Everything I hand every military client.

90 days out

• Pull your Certificate of Eligibility (eBenefits or have your lender pull it).
• Estimate BAH for the Boise / Mountain Home ZIPs at the rank you'll be on arrival.
• Decide: buy, rent first, or rent the whole tour. I'll give you a straight read on each.
• Get a virtual tour list going. I do live FaceTime walkthroughs.

60 days out

• Pre-approval with a VA-fluent lender (I keep a short list).
• School-district research — boundary maps, not just rankings.
• Start the rental search if you're going that route; the Treasure Valley moves fast.

30 days out

• Lock the lender, lock the inspector, lock the title company.
• Remote close logistics if you're not in Idaho on closing day.
• Truck booked, sponsor identified at the gaining unit.

Week of move

• Utilities scheduled (Idaho Power + city services).
• USPS forward, ID/driver's-license appointment in Idaho.
• Vehicle registration timeline (Idaho gives military a grace period — ask me).

Property tax reduction

Idaho's Property Tax Reduction (the "Circuit Breaker") program reduces property taxes for qualifying veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating. Application goes through your county assessor.

Veteran license plates

Idaho issues multiple categories of veteran license plates — service-branch plates, Purple Heart, Disabled Veteran. Application is through Idaho Transportation Department.

State education benefits

Idaho operates a Veterans Recognition Diploma program and offers Idaho-specific tuition consideration at state institutions for veterans and dependents. The state VA office (Idaho Division of Veterans Services) coordinates this.

State veterans cemeteries

Idaho operates two state veterans cemeteries — one in Boise (adjacent to the Idaho State Veterans Home) and one in Blackfoot. Both honor service members and dependents at no cost to the veteran.

Always verify current eligibility rules directly with the Idaho Division of Veterans Services — programs change.

Mountain Home AFB

Home of the 366th Fighter Wing. Located approximately 50 miles southeast of Boise. Commute distance is one of many factors a buyer may want to weigh; below are approximate one-way drive times from each Treasure Valley city I serve.

• Mountain Home (Elmore County): approximately 10–15 minutes
• Kuna (Ada County): approximately 40–55 minutes
• Nampa (Canyon County): approximately 50–65 minutes
• Meridian (Ada County): approximately 55–75 minutes
• Caldwell (Canyon County): approximately 65–80 minutes
• Boise (Ada County): approximately 50–70 minutes
• Eagle (Ada County): approximately 75–90 minutes
• Star (Ada County): approximately 80–95 minutes

Gowen Field (Idaho ANG)

Joint Army/Air National Guard installation in Boise, adjacent to Boise Airport. Home of the 124th Fighter Wing and Idaho Army National Guard units.

VA Healthcare

The Boise VA Medical Center serves the Treasure Valley. Community-Based Outpatient Clinics are located in Caldwell and Nampa.

Things to do in the first 90 days out

• Save copies of your DD-214 in multiple places — paper, cloud, with family. You will need it.
• Enroll in VA healthcare even if you "don't need it" right now. Establishing eligibility now saves headaches later.
• File your VA disability claim — yes, even for things you "lived with." If it's documented in your service medical records, file.
• Set up your myPay account for retiree pay if you're retiring.
• If you have GI Bill benefits to transfer, do it before separation. Cannot transfer after.

Idaho-specific transition contacts

• Idaho Division of Veterans Services — Boise office for benefits counseling.
• Boise VA Medical Center enrollment line.
• Idaho Department of Labor veteran-priority job placement.

If you're transitioning and house-hunting in Idaho at the same time, talk to me early. The order you do things matters — VA disability rating can affect your funding fee, and that affects your loan numbers.