Short answer: Yes, you can buy a home in Evans and Columbia County before you arrive at Fort Gordon. Get your VA Certificate of Eligibility and a preapproval first. Tour homes by live video, write an offer with a due diligence period, and hire local inspectors. If you can't be at closing, someone you name in a power of attorney can sign for you, once your lender and closing attorney approve the form. With a VA loan, you (or your spouse, if you're on active duty) generally need to move in within 60 days of closing.
Today is Veterans Day. To every veteran and service member reading this: thank you.
Now let's talk about your next move.
The orders say Fort Gordon. Your report date is coming fast. You're still a thousand miles away, maybe more. And you're wondering if you can have a home waiting when you get there.
You can. Military families do it every PCS season. But buying a house you've only seen on a screen feels risky. What if the photos lie? What if the paperwork needs you in the room?
We're the Fairey Team, based in Evans. Our Team Lead, Ehrin Fairey, moved 19 times as a military kid, served on active duty in the Air Force, and still serves in the Air Force Reserve. Here's the plan we'd hand you.
First, a Quick Note on the Name
It's Fort Gordon again. The Army renamed the post Fort Eisenhower in 2023. In June 2025, it announced it was restoring the Fort Gordon name, this time honoring Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon. Some websites still say "Fort Eisenhower." Same post.
What's at Stake
Buying from far away has real traps.
You fall for a house in photos, then learn the busy road is right behind the fence. Your power of attorney gets rejected the week of closing. A fake email from a "closing attorney" asks you to wire your down payment to a new account. Or you close on a VA loan and can't move in for months.
Each of these can cost you money, time or the house. The fix is simple: plan the remote steps before you start shopping.
Step 1: Get Your Loan and Paperwork Ready Before You Shop
Start with the money. A preapproval tells you what you can spend and shows sellers you're serious.
If you're using a VA loan, you'll need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). On active duty, VA asks for a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer. You can request the COE online, through your lender, or by mail with VA Form 26-1880. Your lender may be able to get it for you online.
Next, line up your power of attorney (POA) early. Not the week of closing. Early.
Here's why. VA lets an "attorney-in-fact" sign loan documents for you. That's how service members overseas or away on duty still buy homes. But VA has rules. A specific POA must spell out:
- Your plan to use your VA entitlement (all of it or a set amount)
- The purpose of the loan, such as a purchase
- The specific property
- The price and terms
- Your plan to live in the home
The POA also has to follow state law. And at closing, the lender must confirm you're alive and, if you're on active duty, not missing in action. That often means a statement from your commanding officer or a note from you.
One more catch. Fort Gordon's Legal Assistance Office points out that third parties don't have to accept a POA. Banks and title companies may want their own form. So ask your lender and your closing attorney which form they'll accept before you sign anything.
Free help is close. Fort Gordon Legal Assistance prepares powers of attorney and offers notary services for active-duty and retired service members and their families. It's at the Command Support Center, 267 Heritage Park Lane, Building 35202. Call 706-791-7812 or 706-791-7813. Your current installation's legal office can help too.
Step 2: House Hunt From Afar (and Up Close if You Can)
You can do most of the search from your couch. Here's how we help families do it well.
Live video tours. Photos are edited. Live video isn't. We walk the house on a video call and you call the shots. Open that closet. Look out that window. Turn on the faucet. Listen for road noise.
The neighborhood, not just the house. We'll show you the street, the drive to the gate and the nearest grocery store. Start with our neighborhood guides, then compare towns in Evans vs. Grovetown. Our commute guide shows real drive times to post.
School zones. In Columbia County, your address picks your school. Check the zone before you write an offer. Our military kids and schools guide walks you through it.
A house-hunting trip, if you can swing it. Under Army Regulation 600-8-10, eligible soldiers can get up to 10 days of administrative absence (formerly called permissive TDY) to house hunt for a PCS. It's for when government quarters aren't immediately available or aren't required. Soldiers moving straight into government quarters, or not moving their household, don't qualify. You need orders, and the regulation says to visit the supporting housing services office before you rent, lease or buy. Other branches have their own rules, so ask your unit. Our PCS timeline and checklist shows where this fits.
Call the Housing Services Office. Fort Gordon's HSO is in Darling Hall, Building 33720, Room 129. Call 706-791-5116. It offers housing counseling, rental and sales listings, lease reviews and community information, including schools.
Still not sure about buying sight unseen? That's fair. Read rent or buy when you PCS to Fort Gordon first.
Step 3: Protect Yourself From Offer to Closing
You found the one. Now build in safety nets.
Use your due diligence period. Your contract will usually include one: a set number of days, often 7 to 14 around here, when you can inspect and walk away for any reason. Don't skip inspections because you're far away. Hire them and review the reports with us on a call. Our guide to which home inspections to get helps you pick.
Know the VA appraisal isn't an inspection. VA says plainly that an appraisal estimates market value. It isn't a home inspection or a guarantee of value. If the appraisal comes in low, see our guide to VA Tidewater appraisals in Georgia.
Plan the closing. In Georgia, a licensed Georgia attorney has to handle the closing. The State Bar of Georgia says a closing attorney may run a closing by video conference, as long as the attorney stays in control from start to finish. But practices vary, and Georgia is strict about who must be present when documents are signed. Many out-of-state buyers close through an approved power of attorney instead. Ask your closing attorney early how they handle buyers who can't be there.
