43% of Veterans Plan Home Purchases in 6 Months as Financial Stress Falls to 19%

1 articles · Updated · National Mortgage Professional · Aug 18

Forty-three percent of veterans and service members surveyed said they plan to buy a home within six months, nearly double the 22% share among civilians.
An 8-point drop in financial stress to 19% helped drive that readiness, while civilian stress rose 8 points to 38%; 54% of military-affiliated respondents said they felt comfortable with their finances.
Affordability pressures still dominate: 46% cited high home prices, 43% mortgage rates and 20% limited inventory, yet 47% of veterans said they would rather buy now and refinance later.
AI is also shaping preparation before buyers contact lenders: 45% of all respondents used it in the homebuying process, and military-affiliated users were more likely than civilians to use it for savings planning and credit improvement.
The Q2 survey of 859 prospective buyers suggests veterans could remain one of the more active buyer segments in the second half of 2026 despite a still-challenging housing market.