On and Off-Base Housing & Living

Finding the right place to live is part of the adventure of military life. Your housing options will be influenced by several factors, including your rank, location, family size, whether you decide to live on or off an installation, and whether you prefer to rent or buy a home. In addition, you may have specialized needs to factor into your housing decision.

Before you decide where to build your nest, it’s important to know about all of your resources so you can weigh the information and make the best choice for you and your family.

Moving as part of your military life means that you will likely have several housing options to choose from once you reach your new location. Here are some basic housing facts to consider:

For military families, the decision to rent or buy a house may surface over and over. Both options have benefits. Renting offers lower maintenance fees and up-front costs, greater relocation flexibility and a decreased risk of loss if housing values decrease. Buying can provide tax breaks, lower monthly costs (depending on interest rates), the option to renovate or customize, and a chance to build some financial equity.

ARTICLES & EXTERNAL RESOURCES FOR DECIDING WHETHER TO RENT OR BUY

• Renting vs. Buying After a Relocation
• Is Buying Right for You?
• Is Renting Right for You?

Renters insurance protects your personal belongings if they’re damaged or stolen due to events like fire, theft or vandalism. It’s useful whether you live on or off base, and typically covers:

• Repair or replacement of your belongings
• Coverage during military moves
• Temporary living expense if repairs force you out
• Liability protection for accidental injuries
• Belongings stolen or damaged outside your home
• Food spoilage from a power outage
• Limited credit card fraud protection

It usually does not cover hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, pests or certain dog breeds.

Renters insurance isn’t required by law, but landlords may require it. Some government or installation housing may include limited coverage, so always check.

Policies are often inexpensive, around $15 to $30 per month for $30,000 in property coverage and $100,000 in liability coverage. Costs depend on location, credit, deductible and past claims. Review and update your policy annually or after major life changes.

You can buy renters insurance through an insurance company or agent, and you may get discounts for bundling with auto or other policies.

Living on an installation offers major advantages — especially convenience. Child care, medical services, playgrounds, fitness centers, libraries, grocery shopping and recreation are all close to home. If you’re considering installation living or are new to it, here are key programs and resources to help you settle in and make the most of your community.

Military and Family Support Centers

Your installation’s Military and Family Support  Center is your one-stop resource for assistance of all kinds. Through the Military Family  Readiness  System, you can  access:

• Loan closets
• Newcomer briefings
• Family Readiness Groups
• Deployment
• Family life education and counseling
• Spouse education and career services
• Financial readiness resources

Child Care and Youth Program

Installations offer a variety of military child care programs, including child development centers, school-age care, youth and teen programs and sponsorships. Contact your installation  CDC or youth center to learn what’s available locally.

School Liaisons

School liaisons help families navigate education-related issues for children in grades Pre-K through 12. They can support you with choosing schools, transferring credits, enrolling at your new location, finding tutors, accessing deployment support and connecting with EFMP services. Before a move, ask your current liaison to link you with your gaining installation’s liaison for a smooth transition. Contact your installation School Liaison Program office for more information.

Commissary and Exchange

Beyond savings on groceries and electronics, your installation’s commissary and exchange offer resources such as scholarships, employment opportunities and healthy living tools.

Military Spouse Resources

If you’re a military spouse, you can access tools to help with transferring professional licenses, finding employment, continuing your education, or receiving counseling and family support.

Military OneSource offers tips to make the most of living on an installation, such as taking advantage of the programs and activities available on base, ideas for getting to know the people in your neighborhood and connecting with your Military and Family Support Center.

An accessible home is one with modifications that let an individual with disabilities do what they want and need to do, as independently as possible. Service members or veterans with disabilities may be eligible for assistance under one or more Department of Veterans Affairs programs.

Military OneSource highlights some government and community resources that can provide financial and technical assistance for home modifications to allow for more comfort at home. The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification provides home modification and repair resources in each state.

Take the guesswork out of home financing by using a few financial calculators available through Military OneSource and the Office of Financial Readiness. These tools allow you to figure out the numbers for a variety of situations, such as comparing the cost of refinancing your home against the interest you pay on your current loan, computing what your principal payment should be and determining the estimated payments and interest for an adjustable-rate loan.

Use these housing calculators from the War Department Office of Financial Readiness to:

• Compare rental to purchase costs
• Compare a 15 vs. 30-year mortgage
• Estimate total closing costs
• Understand your estimated monthly payments
• Explore purchasing mortgage points

The following Military OneSource financial calculators can also help answer more home finance questions. (Note: you must log in to or create a Military OneSource account to access these calculators.)

Still have questions or need help finding information? Learn more about free personal financial counseling options available through Military OneSource and installation Military and Family Support Centers.

Access classes, seminars, one-on-one counseling and additional information to help you and your family manage finances, resolve financial problems and reach long-term goals such as buying a home, getting an education and planning for retirement.