Copperas Cove apartments (Killeen, Temple, Harker Heights: rentals, chapel, coops)

[Bethanial11]

In December, courtesy of the USAF, we'll be PCS'ing to Ft. Hood. So I've been researching the area. Thanks to all the wonderful information on this forum, I've decided that Copperas Cove is the place for us ... slower pace, good schools, and it's not Killeen

My question is this: Are there ANY townhome-style apartments in the Cove? All I can find online are crummy-looking apartments that appear to be geared for singles just escaping dorm-life. Or stuff that's OBVIOUSLY geared to the high-ranking officers who can afford to spend more money than what BAH is gonna cover.

I've been looking at houses for rent, too, and I've seen a couple I like in a really good price-range. Only question is, will they (or something REALLY similar) be available come December? Most of the one's I'm liking when I see online are between 1113 and 116 north of the RR, close to the Copperas Cove City Park (assuming google maps is being accurate today). Is that a decent area, or should I avoid it like the plague? Also, is that park any good? Does it have playgrounds?

Thanks for any help you can provide!!!

[NOTAM]

You should go on Craigs List. There are several townhomes and duplexes in Cove listed on there! Make sure you are on the Killeen-Temple-Ft Hood site.

I have lived here for a year and though I don't know the area really well, there has not been one area of Cove that I have been skeered of driving through. I have not seen any sort of "ghetto". There are some run down older sections of the town smack in the middle, but they sure dont look dangerous!

Uh, your BAH will cover you PLENTY! I know what even an E4 gets, and most of the rental prices in Killeen-Harker Heights-Cove are SET based on the fact that they KNOW what yall active duty get for BAH. (which is why i am leaving to go way way further out into the country in a few weeks, into a NON military town where rents are WAY cheaper-i am paying 795 for a 4 bedroom 2 bath house with huge yard and garage (and it's just me here-no kids), and moving into a 3 bedroom 2 bath on a private road off a county road way out yonder and will be paying 550! yeehaw.
let me know if you need any help, want me to go check something out for you, take pics etc

oh by the way, i dont know about the cove park-never been-i spend most of my time in Lampasas or Gatesville when i aint at work on post. i do know Lampasas city park is AWESOME-beautiful river runs through it, with ducks everywhere-search the forum for my pics i took! i do know that the Cove park has playgrounds and a community pool. just never been.

and yes there will be homes available in December. there is constant turnover here (it's military).
you will love it here in Texas! i am very happy here. Cove is too big for me though (though folks laugh at me when i say that cuz they all think Cove is small town!) . I am glad that I have been living on the very western edge, west of 116, almost in Kempner, so that's been nice.

the grocery store here, HEB, is staffed by the most kindest helpful workers-mostly Cove High School students, i think. very very good service. there is a Super Walmart here too but i dont go to that one, i drive to Lampasas Walmart-no lines, no huge military famliies with screaming babies and kids, quiet, lots of parking, stress free shopping.

i will tell ya, there is very little good dining out options in Cove, which in a way is good cuz it keeps me from spending too much money eating out. usually end up going to Killeen/Harker Heights/Temple/Belton to eat out, and there are a few favorite places of mine in Lampasas and Gatesville.

[Bethanial11]

I saw all those town homes on Craigs List ... it's definitely something to keep in mind if they're still any availabe come December.

On the BAH ... I'd like to not spend more than $800/month, just b/c I know that would leave us plenty for utilities. But it'd be WONDERFUL to spend less than $700 b/c then we'd be MAKING money! (I'd like to not have to get a job when we get there ...) And yes, I know there's a trade-off with the farther out you are, prices get cheaper, but I don't want hubby to have a monster commute either. And yes, we've decided we DON'T want to live on post, as we only qualify for a 2-bedroom, but really WANT a 3-bedroom. That, and the waiting times for housing, with a 2nd grader who will already have missed 3 weeks of school ...

I did see one online off of Briggs Rd (said it was Killeen, but obviously out in the sticks), that was 2 acres, all kinds of goodies for $395/month, but it's only a 1-bedroom. We've got to have two bedrooms, but we really want 3 bedroom b/c we have furniture for 3 bedrooms. (Only 1 kid)

I figure for groceries, we'll mostly be going to the commisary, but it's nice to know I have another option. Anybody who's ever lived in the SouthEast, what does a HEB compare too? Kroger? Piggly Wiggly? Food Lion? (Yes, I know, a grocery store is a grocery store, but some chains are more expensive than others)

Well, thank you SO much for all your help! I'll definitely search out those pics.

[NOTAM]

hey there..........
well yes, it is cheaper if you stay away from the "military" towns surrounding post, but there are towns that are surrounding post that are non-military, and not much further commute to post (esp if you consider coming thru West Range Road from Gatesville is just wide open range-artillery range and just country drive over open range, creeks, a few cattle guards and the only traffic is occasional convoy)...i prefer Gatesville-my first choice, but hard to find rentals there cuz of TDCJ (Texas Dept of Criminal Justice)-they have five maximum security prisons there, including womens death row, so most CO's (corrections officers) rent there cuz they cant afford to buy. the rental prices (and home prices) are much lower cuz they aint based on BAH.

however, considering that yall are USAF, i would assume that yall's place of duty will be in West Ft Hood near Robert Gray AAF area, so yall might want to consider areas in southern Killeen which are VERY country e.g. Maxdale, anywhere near the airport, Ding Dong, Florience. Briggs Road yer talkin bout is just south of Ding Dong. very rural very nice, very cheap, not based on BAH.

i lived in the South (Ft Stewart/HAAF) Savannah GA area. HEB is like Publix or Kroger. it's got a monopoly here. there are two commissaries on post-Warrior Way and Clear Creek. but even those who shop there, end up at HEB for certain things, you know that.

you will NOT have a problem finding inexpensive rentals..and pocket some of that BAH money. i will help yall in any way i can.

welcome to Texas!!!

