Quote from @Allen Duan:
How do you determine max nightly or monthly rent? Do you have access to the DoD caps? We're setting up a MTR in Spring Valley and I'd love to learn about this strategy. Thanks!
There are two ways military members can get $ for lodging.
Housing Allowance:
The DOD provides a housing allowance to military service members to assist with their housing expenses when they are stationed in the United States. This allowance is known as the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The BAH is intended to offset the cost of housing and varies depending on the service member's rank, location, and whether they have dependents.
The BAH rates are determined by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and are based on average rental costs in a specific area. The rates are updated annually to reflect changes in housing costs. Service members receive the BAH regardless of whether they choose to live on-base in military housing or rent or buy their own homes off-base.
Service members can keep any difference between what they pay for lodging and the BAH. They can also opt to pay above their BAH if they'd like.
https://veteran.com/bah-calculator/
Per Diem Lodging Rates:
Per diem lodging rates are provided to military service members and civilian employees of the DOD when they travel on official business. Per diem is an allowance meant to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses while away from their permanent duty station.
The per diem rates are set by the General Services Administration (GSA) and are based on the location where the travel occurs. The rates vary depending on the location's classification as high-cost, standard, or low-cost. The GSA updates these rates periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living.
The per diem rates consist of two components: lodging and meals/incidentals. The lodging rate covers the cost of accommodations, while the meals/incidentals rate covers meals and other small expenses. Service members and civilian employees are expected to use these funds to cover their expenses during official travel.
When Per Diem is used the amount charged for the lodging is the only dollar amount that is paid. If service members find lodging for less than the maximum, they do not get to keep the remainder of the lodging portion of per diem rates.
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Travel-Transportation-Rates/Per-Diem/Per-Diem-Rate-Lookup/
It's important to note that both the housing allowance and per diem rates are subject to specific rules and regulations, and service members and civilian employees should consult the appropriate guidelines and policies to determine eligibility and reimbursement details.
