fort Bragg, NC?
- What if my Fort Bragg, NC home doesn’t sell before my PCS deadline?
- Tips for selling your Fort Bragg, NC house quickly due to military PCS
- Considerations when selling a house due to military orders: Fort Bragg, NC
- Conclusion: Selling a house due to military PCS Fort Bragg, NC

A guide to selling your home due to military PCS: Fort Bragg, NC
As a local real estate agent and investor dedicated to serving the Fort Bragg community for nearly a decade, we’ve encountered a common goal among homeowners selling due to PCS orders: the desire to sell quickly in alignment with their PCS timeline. Given Fort Bragg‘s status as the largest military installation in the country, we’ve amassed considerable experience serving military families efficiently sell their home due to PCS orders. We recognize that this process can be stressful, particularly given the fluctuations of the real estate market. This guide is filled with helpful tools to help you sell quickly & profitably while offering helpful tips when considering all of your options during a military move.
What is Military PCS?
“PCS” stands for Permanent Change of Station. It refers to the relocation of military personnel and their families to a different duty location. This could be within the same country or overseas. Military PCS orders are typically issued by the relevant authorities and include instructions regarding the move, such as timing, transportation arrangements, housing assistance, and other relevant details. PCS moves are a routine part of military life and are managed by the military to ensure the smooth transition of personnel between duty stations.

You’ve received your PCS orders: What’s the first step in selling your house?
Start by evaluating your timeline. PCS orders can come with varying notice periods depending on your assignment, military needs, and available resources. While many service members receive several months to prepare, notice can range anywhere from a few months to over a year. Knowing how much time you have is key to planning your home sale effectively near Fort Bragg.
However, it’s essential to note that unexpected or urgent deployments or reassignments may require shorter notice periods.
This can lead to a flood of questions, such as “How do I get my home prepared to sell?” or “Will I be able to sell the house before I am due to report?” or “What if I can’t sell my house before I move?”
Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
Let’s first take a look at your selling options.
How to sell a house due to military PCS orders: Fort Bragg, NC
When facing a PCS move from Fort Bragg, there are two main ways to sell your house—each suited to different timelines. If you have several months, listing with a real estate agent is a viable option. However, if you need to sell quickly—within 60 days or less—selling to a cash home buyer may offer a faster, more convenient solution. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach below.

PCS Orders: Sell your house with an agent
If you’re selling your house with a real estate agent near Fort Bragg, expect the process to take at least 60–90 days. A well-priced home marketed by a knowledgeable local agent may secure a purchase offer within 30 days. However, since most buyers rely on financing, you’ll need an additional 30–45 days for the lender to complete the loan process before closing.
These timeframes are estimates, and depending on the current state of the real estate market these timeframes can shorten or lengthen. In addition, location and condition of home will also have an effect on days on market.
Considerations when selling with a real estate agent
Selling your house with a real estate agent means entering a competitive market, where first impressions matter. To attract buyers quickly—especially on a tight PCS timeline—you’ll likely need to invest in preparing the home. This could include major upgrades like a new roof or HVAC system, or smaller improvements such as fresh paint, new carpet, or a professional deep clean. Work closely with your agent to identify which updates will offer the best return and help you sell within your relocation window.
PCS Orders: Sell your house to a cash home buyer
If you want to sell your house quickly and avoid costly repairs, then selling directly to a cash home buyer near Fort Bragg, NC may be advantageous. Cash home buyers can be house flippers, real estate investors, or any home buying company. These companies will typically pay cash for your house, allowing you a swift closing, while freeing you from any repairs or closing costs. However, investors will typically pay less than what you can obtain on the open market as a trade-off for the convenience they offer. When receiving PCS orders that give you less than 60 days to move, or if you simply have a house that needs a lot of repairs that you don’t want to deal with, then selling to a real estate investor can be a great option.
Military PCS: Should I rent or sell my house near Fort Bragg, NC?
Members of the military and their families are accustomed to the routine of packing up and relocating frequently. While traditionally, a PCS move entailed selling one’s current home to buy a new one, its becoming increasingly popular for military members to leverage their homes as investment assets by converting them into rental properties when they relocate after a PCS. Here are some helpful tips to consider when evaluating whether to rent or sell due to PCS at Fort Bragg, NC.
How is the real estate market?
Home values across the country have risen at alarming rates over the last few years, and the Fayetteville, NC market is no exception. The median sales price in Fayetteville, NC has risen by nearly 7% from April 2024 to April 2025. While that may seem like a reason to sell, you can also take advantage of renting in a hot market.
Fayetteville, NC is one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the fastest-growing rent for one-bedroom apartments. Data shows the rent increased by more than 28 percent since June of 2022. Holding onto your property as investment property can be an excellent source of additional income. It can also allow for the equity you own in your home build over time.
Conversely, if real estate values start to drop you may be forced to rent your house until you can capture a sales price that would allow you to pay off your existing mortgage. But how does that effect your next home purchase?
Buying a second home using your VA loan
Another factor that will help you determine if you should rent or sell after receiving military orders is the finances. For military personnel, utilizing a VA loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs offers the advantage of financing up to 100% of a home’s cost without the need for a down payment. This is a great way for military members to obtain homeownership, but there will be some limitations when considering buying more than one property this way.
Although there’s no strict limit on the utilization of the VA loan benefit for multiple properties, the eligibility and entitlement serve as significant constraints. VA loan entitlement denotes the amount the government guarantees on your VA loan. Typically, this entitlement is either $36,000 or 25% of the loan amount, up to the conforming loan limit.

