Yes, a spouse can handle a home purchase while a service member is deployed, most commonly through a Power of Attorney (POA) that legally authorizes the spouse to sign documents and complete the transaction on the deployed service member's behalf. This is a well-established process, particularly common in military-heavy markets, and most lenders, closing attorneys, and title companies are familiar with handling these transactions. For a purchase using VA loan entitlement, the process requires specific documentation showing the POA authorizes the spouse to act on the service member's behalf for the purposes of the VA loan specifically — a general POA may not automatically be sufficient depending on the lender's requirements, so it's important to confirm the exact POA language needed with your lender well before beginning the transaction, ideally before the deployment even begins if the timing is known in advance. Beyond the legal authorization, practically managing a home search and purchase largely falls to the spouse in this situation — touring properties, making decisions on offers, and coordinating with the agent, lender, and closing attorney throughout the process. Clear communication protocols with the deployed service member, even if limited by deployment communication restrictions, help ensure major decisions still reflect both partners' input where possible, even though the spouse is handling the mechanics of the transaction. Working with an agent and lender experienced in deployment-related transactions helps significantly, since they'll understand the specific documentation requirements and can help set realistic expectations for how the process will work given the communication and legal authorization constraints involved. Setting up the Power of Attorney correctly before deployment begins, with a knowledgeable attorney's help, is the most important step to avoid complications once the transaction is actually underway.