Installation Housing – It Depends!
Installation Housing – It Depends!
Making the decision between on-installation and off-installation housing is really geographically dependent. Some major factors that must be taken into consideration are whether you’re looking to rent or buy, what the rental market looks like for the area you’re going to (availability, price in comparison to BAH, whether pets are allowed, school districts, etc.), and what you are personally looking for in a home.
Most on-installation housing offers instant community through involvement and events, and usually have safe playgrounds. Off-installation housing can often allow you to save some BAH or get you closer to your desired school districts.
We chose on-base housing for the first time when we moved to California because we had a large dog, a 2-year-old and new baby and we were moving into a tough rental market and not looking to buy. By doing on-base housing we knew exactly how much we’d be spending, and since utilities are included here, we wouldn’t have any unexpected large bills. I am really glad we did because of we have access to excellent parks and good sidewalks, which were both life savers when we got stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we are when we first moved into base housing.
MilSpouse Money
Mission Response:
Dulce gave a great summary of many factors that go into choosing whether to live on or off your installation. You may not always have the option to choose, but if you do, start making plans as soon as possible as some installations have long waitlists for housing.
Family size, community amenities, pets, school districts, time you expect to stay at a duty station, and long-term plans are a few of the factors that may contribute to your decision. Keep in mind that the cost of housing is more than your rent or mortgage payment; don’t forget to factor in utilities, taxes, and maintenance. A good guideline is to strive to keep your housing expenses to BAH or no more than 25% of your pre-tax pay. Use your spending plan to make sure you stay on track. If you do not already have a spending plan in place, now is a great time to set one up. Our resources at Money Ready 101: Create a Budget can help you get started.
