Fort Lewis - McChord Air Force Base (JBLM) Real Estate
Designations, Certificates, & Awards,
VAMRES - VA & Military Relocation Specialist
VAREP - Veteran Association of Real Estate Professionals
MVHC - Military & Veteran Housing Association
CMHS - Certified Military Housing Specialist
MRP - Military Relocation Professional
CSP - Certified New Home Sales Professional
80+, 5 star reviews Zillow/Trulia
15+, 5 star reviews Google
10+ reviews BBB: A+ (Rating) Accredited Business
VArep – Tacoma Ch. President 2013-2015
Top Agent Award: Best of Trulia 2014
TPCAR Leadership Graduate 2013,
Rookie of the Year 2011,
Sales Achievement Award 2012-2016
Certified Home Buying Instructor – WSHFC
Over $30,000 donated since 2013 to Military, Animal, & christian Charities.
2011-2018 Over $50,000,000 Sold. Over $30,000 Donated, Over 200 sales, Over $130,000 in buyer closing costs negotiated in 2018, Over 7 years of real estate Experience
Testimonials
13 Foxtrot (Forward Observer), JFO- Joint fires observer, Raven operator, 1 tour Korea, 1 deployment in Iraq,
Hello, I am Cyrus Bonnet a U.S. Veteran & JBLM - Ft. Lewis McChord's most dedicated VA Military Realtor. I specialize in helping military and veteran housing transitions from start to finish. Weather you have orders to PCS too or from here, first time home buyer, experienced home owner looking to upgrade or sell, or investments. I can make sure your needs are met with devoted, tactful, and professional service regardless of military affiliation.
I strive and continue to perfect the transition and fight hard for you as you do for us. As you can see with my reviews, I am committed to make this as easy for you as I can. Over the years I have vetted and qualified the best people to work within the VA transaction such as loan officers, inspectors, title and escrow agents and much more. Being a VA homeowner, investor, and a realtor, I focus on helping military families understand the technicalities of the VA loan with ease. I am a full time, full service realtor who communicates promptly and effectively from start to finish. I commit 5% of my net commission to give back to the military community. My military commitment to country spills over to you: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Honor, Integrity, Selfless Service and Personal Courage.
It is important you work with a military friendly realtor and not just anyone that says they are military friendly but actually are committed and fully understand the processes. below are some articles for more research on the topic.
I average 45 VA buyers and sellers annually which take up 95% of my clientele. Many times I have to train other realtors why they should accept a VA offer because many do not understand them.
Read:
Do your homework On military friendly realtors
Don't get trapped when you roll the dice with movers advantage from USAA
An actual article written for agents unfamiliar with VA - 6 things agents should know about VA loans. Probably not your ideal agent if they have to read this.
The American Dream Starts Here - Contact Me
Mike Villano - Veterans Lending Group
Senior Loan Officer
NMLS: 902369
As a VA lending specialist I have the pleasure of working with the best sort of people, in my opinion. My customers are always honorable ladies and gentleman who live a life not many fully understand. I feel honored to be trusted with their home financing when they are out of state and many times out of this country. My team and I work very hard to make sure dates are met and transactions are smooth because that’s what we would expect out of you. I look forward to each new relationship formed and am proud to say we have done an excellent job serving those who have served us all. Thank you.
888-685-8654 (office)
253-686-2491 (cell)
TeamMike@vnlending.com
15614 Meridian Ave E, Ste 400, Puyallup, WA 98375
Veterans Lending Group is a registered tradename of CrossCountry Mortgage, Inc. NMLS 3029, NMLS 1611351 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Call for details. Certificate of Eligibility required for VA loans.
Carli Santa Cruz
Administrative Assistant/File Manager/ REALTOR®
As an Administrative Assistant and File Manager for SoldiersAgent, Carli Santa Cruz’s list of responsibilities is a long one! She’s always happy to help with whatever is asked of her, and she also recently became a notary and REALTOR. Carli has observed that she always feels welcome and encouraged, and she loves the people she gets to work with.
