Well hello. I've been around Pendleton since November. Husband and I got married, found a cheap apt to get started, save money, he did training, then off to deployment a few months later. Not sure how but I've been here all that time and still don't know anyone and barely where things are at lol.

Husband will be returning in a couple months. He asked me to start looking at a 2+ bedroom house with some form of backyard - he wants a puppy and kids when he returns. He's E-5 and we get something around +-18-1950. He wants to find something that allows us to still save a couple hundred from that a month. Looking in town, I'm either NOT looking in the right place, or the expectations are just unrealistic. I noticed on base they have housing incentives (stuart mesa being closest to his command - offering -$400 month from rent).

My questions... are there houses for rent out in town, near the main front gate, within our parameters for give or take 1300mo? How is the base housing and how does that work? I've heard they just take all BaH, but I also read somewhere that PPV doesn't take all the BaH. If that's the case how much does "rent" run for the different levels of housing? I'm not entirely sure on this whole process... I know there's more thought on LIFE that goes into the decision than just the money, base would be good I think. I figured after 10 months it was time to reach out to the community lol 

When we lived on base they took all the BAH, my friends that got an incentive check had to go pick it up at their housing office. I liked living on base, I made more friends when I lived on base in a few months then when we lived out in town for over a year. 

All of them take all your BAH. Only some offer a concession check, such as stuart mesa and the $400.
Here's a link to what's available based on your husbands rank.

http://www.lincolnmilitary.com/lmh/installations/camp_pendleton/upload/CampPendletonHotSheet-Aug_16_2012-Aug_22_2012.pdf

I figure ya'll have no kids yet so you would rate a 2bdrm. Stuart mesa does offer an incentive to give you a 3 bdrm, but it doesn't give you a concession check, thus taking ALL your BAH.

Also as far as houses off base, 1300 won't get you much. Especially compared to on base housing. Plus you dont pay utilities on base AND your husband would be close to work. Hope this helps.

Good luck! 

Thank you, yeah once I started looking at the housing costs around here I figured our parameters just weren't realistic lol. I found that Hot Sheet earlier. May or may not be truth, but I also read somewhere that they were re-evaluating the incentives in September? That may mean it goes up or down, anyone know if that's the case? How is the housing there? I read that there were 2 parts to stuart mesa. 

They re-evaluate the incentive every September. They could take them away, raise or lower them. With all the housing on base and the current downsizing I dont see Lincoln doing away with the incentive. They actually offer incentives for a lot more housing than they did when we first moved here 2 years ago. I live in Stuart Mesa and I think its totally worth it. Our neighborhood is nice, neighbors nice and respectful. The only complaint I have is people not picking up there dog poop. 

Because my husband works over off of stuart mesa, would they give us housing there? Anyone have any suggestions, tips, tricks, or anything I should know about the housing before I start the process? 

It says on the hot sheet what housing you qualify for. They are based on rank and number of dependents not where the active duty person works. If hes a E5 you qualify for Stuart Mesa. 

My husband works over by Stuart Mesa too. It's no kidding a 2-3 minute drive from WM2. Mines an e5 as well. I would much rather live in these homes than Stuart Mesa. But WM doesn't have the incentives other neighborhoods do so its a draw back but worth in IMO 

Pac view was offering a 2 or 3k move in incentive not to long ago! those homes are nice...but if you are wanting a backyard you most likely are not going to a home with an incentive or move in check...you could qualify for WM3...they are offering you the incentive of a 3 bedroom (no money back) and the have HUGE back yards!! My backyard has a gazebo, deck, tree swing and a huge Trampoline with still a TON of room for my daughter and BOTH dogs to play!...honestly I would go into the Staurt Mesa office and ask to look at a home...then go to the Del Mar office and ask to look at the Pac View homes and WM3 homes...that way you get an idea of each home b4 moving in! :)I can send ya pics of the WM3 back yard if ya want! 

Better to live off base...less money & drama. Look online. We were renting a 3bedroom town home for1645$ before we bought a place in Temecula. 

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