Serving Camp Mabry, Austin's veteran community, and military families across Central Texas. Scott Carlin, 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist (NMLS# 2613509). Call 321-364-4461.
Austin has quietly become one of the best places in the country to be a veteran, and buying a home here should feel like working with someone who gets it. I am Scott Carlin, founder of TrueVet Mortgage and a 20-year Air Force veteran. I have lived the PCS moves, the deployment timelines, and the scramble to buy a home in a new place, and I help Austin-area service members and veterans use their VA benefit the right way.
Austin does not have a large active-duty base inside the city, but it is more of a military town than most people realize:
– Camp Mabry sits on a hill overlooking the Colorado River, about three miles from the State Capitol. Established in 1892, it is one of the oldest active military installations in Texas and serves as the headquarters of the Texas Military Department, home to the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard. Thousands of Guard members, State Guard members, and Department civilians pass through Central Texas because of it. – A large and growing veteran community. Austin has been named one of the best cities in the country for veterans, and it shows: strong VFW and American Legion posts, a deep veteran-owned business scene, and a tech sector (Dell, Apple, and many others) with real veteran hiring programs. A lot of separating service members choose Austin specifically for that landing spot. – Fort Hood is about an hour north. Up I-35 in the Killeen-Temple area, Fort Hood is one of the largest posts in the country, and plenty of soldiers and retirees settle in the Austin metro for the jobs and the schools while staying within reach of the gate.
Whether you are Guard, active duty stationed nearby, or a veteran putting down roots, this is a market built for people who have served, and that is exactly where a VA loan shines.
Where you buy usually comes down to your commute, your budget, and the schools you want:
– North corridor (near Camp Mabry and the tech jobs): Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Leander are popular for newer homes, good schools, and an easier reach to Camp Mabry and the employers along the north side. – Georgetown: a little farther north up I-35, with more space for your money and a historic town-square feel, and it keeps you within striking distance of both Austin and Fort Hood. – In between: many veterans split the difference along the I-35 corridor so they can work in Austin while staying closer to the Fort Hood area.
I know these areas and the commute realities, and I will point you toward the ones that fit your work, your family, and your budget.
The VA home loan is the strongest benefit you earned, and in Austin it goes a long way:
A note on loan limits. If you have your full VA entitlement, there is no county cap on how much you can borrow with $0 down. The Travis County figure that matters for partial-entitlement buyers in 2026 is $832,750 for a one-unit home. For most VA buyers in the Austin area, full entitlement means the limit simply does not come into play. I will walk you through exactly where you stand.
Your Basic Allowance for Housing is real, qualifying income, and in the Austin market it can cover a solid chunk of a mortgage payment. For 2026, BAH in the Austin area runs roughly from the low $2,000s for a junior single service member up into the mid-$3,000s for senior members with dependents (for example, an E-5 with dependents lands in the high $2,000s, and an O-3 with dependents in the mid-$3,000s). Austin was one of the areas where 2026 rates stepped down, though members already in place are protected from a decrease while their duty station, grade, and dependency status stay the same.
I will help you map your BAH and total pay against a payment you are comfortable with, so you buy with confidence instead of guesswork. *(Always confirm your exact rate on the official DoD BAH calculator.)*
You could use any lender, but most have never worn the uniform. I have. I understand the report-no-later-than date breathing down your neck, what a Guard or drill schedule does to a closing timeline, and what it means to buy a home you may need to rent out down the road. Most VA purchases close in about 21 to 30 days, and I keep you informed at every step. Veteran to veteran, I will give you a straight answer every time.
Can I use my BAH to qualify for a VA loan?
Yes. BAH counts as qualifying income, and for many Austin-area service members it covers a healthy share of the monthly payment. We will document it correctly so it works in your favor.
Is there a VA loan limit in Travis County?
If you have full entitlement, no. There is no cap on a $0-down VA purchase. The 2026 one-unit figure of $832,750 only matters if you have partial entitlement, and I will confirm which applies to you.
Do I have to be stationed at a base to use my VA loan in Austin?
No. Austin has a big veteran and Guard community rather than a large active-duty base, and your benefit works the same whether you are Guard, active duty near Fort Hood, or a veteran already living here.
How fast can I close?
Most VA purchases close in about 21 to 30 days. If you are working against a move date or a lease that is ending, tell me early and we will build the timeline around it.
Do I have to be active duty?
No. Veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard, Reserve, and many surviving spouses can qualify. We will confirm your eligibility together.
If you already own a home in the Austin metro area with a VA loan, you may be able to lower your interest rate with the VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), also known as the VA streamline refinance. The IRRRL requires minimal paperwork, no appraisal in most cases, and no out-of-pocket costs if the funding fee and closing costs are rolled into the new loan.
This is one of the fastest and simplest ways to reduce your monthly mortgage payment. Visit our VA IRRRL Streamline Refinance page to learn more about eligibility and how the process works.
TrueVet Mortgage also serves veterans across Texas, including San Antonio, Killeen, El Paso, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and Corpus Christi.
Visit our VA Loan FAQ for answers to common questions
Look up your 2026 BAH rate for any Texas military installation with our free BAH Calculator.
Ready to Buy a Home in Austin? Call or text Scott Carlin at 321-364-4461, use the chat on this page or visit our Schedule a Call page. As a 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist, Scott will guide you through every step of the process – from pre-approval to closing.