Every fall around Cannon AFB, I hear the same question from families with orders in hand or a move on the horizon: when do the new BAH rates come out, and should we wait for them before we buy a home in Clovis or Portales?

Here's where things stand as of early November. The 2027 Basic Allowance for Housing rates have not been published yet. The Defense Department usually releases the new tables in mid-December, and they take effect January 1. Last year's rates were announced on December 11, 2025. Until the official tables post on the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) BAH calculator, any "2027 BAH" number you see online is a projection, not a pay document.

What we do know about BAH right now

  • Rate protection has your back if you stay put. According to DTMO, you receive whichever is larger: the rate published January 1 or the amount you were paid on December 31. If rates in the Cannon area go up, you get the increase. If they dip, you keep your current rate.
  • Three things end that protection. A PCS move, a reduction in pay grade, or a change in dependency status. A promotion does not lower your BAH.
  • With dependents is one rate. BAH looks at whether you have dependents, not how many. A new baby won't change the number if you're already in the with-dependents column.
  • BAH is based on rental costs. The Air Force benefits site notes it's built from local rental market data and utilities, not mortgage payments or property taxes. That matters when you compare renting with owning.

What this means if you're buying near Cannon AFB this winter

If you're already stationed here, you can plan around your current BAH with some confidence, since rate protection means it shouldn't drop on January 1 as long as your status stays the same. There's no need to put your search on hold just to see the new table.

If you're PCSing to Cannon in early 2027, you'll be paid the 2027 rate for this area, and you won't know that number until mid-December. My advice is to shop for a home that still works if the new rate comes in flat, and treat any increase as breathing room rather than part of the plan.

For VA loan qualifying, BAH can generally be counted as part of your income, along with base pay and other eligible entitlements. When we sit down to get you pre-approved, we'll use your current Leave and Earnings Statement, and we can revisit your numbers once the new tables are out if that changes anything for you.

Timing a contract around the new year? If you'll be under contract in December or closing in January, let's talk early about which pay figures your file will use, so nothing surprises you near the finish line.

The bottom line

As a military spouse myself, I know how much of family life runs on BAH, PCS dates, and orders that don't always line up with the housing market. You don't have to wait on the December announcement to start planning. Getting pre-approved on today's numbers gives you a clear picture, and we can adjust if the 2027 rates change things.

If you're stationed at Cannon AFB or heading this way, reach out and we'll walk through your VA loan options for Clovis, Portales, and the rest of Curry County. Loans are subject to credit approval, and program guidelines can change at any time.