Comments on: On Base Housing ~ The Good, the Bad and the Ugly http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ Where Martha Meets Real Life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:31:05 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lynette Goldwire http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6851 Lynette Goldwire Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:36:01 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6851 Hi i read your post about base housing and i was wondering a few things. We are currently in base housing here in NC, but we have orders for Quantico. How long was the wait time before you got on-base housing at Quantico? We are scheduled to relocate there in feb 2010. We feel very secure in base housing but we were told i would have to wait back home in GA until my husband got a house or apartment. Is there any other info you could provide as far as us coming to the base? Lynette Hi i read your post about base housing and i was wondering a few things. We are currently in base housing here in NC, but we have orders for Quantico. How long was the wait time before you got on-base housing at Quantico? We are scheduled to relocate there in feb 2010. We feel very secure in base housing but we were told i would have to wait back home in GA until my husband got a house or apartment. Is there any other info you could provide as far as us coming to the base? Lynette

]]> By: Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6850 Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:48:31 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6850 We were military during the housing shortages of the 80's. We were always stationed where housing was short and/or substandard, so we always lived off post. As a matter of fact, at one post you could live in the sub-standard housing for free AND still get your BAQ allowance. At one duty station in Germany, there was literally NO married housing, so you lived on the economy or you stayed at home; and the town was small so the estimated wait for housing was 10 months. The soldier had to prove to their commanders that they had housing before they could approval to bring their family over. The mark rate got so bad, one soldier had to move his family into the common area of the barracks for a couple of days until he could get them a MAC flight home. Accompanied tours were greatly discourage. Needless to say, I stayed at home in the states. Even there, it wasn't always better. Some posts had families living in nearby state parks in travel trailers. Luckily, the military, as a whole, seems much more attuned these days to the needs of families. Good luck to all of you military spouses--you have unique challanges that face you, in addition to the ones that all families face. We were military during the housing shortages of the 80′s. We were always stationed where housing was short and/or substandard, so we always lived off post. As a matter of fact, at one post you could live in the sub-standard housing for free AND still get your BAQ allowance. At one duty station in Germany, there was literally NO married housing, so you lived on the economy or you stayed at home; and the town was small so the estimated wait for housing was 10 months. The soldier had to prove to their commanders that they had housing before they could approval to bring their family over. The mark rate got so bad, one soldier had to move his family into the common area of the barracks for a couple of days until he could get them a MAC flight home. Accompanied tours were greatly discourage. Needless to say, I stayed at home in the states. Even there, it wasn’t always better. Some posts had families living in nearby state parks in travel trailers. Luckily, the military, as a whole, seems much more attuned these days to the needs of families. Good luck to all of you military spouses–you have unique challanges that face you, in addition to the ones that all families face.

]]> By: Allyson http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6849 Allyson Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:24:46 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6849 Oh fun! We had good friends on Okinawa road too! We lived up on Hatten (north end of the post) off of Gen. Jim. Fun memories! Oh fun! We had good friends on Okinawa road too! We lived up on Hatten (north end of the post) off of Gen. Jim. Fun memories!

]]> By: Alison http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6848 Alison Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:26:19 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6848 We've never had new quarters; infact, we're pretty used to living in sub standard housing conditions. Nevertheless, I've always enjoyed living on post. The community feel really makes an unattractive home feel much more comforting. We live off post at our current duty station because housing wasn't available at the time of our move. I enjoy our neighborhood, and living in a somewhat stylish townhouse, but know that the next place we move to, we'll try our best to live on post. It just makes sense to us. We’ve never had new quarters; infact, we’re pretty used to living in sub standard housing conditions. Nevertheless, I’ve always enjoyed living on post. The community feel really makes an unattractive home feel much more comforting. We live off post at our current duty station because housing wasn’t available at the time of our move. I enjoy our neighborhood, and living in a somewhat stylish townhouse, but know that the next place we move to, we’ll try our best to live on post. It just makes sense to us.

