Military Housing - Military Times

Paying more for homeownership

By the Pentagon’s standards, single E-7s are paid enough housing allowance to rent a two-bedroom townhouse.

But Air Force Master Sgt. Lisa Patton doesn’t see renting as an option.

“I don’t believe in paying other people money when I can own a house myself,” said Patton, with the 88th Mission Support Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

So she’s paying about $950 a month into a 30-year mortgage on a three-bedroom, two-bath home off base. “Me and my doggy needs lots of room,” she joked.

But Patton’s monthly Basic Allowance for Housing is only $894, which leaves her paying more than $50 out of pocket each month toward the house — plus another $300 per month for utilities.

Patton understands that comfortable living has a price and has pulled back her expenses in other areas to allow herself the housing she prefers, she said.

It hasn’t been easy. As an E-6 in 2005, she was drawing $886 per month in BAH at her previous station, Dover Air Force Base, Del. Even with a promotion, Patton’s move to Wright-Patterson cut her monthly BAH to $733.

“I was shocked at how much less I would be making here, and how much I would have to pay out of pocket,” she said.

Patton has no complaints about her housing situation — but she’s not happy with the higher BAH afforded those with dependents.

“I don’t agree that [service members with dependents] should be paid more for their house,” Patton said. “Should I have to live in the ghetto somewhere just because I want to live in a nicer house? I should get paid the money that they get.”

If the proposal of a Pentagon study group to boost BAH rates for single members comes through, Patton would receive $238 more per month in housing allowance.

If that happened, she said she would keep her house and put the new money toward other things.

In particular, she said she would be able to increase her contributions to her church.

And, she added, “I’d be able to do more shopping.”