2026 BAH Rates for Hunter Army Airfield & Fort Stewart: A Coastal Georgia Buying-Power Guide
BAH is not a budget, it is a floor for housing cost that gets paired with VA financing. For 2026, a Hunter Army Airfield E-6 with dependents receives $2,652 per month, while a Fort Stewart E-6 with dependents receives $2,439 per month. The right question is not “What house equals my BAH?” but “What price range keeps my mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA, and repair buffer inside a sustainable monthly number?” We help military buyers run that math first, because buying power shifts quickly across Coastal Georgia.
In BriefBAH is a monthly housing allowance tied to duty-station location, pay grade, and dependent status.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. military housing allowance for service members in the 50 states when government quarters are not provided. The Defense Travel Management Office defines BAH as compensation based on local civilian housing markets, not as a promise to cover every housing choice a service member makes. It also notes that actual out-of-pocket cost can run higher or lower than the prescribed rate, depending on housing choice. (travel.dod.mil)
DoD updates BAH annually. For 2026, the official release states that rates rose an average of 4.2 percent, took effect January 1, 2026, and are set for both with- and without-dependents categories using local rent, utility, and housing-cost data across 299 military housing areas. (U.S. Department of War)
One distinction matters: “without dependents” is still a locality-based rate. BAH-II (non-locality BAH) is a separate category for certain Reserve Component, transient, partial, or BAH-Diff situations. The official rate lookup page separates normal ZIP-based BAH from non-locality rates. (Defense Travel Management Office)
Alex’s note: As a veteran who has helped military families plan PCS moves, we treat BAH as a planning anchor, not permission to spend every dollar.
2026 BAH rates for Hunter AAF and Fort Stewart (Hunter AAF: MHA GA077, ZIP 31409, Chatham County; Fort Stewart: MHA GA080, Liberty County)
In brief: Hunter AAF falls under the Savannah MHA, GA077, while Fort Stewart falls under the Fort Stewart MHA, GA080. That MHA split is why the same rank can receive different BAH depending on assigned duty station.
Hunter Army Airfield uses ZIP 31409 and is located in Savannah, while Fort Stewart is located in Hinesville in Liberty County. Military OneSource places Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Liberty County, about 41 miles southwest of Savannah. (Army Installations)
The official BAH component breakdown identifies GA077 as Savannah, GA and GA080 as Fort Stewart, GA.
For full PCS neighborhood context, start with the Hunter AAF and Fort Stewart buyer’s guide.
Duty station / MHA | Rank | 2026 with dependents | 2026 without dependents |
Hunter AAF / GA077 Savannah | E-5 | $2,415 | $1,968 |
Hunter AAF / GA077 Savannah | E-6 | $2,652 | $2,073 |
Hunter AAF / GA077 Savannah | E-7 | $2,685 | $2,241 |
Hunter AAF / GA077 Savannah | W-2 | $2,697 | $2,463 |
Hunter AAF / GA077 Savannah | O-3 | $2,745 | $2,562 |
Fort Stewart / GA080 Fort Stewart | E-5 | $2,310 | $1,947 |
Fort Stewart / GA080 Fort Stewart | E-6 | $2,439 | $2,049 |
Fort Stewart / GA080 Fort Stewart | E-7 | $2,493 | $2,178 |
Fort Stewart / GA080 Fort Stewart | W-2 | $2,520 | $2,337 |
Fort Stewart / GA080 Fort Stewart | O-3 | $2,598 | $2,385 |
The defensetravel.dod.mil BAH calculator and the newer official BAH Rate Lookup should be treated as the source of truth before writing an offer, because pay grade, dependent status, year, and permanent-duty ZIP code control the result. (Defense Travel Management Office)
Translating BAH into a Coastal GA price range: the worked math
In brief: At the 2026 Hunter E-6 with-dependents BAH of $2,652, a conservative VA buyer should test the low $300,000s before assuming taxes, insurance, flood risk, and HOA dues will fit.
A $2,652 monthly BAH does not equal a $2,652 principal-and-interest payment. For a Hunter AAF E-6 with dependents, we stress-test it like this:
Monthly line item | Example planning amount |
2026 Hunter AAF E-6 BAH with dependents | $2,652 |
Estimated property taxes | -$320 |
Homeowners and flood insurance buffer | -$220 |
HOA or neighborhood dues buffer | -$100 |
Routine repair and maintenance reserve | -$112 |
Approximate room left for principal and interest | $1,900 |
The 6.5 percent rate is a planning input, not a promise: Freddie Mac’s May 28, 2026 weekly average for a 30-year fixed was 6.53 percent. At that rate, about $1,900 in principal and interest supports roughly a $300,000 loan, before underwriting, VA funding-fee treatment, and escrow items. (Freddie Mac)
That is where Coastal Georgia military buyer help matters. National aggregators give a broad allowance number; we translate it into street-level math: commute patterns, flood-zone exposure, insurance realities, resale demand, and rental potential.
