Copperas Cove advice needed (Killeen, Temple: sales, rentals, home sales)

[uscpsycho]

I am looking into buying a home in Texas which I will rent out. I've been working with a realtor that was recommended to me by some friends. But they don't live in Texas, and neither do I. And even though I know the realtor is trying to be unbiased, bias is inevitable. So it's time to get some info from (hopefully) knowledgable, unbiased locals.

The realtor has primarily steered me towards homes in Copperas Cove. She says this is where a lot of the officers from Ft. Hood like to live because they're close to the base and don't have the problems of Killeen. We're looking mostly at homes averaging 1,800sf and $145,000. She says these will reliably appreciate in value and will reliably rent for about $1275/mo.

There seems to be no end to the newly constructed homes that fit this price/size profile. Many of them yet to be sold. With so much supply I'm concerned that appreciation may not be such a slam dunk. Any thoughts on this?

The realtor tells me that most of these homes are sold to owner occupants, so when rentals are available they are easy to rent. True?

Is Copperas Cove really a haven away from the problems of Killeen?

Thank you in advance for any assistance!

[NOTAM]

having been part of the Army of One and very familiar with Army posts and towns, i would say Copperas Cove would always be a good investment...

[conanS]

Don't know anything about Copperas Cove except that it's a great catfishing place. Try the "Texas Fishing Forums". I have seen quiet a few from there posting on the forums!!

[Steel Man]

Nice town near a very large Army base (Ft. Hood). If you want a bigger city, try Temple that is close. Here are the web sites for both:

http://www.copperascove.com/bike_central.htm (broken link)

http://www.ci.temple.tx.us/

[sixty3tbird]

I've lived in both Killeen and Copperas Cove and would HIGHLY recommend the latter! Older homes in established neighborhoods are not going south on sale prices; most owned by military members/ contractors, military retirees, small business owners, and other middle-income wage earning families. There are the extremes of either end (high-dollar golf course properties or "the other side of the tracks" smaller, older homes. My property's assessed value (and corresponding county/ city taxes) have increased about 35% in the past 10 years as have other homes in surrounding neighborhoods. There is alot of "transient" home-buying due to military movement. Because there are new homes being built in the area, I'm afraid there will be a slump of pre-existing home sales or owners being forced to sacrifice earned equity in order to move their home on the market. I love where I live, though.