Pentagon Military Realtor | Arlington, VA
Diana Tommingo | Military Realtor®
Mobile: 571-230-9686 (Call or Text)
Email: Diana@BestHomesByDiana.com
Relocating to the Pentagon means choosing where to live based on your commute, housing needs, and PCS timeline. With the Pentagon located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., military families can consider communities in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, with different housing and commute options depending on where they live.
I’m Diana Tommingo, a full-time Military Realtor® and Northern Virginia resident specializing in military PCS relocations, VA loans, and VA loan assumptions. I understand the needs of service members relocating to the Pentagon and can help you navigate the home-buying process from your current duty station through settlement. For out-of-state relocations, I also provide virtual home tours, remote negotiations, and 100% remote purchasing support.
Popular Neighborhoods Near the Pentagon
Finding the right home when transferring to the Pentagon involves balancing proximity to the installation, commute time, housing preferences, and lifestyle. Because there is no on-base family housing at the Pentagon, all military buyers evaluate off-base neighborhoods across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Here are several top neighborhoods military buyers consider when relocating to the Pentagon:
Pentagon City
Pentagon City is one of the closest neighborhoods to the Pentagon. It combines Metro access, shopping, restaurants, parks, and a mix of residential options. Its location is convenient for service members who want to keep the daily commute short while staying close to National Landing and Washington, D.C.
Explore Pentagon City →Metro: Pentagon City Metro Station (Blue and Yellow Lines).
Crystal City
Just east of the Pentagon, Crystal City and National Landing offer an urban setting with restaurants, retail, parks, offices, and extensive pedestrian and bike connections. The area is practical for military households that want a short Pentagon commute while also being close to major employment and transportation hubs.
Explore Crystal City →Metro: Crystal City & Pentagon City Metro stations (Blue and Yellow Lines).
Arlington Ridge & Aurora Highlands
These established residential areas south and east of the Pentagon offer a quieter alternative to the denser parts of National Landing. Buyers will find tree-lined streets, single-family homes, townhomes, parks, and convenient access to Pentagon City, Crystal City, and major commuter routes.
Transit: Convenient to Pentagon City and Crystal City Metro stations.
Rosslyn
Located along the Potomac River across from Georgetown, Rosslyn is a major transportation and business hub with restaurants, parks, river views, and easy access to Washington, D.C. It can appeal to military buyers who want an urban setting while maintaining a direct transit connection to the Pentagon.
Explore Rosslyn →Metro: Rosslyn Metro Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines).
Clarendon
Clarendon offers a walkable mix of restaurants, local shops, parks, and residential streets. Military buyers can choose between an active urban environment near the Metro and quieter residential blocks farther from the commercial core.
Explore Clarendon →Metro: Clarendon Metro Station (Orange and Silver Lines).
Ballston
Ballston combines a growing business district with restaurants, retail, parks, and established residential neighborhoods. It can work well for military households that want access to Arlington's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor while keeping a manageable commute to the Pentagon.
Explore Ballston →Metro: Ballston-MU Metro Station (Orange and Silver Lines).
Old Town Alexandria
Old Town provides a Northern Virginia option south of the Pentagon, with historic rowhouses, brick townhomes, single-family homes, waterfront parks, restaurants, and a highly walkable core. Its location can appeal to military households that want Alexandria's character while remaining within a practical Pentagon commute.
Explore Old Town Alexandria →Metro: King St-Old Town Metro Station (Blue and Yellow Lines).
Buying a Home Near the Pentagon
Buying near the Pentagon gives you access to Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C., with a range of neighborhoods and housing styles to consider. Depending on your priorities, you may find condominiums, townhomes, or single-family homes. If you're relocating from out of town, I can help you search remotely with virtual tours, video walkthroughs, and digital transaction support from your current location through settlement.
1) Buying a Home With a VA Loan
Eligible active-duty service members, veterans, and surviving spouses may be able to use a VA loan to purchase a primary residence, subject to VA eligibility and lender requirements.
0% Down Payment: Eligible buyers may be able to purchase a home with no down payment.
No PMI: VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI).
Low Interest Rates: VA loans offer competitive interest rates.
Eligible Properties: VA loans can be used for eligible single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums.
VA Funding Fee: The funding fee applies to most VA loans. Disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses and Purple Heart recipients may qualify for an exemption.
VA Appraisal: The home must meet VA requirements and pass a VA appraisal to confirm that it is safe and worth the purchase price.
2) Buying a Home with a VA Loan Assumption
A VA loan assumption allows you to take over a seller's existing VA mortgage, keeping the seller's existing interest rate and loan terms. The buyer does not have to be a Veteran, but a Veteran buyer may be able to use a Substitution of Entitlement to help restore the seller's VA entitlement.
How It Works: The buyer assumes the seller's existing VA loan balance and retains the original loan terms, including the existing interest rate and payment schedule.
Managing the Equity Gap: Buyers must cover the equity gap using cash—the difference between the agreed purchase price and the remaining balance on the seller’s mortgage.
Expert Guidance: As a Northern Virginia and D.C. Military Realtor®, I assist buyers in identifying homes with assumable VA mortgages, evaluating equity gaps, and steering the transaction through the complex loan-servicer approval process.
Selling Your Home Near the Pentagon
Pentagon assignments can change quickly, and a PCS move may require you to leave the Washington, D.C. area before your home has sold. I help military homeowners manage the sale locally while they prepare for their next assignment, whether they are moving across the country or overseas. Homes near the Pentagon can attract a mix of military, federal, and defense-related buyers who value proximity to Arlington and Washington, D.C.
If you have already moved when your home goes under contract, I can coordinate showings, inspections, repairs, negotiations, documents, and settlement remotely. For homeowners with an existing VA mortgage, I can also help market an assumable loan when applicable, giving buyers another reason to consider the property.
PCS Timeline Coordination: We plan preparation, photography, listing launch, showings, inspections, and closing around your military orders, HHG pickup, and departure schedule.
Pentagon-Area Marketing: Position the property's location for buyers considering Pentagon City, Crystal City and National Landing, Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, Rosslyn, Alexandria, and other nearby communities.
VA Loan Assumption Marketing: If your existing VA mortgage has an attractive interest rate, we can highlight the potential assumption opportunity when appropriate and help connect interested buyers with the lender for qualification.
Remote Sale Management: If your next assignment takes you away before closing, I remain your local point of contact for showings, inspections, contractor access, negotiations, paperwork, and settlement coordination.
Flexible Settlement Planning: When military orders create a tight departure schedule, we work backward from your move date to identify potential issues early and keep the transaction moving toward settlement.
Ready to Move Near the Pentagon?
While I specialize in military relocations, I also help civilian buyers and sellers throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Whether you are preparing for an incoming transfer, planning an out-of-state move, or looking to list your current home, let's discuss your timeline and real estate goals. Complete the form below to schedule a consultation.