Securing a second VA loan while still maintaining the first one necessitates meeting specific eligibility and entitlement criteria for both loans. Additionally, the loan limit for a second VA loan is contingent upon county loan limits. Essentially, the government pledges to cover up to 25% of the county loan limit in case of default. Therefore, it’s advisable to ensure sufficient entitlement remains to cover 25% of the total loan amount when contemplating a second VA loan.
Are you sure you want to be a landlord?
Are you prepared to embrace the role of a landlord? This entails tasks such as seeking out tenants, tending to maintenance issues, and ensuring the property remains in optimal condition — all while stationed hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. While there are avenues for adopting a more “hands-off” approach by enlisting the services of a property manager, this convenience comes with a financial cost, and ultimately, your name remains on the lease. Should any issues arise, you bear the responsibility, including the possibility of evicting tenants, which can be challenging if you’re not locally present.
Evaluate whether the responsibilities of being a landlord align with your preferences. If not, renting out your home may not be the most suitable option for you.
What if my Fort Bragg, NC home doesn’t sell before my PCS deadline?
This is not an uncommon occurrence. Fortunately, we’ve been able to serve many military families in this circumstance quite often. With the right realtor acting as a full service agent you can lean on them to shoulder some of the tasks needed to carry out the marketing and pre-closing tasks while you are away.
We have assisted our clients with a range of tasks, from serving as their power of attorney during the closing process to organizing cleaning, repairs, landscaping, and various other duties required to prepare the home for listing on the market. Additionally, it involves managing showings, negotiations, and other aspects of the process while they’re away. While this arrangement offers convenience, it’s crucial to maintain regular communication with your agent to ensure alignment and clarity throughout the entire process.
Tips for selling your Fort Bragg, NC house quickly due to military PCS
Here are some of the most cost effective ways for a quick and profitable sale.
Enhance curb appeal
For a relatively small investment, you can make a strong first impression by boosting your home’s curb appeal. Simple upgrades like trimming and edging the lawn, adding fresh mulch, and planting colorful flowers can significantly enhance the exterior. In North Carolina—especially around Fort Bragg—springtime pollen buildup is common, so scheduling a power wash can make your home look clean and well-maintained to prospective buyers.
Declutter your house
Creating a clean, spacious feel inside your home is key to attracting buyers—especially when time is limited due to a PCS move. Before scheduling photos or showings, work with your real estate agent, and even ask friends or family for a fresh perspective, to identify and remove non-essential items. Decluttering and storing away excess belongings can make your home feel larger, more inviting, and easier for buyers to envision themselves living there.

Perform repairs that offer a return on your investment
Buyers are drawn to homes that feel bright, clean, and move-in ready. If you’re investing in repairs before your PCS move, start with a fresh coat of paint in a neutral, light tone—such as agreeable gray—which appeals to a wide range of buyers. When replacing carpet or flooring, opt for lighter shades that make spaces feel more open and airy. These budget-friendly upgrades can significantly boost your home’s appeal and help you recover the cost—and then some—at closing.
Considerations when selling a house due to military orders: Fort Bragg, NC
Below are considerations you may not have thought of yet, but can be helpful when planning to sell your house due to PCS.
Have you met occupancy requirements for your VA loan?
Most VA lenders require you to sign mortgage documents indicating you plan to live in the home as your primary residence for at least 12 months. However, there are exceptions so be sure to speak with your lender before deciding to sell.
Capital gains tax exemption for military members
There’s a specific provision in tax regulations for taxpayers or their spouses who are serving in the military and have been stationed more than 50 miles away from their primary residence (or required to reside in government housing) for over 90 days. While civilians typically must occupy their home for two of the last five years before selling to qualify for certain exemptions, this provision (under section 121(d)(9)) allows military members to extend that timeline by up to 10 additional years to accommodate a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order.

Essentially, military personnel selling a property can benefit from a tax exemption on the first $250k (or $500k if married) of capital gains if they’ve resided in the home for at least two of the last 15 years, which includes the original five-year period plus a maximum of 10 additional years due to military service-related extensions.
It’s important to note that tax laws do not allow this exemption to be applied to more than one property simultaneously.
Conclusion: Selling a house due to military PCS Fort Bragg, NC
Selling a house near Fort Bragg, NC due to military PCS orders can feel overwhelming, but with proper planning and local expertise, it can be done smoothly and on schedule. Start by evaluating your timeline—this will help determine whether to work with a real estate agent or a local cash home buyer experienced in military relocations. Address any necessary repairs or cosmetic updates, and ensure your home is priced competitively for the current market. With the right strategy, you can sell your home quickly and meet your PCS deadline with confidence.
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At Freedom Choice Investments we have been buying and selling houses around Fort Bragg, NC for nearly a decade. We are familiar with the intricacies of these moves and love serving our military members as a small token of gratitude for all that they do for us.
As both cash home buyers and real estate agents, we have the ability to either buy house house as-is and close in as little as 7-14 days, or we can help you sell your house for top dollar with a traditional listing.
If you need to sell your house due to PCS around Fort Bragg, NC, fill out the form below or contact us at (919) 285-1284 for a no-obligation cash offer.
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Author: Jason Hill
I am a seasoned real estate agent and investor with nearly a decade of experience helping my clients navigate the intricacies of selling a house due to PCS at Fort Bragg, NC. As the founder of Freedom Choice Investments my mission is to deliver simple and hassle free selling solutions to North Carolina homeowners. With the ability to either list your house or buy it as-is we have a unique offering that caters to those looking for ways to sell a house due to PCS at Fort Bragg, NC.