5 Tips for Finding a Place to Live

My husband and I are about knee deep in the middle of our first PCS, and with him in South Korea and me on Long Island, getting our life squared away to move to Fort Drum by the end of the summer has been proving difficult. One of the biggest hurdles to get over, for me, was finding a place to live, sight unseen, from many miles away.

Sure, we could’ve tried to hop on the ever-growing waiting list to live on the installation, but where’s the fun in that? For all of you that are also considering living off the installation, here are a few things I found helpful when finding a place to live:

1. Research the area

Not every area around an installation is desirable, so do your research on the local towns. Check out the schools, read up on crime statistics for the neighborhood, and look at recent news stories to get the skinny on what life is like in the area. Be sure to make the AHRN website one of your first stops for housing, as they have a good handle on the places available for rent/purchase. And, of course, make sure the price they’re asking is commensurate with what the area commands and fits within your BAH budget (utilities included!).

2. Consider the temperature

Fort Drum is up in the icy tundra of northern New York. From October until April, you can’t be sure if you’ll be snowed in. So, when you’re looking for a place to live, consider the climate. If you’re going to be looking at a lot of snow, then certainly consider the distance you’re willing to drive in to go to work daily, whether that’s to the installation or another local establishment. Deathly hot heat? Will your car make it back and forth with the current A/C system before you melt?

3. See what is around

If you’re going to be close to the installation, then great. But, consider how long it’ll take you to get to the commissary or the PX. Before you sign on any dotted lines, ask yourself if the area has enough shopping to support your needs. Is there a 24-hour pharmacy for last minute/middle of the night child care needs? Is there a grocery store within distance of ice-cream melting? Do you have to drive 30 minutes to withdraw money from the bank or get gas?

4. Think about the amenities

What do you absolutely need to be happy? For me, it’s a washer and dryer in the residence, central A/C, and a dishwasher. Figure out what are the most important things you must have to be happy where you’re living, and nix the places that don’t have what you want right off the bat. Pining for a place that doesn’t have what you’d like is not going to make it happen. Do think about things like garbage removal, snow plowing, on-site laundry/pool/fitness center, and if any utilities are included, which could help offset rental costs. Do be sure that pets are allowed to reside there,, as not every rental complex accepts them.

5. Rent or Buy?

This was the big one for us. Think about whether or not you have a long-term stay ahead of you. If you don’t know whether you’ll be asked to move again in the next one or two years, then renting may be the way to go for you. If you know you have time to spend at your next installation (lucky!), then consider buying!

Good luck and happy house hunting! And remember, you’ve got this! You’re a military spouse—you can do anything!