The ADF member’s guide to buying a home

Why defence files are different

Defence pay isn’t one number — it’s salary plus allowances that lenders treat differently: some count them fully, some partially, some not at all. Posting cycles complicate the “will you live in it” question that sits underneath owner-occupier lending. And your entitlements (DHOAS, HPAS) interact with lender policy in ways branch staff rarely see. None of this makes borrowing harder — it makes lender choice matter more.

DHOAS in one minute

The Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme provides a monthly subsidy on your home loan, tiered by your length of service, and paid through participating lenders. Two practical points catch people out: only some lenders participate, and the subsidy tiers depend on your service history — so the “best rate” lender and the right DHOAS lender aren’t always the same. We run both calculations side by side. (Scheme rules are checked against current Defence guidance for every file — figures here are deliberately not quoted so this page can’t go stale.)

HPAS, in brief

The Home Purchase Assistance Scheme is a lump-sum payment for eligible members buying in their posting location. It has service and timing conditions, and it stacks with DHOAS for many buyers — worth checking before you sign anything.

Posting cycles and owner-occupier rates

Posted away from the property you own? Renting it out while you serve elsewhere? These situations sit in the gap between “owner-occupier” and “investor” — and how they’re presented to a lender affects your rate and your borrowing power. This is a file-structuring question, and it’s exactly the kind we handle every week.

Transition and discharge

Leaving the ADF changes your income story. Lenders want to see what comes next — and presenting a transition properly (new employment, business income, or a package) is the difference between “decline” and “approved”. If discharge is on your horizon, talk to us early; the sequencing matters.