Originally Posted by Bethanial11

I saw all those town homes on Craigs List ... it's definitely something to keep in mind if they're still any availabe come December.

On the BAH ... I'd like to not spend more than $800/month, just b/c I know that would leave us plenty for utilities. But it'd be WONDERFUL to spend less than $700 b/c then we'd be MAKING money! (I'd like to not have to get a job when we get there ...) And yes, I know there's a trade-off with the farther out you are, prices get cheaper, but I don't want hubby to have a monster commute either. And yes, we've decided we DON'T want to live on post, as we only qualify for a 2-bedroom, but really WANT a 3-bedroom. That, and the waiting times for housing, with a 2nd grader who will already have missed 3 weeks of school ...

I did see one online off of Briggs Rd (said it was Killeen, but obviously out in the sticks), that was 2 acres, all kinds of goodies for $395/month, but it's only a 1-bedroom. We've got to have two bedrooms, but we really want 3 bedroom b/c we have furniture for 3 bedrooms. (Only 1 kid)

I figure for groceries, we'll mostly be going to the commisary, but it's nice to know I have another option. Anybody who's ever lived in the SouthEast, what does a HEB compare too? Kroger? Piggly Wiggly? Food Lion? (Yes, I know, a grocery store is a grocery store, but some chains are more expensive than others)

Well, thank you SO much for all your help! I'll definitely search out those pics.

[Bethanial11]

Yeah, we're also assuming he'll be working at/near the airport. 'Course, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a reasonable commute length ... I let him talk me into getting a Harley (he LOVES it), and the gas savings really is making the monthly payment, and then some. And he is absolutely lovin' riding that hawg into work every day ... yes, even in the rain. He just puts the gortex suit on over his uniform and takes off!

Now to see if I can find anything in those other areas you listed, cuz rural doesn't bother us one bit. Yes, I like having wallie world 10 minutes away, but growing up, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, etc was AT LEAST 45 minutes away, so I'm willing to compromise on that some if it saves us money.

Thanks again!!! You are such a big help.

Oh, I couldn't find the pics anywhere ... maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place?

[NOTAM]

here are some pics....
i would also go to the city websites for Lampasas and Gatesville to get a feel for the two towns..

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...es#post1383205

Originally Posted by Bethanial11

Yeah, we're also assuming he'll be working at/near the airport. 'Course, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a reasonable commute length ... I let him talk me into getting a Harley (he LOVES it), and the gas savings really is making the monthly payment, and then some. And he is absolutely lovin' riding that hawg into work every day ... yes, even in the rain. He just puts the gortex suit on over his uniform and takes off!

Now to see if I can find anything in those other areas you listed, cuz rural doesn't bother us one bit. Yes, I like having wallie world 10 minutes away, but growing up, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, etc was AT LEAST 45 minutes away, so I'm willing to compromise on that some if it saves us money.

Thanks again!!! You are such a big help.

Oh, I couldn't find the pics anywhere ... maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place?

[Bethanial11]

Thanks for the pix! It's definitely a beautiful place. Is that one German restaurant in one the pix any good?

Another question: While I'd like to not have to get a job, there's a very real possibility I'll need to, at least for a year. Are there a decent amount of NAF positions on post, or will I need to get my GS? (I currently work as an independent contractor for the chapel on base here in SC).

[NOTAM]

i dont know-i have only had breakfast there-not dinner, so no German food. i hear Brick Oven in Kempner (between Copperas Cove and Lampasas) is very good, esp the rouladen.
there is a very good German bakery/deli in Harker Heights called Pfeiffers. pretzel brochen etc..i go there to buy lots of my salmiak-salty lakritz...Katja/Haribo etc.
there are tons of NAF/GS/contractor jobs on post-remember, this is the biggest mechanized military installation in the world. go to USAJOBS for GS positions or to AAFES for positions or to the FT HOOD website which lists all the contractors on post (how i found my job on post). of course with GS/NAF you will get spousal preference.

Originally Posted by Bethanial11

Thanks for the pix! It's definitely a beautiful place. Is that one German restaurant in one the pix any good?

Another question: While I'd like to not have to get a job, there's a very real possibility I'll need to, at least for a year. Are there a decent amount of NAF positions on post, or will I need to get my GS? (I currently work as an independent contractor for the chapel on base here in SC).

[Bethanial11]

Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are a veritable font on knowledge!

[NOTAM]

You are so welcome. By the way, if you are trying to save money, I know yall dont want to commute, but yall may want to consider what I'm doing. I am moving next month to a rural area (but only 10-15 minutes drive from Cove), so still not far from post...and am going to be paying 300/month less in rent, and since it is rural, i will have electric from a coop, and it is MUCH cheaper. My last electric bill was 350, and it's just me-i work all the time, so nothing is on at home except thermostat at 80 (and believe me, i suffer some discomfort to keep it at that, just to save money), and i only do laundry once a week (small load) cuz i wear O.R. (operating room) scrubs at work. Mind you, its a 4 bedroom house. Well, the coops have listed rates of .10 kwh. I have talked to folks that live out there and their electric bills are under 100, just sometimes a bit more, but NOWHERE NEAR mine....and my coworkers who all live in Killeen/Harker Heights/Cove have average electric bills of 200-400 and they all have different energy providers, so no matter who you have, it's high.
Just something to think about.
Regardless of just a tad longer commute, I will still be saving LOTS of money, in both rent and electric!
And lucky me-i wont have to pay water and trash! So guess what, I am going to put up a big swimming pool-yeehaw!