Hawaii Realtor · 12-Year Army Veteran

Boots on the ground.
Keys in your hand.

I help military families and first-time buyers turn the VA loan benefit into a home across Oahu. I've used it myself — twice — so I know the paperwork, the timelines, and the island.

12 yrs U.S. Army VA loan homeowner ×2 Oahu & the Islands RS-87279 Licensed

See BAH / BAS / COLA

U.S. Army Veteran

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Andrew Dobos REALTOR® · VA Loan Specialist

Soldier To Soldier Hawaii Realty · RS-87279

Who you're working with

Veteran-to-veteran, start to close

After 12 years in the U.S. Army, I bought my own home in Hawaii with the VA loan — then did it again. That's not a sales pitch; it's the exact path I now walk buyers through every week.

I work alongside my partner Merwin Ibay so you always have two agents covering your transaction. We specialize in VA purchases, seller concessions, and first-time buyers who've been told Hawaii is "out of reach." Usually, it isn't — once your BAH and entitlement are working for you.

DM me — it's free.

VA loan, done right

$0 down, no PMI, funding-fee and concession structuring so your offer competes without draining savings.

1st

First-time & military buyers

PCS timelines, lender pre-approval on your gaining-station BAH, and a plan before you ever land.

Local Oahu knowledge

Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani, Waianae and beyond — neighborhoods, commutes, and resale, not just listings.

Free · On Zoom · No obligation

VA home loan education

Sit down with us virtually for 30–45 minutes and learn exactly how your VA benefit becomes a home in Hawaii. No cost, no commitment — just straight answers from a veteran who's used this loan twice.

What we cover

Your eligibility and entitlement — and how to pull your Certificate of Eligibility
The real mechanics: $0 down, no PMI, and how the funding fee works (and who's exempt)
Turning your BAH into buying power, run against actual Hawaii home prices
Seller concessions and 2-1 buydowns that keep cash in your pocket
The Hawaii buying process and PCS timing, so you're pre-approved before you land

How it works

Reach out — DM, the form on this page, or a text
Pick a time that fits your schedule and time zone
We send you a Zoom link
Join from anywhere — laptop or phone, on-island or still stateside
Leave with a clear plan and your next step

Why Zoom? Most of our buyers are still PCSing in. This lets you learn before you move, screen-share live numbers together, pull your spouse in from another location, and record it to revisit later.

2026 Pay tools for Oahu

BAH, BAS & COLA — at a glance

Your allowances are the foundation of your buying power. Here are the current Oahu numbers, the way they show up on your LES.

● HONOLULU COUNTY, HI · Effective Jan 1, 2026

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Honolulu County MHA · monthly

Pay grade	With dependents	Without

Pay grades O-8 and above are rare on island — look those up directly on the DTMO calculator.

Subsistence (BAS)

flat · tax-free · monthly

Enlisted E-1 through E-9, same rate$476.95

Officer O-1 through O-10, same rate$328.48

BAS II gov't quarters, no kitchen$953.90

Cost-of-Living (COLA)

Hawaii non-foreign · tax-free

Typical Oahu COLA varies by grade, dependents & years of service~$300/mo

Hawaii COLA isn't a flat number — it shifts during the year as local prices move, and it scales with your pay grade, dependents, and time in service. Pull your exact figure here:

Official DTMO COLA lookup →

Source: U.S. DoD Defense Travel Management Office (BAH/COLA) and DFAS (BAS), rates effective January 1, 2026, for the Honolulu County, HI Military Housing Area. Figures are for planning only — confirm your exact entitlements on your LES and with your lender before making offers.

PCSing to Oahu

TLA-approved lodging

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) covers hotel costs while you house-hunt. These Oahu properties are commonly TLA-approved — including kitchen and pet-friendly options.

Before you book: contact the on-base Navy Lodge / Inns of the Corps first — if they're full, they issue a Certificate of Non-Availability that lets you use an off-base hotel. Always confirm a property is currently TLA-approved with your housing office, and book directly (not through Expedia / Hotels.com — those receipts aren't reimbursed).

Let's talk

Your home search starts with one message

Tell me where you're at — PCS orders in hand, just curious, or ready to make offers. No pressure, no cost.