BAH – WeVett https://wevett.com Secure Your Next Home with a Military-Focused Lender Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:15:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://wevett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-doublechecks_Square_Blue-1-32x32.png BAH – WeVett https://wevett.com 32 32 Which Locations Saw the Biggest Increases and Decreases in 2026 BAH Rates? https://wevett.com/2025/blog/which-locations-saw-the-biggest-increases-and-decreases-in-2026-bah-rates/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:59:15 +0000 https://wevett.com/?p=20556

Calling all military families: it’s finally here! The Department of Defense has officially released 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, and for most active duty, there’s a welcomed boost on the way.

The 2026 BAH rates reflect shifting housing markets across the country, with the majority of housing areas seeing increases designed to better match local rental trends. But while some duty stations are seeing significant jumps, others are holding steady, and a small handful will even see slight decreases.

To give a quick snapshot of what’s changed, we’ve compiled a list of the five locations with the highest BAH increases and the five locations with the lowest increases, using the rank of O-3 with dependents as an example.

As always, rates are based on rank, location, and dependent status. So make sure to get clear on your BAH rate with our 2026 Military BAH Calculator before finalizing your budgeting or PCS decisions for the new year.

*Rates are calculated based on an O-3 with dependents

Top Five Locations with the Largest BAH Increases

1. Outer Banks, NC

2025: $2,667 | 2026: $3,078

INCREASE OF $420 (15.75%)

 

2. Terre Haute, IN

2025: $1,737 | 2026: $2,001

INCREASE OF $264 (15.20%)

 

3. Fayetteville, AR

2025: $2,076 | 2026: $2,355

INCREASE OF $279 (13.44%)

 

4. Stika, AK

2025: $3,060 | 2026: $3,462

INCREASE OF $402 (13.14%)

 

5. Houston, TX

2025: $2,388 | 2026: $2,700

INCREASE OF $312 (13.07%)

Top Five Locations with the Largest BAH Decreases

1. Austin, TX

2025: $3,702 | 2026: $3,447

DECREASE OF $255 (-6.89%)

 

2. Phoenix, AZ

2025: $2,616 | 2026: $2,490

DECREASE OF $126 (-4.82%)

 

3. Springfield/Decatur, IL

2025: $2,091 | 2026: $2,001

DECREASE OF $90 (-4.3%)

 

4. Brownsville, TX

2025: $2,247 | 2026: $2,169

DECREASE OF $78 (-3.47%)

 

5. Beaufort/Parris Island, SC

2025: $2,952 | 2026: $2,856

DECREASE OF $96 (-3.25%)

No matter where this year takes you, these new BAH rates can open the door to fresh homeownership possibilities. If you’re wondering what these changes mean for your next steps, our lending and realty teams are ready to help you explore your options and make the most of 2026.

]]> 2026 BAH Rates: How to Make the Most of Your PCS Buying Power https://wevett.com/2025/blog/2026-bah-rates-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-pcs-buying-power/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:40:16 +0000 https://wevett.com/?p=20480

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The Christmas trees are glowing and the hot chocolate’s flowing, but for military families, it’s not only visions of sugar plums (whatever those are) dancing through their heads. Every year, this season leaves every military homebuyer wondering the same thing: When will new military BAH rates be released?

BAH Rates Explained

For active duty, few numbers matter more than Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). This tax-free housing stipend is available for uniformed service members who choose to live off base at duty stations located within the 50 U.S. states. But this benefit didn’t always exist.

In the post-World War II era, all service members were expected to live on base. While convenient, this setup quickly led to housing shortages. So, the government developed a benefit called Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) to provide a small, standard stipend for off-base housing. There was a big problem, though. Because BAQ didn’t take local housing costs into consideration, many service members in high-cost areas were left to pay steep out-of-pocket housing expenses.

In the 1990s, Congress stepped in to save the day. Their plan involved a complete BAQ overhaul, creating a system based on data markers instead of standard rates. In 1998, their hard work came to fruition with BAH completely replacing BAQ. For all you history enthusiasts, we delve more into the history and evolution of BAH here. But thanks to the modernization of this system, standard housing rates are—well—history, and the amount of BAH a service member receives is now determined by three factors:

1. Pay Grade
Military BAH increases along with your time in service. So, a newly-commissioned officer completing their first year in the military won’t have the same allocation as someone with 20 years of service—even if they’re stationed at the same base.

