Charleston SC has a long and storied place in American history. Both the Revolutionary War and Civil War (or, as the natives call it, "The War of Northern Aggression") were fought here, and to this day the port city of Charleston SC retains a strong military presence. There is the Charleston Air Force Base in North Charleston, the Naval Weapons Station in Hanahan, and Coast Guard Station downtown. We are also home to The Citadel, the "Military College of The South".

Each year, many military families transfer to Charleston SC, or PCS (Permanent Change of Station). The military provides on base living, but they also provide a BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing), a monthly stipend that can be applied to rent or mortgage.

If you are military and PCSing to Charleston SC, you may be looking to buy a home in Charleston SC. However, are you familiar at all with the Charleston SC real estate market?

For instance, what areas are close to the respective bases? What are the prices for homes in those areas? How can you recognize good prices, and great deals?

Trying to relocate to Charleston SC can be a tough enough task, especially if you aren't too familiar with it. It is important that you find a Charleston SC realtor to work with that can provide you with the information and resources to help make your PCS much less stressful.

No matter if you are PCSing to the Charleston Air Force Base (AFB), Charleston Naval Weapons Station (NWS), or Coast Guard, now is a great time to buy a home in the Charleston SC real estate market. And military personnel have one advantage that others trying to buy a home in Charleston SC do not have: access to VA loan financing. Your VA benefits allow you to be able to buy a home in Charleston SC with no money down! 100% financing is gone, but if you are military pcsing to Charleston SC, you can still buy with no money down.

There is a website set up specifically for military families pcsing to Charleston SC. You can calculate you BAH, learn more about VA Loans, and find some hot deals on featured properties that are short sales and foreclosures. This website also has a downloadable "Homebuyer's Survival Guide" for first time buyers.

Make your PCS to Charleston SC much easier--you can connect with a Charleston SC Realtor that specializes in working with military personnel pcsing to Charleston SC, as well as first time buyers.

Jeff McIlhenny is a licensed Realtor with Weichert Realtors Palmetto Coast in Mt Pleasant SC and serves the entire Charleston SC real estate market. He can be reached at 843-452-2953 or jeffm@weichertpc.com.