Home / Housing and BAH / 2026 BAH and VA loan tips
See What Your BAH Can Really Buy
The 2026 BAH rates for Naval Base Ventura County, by pay grade, with a calculator that shows the home price your housing allowance covers on a VA loan.
2026 BAH for Port Hueneme and Point Mugu
Both sites fall under the Ventura, CA Military Housing Area, CA025. Pick your pay grade to see your monthly BAH and the home price where BAH alone covers the payment.
BAH to buying power
That is under the median in every city here, so BAH alone points to condos and townhomes. Your base pay raises the number.
Estimate assumes a 6.5% 30 year fixed VA rate, zero down, about 1.25% property tax and 0.35% insurance. Illustration only, not a rate quote or a commitment to lend. It leaves out the VA funding fee, HOA dues and Mello-Roos. Lenders qualify you on total income, not BAH alone, so your real number is usually higher.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-4 | $3,378 | $2,652 |
| E-5 | $3,537 | $3,018 |
| E-6 | $4,008 | $3,228 |
| E-7 | $4,083 | $3,381 |
| E-8 | $4,161 | $3,636 |
| E-9 | $4,305 | $3,771 |
| W-1 | $4,029 | $3,333 |
| W-2 | $4,116 | $3,633 |
| W-3 | $4,215 | $3,789 |
| W-4 | $4,341 | $4,020 |
| W-5 | $4,497 | $4,101 |
| O-1E | $4,095 | $3,534 |
| O-2E | $4,200 | $3,741 |
| O-3E | $4,365 | $4,002 |
| O-1 | $3,600 | $3,213 |
| O-2 | $4,002 | $3,486 |
| O-3 | $4,212 | $3,834 |
| O-4 | $4,545 | $4,080 |
| O-5 | $4,788 | $4,122 |
| O-6 | $4,830 | $4,194 |
| O-7 | $4,866 | $4,269 |
How to use the number
BAH resets every January. If rates in your area drop, rate protection keeps yours where it is as long as you stay at the same duty station and your status does not change.
For most pay grades the calculator lands below the median house price here. That is normal on this coast, and it does not mean you cannot buy. Lenders qualify you on total income. Base pay, BAS, special pays and a spouse's income all count.
Three ways families close the gap:
- Start with a condo or townhome. Port Hueneme and Oxnard have the supply. Check the VA approved condos page first.
- Use both incomes. A working spouse changes the picture more than a promotion does.
- Ask for seller help. Credits toward closing costs or a rate buydown lower what you bring and what you pay.
VA loan tips that save real money
- BAH counts as income. It is tax free, which helps your ratios even more.
- Zero down, no PMI. With full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, even in a county this expensive.
- Know your funding fee. With less than 5% down it is 2.15% the first time you use a VA loan and 3.3% after that. You can roll it into the loan. It is waived if you receive VA disability compensation.
- Ask the seller to pay. The seller can cover your closing costs and add concessions worth up to 4% of the home's value.
- Buy before you arrive. A spouse can satisfy the VA occupancy rule, and VA generally expects move in within 60 days of closing.
- Keep it when you leave. You can rent the home out when the next orders come and buy again with your remaining entitlement.
- Disabled veteran? California's property tax exemption got much bigger for 2027. Read the SB 296 page.
Want the basics first? See how a VA loan works.
Money the move itself pays
| Allowance | What it is | 2026 figure |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Lodging Expense | Lodging and meals between homes on a stateside move | Up to 21 days, up to $290 a day |
| Dislocation Allowance | One time payment toward setting up a new household | $3,548.02 with dependents, E-1 through E-6 |
| Dislocation Allowance | $3,551.31 for E-7, $3,824.94 for E-8, $4,149.51 for E-9 |
Confirm both with your pay office before you budget. The full move timeline is on the PCS checklist.
Questions people ask
What is BAH for Port Hueneme in 2026?
For 2026, E-1 through E-4 with dependents receive $3,378 a month, an E-5 receives $3,537, an E-6 receives $4,008 and an O-3 receives $4,212. Without dependents the E-5 rate is $3,018.
Is BAH the same at Point Mugu and Port Hueneme?
Yes. Both are in the Ventura, CA Military Housing Area, CA025.
Can I buy a house on BAH alone in Ventura County?
BAH alone covers a home from roughly $350,000 to $640,000 depending on pay grade and dependents, which points to condos and townhomes. Lenders count your total income, so most buyers qualify for more.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Military Housing Area CA025, cross checked across published tables; VA funding fee and loan limit pages; Defense Travel Management Office TLE notice; Department of Defense 2026 DLA rate memo. Hours, prices, laws and dates change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
Keep going
Get your real number
The calculator uses BAH alone. A lender counts your whole income. A pre-approval with Adam takes about 15 minutes and tells you exactly what you can buy.