The GoVA Library
Military Life
Breaking Free from Deployment Debt
Deployment debt is more common than you think. Learn how military families can create a debt payoff plan and build wealth with free tools on…
May 22, 2026
Preparing Your Home Before Deployment: A Checklist
Use this military family deployment checklist to prepare your home before the service member leaves: home security & protection, maintenance…
Mar 10, 2026
Military Veterans Retire To These Top 10 Cities
Discover the top 10 U.S. cities where military veterans choose to retire, with details on VA medical centers, cost of living, and veteran co…
Feb 19, 2026
Military Identity Theft Protection Guide
Learn how service members & Veterans can protect against military identity theft. Get free credit monitoring and scam protection tools from …
Jan 10, 2026
Top 10 Bases for Military Families
Explore the top 10 military bases families love most, from Fort Carson to Naval Base San Diego, with details on amenities, schools, and comm…
Dec 19, 2025
Military Housing Scams: How to Avoid VA Loan Fraud
Learn to spot military housing scams and VA loan fraud with red flags, verification tips, and BBB resources to protect your family during a …
Oct 1, 2025
Military Consumer Month 2025: Protection from Scams & Fraud
How Military Consumer Month 2025 protects families from $584M in annual fraud losses. Join GoVA’s free FTC session July 17 plus BBB ScamTrac…
Jul 9, 2025
PCS Financial Guide: Managing Military Moving Expenses
Military PCS financial guide: manage military moving expenses, maximize PCS reimbursements, and save on DITY/PPM moves. Tips for your next m…
Feb 28, 2025
Military Home Maintenance: Guide for First-Time Homeowners
Essential military home maintenance for first-time military homeowners. Learn maintenance tips, seasonal care, and protection strategies for…
Feb 7, 2025
GoVA partners with Wreaths Across America to Honor Veterans
GoVA Foundation partners with Wreaths Across America to honor veterans through wreath-laying ceremonies while supporting military financial …
Dec 5, 2024
Military Mental Health and Financial Wellness
Military mental health is directly tied to financial wellness and money habits. Military families can improve both through GoVA's resources.
Oct 15, 2024
Is the U.S. Military an LMI Community for CRA?
Large parts of the military community qualify as LMI by income or by census tract. See the paygrade, spouse employment, and location data be…
Apr 24, 2024
Military Homebuying Tips: Agents, Taxes, and VA Loans
Military homebuyers face unique challenges, but knowing these military homebuying tips will help you ask the right questions and be informed…
Jan 23, 2024
Four Tips for a Competitive Military Housing Market
Four tips to help military families stay ahead in a competitive housing market, from mortgage preapproval to finding the right real estate a…
Aug 30, 2023
Key Considerations When Buying a Home While on Active Duty
Like many active-duty military families, we weigh living on post, renting, or buying a home. Each option carries its own challenges and bene…
Jun 23, 2023
Top PCS Tips from an Experienced MilSpouse
Some PCS tips are more helpful than others in the whirlwind of PCS season. Here are a few of my top tips and tricks for a successful PCS mov…
Jun 16, 2023
Pros and Cons of Living On or Off Base
Active-duty service members must choose: live on base with immediate housing and no rent, or live off base for more options. Weighing both s…
Jun 12, 2023
One Small Town’s Surprising Sacrifice in D-Day History
It may seem an unusual spot for a National Memorial, but Bedford, Virginia has a deep symbolic connection to D-Day that made it Congress’ to…
Jun 1, 2023
4 Tips For Buying a Home While Active Duty
Whether you want to live off base or invest in real estate, active-duty service members should weigh the benefits of home ownership. Tips to…
May 30, 2023
Reimagining Active Duty: A Veteran's View on Appreciation
Andy Ladner has witnessed soldiers in battle, veterans fighting for recovery, and military families pushing through hardship for the people …
May 18, 2023
Heart to Heart - From One MilSpouse to Another
On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, a thank you seems insufficient. You’ve added value to my life and encouraged me through the ups and dow…
May 8, 2023
Celebrating the Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child. With over 1.6 million military children worldwide, we highlight the unique challenges these kids f…
Apr 17, 2023
5 VA Loan Facts You May Not Know
Discover five VA loan facts many veterans miss, including reusable entitlement, eligibility for surviving spouses, and how the VA guaranty a…
Dec 2, 2022
Tips for First Time Home Buyers 2022
Practical tips for first-time homebuyers covering homeownership readiness, debt-to-income ratio, credit score preparation, and choosing a mo…
Nov 18, 2022
Veterans Day 2022: Honor
Learn the history of Veterans Day, why it's not "Veteran's Day" with an apostrophe, and how the holiday honors all who served in the U.S. Ar…
Nov 11, 2022
Giving Tuesday: What You Should Know
Learn what Giving Tuesday means and discover veteran-serving nonprofits that GoVA has partnered with to support military families and commun…
Nov 3, 2022
10 Favorite Fall Activities
Explore budget-friendly fall activities for military families, from pumpkin patches and leaf peeping to cozy movie nights and new chili reci…
Oct 28, 2022
Why Are Mortgage Rates Still Rising? Here's what we know.
Understand why mortgage rates keep rising, including how inflation, world events, the Federal Reserve, and bond prices affect rates for home…
Oct 21, 2022
Veteran Spotlight: Jeff Robertson of Skeletons for St. Jude
Meet Army veteran Jeff Robertson, whose Skeletons for St. Jude Halloween display has raised over $200,000 for St. Jude Children's Research H…
Oct 14, 2022
Understanding the Current Interest Rate Impact
GoVA's CEO explains how rising Federal Reserve interest rates affect the housing market and mortgage rates, with practical advice for today'…
Sep 29, 2022
Veteran Spotlight: John Nagle
Read USAF veteran John Nagle's story of using his VA loan benefit, GI Bill, and Tricare, plus his advice for troops transitioning out of the…
Sep 15, 2022
7 Questions We Asked a Mortgage Lender for You
We asked a mortgage lender 7 common questions about loan types, down payments, and credit so military families can shop for a mortgage with …
Aug 24, 2022
Understanding Your Options with a VA Cash-Out Refinance
Learn how a VA-backed cash out refinance lets veterans and service members tap up to 100% of home equity for renovations, debt, or retiremen…
Aug 16, 2022
PTSD Awareness Month
For PTSD Awareness Month, learn what PTSD is, who is at risk, and how military members and their families can find support and effective tre…
Jul 12, 2022
5 VA Loan Benefits You Need to Know
Discover the top 5 VA loan benefits, from no down payment to competitive rates, that make VA loans a strong option for veterans and their fa…
Jun 9, 2022
Decorating Hacks for Military Housing
A military spouse shares budget-friendly decorating hacks to make temporary military housing feel like home, no painting or permanent change…
Jun 9, 2022
Q&A with our CEO, Phil Jawny
GoVA founder and CEO Phil Jawny shares why he started GoVA and his best advice for military families buying their first home with a VA loan.
Jun 9, 2022Ready to act on military life?
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