2. Geographic Location
BAH rates are based on the local rental market rates and average cost of utilities at each duty station. Every person stationed in San Diego is grateful for this.

3. Dependents
BAH is different for single active-duty military and those with a family in tow. Sadly, furchildren and high-maintenance houseplants don’t count as dependents (yet).

Each year, the DoD analyzes data to track closely with the real cost of living at each duty station. In other words, when markets shift, BAH follows. The new rates then go into effect on January 1st every year.

And don’t worry, military personnel serving overseas still have access to housing benefits with some minor changes. Instead of BAH, overseas active duty receive Overseas Housing Allowance, or OHA, which also includes a move-in housing allowance.

Military BAH has come a long way since the early days, and now allows service members to cover about 95% of their housing costs. Additionally, protections like Individual Rate Protection were added to ensure members never receive less BAH than the previous year as long as their duty station and dependency status are the same. Though not perfect, BAH has been instrumental in transforming military housing support from an add-on benefit to a foundational component of financial health and future stability for military families.

How BAH Impacts PCS Buying Power

As touched on earlier, BAH is based on rental markets, which draws from the assumption that those who use it will be renting at their duty station. But, BAH can also be an invaluable tool to leverage for homeownership—particularly when paired with the VA loan.

New to the VA Loan? Check out our free VA Loan Masterclass here!

For PCS planning, BAH works as your baseline housing budget. So before you start browsing Zillow or asking about neighborhoods in Facebook groups, your expected BAH rate gives you a realistic sense of what’s affordable in that market.

But here’s where BAH really does the heavy lifting: when buying a house, lenders can usually count BAH as qualifying, nontaxable income for VA loans. That means your housing allowance directly affects your debt-to-income ratio, your maximum approved loan amount, and ultimately, the price range of homes you can shop for.

In short, when used strategically (especially at each PCS), BAH doesn’t just cover housing. Instead, it can help set military families up for real wealth. That’s the long game WeVett is building toward: helping families exit the military with a paid for or nearly paid for home.

2026 BAH Rates

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Though the official BAH rates for 2026 haven’t been announced yet, the DoD has released approximate data. So all you have to do now is plug your duty station’s zip code or location into the WeVett’s 2026 Military BAH Calculator and boom… 2026 BAH rates. The calculator covers all military branches and locations that receive BAH, so you can start the new year with a clearer runway for PCS planning—especially if you’re navigating the PCS buy vs. rent decision.

2026 military bah rates

For active-duty families gearing up for a move in 2026, our tools and team are here to help you plan your next chapter. If you’re looking for guidance in understanding how BAH can shape your military homeownership journey, feel free to reach out to our team of VA loan experts!

]]> The History and Evolution of BAH https://wevett.com/2024/blog/military/bah/the-history-and-evolution-of-bah/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:34:59 +0000 https://wevett.com/?p=17202

If you’re in the military, you (and your bank account) are well aware of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) benefit. How much do you really know about the history of BAH though and how it became what it is today?

Surprisingly, BAH didn’t even exist until 1998, when the DoD consolidated several housing allowances for service members into one benefit.

The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a fundamental benefit for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Defense (DoD). This non-taxable allowance is meant to help military personnel afford adequate housing without having to live on base. The history of BAH reflects vast changes in military compensation policies and fluctuating housing costs–two things which dramatically impact enlisted and officers who frequently PCS.

Origins: Military Housing Allowances Pre-BAH

The beginnings of military housing allowances can be traced back to the post-World War II era. In the early years, military housing was more standardized. Service members were expected to live on base.

While this setup was convenient for most, it often led to housing shortages, and as the military grew and diversified, housing all personnel on base became challenging. Recognizing this issue, the government developed housing programs to assist service members who needed to live outside the gates.

Before BAH, a benefit called Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) was in place, providing a small stipend for personnel who lived off base. However, BAQ rates were standardized across the country and did not adjust for local housing costs. As a result, many service members were left covering the difference between the fixed BAQ and their actual rent costs, particularly in high-cost areas.

