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BAH Frequently Asked Questions

A member assigned to permanent duty within the 50 United States, who is not furnished government housing, is eligible for BAH, based on the member's rank, dependency status, and permanent duty station zip code.

BAH rates are calculated using current median market rents and average local expenditures on utilities (electricity, water, sewer, and heating fuel) in each local market area, and will fluctuate as those costs change.

If you are promoted, your BAH rate is the then-current published BAH for your new (higher) grade, with the following exception. If you get promoted, and are in a location where the current published BAH for your new grade is lower than the BAH amount you were receiving before, you continue to receive the higher BAH amount.

BAH is based on rental data. A homeowner's monthly mortgage payment is not used in the computation because the monthly cash outlay of a homeowner is not a good indicator of the economic costs of home ownership. The variables needed to compute this include such difficult to measure factors as the expected appreciation in the value of the residence, the amount of down payment, the opportunity costs of interest from down payments, settlement costs, and the tax savings due to the interest and tax payments deduction. Therefore, BAH reflects the current rental market conditions not the historical circumstances surrounding various mortgage loans.

On average, the cost of renter's insurance contributed about $20/month to the Basic Allowance for Housing rates, with the actual amount varying by grade and location. Members who obtain renter's insurance will now need to budget for this expense separately.

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

BAH rates are based on local area rental market data and vary by geographic duty station, pay grade, and dependency status. The cost of utilities is also considered. BAH is based only on rental properties, not homeownership costs like mortgage payments and property taxes. BAH also includes rate protection. This means, if a member’s current BAH rate is less than the previous year, the member receives at least the same amount of BAH as the previous year, provided that the member’s duty location, rank and dependency status stays the same. If BAH rates go up, the member will receive the higher BAH rate as long as eligibility is uninterrupted. This ensures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area's housing costs decrease.

BAH enables service members to live off-base comparably to their civilian counterparts. It is not designed to cover all housing costs for all members. Some members may have out-of-pocket expenses, because rates are based on the median cost of rent. A member’s actual expenses may be higher or lower based on a member’s actual choice of housing and where they live. Because members are free to make housing choices that best suit their needs, a member may choose to use all their housing allowance to rent more expensive housing close to the duty station, or have a longer commute for either a larger or less expensive house in an outlying area.

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*The cash back bonus is offered in most states. In some states a gift card or commission reduction at closing may be provided in lieu of the cash back bonus. The program is not available for employer- sponsored relocations or transactions in Iowa or outside the United States. The cash back bonus is not available in Alaska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing. The cash back bonus is only available with the purchase and/or sale of your home through the use of a participating program real estate agent who is introduced to you by PCSgrades. The actual amount you receive is based on the purchase and/or sale price of your home, and the real estate commission negotiated between you and your assigned program real estate agent. The program award is not available in certain transactions with restricted agent commissions (including many new construction, For Sale by Owner, or For Sale by iBuyer transactions) and shall not exceed the amount of the co-operative brokerage (referral) fee paid by the program agent/broker to PCSgrades. Your assigned agent can help you identify transactions where the award would not be available. Other terms and conditions may apply. This is not a solicitation if you are already represented by a real estate broker. Please check with a program Customer Service Representative for details. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. PCSgrades fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

By participating in the program you agree to have your information shared with a participating Real Estate Agent and they may contact you by phone, email, or text message including by automated means about real estate services.

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