Can an Army Lieutenant Afford a Home in Hawaii With BAH?

Yes. An Army Lieutenants Can Buy a Home in Hawaii

If you're an Army lieutenant arriving at Schofield Barracks, the biggest question you’re probably asking is whether your BAH is enough to buy a home on Oʻahu. The answer for most O-1 and O-2 officers is yes. Thanks to strong BAH rates and zero-down VA loan benefits, lieutenants regularly qualify for condos and townhomes that fit comfortably within their monthly allowance.

2025 BAH for Army Lieutenants (Honolulu County)

• O-1 with dependents: $3,549
• O-1 without dependents: $2,889
• O-2 with dependents: $3,735
• O-2 without dependents: $3,414

These BAH rates are the same across all Oahu duty stations, including Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, and Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

What an Army Lieutenant Can Realistically Afford

Using BAH alone as your qualifying income, an Army lieutenant’s home-buying power usually falls within:

• O-1: Approximately $430,000–$470,000
• O-2: Approximately $470,000–$525,000

This is enough to compete for many starter condos and townhomes in West Oahu — which is where the bulk of military-friendly inventory is located.

Popular Areas for Army Officers

• Ewa Beach / Ocean Pointe: Largest concentration of military VA buyers
• Kapolei: Newer condos and townhomes, close to amenities
• Makakilo: Cooler hillside neighborhoods with townhome options
• Mililani: Very popular with Schofield families; townhomes in LT range
• Salt Lake: Near Hickam/Pearl; condo-heavy inventory

Caveats: What Could Affect Affordability?

Most lieutenants can purchase, but every situation is unique. A few factors can raise or lower what you qualify for:

• Your dependent status (BAH with-deps increases affordability)
• Your existing monthly debts
• Current mortgage interest rates
• Your spouse’s income (if applicable)
• Whether you’re targeting a condo with HOA fees or a townhome/single-family

Still, the big picture remains the same: Lieutenants at Schofield Barracks routinely buy homes using BAH + the VA loan — often with no money down.

Want to Know What You Qualify For?

Every rank, every household, and every lender looks a little different. If you’d like to see real listings that match your BAH range, I can walk you through neighborhoods, loan options, and which areas best fit an LT’s budget.