New BAH Rates! Did yours go up or down?

Hunting for a house can feel somewhere between a safari adventure or a panic-driven scramble fighting against everyone else who PCS’d at the same time as you. Not only do you need to wonder how much that squeaky tile will bother you if you do indeed rent that house, or how important having a bathtub is to you, but how much Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) you have and how much it will cover.

BAH brings up many influencing questions in your house hunting escapades. Do you want to pay out of pocket? Do you stay under your rate but live further from the base? These questions can throw you in a whirlwind, but let’s pause and uncover what BAH looks like for your area to help you have the numbers you need. Knowing your BAH allows you to objectively choose the updated tile vs. two-car garage, knowing both are within your range.

According to Military Benefits, the increase in BAH for 2022 is sitting at an average 2.7% rate. As much as rate increases may feel like a lotto number pulled randomly, the Employment Cost Index or ECI helps determine the new rate within negotiations of the Defense Budget in Congress. This recent BAH increase will be effective January 1st, 2022, but will not show up in paystubs until mid-month on January 14th.

To look up how your specific ZIP code may vary, head to the Defense Travel Website and enter your ZIP code for 2022! All rates below are the amount of BAH with dependents.

And remember, if you are interested in finding a home, contact us and let’s connect you to one of our vetted realtors near you to help get you in a home you’ll love with the BAH rate you’ll have in 2022!