Life Lessons of a Military Wife (overseas in Europe!): Off post OCONUS Housing Rentals can be found online

Life Lessons of a Military Wife (overseas in Europe!)

My goal here is to make your life easier, especially those who are in the unique situation of being a military spouse. Yes...I've been around...but in a good way...and hopefully can share those tips, tricks and shortcuts with you too. I've been on this military bus for over 40 years now. My goals in life are to have a well-run home, few money worries, well adjusted children, money socked away and whatever happiness I can scoop out of life.

About Me

After life as an Army brat, being in the Army myself and marrying a soldier, I can honestly say I have a bucket full of life lessons I can share to help you make your everyday life easier and enlightening. Don't waste your time making unnecessary mistakes and benefit from others who have come before you on your journey through life.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Off post OCONUS Housing Rentals can be found online

I already posted this on my Twitter page, but I know many of my readers don't use that....so....I have found in the past, that some OCONUS duty locations managed their own housing websites, with rental listings for their area. Now, I see more and more are putting up their listings on AHRN. If you are moving to a new overseas location, be sure to stop by and get a jump on what's available for housing off post. Of course, you won't be able to bid for homes, but at least you know what will be awaiting you:-)

Labels: Being Stationed in Germany, Living in Belgium

7 Comments:

Sally said...: Oh good! I did not know overseas stuff was on ahrn. I only used it in the US so far. Thanks!; February 7, 2011 at 9:32 PM
militarydutystations.com said...: Have you had a chance to look at it to see about the quality on what's available?
I can't b/c we are stationed in the US.; February 8, 2011 at 5:00 PM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: Let me see....I just did a search for all available listings...K-town/Ramstein area has 205 listings. USAG Wiesbaden only has 6. Brussels almost 100....think SHAPE/Chievres has about half that. So it seems that some housing offices are making use of it and some aren't. I also noticed Italy, Turkey, England...basically Europe....didn't see Japan, etc. Many listings have just one photo or two but I see all the #s to help you try to narrow it down.; February 8, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Danielle said...: Thank you for all the great info. we just found out that we will be moving to SHAPE this June. We know we will have to live off post. Are there some surrounding towns you would recommend? Also, we didn't know whether we should ship one of our cars there. We have an minivan and a nissan Altima. Thought about shipping the Altima, but wondered if that might be even too big for over there.

Sorry for all the questions. Appreciate any advice you could give :); March 8, 2011 at 8:11 PM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: Welcome! There are too many to list. I would stick with homes in a 20 minute driving distance to SHAPE and try to get equidistant to Chievres as that's where commissary/PX are...when you get here, you'll get a better feel. Some towns are down some terribly narrow pothole ridden roads, and that can get dicey with all the farm equipment (and slow), and we also have black ice in the winter.

I would be careful with places in central Mons (car break ins)...need secure parking...also around the train station and university are higher in crime.

We have a Honda minivan and have little problems navigating around...I get over when I have to and I sometimes have to get thru tight spaces...I'm a pro at parallel parking...sometimes I have to walk farther or squeeze out my door as the regular parking spaces are much narrower than in the US. You get used to it though...there are even people with huge American trucks driving around...something I wouldn't do (gas guzzler and just too "American", ie target)...but to each his own!; March 9, 2011 at 9:05 PM
Bayoubeachgirl said...: What What...so bringing my oversized SUV is out of the question....ahhh say it's not so?? I told my husband that I would only come as long as I could take my Big American SUV;)

Is it really that big of a deal? I'm also a great parallel parker. I love to go Furniture shopping and my SUV fits everything in it. Plus, it's super nice to pack everything in and go on road trips.

Should I really rethink this?; March 28, 2011 at 7:01 PM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: I don't want to discourage you beachgirl. I have a Honda minivan and am glad I have it over here. I love to go to flea and antique markets and use it for that...but reality is reality. You can forget parallel parking your big SUV or using the many parking garages in city centers (so you'll have to park outside the center and take transpo in)...they just don't have the space over here....and you'll need more gas rations if you drive it everywhere (so you could end up running out and then paying full price at the pump)...and you'll stick out as an American these days, especially now when they tell us we have to be more lowkey.

Just know that coming over that you will have some challenges and some additional things to consider...that's all. We kind of got around this by getting my DH a small European-spec car, and we use that more often than not when traveling not too far from home, such as all the city trips we do in Belgium & the Netherlands.; March 29, 2011 at 7:02 AM

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Life Lessons of a Military Wife (overseas in Europe!)

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Off post OCONUS Housing Rentals can be found online

7 Comments: