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Military connected households continue to represent a significant and stable share of the housing market. According to the 2025 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 19% of home buyers in 2025 reported that they are, or someone in their household is, an active-duty service member or veteran—a proportion that has remained consistent for a decade. While grouped together in headcounts, active-duty service members and veterans differ markedly in their demographic profiles and housing needs, reflecting where they are in their life cycles and careers.

Active-duty service military buyers tend to be younger and more diverse than both veteran and nonmilitary buyers. The median age of an active service buyer was 38 compared to 64 for veterans and 57 for nonmilitary buyers. Nearly three in 10 active-duty service buyers (29%) identified as a person of color, a higher share than veterans (21%) and nonmilitary buyers (17%). In terms of experience in the housing market, 26% of active-duty service buyers were first-time home buyers, while 74% were repeat buyers. Veteran buyers, by contrast, were overwhelmingly repeat purchasers, with 88% having previously owned a home.

Household composition further distinguishes military-connected buyers from their civilian counterparts. Three-quarters of both active-duty service members and veterans purchased homes as married couples, compared to 58% of nonmilitary buyers. Active-duty service households were also far more likely to include children: 61% had children under 18 living at home, compared to just 19% of veterans and 25% of nonmilitary buyers. These family considerations are reflected in housing choices as well, with 18% of active-duty service members and 17% of veterans purchasing multigenerational homes, underscoring the importance of space and flexibility for military-connected households.

Generations in Service, Generations at Home

According to the 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report, it is important to note that the survey identifies whether a home buyer is a veteran or active-duty service member but does not collect information on branch, deployment history, or specific conflicts; service may include active duty, National Guard, or Reserve roles. With that context, the highest veteran shares appear among older boomer buyers (ages 71–79) at 28% and among Silent Generation buyers (ages 80–100) at 43%, likely reflecting Vietnam War-era veterans, when service rates were higher due to the draft. Among older Gen Xers (ages 46–60) and younger boomer buyers (ages 61–70), 17% and 18% respectively, report veteran status. Older millennials (ages 36–45) have a lower veteran-buyer rate at 11%, while veteran rates are lowest among younger millennials (ages 27–35) at 7%. The youngest cohort, Gen Z (ages 18–26), shows modest veteran representation (13%) but a slightly higher share of active-duty service (5%), suggesting military service as a pathway to homeownership.

VA Loans and Financing

In 1944, the U.S. government began actively helping military members buy homes with the passage of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, otherwise known as the G.I. Bill of Rights. The G.I. Bill created the VA home loan program, which allowed returning service members to purchase homes with little or no down payment, lower interest rates, and more flexible repayment terms. This marked the first large-scale, nationwide effort to support military homeownership. Today, the VA home loan is one of the most successful mortgage programs in American history. The elimination of the down payment requirement and limitation of certain closing costs opens the door to homeownership for millions of veterans and service members who might otherwise be priced out.

VA loan usage has remained stable in recent years, with 12% of all home buyers using a VA loan in 2025. Repeat buyers were more likely to rely on the program than first-time buyers, with 13% of repeat purchasers using a VA loan compared to 8% of first-time buyers. Among military-connected households, the advantages of VA financing were especially evident. Among those who purchased a home in 2025, more than one-third of active-duty service members (36%) and over one-quarter of veteran buyers (28%) fully financed their homes with no down payment. The majority of active-duty service buyers used a VA loan (69%), while 23% used conventional financing. Veteran buyers also leaned heavily on the VA program, with 55% using a VA loan and one-third opting for a conventional mortgage.

From Relocation Orders to Suburban Homes

Active-duty service military buyers were far more likely to purchase homes farther from their previous location than other groups. Forty one percent bought homes more than 500 miles away, compared to 24% of veterans and just 16% of nonmilitary buyers. This pattern likely reflects the frequent relocations associated with active duty. Active-duty service members were also the most likely to purchase in suburban areas, with 56% buying in the suburbs, compared with roughly half of both veterans and nonmilitary buyers.

In terms of home size and layout, active-duty service military buyers tended to purchase larger homes. The median home bought by an active-duty service member was 2,000 square feet and typically included four bedrooms and two bathrooms. By comparison, the median home purchased overall in 2025 was also 2,000 square feet but had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, suggesting that military households may place greater emphasis on additional bedroom space.

Motivations for homeownership varied notably between active-duty service members and veterans in 2025, helping to explain differences in where and how they purchased homes. For active-duty service buyers, the most common reason for purchasing was a job-related relocation or move, cited by 32%, followed closely by a desire to own a home of their own (27%). In contrast, veteran buyers were more likely to be driven by personal and lifestyle considerations. Their primary reason for purchasing was to be closer to friends and family (19%), followed by the desire to own a home (14%) and retirement (9%). These differing motivations help explain the higher likelihood of long-distance moves, suburban purchases, and larger homes among active-duty military buyers.

Military homeownership tells a story shaped by movement, service, and changing life stages. Active-duty service members often approach homebuying amid frequent relocations and growing families, relying on long-standing federal supports, like the VA home loan, to make ownership possible despite mobility and uncertainty. Veterans, by contrast, are more likely to purchase homes as a way to put down roots, prioritizing proximity to family, community ties, and long-term stability.

Together, these patterns show that while military-connected buyers remain a constant presence in the housing market, their paths to homeownership are far from identical. Service era, family needs, and life stage all influence where, why, and how military households buy homes. Recognizing these distinct pathways is essential to understanding military homeownership, ensuring that the housing market continues to meet the needs of those who serve at every stage of their lives.