Previously, Carli worked for 12 years in the financial services industry at Edward Jones, H&R Block Financial (now Ameriprise), and Morgan Stanley. During this time, Carli traveled with a heavily recruited broker, assisted financial advisors with their clients, and worked in recruiting and transitioning.
Common Military Towns Near JBLM
DuPont
is an excellent choice for those searching for a home that’s close to JBLM and in Pierce County, and I have a few favorite things about the city of DuPont to share:
- DuPont is right next door to JBLM.
Nestled in between the Puget Sound and Interstate-5, DuPont is just southwest of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It’s a popular place for those who work at JBLM to call “home”—it’s close proximity ensures you can get home fast and start enjoying the beautiful outdoors you’re surrounded by! Which bring us to the next few reasons you’ll want to check out DuPont…
- DuPont is right on the Puget Sound.
The shimmering Puget Sound is truly a sight to behold, and residents of DuPont are lucky to have this Pacific Northwest treasure practically in their backyards!
- Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve is right next door, a dream for nature lovers.
Featuring over 4,500 acres to explore and observe, this incredible local reserve is the perfect retreat for when you just need to get away from it all. Grab your camera, pack a picnic, and head out for a day of adventure. 275 migrating species of birds, 24 species of fish, and a large variety of other animals like coyotes and small mammals can also be observed here. There are also some great programs and events to take advantage of—learn more about visiting here!
- Eagles Pride Golf Course offers a convenient and beautiful option for golf enthusiasts.
Open to the public, the 27-hole championship Eagles Pride Golf Course provides golfers with a fantastic local golfing option! Stunning scenery provides a picturesque setting all in the shadow of Mount Rainier. There’s also a driving range and a pro shop for your convenience.
- DuPont is next door to Lakewood, making it easy to take advantage of its many lakes.
As the name might suggest, Lakewood is home to several lakes. Especially of note is American Lake, which is the lake closest to DuPont. This dynamic amenity is home to a long list of fun activities to enjoy—American Lake North Park & Marina and Harry Todd Park are 2 excellent parks on the lake where you can enjoy some beach time or a picnic. You can also go fishing in American Lake—different types of trout, bass, perch, and salmon can all be found.
You can keep exploring DuPont here!
Puyallup
There are a long list of reasons why those in the military at JBLM choose to make Puyallup their home. While prized for its community atmosphere, Puyallup is also home to an excellent variety of city conveniences. If you work at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and are trying to figure out which nearby city to live in, here are a few of the top reasons why you may want to consider Puyallup:
- It’s easy to get from Puyallup to JBLM.
Commute times are a big deal for most people, and Puyallup offers a great city to live in all while being close to JBLM. As Puyallup covers a large area though, your commute time will largely depend on where in Puyallup you live. If you live closer to Frederickson in South Hill (a part of Puyallup), depending on traffic times your commute time could be as short as 12-15 minutes. However, if you live in Downtown Puyallup (in northern Puyallup) closer to Sumner, your commute time could be closer to 20-30 minutes. I would recommend doing a real-life test of your potential commute at the time of day you’d normally be driving at to see if the timing suits you.
- Puyallup is home to many in the military.
Due to its close proximity to JBLM, many people in the military choose to call Puyallup “home.” This has many advantages—for one, you could potentially set up a carpool with someone. There’s also people and families around with the same lifestyle, and it’s great to be able to call your fellow service members neighbors.
- There are many opportunities for shopping.
Whether you need to go grocery shopping or head to a mall with tons of options all in one place, Puyallup has it all. Costco, WinCo, Tacoma Boys, multiple Fred Meyers and Safeways, and more all offer great grocery shopping options. Plus, a huge farmers market is at Pioneer Park from April through October each year, which is great for picking up fresh food directly from the farmers themselves! Puyallup also has 2 Walmarts, 2 Targets, the South Hill Mall, and tons of other shopping centers that makes running errands easy.
