DHA will likely be your initial housing provider, rent is in bands and based on your rank. I won’t get into the weeds except to say you may consider them expensive compared to UK service residences. Trust me, you get what you pay for, compared to UK they are twice as big, twice as grand and the fault repair system is efficient. And…. there isn’t a council tax contribution equivalent either.

Remember you’re likely going to earn and keep more than you ever have.

FYI, property prices in Australian major cities are going up at an insane rate. Add in, interest rates aren’t stable and fixed rates aren’t popular in Aus. Friends have seen their mortgages go up as much as $800 a month since 2020.

HPAS and DHOAS are available to help should you find a suitable property in your budget and are comfortable with the terms of the loan.

We are unsure where we might settle, we’re enjoying moving around Australia having Army pay for our moves to new states every few years. I thought of a property hack but have not done it yet, I will in time if it’s still an option:

• Use DHA as long as possible, keep maximising ADF Super and home deposit savings/investments
• In my last few years use HPAS and DHOAS to purchase or build a property where we intend to settle
• Maximise local or national incentives available at the time, $50000 towards a new build etc!
• Minimise stamp duty, corporate body fees and rates, get a mortgage with an offset account – discuss with bank what minimum deposit to make to get maximum DHOAS
• Once the keys are handed over, place as much as I can in the offset to pay less interest
• When I get my Super lump sum, put what I need in offset so I don’t pay any interest. I will keep getting DHOAS payments, except it will all go towards principle – Paying it down faster
• Move any excess balance out periodically and invest it/enjoy it
• When DHOAS ends, pay off the rest of the principle with what‘s in the offset
• Close the offset, invest or enjoy the remainder