Your BAH can buy a home with $0 down. See your maximum purchase price and compare the wealth you build owning vs. renting.
1. Enter your BAH. Your Basic Allowance for Housing is the starting point. Enter your ZIP and rank to auto-look it up, or type it in manually.
2. Set your housing budget. Default is 85% of BAH toward PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance), reserving 15% for maintenance. Slide higher if using base pay or spouse income to increase buying power.
3. VA loan benefits built in. $0 down payment, no PMI. First-time funding fee is 2.15% (3.3% subsequent use). Disability rating above 10% waives the fee entirely.
4. Adjust assumptions. Interest rate, property tax, appreciation, rent growth, BAH growth, closing/selling costs, and down payment are all editable. Hover the info icons for guidance on realistic ranges.
5. Rent vs. Buy comparison. We project your total rent lost vs. equity built (principal paydown + home appreciation, minus transaction costs) over your chosen timeline.
6. Actionable verdict. The calculator tells you whether buying or renting makes more financial sense for your specific scenario, with a break-even month when applicable.
Enter your ZIP code and rank above