Transition to the BAH Program in the 1990s

Congress approved a comprehensive reform of military housing allowances in the 1990s after recognizing the downfalls of BAQ. The intent was to make the military housing allowance system more responsive to the actual cost of living and more competitive with civilian housing standards.

In 1997, Congress mandated a change, and by January 1, 1998, BAQ was replaced with the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) program. The new BAH was designed to provide a fair and realistic reflection of housing costs based on geographic location, rank, and whether the service member had dependents.

The BAH computation includes local price data for median local rental housing costs and average utility costs, including electricity, heating fuel, water, and sewer. The DoD links rental housing costs collected with different levels of service members’ regular military pay. The six standard housing profiles are below:

Housing ProfileGrade with DependentsGrade Without Dependents
1 Bedroom ApartmentE-4
2 Bedroom Apartment0-1
2 Bedroom Townhouse/DuplexE-50-1E
3 Bedroom Townhouse/DuplexE-60-3E
3 Bedroom Single Family Detached HouseW-30-6
4 Bedroom Single Family Detached House0-5

*Source: https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jun/23/2003023204/-1/-1/0/BAH-PRIMER.PDF

Key Features and Improvements of BAH

The BAH program was revolutionary in several ways:

Location Variance: BAH rates were no longer standardized. Instead, they were adjusted based on the local housing market in over 300 Military Housing Areas (MHAs). This change made BAH much more responsive to real housing costs faced by Airmen and other service members across the country.

Dependent Rate Variance: BAH rates also began to consider whether a service member had dependents. Those with dependents received a higher rate, recognizing the additional space needed and expenses often associated with housing a family.

Annual Adjustments: BAH rates were set to be adjusted annually, ensuring that they reflected up-to-date housing costs and inflation. A team from the DoD began conducting surveys to track changes in rental prices, utilities, and other housing expenses to keep the rates as accurate as possible.

The “Out-of-Pocket” Era and Subsequent Reforms

Originally, the BAH law stated that the housing allowance could cover no more than 80% of local housing costs. However, in 2000, Congress mandated an overhaul of the BAH system to reduce this additional 20% expense to zero, fully covering housing costs by 2005.

The DoD reevaluated this policy in the mid-2010s. To address budget concerns, BAH was modified in 2015 to reintroduce a small out-of-pocket expense. The goal was to keep BAH sustainable without fully burdening military personnel. Today, BAH generally covers 95-97% of housing expenses for service members.

Another large reform was the introduction of Individual Rate Protection. IRP allows members to receive any new published BAH increase, and prevents a member from receiving a lower BAH rate than the previous year, as long as their BAH eligibility status remains the same.

So, what has BAH looked like over the years? It has varied drastically… and so has the cost of living.

BAH Chart [O-3 with Dependents]

*These charts are based off historical data and are rough estimates*

Arlington, Virginia

YearBAH2-Bed Apartment Monthly Rent3-Bed, 2-Bath Home
2005$2,012$2,455$550,000
2020$2,859$2,900$737,000
2025 (Projected)$3,985$3,100$890,000

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

YearBAH2-Bed Apartment Monthly Rent3-Bed, 2-Bath Home
2005$1,485$930$270,000
2020$2,250$1,700$410,000
2025 (Projected)$3,079$2,100$480,000

Minot, North Dakota

YearBAH2-Bed Apartment Monthly Rent3-Bed, 2-Bath Home
2005$877$465$140,000
2020$1,686$1,000$290,000
2025 (Projected)$1,937$1,350$302,000

Future of BAH in the Armed Forces

What’s next? What is that direct deposit going to look like next year?

Well for 2025, BAH rates are projected to increase by 3.9%! To see what that means for you (or to compare the last few years’ rates), visit our BAH calculator here.

BAH is expected to remain a core part of military compensation, with potential reforms aimed at keeping it sustainable. Some have proposed more flexible or regionalized approaches to BAH, considering the dramatic shifts in rental costs in recent years.

