Fort Hood area, house hunting, would like some input, mainly from Aviation side. Any ideas?

2015-10-13T20:00:14-04:00

As the topic says, I'll be moving to Hood. I'd like some input on the surrounding area to do some house hunting. I'll be working out at the Airfield, and if any of you 64 guys can chime in, it'd be great. I'd like to buy a home. I've got two kids, 10 and 12. I'm not sure how traffic gets onto the airfield. Kileen is an obvious option but I'd like something a little further out, but not a 45 minute drive either. My understanding is traffic crawls there. I'd like to get a fairly new home, if not a new build as I plan to rent it out whenever I PCS out of hood, and would like to keep maintenance down. Looking for 4 bedroom 2 bath minimum. Would like 2 car garage but far from deal breaker. Large yard for dog. I'd like a relatively quiet area in terms of traffic, don't care about helicopter traffic. I don't mind being a little away from big stores, but I'd like to essentials to be relatively close (within 20 minutes or so). Any input would be greatly appreciated. And yes, I'm scrubbing through the post guide, but if Campbell and Rucker are an indication, tends to be pretty generic. Thanks in advance!

Response by SFC Wade W. made Oct 13 at 2015 8:03 PM

2015-10-13T20:03:26-04:00

I have a house in Coppers Cove that is empty right now. Looking for a renter. 3 bedroom.

Response by SSG David McPherson made Oct 13 at 2015 8:08 PM

2015-10-13T20:08:13-04:00

Copperas Cove is the better school district, there are home available in the house creek north area

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Oct 13 at 2015 8:08 PM

2015-10-13T20:08:41-04:00

Do not move in Killeen; Copperas Cove is a okay and Harker Heights it is expensive.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:09 PM

2015-10-13T20:09:12-04:00

Harker Heights, south of 190 is a decent area. Lots of new construction going on there. Amenities like larger stores and restaraunts are available, but not right next to the house. It takes me about 15-20 min to get to work going through the main gate (leaving the house at 0530). The drive home is a little longer, depending on what time I leave. The main back up is on post though. A little further east is Belton. It's a nice little town with Temple just a short way farther east. To the south, there is Georgetown, but it's pretty big, and you start getting the longer commute. West is Coppras Cove. I am not a fan, but I know some people who love it there. Bottom line, I would stay out of Killeen. The crime there can be pretty bad, depending on the street your on.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:12 PM

2015-10-13T20:12:45-04:00

I have a 4BR, 2BA (2011-built) home for sale in the Splawn Ranch neighborhood south of Killeen. It is just under 2,700 sq ft and has a large fenced in backyard. It is in a newer neighborhood which is nice an quiet. It takes 15-20 minutes to get to the gate in the morning and about 20-25 to get home in the evening, depending on the time/traffic. Please let me know if you would like more info and I can put you in touch with my realtor, or their website, to see pictures.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:46 PM

2015-10-13T20:46:31-04:00

I wouldn't recommend buying unless you plan on making it an investment property - the market isn't the best right now and I'm not able to sell my own house when I PCS this spring. I work on the airfield and live in Harker Heights (Skipcha Mountain). It takes me 25 minutes to get to the airfield, and that includes dropping my babies off at daycare. If you go on through the airfield gate rather than driving through post, the traffic is just fine. I agree that south of 190 tends to be the better area. You'll get more for your money out in Cove, and probably the same driving distance - there are some newer areas out there. When we were renters, we went through John Reider Properties and had a great experience with them. Good luck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 9:23 PM

2015-10-13T21:23:37-04:00

If your interested my house is still on the market at 4003 Stallion Dr., Killeen TX. 4Br 2Bath, 2 Car Garage. Priced to sell. It is located between and walking distance from the grade school, middle school and high school. 5 minute drive from Clear Creek Gate (without traffic).

