Serving MacDill AFB, CENTCOM, SOCOM, and Tampa Bay military families. Scott Carlin, 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist (NMLS# 2613509). Call 321-364-4461.
Tampa is a military town at its core, and buying a home here as a service member or veteran 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 duty station, and I help Tampa military families use their VA benefit the right way.
MacDill Air Force Base sits on the tip of the Interbay peninsula in South Tampa, and it shapes the whole local housing market:
– The 6th Air Refueling Wing is MacDill’s host wing, part of Air Mobility Command. Its 50th and 91st Air Refueling Squadrons fly the KC-135 Stratotanker on aerial refueling missions, while the 310th Airlift Squadron flies the C-37A. An Air Force Reserve wing, the 927th Air Refueling Wing, flies KC-135s alongside them. – MacDill is a headquarters base for two unified combatant commands: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Add dozens of mission partners across “Team MacDill,” and you have a large, steady community of active-duty, Guard, Reserve, retired, and civilian defense families all living in and around the Bay Area.
If you are reporting to MacDill or one of the commands, you are buying in a market built around military families, and that is exactly where a VA loan shines.
Where you buy usually comes down to your commute to MacDill and your budget:
– Closest to the gate (South Tampa): South Tampa is the nearest off-base neighborhood, popular with officers and senior enlisted who want a short commute and a walkable restaurant scene. It is also the pricier end of the market, so it pays to plan. – Family-friendly suburbs (Brandon / Riverview): Brandon and Riverview are the go-to picks for many MacDill families, with a mix of established subdivisions and newer construction and commutes typically in the 25 to 35 minute range. – A little farther out (Apollo Beach): Apollo Beach draws families for its parks, schools, and waterfront feel, roughly 40 minutes from base depending on traffic.
I know these areas and the commute realities, and I will point you toward the ones that fit your orders, your family, and your budget.
The VA home loan is the strongest benefit you earned, and in Tampa 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 Hillsborough County figure that matters for partial-entitlement buyers in 2026 is $832,750 for a one-unit home (the standard baseline limit; in Florida only Monroe County is designated high-cost). For most first-time VA buyers in Tampa, 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 a market like Tampa it often covers a comfortable mortgage payment. For 2026, BAH in the Tampa area runs roughly from the low $1,900s for a junior single service member up into the mid $3,000s and beyond for senior members with dependents (for example, an E-5 with dependents is in the neighborhood of $2,700). BAH rose about 0.6% for 2026.
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 TLE and TLA, the report-no-later-than date breathing down your neck, and what it means to buy a home you may need to rent out at the next set of orders. 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 Tampa 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 Hillsborough 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.
How fast can I close before I report to MacDill?
Most VA purchases close in about 21 to 30 days. If you are racing a report date, 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 Tampa or the Tampa Bay 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 Florida, including the Panhandle, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami.
Visit our VA Loan FAQ for answers to common questions
Look up your 2026 BAH rate for any Florida military installation with our free BAH Calculator.
Ready to Buy a Home in Tampa? Call or text Scott Carlin at 321-364-4461 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.