Did you know there’s an annual BAH rate determination timeline every single year for new rates? Check out this timeline from the DoD.

military BAH timeline

If you’re wondering what your BAH covers in your housing area, reach out to one of our WeVett Team who specialize in VA Home Loans and Military PCSes!

]]> 2024 BAH Rates are Here! https://wevett.com/2023/blog/military/bah/2024-bah-rates-are-here/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 22:20:04 +0000 https://wevett.com/?p=7589

BAH Rates 2024

The 2024 BAH rates are here – with an average increase of $5.4%!

It’s that time of year again. A new year means new Basic Allowance for Housing rates (BAH). Luckily for those of us in uniform, military BAH was increased by an average of 5.4% across the U.S. today!

5.4% might seem low compared to last year’s 12.1% BAH increase, but we will take what we can get!

BAH is meant to cover 95% of the service member’s military housing cost. The rates are based on housing research and marketing analysis conducted by the DoD.

Calculate your 2024 BAH Rate

Calculate Your BAH

Use the 2024 BAH calculator to find out your rates for next year!

The BAH calculator provides the official amounts for 2024 directly from the DoD.

Don’t forget, BAH rates vary with whether or not you have dependents. Also, if the BAH in your local area decreased, you will remain locked into the BAH you had originally. This is called BAH protection.

Here are a few BAH rates from 2023 compared to the rates for 2024 for an O-2 without dependents:

Military Installation

2023 

2024

Vandenberg AFB, CA

$2,748

$3,069

Columbus AFB, MS

$1,146

$1,281

Hanscom AFB, MA

$3,324

$3,816

Grand Forks AFB, ND

$1,371

$1,455

You can always use the BAH calculator for 2024 as you are thinking about PCS locations for next summer, and of course, reach out if you need any home loan or real estate help during your next military move!

]]> Top 10 Military BAH Questions https://wevett.com/2023/blog/general/top-10-military-bah-questions/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:33:47 +0000 https://wevetthomeloans.com/?p=4637

When you are in the military, you can expect homes to change, schools to change, and even military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates to change with every new PCS location.

As long as you know the right questions to ask for each new move, you can stay ahead of the PCS rollercoaster.

Have questions about your new BAH rates or what military BAH even is? We have answers – keep reading!

Q1. What is the Basic Allowance for Housing?

A1. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a monetary allowance provided to military service members to help cover the cost of housing when they are not living in government-provided housing or on a military installation.

Multiple factors determine BAH rates, including duty location, rank and whether or not you have dependents. The rates are subject to change based on the defense budget.

The Department of Defense releases updated rates annually in December. The rates begin on Jan. 1 of the following year.

Q2. How is military BAH calculated?

A2. The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) handles BAH for the entire Department of Defense.

To calculate BAH, DTMO collects data on housing costs like rent and utilities from military housing areas across the United States. Then, it profiles that data for apartments, townhouses, and single-family rental units of varying size.

DTMO links housing profiles with specific pay grades and dependency statuses. The chart below shows the outline of the six standard housing profiles.

Military Housing Profiles chart

Q3. Where can I look up my rates?

A3. You can look up your BAH rate by zip code through the WeVett BAH calculator! You can also find all of the rates on the DTMO website.

Q4. Why is BAH not covering full housing costs?

A4. BAH covers 95% of median housing costs in a military housing area.

Originally, BAH was calculated to cover 80% of housing costs. In 2000, the Secretary of Defense authorized a BAH increase to close the gap, and by 2005, BAH was covering 100% of off-base living expenses.

However, the 2015 and 2016 Defense Authorization Acts eliminated renters insurance from the calculations and a cost-sharing element was introduced to shift some housing expenses back to service members, which is why today it is at 95%.

Q5. Is military BAH designed to offset costs of renting or purchasing a home?

A5. Service members are free to use their BAH how they choose, but BAH should not be expected to cover all homeowner expenses.

By design, BAH only considers the median cost of renting locally, not the home purchase market.

Q6. Does family size make a difference in the BAH rate a service member receives?

A6. No. While BAH distinguishes between with-dependent and without-dependent status, the with-dependent compensation is based on comparable civilians using average family size.

BAH rates do not increase with multiple dependents.

A service member married with no kids and a service member married with four kids receives the same with-dependent rate.

