Frequent relocations. Tight moving timelines. Changing housing markets. These factors can make buying a home feel especially daunting for military families. But despite those challenges, many service members and veterans continue to pursue homeownership as a path to stability and long-term wealth building.
In the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 19% of recent home buyers reported that they or someone in their household is an active-duty service member or veteran, a proportion that has remained consistent for a decade.
Many of those buyers used a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to a recent analysis from Veterans United Home Loans, 11% of new mortgages are VA loans. The VA loan guaranty remain one of the most valuable benefits available to military buyers, allowing eligible borrowers to purchase a home with no down payment. More than 90% of veterans and service members report using the benefit when purchasing their first home.
Still, the process can be challenging. Military families often move under short deadlines tied to Permanent Change of Station orders, forcing them to navigate unfamiliar markets quickly while balancing work and family transitions. Many buyers also face decisions about whether to buy immediately, rent first or hold onto a property after relocating again.
Housing affordability adds another layer of difficulty. Elevated mortgage rates and limited housing supply continue to pressure many buyers nationwide, particularly first-time purchasers who may have less flexibility in competitive markets. NAR research shows first-time buyers today are older than in the past and making greater financial sacrifices to achieve homeownership.
You can play a critical role in helping military clients navigate those decisions. According to NAR research, 85% of active-duty military and veteran home buyers purchased through a real estate agent or broker. Buyers say agents are especially valuable for helping them understand local markets, negotiate contracts and manage the fast-moving transaction process.
NAR has a one-page consumer guide that you can use to help eligible buyers take advantage of the VA home loan guaranty. In addition, NAR’s Military Relocation Professional certification trains participants to understand the unique needs of current and former service members and their families, guide them through the relocation process, help them make informed decisions about whether to rent or purchase a home, and explain the basics of VA financing. (REALTOR® News writer Eliana Block spoke last year with Fairfax, Va., agent Sam Haberlach about how she puts the certification to work in her business.)
“Veterans deserve the same shot at homeownership as every other buyer, and NAR has long been committed to ensuring our veterans and the brave men and women who serve this country in the armed forces have equal opportunities to achieve the American dream of homeownership,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer.
Some markets across the country are emerging as strong destinations for military homeownership. In metro areas such as Washington, D.C.; Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.; and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, veteran homeownership rates are significantly higher than the national average.
As military families continue to move from place to place, agents who are REALTORS® remain a key resource in helping them establish roots, build equity and achieve housing stability, no matter where service takes them next.
