I'm PCSing to Ft. Hood in a few months, and I'm looking at either renting or buying a house depending on costs there. What is a good, safe place to live at? I hear Killeen is not the place to live. I was told to look at Hawker Heights, Belton, Temple area. Not looking to drive far away, and if the price is right and the neighborhood is good I might just be looking at buying a house.

 

Not from that area but good luck with your search

 

I would say Temple, Ive heard alot of people say the same thing with Killeen. Welcome to Texas

 

Harker Heights, for the most part is good


Killeen (south of 190 is good, north of 190 can be OK in certain areas,
avoid the downtown area like the plague)


Copperas Cove, is turning trashy


Nolanville, is ok (out of the trailerparks)





as far as renting off post (I don't suggest on post housing) avoid JWC at all costs

 

Belton is about 30 minutes from your BN, Temple about 45 minutes (without traffic)

 

Pretty much agree with everything said there.

My brother-in-law and sister live in Harker Heights in a nice subdivision behind the high school.

 

Isn't that a far drive? Lol. What time would be a good time to leave the house if I lived that far?

 

before 355 am if you want to make to the BN area in time for PT

 

with division back and the others, traffic is hell on earth in the monrings (not as bad as Campbell but still sucky)

 

No way in hell am I waking up and leaving that early, lol.

 

Tarajerame pretty much hit the nail on the head with it. Housing sucks and really isn't worth it in that area, BAH is like 1400 for E5 with dependents so and you can definitely find a place cheaper than that. I live in housing right across 190 and I would normally leave around 0500 for PT at 0600 just so I didn't have to deal with traffic or parking, this is probably a ten minute drive with no traffic. If you can beat the rush you're golden.

Heights is going to be more expensive than Cove then Killeen. My 1SG and BMS both live in Belton, I think they were leaving about 0430, and coming in the back gate. Its not to bad with one of the divisions deployed but I think 3ACR and Cav are looking to get back around the same time so I'm expecting the worst when I get home. My Maintenance Warrant lives in Gatesville, little farm town on the NW side of post, I think it takes him about 30 minutes to get to work, but thats because he's taking roads that no one else does.

The newer housing developments in Killen aren't to bad, its that stick up cookie cutter type development. You're looking at about $120+ for a nice house. Most of those are a straight shot up Clear Creek road to get on post, except that gate can get pretty crowded.

 

$1400? I thought it was $1017?

If I bought a house, it would be in the Belton area.

 

You're right, I don't know where I came up with 1400. BAH 1017 in that area and 325 for BAS. Belton is nice, not your typical college town.

 

I was going to say, $1400, hell yeah. Wife and I are using USAA to buy our next house. Since I used my VA loan on the first house, I'll have to drop like 3% on the next house. Found a few we like, but since I won't be leaving for a few months, since still deployed, they might be gone!

 

I'm in the same boat or I'd offer to go take a look at them for you. Just keep watching them and hopefully you get lucky. We're going through the same deal with houses in Michigan for when I get out after this deployment.