Use the BAH calculator to determine your rates with and without dependents.

Q7. Why is BAH based on service member’s duty location and not residence location?

A7. Duty station is the basis for BAH so that members are compensated for the typical housing cost near that installation. Once the member is assigned, the BAH compensation is fixed, regardless of where the member chooses to live.

If the DoD based it on the residential location then people would be incentivized to live in certain places to make more money versus the lower paying areas.

Q8. I am divorced with children, what is my BAH?

A8. The service member has to have primary or sole custody of their children to continue to receive with-dependent BAH unless they are in government-provided family housing.

If the service member does not have custody of the children following the divorce then the member will receive the without-dependent rate.

Q9. What is BAH for dual-military couples?

A9. BAH for dual-military couples depends on whether or not the couple has children or not.

If the couple has children, one service member will receive the with-dependent BAH rate and one will receive the without-dependent rate. If the couple does not have children, both members will receive the without-dependent rate.

Use our BAH calculator to determine your rates with and without dependents.

Q10. What happens when military BAH rates change?

A10. If BAH rates go up in your area, your benefits will increase as well. If the rates go down, your BAH will remain the same.

BAH rate protection protects your benefits from going down if the rates decrease while living at your duty location.

Your BAH rates would only change if you PCS, if you have a reduction in pay grade, or a change in dependency status.

]]> 5 Highest, Lowest Locations for 2023 BAH Increase https://wevett.com/2022/blog/general/2023-bah-increase/ Sat, 17 Dec 2022 01:24:39 +0000 http://192.168.128.88/?p=323

Military compensation has taken major steps lately in preparation for 2023.

We’ve known for a while about the expected 4.6% pay increase for service members happening in January, but the largest BAH increase in history announced this week was icing on the cake (for most service members, at least.)

The Department of Defense released the 2023 BAH rates Thursday and, on average, rates are jumping 12.1% nationally.

 

Of the 300 designated military housing areas, 291 will see increases in BAH, five will see decreases and four areas will stay the same.

Not every rank at each location is increasing or decreasing to the same degree. Make sure to double check what your specific rate change is before making any assumptions or financial decisions. Visit our BAH Calculator to see 2023 rates.

We’ve collected the rates for the top areas who have seen the largest increase and also those who have seen the smallest increase, or unfortunately, decrease in rates.*

Using the rank of O-3 with dependents as an example, here they are:

Top Five Locations for the Largest Increase*

1. Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA

2022: $2,571 | 2023: $3,102

——–INCREASE OF $531

2. Patrick AFB, FL

2022: $2,154 | 2023: $2,730

——–INCREASE OF $576

3. Dover Air Force Base, DE

2022: $1,920 | 2023: $2,514

——–INCREASE OF $594

4. Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base, CA

2022: $1,977 | 2023: $2,706

——–INCREASE OF $729

5. Miami, FL

2022: $3,054 | 2023: $3,939

——–INCREASE OF $885

Top Five Locations for the Lowest Increase*

1. Lake Charles, LA

2022: $2,016 | 2023: $1,794

——–DECREASE OF $222

2. Alamogordo, NM

2022: $1,587 | 2023: $1,539

——–DECREASE OF $48

3. Enid, OK

2022: $1,512 | 2023: $1,488

——–DECREASE OF $24

4. Buffalo, NY

2022: $2,403 | 2023: $2,484

——–INCREASE OF $81

5. Long Island, NY

2022: $4,245 | 2023: $4,383

——–INCREASE OF $138

*This is only an example. Some ranks BAH rates may have increased or decreased to lesser degrees at the above bases.

Rates are falling on average in Lake Charles, LA by 10%; Alamogordo, NM, by 4%; Long Island, NY, and Enid, OK by 2%; and Buffalo, NY, by 1%.

Some of the largest increases are happening in California and Florida.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the changes at Eglin Air Force Base and surrounding areas.

Are you PCSing or thinking about buying a home at your current location? The BAH rate change might have affected your purchasing power!

To connect with a lending specialist from WeVett Home Loans – text/call 316-669-5272 or contact hello@wevett.com to discuss your specific situation with one of our realty experts from our sister company, WeVett Realty.

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