IRP Is Changing April 1, 2026 — Here's What Military Families Need to Know
Military Relocation · 2026-02-12 · 5 min read
The relocation program is changing. Here is what military families should be asking their relocation contact before they plan a move.
Changes to the Integrated Relocation Program are the number one thing military families ask me about right now, and I want to be careful here: the authoritative source on your entitlements is your relocation contact and the current policy documents, not a real estate blog. Programs change, and details differ by file.
What I can do is tell you what to ask about, and what tends to trip families up during a transition year.
Why transition years are risky
Whenever the program changes, there is a window where old assumptions no longer apply. Families plan a move around what a friend was reimbursed on their last posting, and the rules have moved underneath them.
The single most expensive mistake is spending money you assume will be reimbursed. Get it confirmed in writing first.
The questions to ask your relocation contact
- What is covered on the selling side? Real estate commission, legal fees, and certain marketing or inspection costs are typically part of the conversation — confirm the specifics for your file.
- What is covered on the buying side? Legal fees, inspection, appraisal, and land transfer or deed transfer tax treatment.
- What are the house-hunting trip parameters? Number of days, travel, and accommodation.
- What is the timeline? When your entitlements activate and when they expire relative to your report-for-duty date.
- What happens if you rent instead of buying? Some costs are handled very differently.
- What documentation is required, and in what format? Get this list before you spend anything.
Keep every receipt, from day one
Inspection invoices, legal statements, travel, accommodation, storage, movers. Scan them the day you get them. Reimbursement disputes are usually documentation disputes.
Plan the sale earlier than feels necessary
If policy is in flux, time is your best protection. A family who lists in good order with a realistic price and a proper marketing plan is not depending on the program to rescue a rushed sale.
That means starting the maintenance, decluttering, and pricing conversation months before the message — not the week after.
Buying at the destination
Get pre-approved before your house-hunting trip, and confirm how any relocation funds interact with your down payment and your lender's requirements. Lenders treat these differently, and it is much easier to sort out in advance.
What I do for military families
I have been a military spouse at 14 Wing Greenwood for thirty-five years, and I have handled sales for families who were deployed, already posted out, or managing everything alone. I keep the paperwork organized, I document everything you will need for your claim, and I give you weekly written updates so you always know where things stand.
If your posting is coming, reach out early — even if you are not sure yet. We can build the plan and adjust it when the message lands.
This article is general information, not policy guidance. Always confirm your entitlements with your relocation contact.
Written by Karen Mofford, REALTOR® with Royal LePage Atlantic in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Get in touch or book a Move Strategy Session.