Office of Rep. Marilyn Strickland announcement.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, secured multiple provisions in the annual defense policy bill that will lower housing costs for servicemembers and their families.
“As the daughter of a veteran, I will always fight to ensure that servicemembers and their families have access to safe and affordable housing,” said Strickland. “This year’s defense policy bill includes several provisions I secured to make housing more affordable for servicemembers and their families.”
Strickland’s provisions in the annual Defense bill can be found here. In addition to lowering cost and homeownership barriers for service members and their families, Strickland also tackled increasing access to childcare and ensuring that the military is prepared for the future in this year’s bill.
I applaud all attempts to reward our defenders of freedom. They do not have a 9-5 job and are willing to put themselves in harms way.
However, there are unseen consequences to any increases in BAH, the increase of the cost of housing for all.
Landlords and property owners see BAH allowances as a way to justify higher rents simply because “they (military) can afford it”. Unfortunately, those not in the military are left paying those higher rents and they can’t afford it.
From the Defense Travel Management Office website, an E-4 with dependents in the South Sound region can receive $2145.00.
2 bedroom/2 bath Seeley Lake Apartments Rent: $1,614to-$2,489
3 bedroom/2 bath Hidden Lake Apartments Rent: $1748 – $1786
2 bedroom/2 bath Echelon Apartments Rent: $1,795 – $1,825
2 bedroom/2 bath Timbre Apartments Rent: Starting at $1,999
2 bedrooms/2 bath James Apartments Rent: $1,889 – $1,995
To me, efforts to provide housing on base would cause a glut of apartments off base, possibly lowering rents overall in the area. In an era where we hear the need for affordable housing is so great, we have to ask, “affordable to whom”.
To note, I am the son of a veteran, my father choosing Lakewood to be our home, where I still reside, at least until I can’t afford to.
I can’t help but wonder where the tens of millions of illegal immigrants, who have been allowed to breach our open border are living, and who is paying for that?
As a retired US Army officer (21 years) I can tell you the biggest barrier to military member home ownership is the simple fact that typical assignments cause frequent rotation between geographical areas. It simply doesn’t make sense to buy a home near JBLM today when there is a distinct possibility you may be assigned overseas or across the country. Yes VA financing with 0-down is attractive but any upside appreciation over such a short time can be eaten up by closing costs on both ends of the buy-sell transaction. It can put the service member “upside down” on the property if it doesn’t appreciate at least that amount or even deeper in debt if market values fall……….like in 2008………..like in today’s real estate market. Sometimes the best thing you can do is rent.