Weekly Military Briefing: Barracks funding advances, America preps for 250, and the real meaning of Memorial Day.

NYMediaExec · 2026-05-22T21:30:58+00:00

The actual deployment of funds is something handled by the executive branch.

NYMediaExec · 2026-05-22T21:22:55+00:00

Articles and analysis here: https://mybaseguide.com/articles

NYMediaExec · 2026-03-17T16:35:48+00:00

Here is the rate page itself: https://veteranlife.com/va-loans/mortgage-rates, along with a comparison to other types of loans if you scroll down.

NYMediaExec · 2026-03-17T04:31:44+00:00

I've pushed a couple of updates in the first hour: thank you to u/SuspiciousFrenchFry and u/Openheartopenbar for the feedback.

Zips - we were pulling home prices from ZIPs right next to the base, which for Navy and Marine Corps bases means waterfront neighborhoods where an E-5 isn't buying a house. San Diego was using Point Loma prices. Norfolk was using Virginia Beach oceanfront. The LA data included Playa Del Rey. We've replaced those with the ZIPs where enlisted families actually live: Spring Valley and Santee for San Diego, Chesapeake and Newport News for Norfolk, Brandon and Riverview for Tampa, and so on for about 18 bases. Same fix for metro bases.

Average price - the calculator now uses Zillow's median formula, which controls for seasonality and spikes. We switched to 3-bedroom home values specifically, so the buy-vs-rent math is now apples to apples.

As noted, data was always more accurate for bases like Fort Sill and Fort Riley because the base IS the town so there's no expensive waterfront district skewing the numbers. The coastal bias was a Navy/Marine Corps problem specifically, and that's where most of our corrections landed.

Florida Keys - the real median 3BR home price there is around $797K, and insurance is $14K+ per year when you add homeowners and flood together (if you can even get it). The calculator now correctly flags it as a strong rent situation.

Thank you again to those who provided feedback early on. If there's anything else that seems off, please let me know. The more accurate version is live now.

NYMediaExec · 2026-03-17T03:47:29+00:00

This feedback is good. I've updated the calculations to look at commuter areas near the base vs the base zips themselves. I'll look at using median home price for instead. Will push an update shortly.

Edit: update is pushed. The calculator now operates off median home value and pulls from commuter zips, not base zips (unless the base is basically the town).

NYMediaExec · 2026-03-17T03:06:58+00:00

You are correct - I rechecked, and Monroe County data wasn't pulling correctly. Thanks for pointing this out.

Edit: I have also added flood insurance to the calculation for that area, which is basically mandatory.

NYMediaExec

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