Todd Johnson

The single best move a military homebuyer or veteran can make is to get VA loan pre-approval before searching for homes. A VA loan is one of the most powerful purchase tools available — zero down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates. Work with a REALTOR® who understands BAH, PCS timelines, and VA appraisal requirements. Military buyers purchasing homes near an installation need an experienced agent who can negotiate closing costs, move fast on tight relocation deadlines, and identify neighborhoods with strong resale value when the next set of orders arrives. The most important advice for a boomer purchasing a home during a rightsizing transition is to clarify the why before the what. Are you downsizing to reduce maintenance? Relocating closer to grandchildren? Purchasing a single-story home for long-term accessibility? A trusted real estate agent specializing in rightsizing can help empty nesters purchase low-maintenance homes — condos, patio homes, or smaller single-family properties — in communities that match this next chapter of life. Get pre-approved early, understand how home sale proceeds affect your purchase budget, and prioritize lifestyle fit over square footage.

The most critical advice for a military or veteran home seller is to plan ahead — especially when PCS orders drive your timeline. A REALTOR® experienced with military relocations can help you list your home strategically, price it accurately for your market, and negotiate terms that align with your departure date. VA-savvy listing agents understand the urgency military sellers face and can market your home aggressively to qualified buyers. Don't leave equity on the table rushing through the process alone. An experienced military relocation specialist helps you sell confidently, protect your investment, and close on your schedule. For empty nesters and boomers selling a long-held family home, the emotional and financial stakes are high. A trusted listing agent specializing in rightsizing transitions will accurately price your home, recommend strategic updates that maximize resale value without overcapitalizing, and market your property to the right buyers. Experienced sellers in this lifecycle stage often benefit from staging consultations that help buyers see past decades of personal décor. Coordinating the sale of your current home with the purchase of your next — a smaller, low-maintenance property — requires careful sequencing. The right REALTOR® sells your home smoothly while protecting your timeline and your net proceeds.

The clients I've worked with reflect some of life's most significant transitions. I've helped first-time homebuyers purchase their first home with confidence, guided newly blended couples — including a newlywed couple combining two lives into one shared home — and supported an absentee homeowner sell the family home she raised her children in after relocating out of state to stay close to her grown kids. Each situation required patience, financial clarity, and honest guidance. My background in finance means I help sellers and buyers understand the real numbers behind their decisions — not just the emotional ones — so they can rightsize or purchase with confidence.

One transaction I'm especially fond of involved a single woman in her 50s purchasing her very place entirely on her own. She had been renting since a divorce. Together we found her a stunning penthouse condo in a vibrant downtown property — walkable to restaurants, nightlife, and cultural venues she genuinely loves. Watching her close on that home wasn't just a real estate transaction. It was a confident, joyful woman investing in the next chapter of her life — on her terms, in her space.

I had a 25 year financial career in Energy Trading and Commercial Banking, but decided I wanted to directly help people. The training and experience in numbers, combined with my love of Montana and pleasure in helping families makes being a Realtor the perfect job for me!

I am finishing my Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) Designation Course, and Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Course.