PCS and House-hunting
PCS and House-hunting
As soon as we find out where we are PCSing, I rush to research everything I can about houses for sale, houses for rent, and floor plans on base. It’s always hard to choose if we should live on or off base as both options have a lot of positives and negatives. For me what it comes down to is how far our money goes off base versus how much space will we get on base.
In every location the answer is different! In Albuquerque we lived on base and at the time our family was just starting so the house had plenty of space for us. Now, two kids later, the on-base house in Colorado Springs would have been smaller than what we were used to. We bought a larger house not far from the base with our BAH – the best of both worlds! We plan to keep it for many years to come and rent it out to military families in the future.
MilSpouse Money
Mission Response:
Each time a PCS comes around, finding housing is often one of the first tasks to manage. Like Valerie’s experience, your family’s needs will likely change from one duty station to the next. Your housing options may be different too, so it is a good idea to start planning as soon as possible. Family size, availability, budget, installation and local community amenities, and schools are a few factors to consider. Remember that the things that were important the last time you moved might be different this time. Maybe you’re planning to purchase a home, transition out of the military, or your family could use more or less space. While it’s true that you may not be able to find the perfect home that checks all the boxes, you can draw on previous experience and find the best option for your current situation. Before you start looking, make a list of pros and cons of living on or off installation to help direct your search.
A PCS is also a perfect time to review your spending plan. If you don’t have one, our Create a Budget page can help you get started. A good rule is to keep your housing expenses to 25% or less than your pretax pay or BAH. Remember your housing expense is more than just your rent or mortgage payment. Be sure to factor in utilities, taxes and maintenance.
