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17 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 41 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.
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If you're stationed where your family doesn't live, your BAH is based on your duty station, not their location. The rule, the money reality, the OCONUS exception, and where BAH-Diff and FSA apply.
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.
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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). Side-by-side comparison.
Get your VA loan COE three ways: a lender's LGY portal (often instant), VA.gov, or mail with Form 26-1880. Documents needed and typical timelines for each.
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.
VA loans require you to occupy the home as primary residence within 60 days of closing and intend to live there for ~12 months. Spouse occupancy, deployments, PCS, and edge cases.
BAH can fund a mortgage payment, but should it? Here's a clear-eyed framework for the rent vs. buy decision for military families and separating veterans.
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.
PCS moves change your BAH rate, sometimes significantly. Here's the exact timeline of when rates change, what you receive during the move, and how to budget the gap.
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.