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16 articles in Housing & Benefits
VA home loans, housing assistance, BAH transition, and housing benefits for separating service members. Browse all articles below or explore other categories for more military transition resources.
Military Transition Toolkit publishes in-depth guides across 39 categories to help active duty service members, reservists, and retirees navigate every aspect of military transition. Each article is written with practical, actionable advice you can use immediately — whether you are 12 months from separation or already building your civilian career.
VA home loans, housing assistance, BAH transition, and housing benefits for separating service members. Our content is updated regularly and covers topics from VA disability claims and compensation to career planning, financial readiness, and state-by-state veteran benefits.
Looking for something specific? Browse our other categories or use the resources page for curated links to official VA, DoD, and veteran service organization websites. All tools and content on Military Transition Toolkit are free — no account required for public resources.
Start with our most popular tools: the VA combined rating calculator, retirement pay calculator, 50-state benefits comparison, and military resume builder. Each tool is designed specifically for the unique challenges of military-to-civilian transition.
Top articles in this category:
BAH rates change annually and can increase or decrease. Here's how DoD sets BAH rates, what the rate protection rules are, and how to plan for rate changes.
BAH timing during a PCS can leave gaps where you're paying for housing before your allowance kicks in. Here's how to navigate housing costs during a move.
BAH Partial and BAH Differential are two lesser-known BAH rates that apply in specific situations. Here's who gets each rate, what it covers, and how it compares to standard BAH.
BAH is federal tax-free — but it still affects your taxes. State rules, mortgage deductions, and how housing allowance fits your full pay picture.
Current VA funding fee schedule: 2.15% first use, 3.3% subsequent, 1.5% with 5-10% down, 1.25% with 10%+ down, 0.5% IRRRL. Plus who gets it waived entirely.
Three ways to get your COE: through a lender via VA LGY Hub (fastest, often instant), online at VA.gov, or by mail with VA Form 26-1880.
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IRRRL is the streamline refi (0.5% funding fee, no appraisal). Cash-out lets you pull equity or refi a non-VA loan into VA (2.15-3.3% funding fee).
VA loans require you to occupy the home as primary residence within 60 days of closing. Spouse occupancy, deployments, PCS, and edge cases.
VA Loan Technicians intervene with your servicer to negotiate forbearance, repayment plans, modifications, or compromise sales. They help even if your loan isn't a VA loan.
BAH makes homeownership tempting — but frequent PCS moves change the math completely. Here's how to decide whether renting or buying makes financial sense at your duty station.
OCONUS uses OHA, not BAH — a reimbursement model with utility and move-in allowances. How it works and why you won't pocket the difference.
When both spouses are active duty, each gets their own BAH — but dependents change everything. Exactly how dual-military BAH works.
Your BAH rate changes with every PCS — and the timing matters. Here's how BAH adjusts during a move, when rate protection applies, and how to plan for the transition.
Your BAH stops on your separation date — there's no grace period. Here's when the last payment hits, the few exceptions that extend it, and how to bridge the gap.
How your BAH rate is set, with vs. without dependents, and when it changes. A plain-English guide to the military Basic Allowance for Housing in 2026.
Master your VA home loan benefit. Learn how to get pre-approval, choose a property, and close on your home with zero down payment.