- Puyallup is close to many outdoor opportunities.
Puyallup is home to several beautiful parks, and if you really want to feel like you’re out in nature or if you would like to head out for a long run, the Chapman Trail at South Hill Community Park, Bradley Lake Park, and Wildwood Park are a few excellent options. The Foothills Trail is another great option—this 25-mile trail is perfect for bicycling and running, and part of the trail is in Puyallup. You’re also close to Lake Tapps in Bonney Lake, and several lakes toward the south. Searching for an even bigger adventure? Mount Rainier National Park is about 1.5 hours away, depending on which part of the park you head to! Camping, hiking, boating, fishing, dirt biking, and much more are all within reach from Puyallup.
Lakewood
The list of why someone might choose to call Lakewood "home sweet home" is a long one, but I’ve narrowed it down to 4 of the top reasons!
1. Lakewood is super close to JBLM.
For many people, working close to home is important. Lakewood is located right on the northern border of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, meaning if you're in the military, commuting to work could take anywhere from 1-18 minutes depending on where you live.
2. This city is home to several gorgeous lakes.
With the name "Lakewood", it's probably not a surprise that Lakewood is home to several beautiful lakes! American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, and Waughop lake are the largest of the lakes. Opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and other water sports are all aplenty here! With several lakes just minutes from home, it’s easy to pack up for a day of fishing.
3. You’re right next door to Chambers Bay.
Bordering Lakewood to the north, Chambers Bay is a 930-acre park that includes a 250-acre internationally acclaimed golf course in addition to beautiful walking trails. Whether you love to golf or just want to go for a run, Chambers Bay offers plenty of space to explore all while providing breathtaking views of the Puget Sound to enjoy the whole time.
4. Conveniently close to Interstate-5 and Highway 512.
Not only is Lakewood next door to JBLM, but it also offers quick and easy access to Interstate-5 and Highway 512. I-5 makes it easy to head south toward Olympia or north toward Tacoma and Seattle, while HIghway 512 heads west toward Puyallup.
Keep exploring Lakewood here:
Spanaway
Spanaway borders Joint Base Lewis-McChord, making it a highly desired location for those in the military.
Here are my 3 top reasons why Spanaway is an excellent choice for those in the military:
- Spanaway is super close to JBLM.
Like I already mentioned, Spanaway borders JBLM to the east. Depending on where you live in Spanaway, it can take anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes to get to JBLM, which makes commuting a breeze. Spanaway is also close to larger cities like Puyallup and Tacoma, opening up a wealth of options, whether you’re looking for shopping, restaurants, entertainment, services, etc. It’s also in close proximity to Highway 512 and Interstate-5, making it easy to head north toward Seattle or south toward Olympia. It is also filled with many new communities and various builders to choose from. Your dollar takes you further with new homes here than other areas.
- Spanaway offers tons of amenities & conveniences.
Pacific Avenue turns into Mountain Highway (both also known as Highway 7) and runs through Spanaway. This main road takes you past a whole host of Spanaway conveniences, including tons of restaurants and fast food options, grocery stores, shops, and several other shopping centers, services, and much more. Thanks to this central area, running errands is efficient, and it’s also easy to stop somewhere to grab dinner on the way home from work!
- Spanaway is the gateway to the outdoors.
Not only is Spanaway home to Spanaway Lake, Spanaway Lake Park, Lake Spanaway Golf Course, and other parks, but it’s also in close proximity to hiking, camping, fishing, and many other opportunities for enjoying the outdoors close to JBLM. It only takes 30 minutes to get to Lake Kapowsin for example, a haven of fishing, canoeing, and boating. Several other lakes surround the area as well, ensuring there’s plenty of space to find your special fishing spot. At just 30 minutes from Spanaway, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is another favorite destination, a fun place to head to for a day for kids and adults alike. Mt. Rainier National Park is less than an hour away from Spanaway as well, offering a myriad of opportunity for taking advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s beauty… all in JBLM's backyard!
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