While it may not be realistic for military families to buy our dream home at each duty station, that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the perfect rental home for you.

Your perfect home won’t be the same as your dream home. It’s important to understand that first. In fact, I don’t think it’s realistic for any of us to expect our dream home until retirement, and maybe not even then. Your perfect home may be a rental home that suits your specific needs temporarily at your current duty station. With this understanding in mind, how do you find the perfect home to rent?

Here are three steps I suggest to help find your perfect rental:

1. Establish a budget.

Before you do anything else, set a personal housing allowance. Your BAH (Basic Housing Allowance) will likely change when you move. Decide with your spouse how much of it you are willing to put into your rental property. Do you want it just to cover rent and pay utilities out of pocket? Do you want it to cover rent and utilities? Or do you want to spend so little in rent that you can pocket a few dollars after both rent and utilities are paid? These are the things you need to discuss and decide before you start looking at properties at your new duty station. (And also keep in mind that these considerations could change in the future based on BAH changes proposed by Congress.)

2. Research.

Get familiar with the area! Contact friends who are stationed there to get recommendations of where to live. You can also log onto Military Town Advisor and read reviews other military families have left. Each military installation has areas where families congregate and others they avoid; find out where they are.

Then start your search for rental properties in the recommended areas that meet your budget. MilitaryByOwner has search tools like price range, zip code, and maps to narrow your results and keep you from sifting through unsuitable rental properties.

3. Identify your must-haves.

We all have household features we’ve come to know and love. Talk with your spouse and decide which features at your new location you cannot live without. For example, a pool was a must-have at your Florida duty station, but now that you’re in Washington, is it still? Perhaps you bought a new car, so you now need a garage. Prioritize what you need and be willing to compromise on things you don’t.

One of the biggest differences between seeking the perfect home to rent versus buy is your ability to renovate. It’s easier to buy a home that has a few ugly features because you know you can always modify the property to your liking. When renting, however, you are simply using someone else’s property which means your hands are tied.

This is a good time to remember that you’re not looking for your dream home; you’re looking for your perfect rental. A rental property that meets your needs, at this point in time, at your current duty station.

Good luck on your search and remember, MilitaryByOwner is always here to help!

By Danielle Keech for MilitarybyOwner