Guard your wire. Scammers target home buyers with fake closing emails, and buying from far away means more email. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says never follow wiring instructions in an email. Confirm them by calling a number you already agreed on with your closing team. If you think you sent money to a scammer, call your bank right away and ask for a wire recall.
Get a walk-through. If you can't do the final walk-through in person, we'll do it on video before you sign.
The VA Occupancy Rule, in Plain English
This is the question we hear most. "Can I buy now and move in later?"
With a VA purchase loan, you must certify that you'll live in the home. VA's lender rules say "a reasonable time" means within 60 days after closing. Longer can work only if you'll move in on a specific date because of a specific future event, like a report date. VA generally won't treat a move-in more than 12 months after closing as reasonable.
Active duty gets some help here:
- Your spouse can move in first. If you're on active duty and can't move in within a reasonable time, your spouse's occupancy counts.
- A dependent child can count too. In that case, your attorney-in-fact or the child's legal guardian signs the certification.
- Deployments don't break it. VA treats a deployment from your permanent duty station as temporary duty, so you can still meet the rule for a home at that duty station.
Bottom line: time your closing near your report date. Ask your lender to confirm your plan before you write an offer.
Your Simple 3-Step Plan With Us
- Tell us your report date and budget. We'll set up your search and connect you with a lender who knows VA loans.
- Tour live from wherever you are. We'll walk homes on video, check the street, the school zone and the commute, and flag what photos hide.
- Close with confidence. We'll coordinate inspections, the POA, the closing attorney and a video walk-through, so you show up to keys, not surprises.
Skip the plan, and you could be living in a hotel while your closing stalls over a form. Follow it, and you pull into your own driveway in Evans the week you report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a house before I PCS to Fort Gordon?
Yes. You can shop, make an offer and close before you arrive. Get preapproved, tour homes by live video, use your due diligence period for inspections, and line up a power of attorney if you won't be at closing. With a VA loan, plan to move in within about 60 days of closing.
Can I buy a house without seeing it in person?
Yes, many military families do. Live video tours, local inspectors and a video final walk-through cover most of what an in-person visit would. If you can, use a house-hunting trip to see your top choices before your due diligence period ends.
Can someone use a power of attorney to close on my VA loan?
Yes. VA allows an attorney-in-fact to sign the documents for a VA loan. A specific POA must show your intent to use your entitlement, the loan purpose, the property, the price and terms, and that you plan to live there. It must follow state law, and the lender must confirm you're alive and not missing in action at closing. Clear the form with your lender and closing attorney first.
How soon do I have to move in with a VA loan?
VA defines a "reasonable time" as within 60 days after closing. Later can be allowed if you'll move in on a specific date tied to a specific event, but generally not more than 12 months after closing. If you're on active duty and can't move in yet, your spouse moving in can satisfy the rule.
How many house-hunting days does the Army give for a PCS?
Under Army Regulation 600-8-10, eligible soldiers can get up to 10 days of administrative absence, formerly permissive TDY, for house hunting. It isn't for soldiers moving straight into government quarters, and you need PCS orders. Other branches set their own rules.
Where can I get a free power of attorney at Fort Gordon?
Fort Gordon Legal Assistance prepares powers of attorney and offers notary services for active-duty and retired service members and their families. It's at the Command Support Center, 267 Heritage Park Lane, Building 35202. Call 706-791-7812 or 706-791-7813.
Do I have to be at closing in Georgia?
Not always. A Georgia attorney must handle the closing. The State Bar of Georgia says the attorney may run it by video conference if they stay in control the whole time, but practices vary. Many out-of-state buyers close through an approved power of attorney. Ask your closing attorney early how they work with buyers who can't attend.
How do I avoid wire fraud when buying from out of state?
Never follow wiring instructions sent by email. The CFPB says to confirm them by phone using a number you already agreed on with your closing team. If you think you wired money to a scammer, call your bank right away and ask for a wire recall.
Sources
VA occupancy and power of attorney rules from VA's Occupancy and Power of Attorney lender training and 38 U.S.C. 3704. COE and appraisal details from VA.gov. House-hunting rules from Army Regulation 600-8-10. Housing office details from Fort Gordon Housing. Legal office details from Military OneSource and Fort Gordon's power of attorney guide. Georgia closing rules from the State Bar of Georgia. Wire fraud tips from the CFPB. Name change from Army.mil. Post news at home.army.mil/gordon.
Let's Make Your Next Move Simple
You serve. Let us handle the house hunt. Tell us your report date, and we'll help you find the right home in Evans and Columbia County before you ever load the car.
- Call: (706) 480-5203
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit: 2580 Evans Trade Center, Evans, GA 30809
- More help: Military relocation · Explore neighborhoods · Get your home value
Leaving a home behind? See sell, rent or keep your home when you PCS. Comparing loans and BAH? See what VA loans and 2026 BAH mean for Fort Gordon families and what a Highland Lakes BAH actually buys. Want room to roam? See how Riverwood Plantation fits military families.
Start your Fort Gordon home search
Disclosure. This post is general information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws, programs, rates and figures change, so consult a Georgia real estate attorney and verify the details with the appropriate licensed professional before you act. Loan rates, limits and program rules also change often, and the Fairey Team is happy to connect you with trusted local lenders for the most up-to-date information. Fairey Team is a real estate team with eXp Realty, licensed in Georgia, and does not provide legal, tax or lending services. Equal Housing Opportunity.
