BAH Doesn’t Stretch Like It Did 18 Months Ago: What Incoming Military Families Need to Know

By Wendolyn Perdue, REALTOR® | MRP, ABR, SRS, PSA
EXIT Realty Cahaba | Serving Central Alabama, Cahaba Valley & the Tri-County Community

BAH in today’s market doesn’t stretch the way it did even 18 months ago—and incoming military families are feeling it immediately. Rent prices, home prices, utilities, insurance, and everyday expenses have continued to rise while BAH adjustments haven’t always kept pace with the reality on the ground. What once covered a comfortable home with room to breathe may now require families to make tougher choices about commute times, square footage, school districts, or amenities.

For many families relocating into a new duty station, the biggest challenge is adjusting expectations early. The reality is that some buyers and renters may need to look outside the most popular neighborhoods, consider smaller homes, older properties, townhomes, or even temporary housing solutions while they learn the market. It’s also becoming more common for families to budget for some out-of-pocket housing expenses each month instead of expecting BAH to fully cover every cost tied to housing.

The good news is families still have options—but planning matters more now than ever. Working with a local REALTOR® who understands military relocation, VA financing, and the actual market conditions can help families avoid costly mistakes and make smarter decisions from the beginning. Flexibility, early research, and understanding needs versus wants can make a major difference. Today’s market may require a different strategy than it did a year and a half ago, but with the right guidance, families can still find stability, comfort, and long-term opportunity.

Wendolyn Perdue, REALTOR®
MRP, ABR, SRS, PSA
EXIT Realty Cahaba
Serving Central Alabama, Cahaba Valley & the Tri-County Community
334.306.0949
Email: wperrealest@gmail.com