Should You Choose On-Post Housing or Off-Post Housing?
Should you choose on‑post housing or off‑base living? Can you make buying a home work within your BAH?
This decision is one of the most important you’ll make during a PCS — especially when you’re stationed at or around Fort Leavenworth, Kansas City, or the surrounding Kansas and Missouri communities.
Here’s a clear, military‑focused look at your options so you can make the best choice for your mission, your family, and your financial future.
Understanding Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a monthly, tax‑free benefit designed to help cover housing costs when government quarters aren’t provided. It’s based on:
Your rank (pay grade)
Whether you have dependents
Your duty station’s housing market (like Fort Leavenworth)
For example, 2026 BAH rates at Fort Leavenworth range roughly from about $1,410 per month for junior enlisted without dependents to over $2,400 for senior enlisted with dependents — and $2508 for majors with dependents.
Important detail: BAH is calculated based on rental housing costs in the local market — not homeownership costs like property taxes or insurance.
Living in On‑Post Military Housing
🔹 Pros of On‑Base Living
Housing provided: Rent and many utilities are covered — you don’t have to shop for a rental or worry about market fluctuations.
Convenience: You’re typically close to work, commissary, medical, schools, and base services.
Community support: Many service members value living among others who share military life.
🔸 Cons of On‑Base Living
Your full BAH goes toward the provided housing: You don’t get that allowance directly, so you don’t keep any difference if the market rental costs are below your BAH.
Limited choice: Housing types and locations are fixed, and there may be waiting lists.
Less freedom: Exterior and interior changes are usually restricted, and space or layout may not match your preferences.
If simplicity, community, and convenience are priorities — especially for first assignments or while attending schoolhouses — on‑base living can be worth it.
Living Off‑Post in the Community
🔹 Renting Off‑Base
Advantages
Freedom and flexibility: You choose your neighborhood, floorplan, and lifestyle.
Potential savings: If your rent is lower than your BAH, you keep the difference.
Military clause protections: Most leases near military installations include clauses letting you break the lease if you receive new orders.
Challenges
In some markets — including parts of the Kansas City area — local rents can be equal to or higher than your BAH, meaning you may pay out of pocket.
You’re responsible for utilities, maintenance, and landlord relationships.
Renting off‑base is often ideal if you want more control over where you live and can find housing that stays within your BAH budget.
Buying a Home - Is It a Good Fit?
Yes - you can use your BAH to help pay a mortgage. There’s no rule forcing you to rent - and many service members use VA loans with no down payment to buy.
Why buying might make sense
You start building equity instead of spending on rent.
VA loans often mean lower upfront costs and no PMI (private mortgage insurance).
If your BAH covers most or all of your mortgage and home costs, you can essentially live “for what you’re already earning.”
Why it might not
Homeownership adds property taxes, insurance, and maintenance — things BAH doesn’t account for.
If you PCS in less than ~3–5 years, you might not build enough equity to cover closing costs when selling.
In some locations, housing prices have risen faster than BAH, making buying less affordable while on active duty.
In markets like Fort Leavenworth/Kansas City, affordability relative to BAH can be better than in coastal cities, which can make buying more attractive — but local market research is key.
Choosing What’s Right for You
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Option | Best For | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| On‑Base Housing | Ease & community | No direct BAH pocketed, limited choices |
| Rent Off‑Base | Flexibility & potential savings | Must find rentals under your BAH |
| Buy a Home | Long‑term goals & equity | Needs stable assignment/market analysis |
Final Thoughts
There’s no universal answer — only the right answer for your situation.
If you want simplicity and community or you’re newly stationed, on‑base housing might be appealing.
If you want control, flexibility, and potential savings, renting off‑base could be better — especially if you find a place below your BAH.
If you’re planning to stay for a few years and want to build long‑term wealth, buying may be a powerful tool — as long as you carefully weigh local housing costs, projected PCS timelines, and your financial goals.
Understanding how your BAH fits with rent, mortgage, and real‑world costs is critical — and planning ahead will save stress and money down the road.
👉 What to Do Next
After reading this, you’re ready to go deeper.
Watch my YouTube video on this topic — I break this down with examples, local Fort Leavenworth/Kansas City housing data, and decision tools to help you choose the best path for you and your family. I’d love to talk with you about your options amd share our experiences of living on post twice and in the community and having now settled here in retirement.
📺 Watch now and make your housing decision with confidence!
