Welcome Home USS Gerald R. Ford
Welcome home to the Ford families
To the sailors, spouses, children, parents, friends, and extended support systems tied to USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, Carrier Air Wing 8, and the wider Ford Carrier Strike Group: welcome home. A homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk is more than a news event. It is a porch light left on, a school pickup finally shared again, a first dinner back at the table, and the beginning of real rest after a long season away.
According to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, nearly 4,500 sailors aboard the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group returned to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16, 2026 after a historic 11-month deployment. The Navy reported that the Ford crew returned after 326 days, more than 57,713 nautical miles sailed, 23 replenishments-at-sea, and thousands of flight hours and launches by Carrier Air Wing 8.
From our team: Burchette Homes is grateful for the service and sacrifice behind every deployment. If your next chapter includes buying, selling, leasing out, or preparing for another PCS move in Hampton Roads, we are here to help you make a clear plan.
Why this Norfolk homecoming matters locally
Naval Station Norfolk is woven into daily life across Hampton Roads. When a carrier strike group comes home, the impact reaches beyond the pier. It shows up in neighborhoods from Ocean View to Virginia Beach, school calendars in Chesapeake, short-term lodging decisions, base commute planning, lease renewals, and home search timelines for families who have been waiting to decide what comes next.
For some families, homecoming means settling back into a house they already own. For others, it is the moment to decide whether to buy in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, or Newport News. Some families may be preparing to sell before follow-on orders, while others are finally ready to use VA financing after waiting through deployment uncertainty.
Housing questions after a long deployment
Should we buy now or wait?
The answer depends on your expected time in Hampton Roads, your monthly comfort level, your VA loan readiness, and whether buying gives you more stability than another lease. Returning families should start with a lender conversation, a realistic payment range, and a neighborhood shortlist before touring homes.
What areas fit a Naval Station Norfolk lifestyle?
Norfolk can be practical for shorter base access, downtown energy, and historic neighborhoods. Virginia Beach is often attractive for families who want beach access, suburban options, and routes toward Oceana, Dam Neck, Little Creek, or Fort Story. Chesapeake can offer more suburban space and access to multiple corridors. Portsmouth may work for shipyard access, historic homes, and Southside convenience. Peninsula areas can make sense when assignments, schools, or family needs point north of the tunnels.
How should VA buyers think about closing costs?
VA-backed loans can be powerful, but buyers still need a plan for closing costs, prepaid expenses, inspections, and moving costs. The Department of Veterans Affairs notes that sellers or builders may offer credits toward closing costs, while certain concessions have VA limits. Your lender should confirm how any credit can be applied before you write an offer.
A smart next step for military buyers
If you are a military or veteran VA buyer, ask us about our closing cost credit program. The goal is simple: help eligible VA buyers reduce cash-to-close pressure when lender guidelines, settlement rules, and the purchase contract allow it.
That conversation should happen early. The best offer strategy usually combines the right price, the right terms, a clear financing plan, and a closing-cost structure that makes sense before emotions run high.
Helpful sources and local links
Official Navy details on the Ford homecoming are available from U.S. Fleet Forces Command. VA loan closing-cost guidance is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA Buyer Credit Program Explore Norfolk Book Consultation
Ready to plan your next move?
Burchette Homes helps Hampton Roads buyers, sellers, and military families make confident real estate decisions.