]]> By: Alison http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6847 Alison Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:23:03 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6847 I can't believe they only permit a 2 bedroom house for WOs in Germany. My husband has been a Warrant Officer for about 5 years and we've always been offered 3 bedrooms and, like you, we have only one child. Huh. I guess it varies by post. We're at Ft. Belvoir, although we live off post, and E-6s and above automatically get 3 bedrooms. I can’t believe they only permit a 2 bedroom house for WOs in Germany. My husband has been a Warrant Officer for about 5 years and we’ve always been offered 3 bedrooms and, like you, we have only one child. Huh. I guess it varies by post. We’re at Ft. Belvoir, although we live off post, and E-6s and above automatically get 3 bedrooms.

]]> By: Amanda http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6846 Amanda Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:06:59 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6846 We are living in our 3rd base house now (been on the same base for 6 yrs). By far the house we are in now is the best. 1st house wasn't horrible, 2nd house was just nasty (even though it had an updated kitchen) we are now in newer houseing and no complaints We are living in our 3rd base house now (been on the same base for 6 yrs). By far the house we are in now is the best. 1st house wasn’t horrible, 2nd house was just nasty (even though it had an updated kitchen) we are now in newer houseing and no complaints

]]> By: Mom in High Heels http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6845 Mom in High Heels Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:55:32 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6845 We were at Ft. Ord/DLI in the late 90's. Dh was an E-3 (we had no kids) and we got a 3 bed/2 bath house overlooking Monterrey Bay. It was beautiful and spoiled us a little. We were in the older section, but our house had been renovated and was really nice. I remember thinking how HUGE it was for just the 2 of us. We barely had enough furniture to fill the LR and DR, let alone 3 bedrooms. We were on Okinawa Rd, so pretty close to the commissary and PX. It is crazy expensive to live on the economy there, and we were so happy to have our house. It's funny how as an E-3 with no kids, we got a 3 bed with no problems, but as a WO1 (W2 next month!!!), we had to fight with housing to give us a 3 bed in Germany. We "qualified" for only a 2 bed (because we have 1 child), but as an E7, which dh was before going WO, he would automatically have gotten a 3 bed, children or not. We (meaning me),argued with housing that he had earned his 3 bed and they couldn't take that away because he went WO. They agreed (after much discussion) and we got a 3 bed. I swear it makes me crazy sometimes. We were at Ft. Ord/DLI in the late 90′s. Dh was an E-3 (we had no kids) and we got a 3 bed/2 bath house overlooking Monterrey Bay. It was beautiful and spoiled us a little. We were in the older section, but our house had been renovated and was really nice. I remember thinking how HUGE it was for just the 2 of us. We barely had enough furniture to fill the LR and DR, let alone 3 bedrooms. We were on Okinawa Rd, so pretty close to the commissary and PX. It is crazy expensive to live on the economy there, and we were so happy to have our house. It’s funny how as an E-3 with no kids, we got a 3 bed with no problems, but as a WO1 (W2 next month!!!), we had to fight with housing to give us a 3 bed in Germany. We “qualified” for only a 2 bed (because we have 1 child), but as an E7, which dh was before going WO, he would automatically have gotten a 3 bed, children or not. We (meaning me),argued with housing that he had earned his 3 bed and they couldn’t take that away because he went WO. They agreed (after much discussion) and we got a 3 bed. I swear it makes me crazy sometimes.

]]> By: Becky L. http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6844 Becky L. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:52:54 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6844 We lived in base housing at Holloman AFB, NM 1979-80) when I was finishing up my tour of duty. We could have been on base when we got there but nobody told me I could sign up for it. It was ok housing, but walls weren't the greatest. One neighbor liked to turn on their tv in their bedroom, which was next to ours, at night. Sometimes we could hear all of the tv show. Sound proofing was an issue there. Other neighbor was quieter. We lived off base when we were stationed in England (RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge)(1977-78) but lived within our means with our BAH.We both got it since we were both AF enlisted at the time. Our landlady lived in the second story of the house. House was turned into two flats (apartments) after her husband died and she rented out the bottom part. We liked it and was sufficient for 2 people. She called us her colonials. Our bathroom used to be an old coal bin so when it was cold out, there was ice on the walls at times. Only heat was little coil heater in the ceiling. Good memories. "0) We lived in base housing at Holloman AFB, NM 1979-80) when I was finishing up my tour of duty. We could have been on base when we got there but nobody told me I could sign up for it. It was ok housing, but walls weren’t the greatest. One neighbor liked to turn on their tv in their bedroom, which was next to ours, at night. Sometimes we could hear all of the tv show. Sound proofing was an issue there. Other neighbor was quieter. We lived off base when we were stationed in England (RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge)(1977-78) but lived within our means with our BAH.We both got it since we were both AF enlisted at the time. Our landlady lived in the second story of the house. House was turned into two flats (apartments) after her husband died and she rented out the bottom part. We liked it and was sufficient for 2 people. She called us her colonials. Our bathroom used to be an old coal bin so when it was cold out, there was ice on the walls at times. Only heat was little coil heater in the ceiling. Good memories. “0)