Response by 1SG Carter Hickman made Oct 13 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-10-13T21:28:15-04:00

I retired from Ft. Hood in 1999. I was assigned to Corp Headquarters. I purchased a house in Copperas Cove. I loved it. It's been a while now since my Retirement and I've been back there twice and the whole area is bombing. I'm sure there are many new sub-divisions now but Copperas Cove was the ideal location for me and my family.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 5:41 AM

2015-10-14T05:41:12-04:00

I agree with the CPT, you will get more house for your money in CC because it is way more rural. Too boring for me personally. Id rather live in Killeen or Hh even if that means I have to dodge bullets on the way to work.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 8:11 AM

2015-10-14T08:11:59-04:00

There are three entry puts to W Fort. Clear Creek on the Kileen Harker Hts side and Cove Rd from Cooperas Cove. Heights is more expensive and thus more restrictive based on the areas BAH rates. I lived last in Knights Ridge in Hts and there is a new subdivision building behind it with some nice homes. Cove has some nice new neighborhoods, a superwalmart and some new restaurants. Heights has a new outdoor higher end shopping mall, many restaurants, the new movie theater and more entertainment ops. Based on your school age kids I would go online to http://www.greatschools.org and review the schools and neighborhoods on the site. Will provide you some rankings and demographics that may aid your decision-making. Both are about a 15-20 min commute. Good Luck - Air Cav!

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Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Oct 14 at 2015 5:55 PM

2015-10-14T17:55:01-04:00

Awesome post for RallyPoint! (I wasn't even aware of the "House Hunting" tag)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 10:25 AM

2015-10-15T10:25:40-04:00

I live out in the far side of copperas cove in a housing area called skyline ridge. There are new houses going up. Since ft hood has many gates you always have options when coming on post. It normally takes me 30 minutes to get to work and go home and that is with traffic. That's not saying that you won't have bad days with the traffic. I have had those where it took 45 minutes or more to get to work. I bought brand new 4 br 2 bath 2 car. I don't regret it at all. You always have the back roads with the range roads to get to work, the airfield personnel only gate and even east gate to come into post for the airfield. Once you get here it is all depending what you want to deal with on a daily basis. Since I am used to the traffic it doesn't bother me. Copperas cove schools are the best in the area. Both of my kids love the schools here. (8&4)And even talking with some of the high school kids they like it a lot. As for my neighborhood it is pretty quiet minus the train that comes through the country side but you get used to that. If you have any question feel free to ask.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-10-15T13:42:09-04:00

I would look in the Harker Heights/Nolanville area (thats where I live) Its about 20 mins from where I work on Ft Hood with traffic, its quiet and not even close to the same crime rate as killeen. There are alot of houses for sale right noew, New construction as well near the highschool off of knights way. Avoid properties listed by JWC whether buying or renting, JWC are complete scam artists.

Traffic really isnt that bad. leaving at 1700 is the worst it gets and it still only adds alittle bit of time to my drive.

P.S.
Heights has a better schools than killeen or cove

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 10:30 PM

2015-10-17T22:30:59-04:00

There's a new subdivision off Clear Creek and Bunny Trail, I house sat for my PSG for a while and I was able to leave the house at 540 and get across post before 615. Traffic isn't horrible. It's a new subdivision, starting from the mid 100's and she was able to lease it out within a month after PCSING. Definitely worth a look.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 5:12 PM

2015-10-19T17:12:29-04:00

Copperas Cove would be the way to go for you Sir.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 10:20 AM

2015-10-20T10:20:25-04:00

I lived in Kileen before my first deployment and I hated it. After that I moved to Copperas Cove, Hill Street. Really great community out there, and if you are going to be on the West Fort Hood airfield I would definitely recommend it. Even if you are going to be at the other end of post, you can take the range roads all the way through and get on post pretty quickly for the distance. My wife dropped her phone while we were walking around one time hitting garage sales in the neighborhood. A Copperas Cove police officer found her phone, called me, and brought it to our front door.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-11-11T15:02:59-05:00

Harker Heights is blooming I love the neighborhood a little higher on taxes than Killeen but the quality of life is better....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 7:14 AM

2015-11-12T07:14:30-05:00

Cheif, I know where I live in copperas cove. The city has ne housing units going up with some being close to public schools. You may want to check there. Plus with the new bypass, traffic isn't really a issue.