Many military families choose to live off base, for a variety of reasons, one of those may be to own their own home. Some buy a home for use as a rental property and others own for a few years whiel they live there and then sell. Either way, it can seem overwhelming when it’s time to buy and sell a house.
Related: 5 Reasons to Live Off Base
Military officials and lawmakers know that moving is expensive, and the cost of living depends on your location. That's why they give you a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to live off base and a Dislocation Allowance (DLA) when you move. Both of those allotments are aimed at covering some of those expenses.
But, the military doesn't dictate is what you do with that cash. That means you can spend it on whatever housing you like -- rental, buying a home or living on base. All of those options come with some downsides, and closing costs on a home and increased risk are two of the downsides to choosing to buy.
The military does not pay closing costs or give you money to buy a new home. Which is why many families choose to wait until closer to retirement or ETS until buying a home. And why they spend a lot of time saving up for their “forever home.”
If closing costs are too expensive, consider choosing a small upfront cost option like renting. Another method could be using a VA home loan since that option requires no money down.
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