Military families know the drill. PCS orders drop, and there’s about 90 seconds to let it sink in before muscle memory takes over. You reach for your phone.
First search: BAH rates at [new duty station]
Second search: Zillow
Third search: Costco near [new duty station]
This is the proper PCS order of operations. We don’t make the rules.
Within hours, what started off as curiosity has spiraled into a high-school math flashback scene. If BAH is this, and homes are going for that… maybe renting makes sense. But, we really want to invest in our future, so this would be a great duty station where we finally make the leap.
Subtract the nine, carry the one, and just like that, you’re there again—the PCS math trap.
For military families, almost every piece of the homebuying process is touched by their lifestyle. Tight timelines, fluctuating BAH, and location uncertainty mean that what may be a steady investment for most carries far more nuance for active-duty buyers. Buying a home isn’t a feelings-based decision, but compiling the facts requires time, energy, and clarity; all of which are in short supply during the transition from one duty station to the next.
The Buy vs. Rent Calculator Made for Military Families
As a company built by and for the military community, WeVett knows the weight of the buy vs. rent decision during a military move. And even though helping you find and finance a home is our thing, we know that buying isn’t the default decision for everyone at every PCS. That’s why we built the Military Buy vs. Rent Calculator.
This isn’t a generic online widget built for the general population, it’s a tool specifically designed for active-duty service members navigating BAH, the VA loan, realistic ownership windows, and the very real possibility of having to pick up and go after only a few years.
At its core, the calculator stands to answer one crucial question: Over the time I expect to be at this duty station, which option leaves me and my family in a stronger financial position?
It doesn’t just compare monthly payments, it evaluates the total cost of ownership versus the total cost of renting while factoring in the VA funding fee, estimated appreciation, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, selling costs, and even the opportunity cost of tying up capital in a home versus investing it in other ways.
The Military Buy vs. Rent Calculator doesn’t push you toward buying or default to renting, it empowers buyers by revealing the realistic tradeoffs. Sometimes, ownership is the clear winner. Other times, especially for short timelines in high-cost areas, renting is the best option. But at the end of the day, clarity is what matters most; especially when orders can change faster than the market.
How to Use the Buy vs. Rent Calculator
First, let’s get this out of the way. The Military Buy vs. Rent Calculator is fun. We don’t judge you one bit for running the numbers on a $2.3 million dollar house in San Diego (for data purposes, of course). With that said however, this tool provides the best information when your inputs are as accurate as possible.
Here’s how to harness its power.
Start with your real pay grade, dependency status, and duty station.
Then, enter rental numbers that are comparable to the type of property you would realistically choose to buy. This is VERY important. For example, if you’re looking to buy a 3-bedroom 2.5-bath new build, don’t enter rental numbers for a studio apartment.
Scroll to the “Buy (VA Loan)” section, and complete the fields. Use current VA loan rates and keep in mind, the VA funding fee can be waived in certain circumstances. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) will indicate your exempt status. But, the most important variable here is your ownership timeline. Run the scenario based on your expected PCS window. If you plan to rent your property out after you buy, adjust the timeline accordingly.
The optional Advanced Options section allows you to really get into the nitty gritty. Here, you can enter loan term, other closing costs, property tax, appreciation, selling costs, insurance, maintenance, HOA, and utilities. Again, we encourage accuracy here, but realize none of us can see into the future. Do your best!
Next, select your tax information. If you enable the Opportunity Cost section, you’ll be able to see what would happen if you invest your down payment and any additional monthly savings.
Hit “Calculate” et voila, your Summary and Detailed Results are both available for the taking.
What to Watch Out For
One of the most common distortions in the buy vs. rent conversation happens when the properties being compared aren’t truly comparable. As mentioned earlier, if you’re running the numbers for a 3-bedroom 2.5-bath new build against a studio apartment, you’re comparing apples to oranges.
However, if you’re actively looking for similar properties to rent and finding that there are none, that could be a solid indicator that buying wins out in this scenario.
Another potential snare in running the numbers is leaning too heavily on optimistic appreciation assumptions. If buying only makes sense when appreciation runs hot, you’re placing bets on market performance which could spell trouble in the future.
Finally, resist the temptation to set rent increases to zero or populate maintenance costs with unrealistically low numbers. Both ownership and renting can experience inflation over time. So, best to keep a level head and err on the side of caution.
Remember, the Military Buy vs. Rent Calculator isn’t about building blue sky scenarios, it’s about setting military families up for long-term success.
The Move Before the Move
Home wasn’t built in a day (that’s how the saying goes, right?). Likewise, no PCS happens in one glorious fell swoop. It’s all about balancing short-term decisions for long-term gains, and finding a way to honor both. At the end of the day, what matters more than the best kitchen or shortest commute is whether your housing choice strengthens and supports your financial goals or actively works against them.
Buying with the VA loan is still one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to active-duty service members and Veterans—especially when timeline and markets align. But renting can also be the strategic choice when flexibility takes center stage. The difference isn’t opinion, it’s math.
WeVett’s Military Buy vs. Rent Calculator serves to stand in that decision gap, revealing the full picture. The result? Transparency, confidence, and valuable time back. In a military career where so much is decided for you, this is one of the few choices where you can have control.
So, run the numbers. Stress-test the timeline. Then, if you want a second set of eyes on what you’re seeing, always feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you build, so the moves you make today support the life you’re building long after your last duty station.