For a lot of cleared professionals, especially those still on active duty or recently transitioned out of the military, housing affordability isn’t a challenge. It’s a gatekeeper.
According to a survey facilitated by NewDay USA, a national mortgage lender service, nearly half (49%) of Service Members and Veterans say that ‘homeownership feels out of reach while just 7% of respondents who do not currently own a home consider themselves completely ready to buy a home in 2026.’
You Can Have a Clearance and Still Not Afford a Home
Here’s the disconnect no one really talks about. You can hold a security clearance, work in a high-demand field, and still struggle to buy a home near where your job actually exists. This can be caused by several things in both the local and national housing markets. Local reasons can include an overabundance of rental properties, sellers leaving the area want a higher return on investment, or even a boom in the area’s job market.
National reasons can include higher percentages of interest, supply and demand issues, and even the rising costs of construction supplies due to import fees and tariffs.
Focusing on specific clearance-heavy regions like:
- Northern Virginia
- San Diego
- Colorado Springs
- The D.C. metro (which, let’s be honest, bleeds into places like Hoboken-level rent pain)
The disconnect issue isn’t just home prices. It is also the stacking effect of:
- Rising interest rates
- High upfront costs
- Debt carried over from transition periods
- And inconsistent income perception (yes, we’re looking at you, BAH confusion)
Respondents cited barriers for not being able to purchasing a home, including rising home prices (62%), lack of income (55%), and saving for upfront costs (49%).
Another 40% of Service Members and Veterans said they would be more likely to buy a home if down payment and closing costs were removed, with 45% saying they do not have enough savings to cover closing costs, and 52% carrying more than $5,000 in high-interest debt.
Translation: even if you can afford the monthly payment, getting in the door is the real fight.
The VA Loan Myth Problem Is Still Alive and Well
A significant number of service members and veterans either don’t understand or don’t fully trust the VA loan, which is arguably the most powerful financial tool you earned in uniform.
We’re talking about:
- Zero down payment (still widely misunderstood)
- No private mortgage insurance
- Competitive interest rates
And yet:
- Many still think they need a down payment
- Others don’t realize BAH can count as income
- Some believe VA loans are slower or less competitive
Other misconceptions are that VA loans are for first-time homebuyers, or that they can only be used once, or that they are harder to close on a home. These are all myths. This knowledge gap is costing people real money, and in some cases, delaying homeownership entirely.
We need better education when it comes to the terms, the benefits, and the process of a VA home loan. Some Service Members and Veterans out there are taking it upon themselves to learn how to use this tool, and they are reaping the rewards. It is time for this information not to be kept so close to the chest.
The Clearance Angle: Why This Actually Matters for National Security
This is a workforce issue, plain and simple.
When cleared professionals:
- Can’t afford to live near their duty station or job site
- Face long commutes or unstable housing
- Delay settling their families
…it affects retention, focus, and long-term career decisions.
On ClearanceJobs.com, we talk a lot about the cleared talent shortage. We probably don’t talk enough about the cost of living being a potential contributing factor. There are over 70,000 cleared jobs available. True, some of the factors that lend to those jobs not being filled are qualified candidates, but it is also the fact that those who want them may not be able to move closer due to the inability to find a home.
The Hidden Gut Punch: Closing Costs and Cash on Hand
Here’s where things get real. Trust me, because I have gone through this before. But, even though the VA loan eliminates the down payment, closing costs are still crushing people. About 45% of respondents don’t have enough saved to cover them, and many have less than $5,000 set aside, or nothing at all.
That’s the difference between eligible and able.
This is why when the Transition Assistance Program instructors teach soon-to-be veterans, they emphasize the need to start planning and start saving. Closing costs can be anywhere from $8k, to as high as $20k. It is usually between 2%-5% of the homes total purchase price.
But, unfortunately, in the clearance world, where moves, contract gaps, and life transitions are common, cash reserves don’t always look like they do on paper.
The Way Forward
If you’re in the cleared community, here’s the point:
- Learn your benefits like your career depends on it, because it might. The VA loan isn’t a backup plan. It’s a strategic advantage.
- Stop thinking in terms of “Can I afford a home?” and start asking, “What’s my entry strategy?” That might mean negotiating seller concessions (possible cost reduction), targeting less competitive markets, and also timing your move differently.
- Understand that affordability isn’t just about salary. It is about structure. How your income is counted (including BAH) matters more than most people realize.
This survey didn’t reveal anything shocking when it comes to purchasing a home, or service members and veterans, and the state of affordability. It simply confirmed what the national security community has been feeling for years. The desire for homeownership is strong, but the path to it can have a lot of hurdles.
