Military PCS to Cibolo: How Renee Zunker Helped VA Buyers Purchase New Construction While Waiting for Orders

Buying a home during a military PCS can involve a lot of moving pieces. Buying new construction with a VA loan while waiting for official military orders adds another layer.

That's exactly what happened when Renee Zunker helped an active-duty Army family relocate from California to the Schertz-Cibolo area and purchase a new construction home at 200 Dakota Ridge in Cibolo, Texas.

The buyers knew they were moving to the San Antonio area for an assignment connected to the husband's transition from enlisted service to becoming an Army officer. The assignment was expected, but one important piece was missing: the official written orders.

Finding a New Construction Home in Cibolo, Texas

The buyers first contacted Renee Zunker in October 2025, months before their anticipated PCS from California.

For this family, location mattered. They wanted to live within Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, remain close to family, and have convenient access to both San Antonio and New Braunfels. They also preferred new construction and wanted to take advantage of builder financing incentives that could help reduce their monthly payment.

Renee Zunker helped the buyers compare several new construction communities and available homes before they selected a Meritage home in Legendary Trails in Cibolo.

The home at 200 Dakota Ridge was approximately 90% complete. The buyers did not need to start a new build from the design phase, but the remaining construction timeline worked well with their anticipated move.

The final purchase price was $409,000.

Negotiating More Than Just the Purchase Price

New construction negotiations aren't always just about getting a builder to reduce the price of a home.

Renee Zunker negotiated with the builder on multiple parts of the transaction, including the purchase price, buyer closing costs, financing incentives, appliances, and blinds.

The buyers used a VA loan through the builder's preferred lender and received a builder-sponsored interest-rate incentive. Most of the buyers' closing costs were also covered as part of the negotiated transaction.

Those incentives helped the family purchase the new Cibolo home while preserving more of their own cash for the PCS and move.

The Complication: The Army Orders Were Delayed

The family knew where they were going. The builder knew where they were going. Renee knew where they were going.

The paperwork, unfortunately, was moving on Army time.

The buyers went under contract while still waiting for the husband's official written orders. Because the VA financing and final loan approval required the necessary military documentation, the delayed orders created uncertainty around the closing timeline.

Renee Zunker worked with the builder while everyone waited and confirmed that the builder was willing to extend the buyers' timeline without assessing the contract-related delay charges that could otherwise have applied under the circumstances.

Meanwhile, Renee looked for ways to minimize unnecessary financial exposure for the buyers.

Why Renee Recommended Waiting on the Home Inspection

A third-party home inspection was still an important part of Renee Zunker's new construction process—but the timing mattered.

The inspection would cost the buyers approximately $500. Renee advised the family to wait to spend that money until the official military orders were in hand.

If something unexpected happened with the assignment before the documentation arrived, the buyers would not have unnecessarily spent hundreds of dollars inspecting a home they might no longer be able to purchase.

Once the official orders arrived, Renee scheduled the third-party inspection and the transaction moved forward.

It was a relatively small decision, but it illustrates an important part of experienced buyer representation: sometimes protecting a buyer isn't about negotiating thousands of dollars. It's about recognizing where unnecessary risk exists and making strategic decisions along the way.

From California PCS to a New Home in Cibolo

After more than two months under contract and waiting for the required documentation, the official orders finally arrived.

The inspection was completed, financing moved forward, and the buyers closed on their new construction home within the following few weeks.

The family successfully purchased 200 Dakota Ridge in Cibolo for $409,000 using VA financing while receiving negotiated builder incentives, most closing costs paid, appliances, blinds, and a reduced interest rate through the builder's preferred lender.

Just as importantly, the buyers ended up where they wanted to be: back near family, within SCUCISD, and centrally located between San Antonio and New Braunfels.

Why Military Buyers Benefit From Representation When Buying New Construction

Builder sales representatives are an important part of a new construction transaction, but the builder's representative works for the builder.

Renee Zunker is a U.S. Air Force Veteran, REALTOR®, and new construction buyer's agent who helps military service members and Veterans purchase homes in Cibolo, Schertz, Marion, New Braunfels, Garden Ridge, and Northeast San Antonio.

Renee helps new construction buyers compare communities and builders, evaluate financing incentives, negotiate contract terms, coordinate inspections, manage remote appointments, communicate with builders and lenders, and navigate the logistical complications that can come with a military PCS.

For this Army family, the challenge wasn't simply finding a beautiful new home. The challenge was coordinating the home, builder, VA financing, military documentation, construction timeline, inspection, and PCS so all of the pieces eventually came together.

PCSing to Fort Sam Houston or the San Antonio Area?

Military orders don't always arrive on the timeline a home builder, mortgage lender, or moving company would prefer.

Renee Zunker helps military families relocating to Fort Sam Houston and the San Antonio area develop a home-buying strategy that accounts for those realities.

If you're PCSing to San Antonio and considering a new construction home in Schertz, Cibolo, Marion, New Braunfels, Garden Ridge, or surrounding communities, start the conversation before your orders and moving truck arrive.

Renee Zunker and the Zunker Property Group can help compare new construction communities, evaluate builder incentives, understand VA financing options, plan around a PCS timeline, and determine which home-buying strategy makes sense for your move.

Schedule a Homebuyer Gameplan with Renee Zunker.

Find Your Next New Construction Home