]]> By: TheHappyHousewife http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6843 TheHappyHousewife Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:10:55 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6843 I know, such a tragedy today. That is why I said sometimes living on base can give you a false sense of security. You never know what might happen. Right after we moved off base our neighbor had their car stolen. It is important to use common sense no matter where you live, although events like today are unexplainable. So sad. I know, such a tragedy today. That is why I said sometimes living on base can give you a false sense of security. You never know what might happen. Right after we moved off base our neighbor had their car stolen. It is important to use common sense no matter where you live, although events like today are unexplainable. So sad.

]]> By: Allyson http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/on-base-housing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-6842 Allyson Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:15:41 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=7808#comment-6842 We actually got to see the old and new in our neighborhood in Ft. Ord where DLI families were housed. We were given an older house (you know, the cookie cutter row ones), but a couple blocks away from us, the old houses had been bulldozed. They then built beautiful, new homes! Gorgeous! They were doing this through out the entire Ft. Ord housing area, block by block over the next few years. As far as the spacing issue goes, we were very fortunate. We were able to get a 3 bedroom house (not duplex), even with my hubby's E-3 rank! We had great storage and square footage for our needs, though I would not have turned down a couple extra kitchen cabinets! We also had a fenced in yard! However, we were the furthest area away from the Commissary, PX,Chapel, Library, etc--but I did make the walk a few times! We were able to keep it to one car, but that did mean I took hubby (very) early in the mornings to PT. Living on post was definitely a MUCH cheaper option. DLI/Ft. Ord is in the Monterey Bay, CA area, and I probably don't have to tell anyone how EXPENSIVE that area is!!! We did know a few families who did go off post and they really got socked with the finances because the area is just so incredibly pricey! However, I did have ONE, BIT, MAJOR complaint with the OLD post housing: Mold. I found evidence that previous mold had been painted over! And of course, it comes back!! Ugh. The housing was privatized and that office was not easy to deal with and would do nothing about the mold unless it was growing like a jungle (actually happened in one friend's home)! However, overall we were very happy and thankful for our housing situation. Something fun to note for many military families, don't forget to check out potential discounts for local museums, attractions, etc. We were able to get a great price on a family/year long passes to the Aquarium there! :-) We actually got to see the old and new in our neighborhood in Ft. Ord where DLI families were housed. We were given an older house (you know, the cookie cutter row ones), but a couple blocks away from us, the old houses had been bulldozed. They then built beautiful, new homes! Gorgeous! They were doing this through out the entire Ft. Ord housing area, block by block over the next few years. As far as the spacing issue goes, we were very fortunate. We were able to get a 3 bedroom house (not duplex), even with my hubby’s E-3 rank! We had great storage and square footage for our needs, though I would not have turned down a couple extra kitchen cabinets! We also had a fenced in yard! However, we were the furthest area away from the Commissary, PX,Chapel, Library, etc–but I did make the walk a few times! We were able to keep it to one car, but that did mean I took hubby (very) early in the mornings to PT. Living on post was definitely a MUCH cheaper option. DLI/Ft. Ord is in the Monterey Bay, CA area, and I probably don’t have to tell anyone how EXPENSIVE that area is!!! We did know a few families who did go off post and they really got socked with the finances because the area is just so incredibly pricey! However, I did have ONE, BIT, MAJOR complaint with the OLD post housing: Mold. I found evidence that previous mold had been painted over! And of course, it comes back!! Ugh. The housing was privatized and that office was not easy to deal with and would do nothing about the mold unless it was growing like a jungle (actually happened in one friend’s home)! However, overall we were very happy and thankful for our housing situation.

Something fun to note for many military families, don’t forget to check out potential discounts for local museums, attractions, etc. We were able to get a great price on a family/year long passes to the Aquarium there! :-)

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