7 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

1. I think it all depends on where we’re stationed. With alot of the Air Force bases privatizing housing, sometimes it’s more practical for us to rent off base. But here in SC, we live on base because 1) it’s not yet privatized here, and 2) our BAH is not enough for us to get the size home we need in a safe area. And with the gas prices the way they are, it’s nice that my hubby is just a couple minutes from his office.

   When we were overseas I definitely preferred living on base, because the things were so expensive on the local economy. We were spending lots of money in gas so that we could drive the 30 minutes to the base to get our food from the commissary, or go get clothes from the BX.

   1. Jen on July 29th, 2008 at 9:19 am

2. We have lived in 6 different homes in the 5 years that we have been involved with the marine corps. Only two of them have been base housing.
   For me I think the desire to live in base housing or off depends on the base and location. In NC I preferred living off base because the older housing was falling apart and the new housing was so poorly built that it was falling apart and it was an inexpensive area enough to afford to make the commute and save money at the same time.

   In virginia I prefer living on base because of the high cost of living and they have, by far, the best base housing I have seen thus far. The neighborhoods and nice and quite and the homes are large and well constructed. We lived in two different houses in the area as we waited for base housing here. Moving on base here was the best decision we could have made. Not only has it saved us a large portion of money but we feel mort comfortable living on base in this area rather than off base.

   When we are restationed in California this winter we will again try to get base housing because of the high cost of living in the area.

   So really I just think the decision to live on base or off resides in the area you are relocating to.

   2. Emily on July 25th, 2008 at 6:19 am

3. My husband and I are loving our on-base housing. We’ve rented so much in the past years before we went in to the Navy that on-base housing was so easy and and less expensive to start up (no deposits or contracts) plus we have a huge 3 bedroom house and yard in IL for what we had a 2 bedroom with half the square footage in TN.

   Plus, we’re never late on paying our housing bills because it’s automatic. We’re close to base, our neighbors we already know and we like the safety of our neighborhood.

   3. Kristen Hodges on July 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm

4. We lived off base in California at first because the list was so long. That opened our eyes! I was glad to live on base then, and now and all the years in between. The utilities being the biggest benefit. We live where it gets HOT (SW AZ) and I don’t worry about running my AC and staying comfortable.
   I wish I had more control of what my floorplan was, but at least when there is a problem, there is a solution that doesn’t come out of my pocket, I call housing. Hey, they do mow our lawns too!
   I agree with the above comment by cory, I wish they didn’t take all the BHA, but what can I do about it, right?
   There is a little security here on base that I wouldn’t have in some other neighborhoods, at least not the ones we could afford. Being close to the Commissary and other base privileges is nice too.
   But, I do confess… I dream of the day I own my own home! When we get out, that will no longer just be a dream.=)
   Cami

   4. Cami on July 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm

5. My husband and I live off base. For now, it’s just the two of us, so we are able to rent a one bedroom apartment out in town for far less that what we are alloted for BAH. Even with the cost of utilities and the gasoline to drive to and from base, we still have money left over from our housing allowance for other things.

   5. A Stone's Throw on July 21st, 2008 at 7:35 pm

6. I actually would prefer living on base.. Her in NC the housing is crazy expensive- not as bad as California.. but it is not affordable if you have more than two kids and arn’t higher than a E-8.. We live in the “NEW” privatized housing and I can’t say they are much better at Customer Service than the Military was.They certainly arn’t constructing Quality NEW homes.. The ones they are put up arn’t going to last like the houses we live in now..That were built over 50 years ago… But I do like living in base housing if not just for my childrens sake..They have friends and they can play pretty freely.

   I just wish they wouldn’t take all our BAH.. it is a lot of money for such a small space.

   Cory

   6. Cory Priest on July 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm

7. I just appreciated the base housing especially in the begining when we could not afford the rent and utilities associated with off base living. Also we moved so often it would have been a lot of extra work to redo a lease etc…
   Except! when we moved overseas… I loved living on the “economy” in other words living in the houses that were approved for military off base housing. In japan we had japanese neighbors and could walk to a “bento” shop for our lunch. We had a small garden and a tatami room, so we learned and enjoyed so much of the local color and culture! I shoped in my local “san A” grocery, which means tripple A, and it was a great store. It was super….the best! I was close enough to go onto the base for all that I needed medical and exchange, but to live in the culture gives you such a wonderful experience! I hope you do if you get a chance!

   7. terryann on July 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am