Going from NC to Alaska...can we be put on the housing waiting list now with our orders (we don't report till Sept.) or do we have to wait till we get there? I heard it takes a long time and off post housing is limited...Anyone got any ideas?
2007-04-18 09:58:40 · 7 answers · asked by Army Wife 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Most places will not let you get on the housing list until you actually get there. However, many of them will back-date your application to the date that your husband signed out of the last duty station.
We had orders to Alaska last summer (got cancelled unfortunately) and the list then was over a year long. I believe the only lists that weren't that long were field-grade officers. The off-post housing situation didn't seem too terrible, other than the cost of living being so high up there. But BAH is high and you also get COLA.
Go to www.ahrn.com to get an idea of off-post rentals and start looking for houses.
Also, be very careful if you are driving. September will be pretty cold up there from what I understand, and the roads can be horrible through Canada if it's snowing.
There is also a book put out by the state of Alaska called the "Milepost." It gives great information about the state, and has detailed maps that give you mile-by-mile summaries of the roads (what roads are closed seasonally, where there are rocks falling, gravel roads, moose warnings, etc). I'd consider it a must-have if you drive up there. I had one but sold it when our orders got cancelled - you can get one by calling 1-800-726-4707.
Enjoy Alaska - I'm so jealous!
2007-04-18 10:42:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recently PCS'd from FL to AZ. I was able to get on the housing list by calling Post Housing and sending a copy of my orders.
Even if you do not do this, typically when transferring from CONUS to OCONUS, or vice versa, you are given preferential treatment. What this means is you will be placed on the list based on the date of the orders and not your arrival date. So even if you wait until you get there, which I would not do, you should still be placed well on the list.
Of course, how fast you'd get housing depends on the length of the list and housing availability.
The Army Onestop website link is below.
2007-04-18 10:14:27 · answer #2 · answered by Think-It-Through 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each duty station's housing office has different regs about when you can be put on the list. some make you wait until you check in, some let you do it as soon as you have hard copy orders. You will have to contact the housing office directly to find out their requirements.
2007-04-18 13:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the housing contact numbers on your orders and ask them. The answer is different for every duty location. If you count on the answer you get here you may be in deep water when you don't need to be by calling and asking for the facts yourself. Good luck on your move though. Anyplace has got to be better than NC.
2007-04-18 10:15:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have recieved your orders to do a PCS change..then you can be put on a housing list. Its a GREAT idea to do it now too becuase it does take a VERY very VERY long time to get housing at a lot of bases.
good luck! my husband and i might be joinin ya in alaska..we dont find out for another 3 weeks!
2007-04-18 11:07:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contact the installation housing office at your new duty station to determine the availability of quarters before moving dependents or entering into any housing agreement.
2007-04-18 10:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by Johnnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to contact them directly. Depending on the post policy you may be able to fax in orders early, and get on the list. Most say no, though. Email, or call them to be sure.
go to www.ahrn.com and search for husing. It's an army recommended site for housing.
2007-04-18 10:03:39 · answer #7 · answered by Lynne 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