Why your BAH goes further at Fort Stewart vs Hunter AAF (and where that breaks)
In brief: Fort Stewart BAH is lower than Hunter BAH, but Liberty County pricing can still make Fort Stewart feel more affordable. The break point is commute tolerance, school preference, flood risk, and whether the property will rent well after your next PCS.
A Fort Stewart E-6 with dependents receives $2,439, which is $213 less per month than the Hunter rate. But Hinesville and Liberty County often start from a lower price base than Pooler or Richmond Hill.
Realtor.com data shows median listing prices of about $379,900 in Pooler, $461,100 in Richmond Hill, and $265,500 in Hinesville. That gap is why a lower Fort Stewart allowance can still deliver practical buying power for buyers comfortable with Liberty County options. (Realtor)
Alex’s note: We do not just ask, “Can you qualify?” We ask, “Will this address still make sense at 0500, during field time, and when orders come down again?”
BAH + VA loan = $0 down, $0 PMI: what most calculators miss
In brief: The VA loan can remove the down-payment and PMI obstacles, but smart buyers still budget closing costs, escrows, inspections, reserves, and the funding fee.
The VA purchase-loan page says eligible borrowers may be able to buy with no down payment as long as the sales price is not higher than the appraised value. VA also states that the program does not require monthly mortgage insurance, and the VA funding-fee page explains that the fee can be paid at closing or included in the loan and paid over time. (Veterans Affairs)
That combination is powerful in Coastal Georgia. Where a conventional buyer might put 20 percent down to avoid PMI, a VA buyer with sufficient entitlement can preserve that cash before a PCS.
What most calculators miss is seller strategy. To preserve cash, understand VA loan seller concessions in Coastal Georgia before you write the offer.
What to do if your dependent status changes mid-move
In brief: A dependent-status change can shift your BAH category, but confirm timing and eligibility with finance before you rebuild your budget.
DoD rate protection generally keeps a member from receiving a lower rate than the prior year while eligibility is unchanged. But the official BAH page lists dependency-status change, PCS, and pay-grade reduction as events that can affect that protection. (travel.dod.mil)
Before you recalculate a home search, do three things:
Confirm the effective date of the dependency change with finance.
Re-run the official BAH Rate Lookup for the correct year, pay grade, duty-station ZIP, and dependent status.
Update your lender and agent before relying on a higher payment.
If the move may become a keep-and-rent strategy later, read our guide to second-tier VA entitlement before you assume the first house will be your only VA purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for Hunter Army Airfield?
2026 BAH at Hunter AAF, MHA GA077, ZIP 31409, with dependents is $2,415 for E-5, $2,652 for E-6, $2,685 for E-7, $2,745 for O-3, and $2,697 for W-2. Rates without dependents are lower. The official defensetravel.dod.mil BAH calculator is the source of truth and is updated annually.
How is BAH at Fort Stewart different from Hunter Army Airfield?
Fort Stewart sits in Liberty County, a different Military Housing Area than Hunter AAF, and its BAH rates are generally lower for the same rank and dependent status. Fort Stewart members often look to inland Liberty County to stretch BAH; Hunter members typically target Pooler, Richmond Hill, or southside Savannah.
Can I use my BAH for the entire mortgage payment on a VA loan?
You can, but it is not the smart play. Your mortgage payment also has to cover property taxes, homeowners and possible flood insurance, and a repair buffer, so we model the total housing payment first, then back into the purchase price.
Does VA loan + BAH eliminate the need for a down payment?
For many service members, yes. A VA loan requires no down payment when VA and lender requirements are met, and BAH can support the payment. The funding fee can often be financed, and no monthly PMI is required.
Should I buy at Hunter AAF rates if I might PCS again in 2-3 years?
Often yes, but only if you can sell at your target price or keep the property as a rental after you PCS out. Coastal Georgia rental demand from incoming military families is active, but the numbers still have to work.
Plan your Coastal Georgia BAH strategy with ARC
In brief: Your BAH rate is the starting point; real buying power comes from pairing it with VA financing, local market knowledge, and a realistic exit strategy.
We offer a free 30-minute call for military buyers PCSing to Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, and the surrounding Coastal Georgia market, helping you pressure-test your BAH, VA loan assumptions, commute preferences, and exit plan before you tour homes.
Schedule a call for Coastal Georgia military buyer help with The ARC Platform.
The ARC Platform is led by Alex Rodino, U.S. Army Captain (veteran) and licensed Georgia Realtor, GA Real Estate License #443565. The ARC Platform is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty. This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, lending, financial, or command guidance. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Not sure if a VA MPR issue is a dealbreaker?
If you’re PCSing to Coastal Georgia, selling to a VA buyer, or trying to decide whether an MPR flag is solvable, schedule a free 30-minute ARC consult. We’ll help you separate inspection concerns from VA loan conditions, identify the documentation you need, and build a repair-versus-concession strategy that fits your contract.
Final disclosure: Alexander Rodino Collective is affiliated with Keller Williams. This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, lending, appraisal, insurance, repair, or tax advice. VA loan rules, lender overlays, property conditions, and local requirements can change. Buyers and sellers should consult their lender, inspector, appraiser, insurance professional, contractor, and closing attorney for transaction-specific guidance. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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