Japan to killeen (Copperas Cove, Cove: renting, house, neighborhoods)

[NOTAM]

There are many nice areas of Copperas Cove. If you want high-dollar 200K homes with incredible vistas at highest elevation, Ogletree Gap cannot be beat.
Any of the areas of Copperas Cove bordering Lampasas County will be nice, and somewhat rural, moderately priced.
Very nice homes on Grimes Crossing, Big Divide Road-new developments...i think Big Divide Road is partially in Lampasas County.
Robertson Avenue heading south (near high school), safe moderately priced homes in well-established neighborhoods.
Any of the county roads west of FM 116 South have many semi-rural to rural homes, moderately priced...and small ranches, some moderate and some high priced.
If you live in Copperas Cove, you have two choices for post access-drive Hwy 190 to main gate, Clarke Road gate, or Santa Fe gate. Yes, Hwy 190 is congested, especially if you are active duty and going to post at same time as all others are, to PT. Or you can go thru downtown Cove onto Tank Destroyer Road gate...not congested at all, but the drive is kind of slow, through wide open range...50mph until checkpoint, then 40mph until you get to where post housing, schools, etc are..then it goes down to 30mph..some construction as they are widening it from 2 lanes to 4 lanes.
I lived off of FM 116 South for a year, and it took me 20 minutes on Hwy 190 (but i dont work active duty soldiers hours), but i usually took Tank Destroyer and it took me 30-40 minutes (yes longer but i just prefer not driving on commercial roads with traffic).
Craigs List is the best source for rentals, especially if you want to rent from a private owner.
Killeen Daily Herald has a link to Ft Hood Rentals online, and has a huge listing of rental homes/apartments/duplexes/triplexes/quadplexes but they are all property management company rentals (been there, done that, will never do it again).
Areas of Cove I would stay away from...some of the roads in downtown Cove (dont remember the names, but they are sort of "ghetto"). But most of Cove, even a good portion of downtown Cove are ok, liveable.
Let me know if I can be of any help.

Originally Posted by dentin

Thanks for the reply NOTAM, it helps out a lot.

I was wondering if there are any areas in Copperas Cove that are nicer to live in and areas that aren't so nice.

How long would the commute time be from Kempner and Lampasas? I looked at the map and they seem kind of far away and one would have to use highway 190 (traffic congested?) to get on base, right?

I am looking to rent a house-- I think you mentioned that you recommend Craigslist as a good source? Are there any others?

Thanks again.

[Island.Boy]

NOTAM AND ALL: Thanks for such a wealth of information. My primary interest in preparing has been housing. I've been looking at Harker Heights and Copperas Cove, but I have to admit, Gatesville sounds like it might be more suitable for my style of living. As far as the Housing Companies knowing allowances and charging the Max, sounds exactly like Japan/Okinawa. I guess you can always count on some things to be a constant. I'll be flying out on 13 January. I look forward in running into ya'll. The first cup of coffee is on me! Thanks again. Safe holidays to all!

[Island.Boy]

By the way...What is "HEB"?

[NOTAM]

best of luck to you. keep us updated on what you decide. your housing allowance will go a long way in Gatesville, no doubt. and you wont have any traffic going on post-just a scenic leisurely drive thru wide open range/tank trails. like i said, longer distance wise but about the same as from points south of post (e.g. Cove, Killeen, Harker Heights) when you take into consideration traffic, traffic lights, alot of businesses and schools etc. in terms of dining out, believe it or not, Gatesville has more options than Killeen..but still not diverse. diverse dining is in Killeen.
major shopping can be done in Temple if you live in Gatesville, rather than Killleen...with alot less congestion. Temple has a nicer mall, and has some "chain" restaurants etc. would be same drive, maybe shorter to Temple than Killeen. Gatesville is a good ole country town...kinda redneck. definitely NOT military.

Originally Posted by Island.Boy

NOTAM AND ALL: Thanks for such a wealth of information. My primary interest in preparing has been housing. I've been looking at Harker Heights and Copperas Cove, but I have to admit, Gatesville sounds like it might be more suitable for my style of living. As far as the Housing Companies knowing allowances and charging the Max, sounds exactly like Japan/Okinawa. I guess you can always count on some things to be a constant. I'll be flying out on 13 January. I look forward in running into ya'll. The first cup of coffee is on me! Thanks again. Safe holidays to all!

[megda1]

Originally Posted by Island.Boy

I'm a DOD Civilian who's lived on a Pacific island for 30 years. I'm finally being reassigned to Ft Hood in January. All the information I'm seeing on Killeen is a little scary, "crime capital of TX". I'm 54 and will be living alone. Any suggestions on finding a safe, quiet place to live?

The family in the other part of my duplex has lived there for years and has no desire to move. This is a nice part of Killeen. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths , house under 10 years old, nice lawn, own garage, security system available. Close to Fort Hood. Available end of the month. magdamicro@aol

[harleytexas]

Originally Posted by NOTAM

in terms of dining out, believe it or not, Gatesville has more options than Killeen..but still not diverse. diverse dining is in Killeen.
Gatesville is a good ole country town...kinda redneck. definitely NOT military.

There are only a few restaurants in Gatesville, not a lot of options in my opinion and Gatesville is more than kinda redneck....it's really redneck.

[dentin]

Originally Posted by NOTAM

There are many nice areas of Copperas Cove. If you want high-dollar 200K homes with incredible vistas at highest elevation, Ogletree Gap cannot be beat.
Any of the areas of Copperas Cove bordering Lampasas County will be nice, and somewhat rural, moderately priced.
Very nice homes on Grimes Crossing, Big Divide Road-new developments...i think Big Divide Road is partially in Lampasas County.
Robertson Avenue heading south (near high school), safe moderately priced homes in well-established neighborhoods.
Any of the county roads west of FM 116 South have many semi-rural to rural homes, moderately priced...and small ranches, some moderate and some high priced.
If you live in Copperas Cove, you have two choices for post access-drive Hwy 190 to main gate, Clarke Road gate, or Santa Fe gate. Yes, Hwy 190 is congested, especially if you are active duty and going to post at same time as all others are, to PT. Or you can go thru downtown Cove onto Tank Destroyer Road gate...not congested at all, but the drive is kind of slow, through wide open range...50mph until checkpoint, then 40mph until you get to where post housing, schools, etc are..then it goes down to 30mph..some construction as they are widening it from 2 lanes to 4 lanes.
I lived off of FM 116 South for a year, and it took me 20 minutes on Hwy 190 (but i dont work active duty soldiers hours), but i usually took Tank Destroyer and it took me 30-40 minutes (yes longer but i just prefer not driving on commercial roads with traffic).
Craigs List is the best source for rentals, especially if you want to rent from a private owner.
Killeen Daily Herald has a link to Ft Hood Rentals online, and has a huge listing of rental homes/apartments/duplexes/triplexes/quadplexes but they are all property management company rentals (been there, done that, will never do it again).
Areas of Cove I would stay away from...some of the roads in downtown Cove (dont remember the names, but they are sort of "ghetto"). But most of Cove, even a good portion of downtown Cove are ok, liveable.
Let me know if I can be of any help.

Hi Notam, I have just a few more questions, please.

What was the issue with renting through property management companies? What is nicer about renting through private owners?

What do you think of houses in Copperas Cove north of Hwy 190? I saw some listings for homes north of the 1113, almost near post. Is there a back gate near there so that I can avoid the morning rush of Hwy 190?

What is the weather like in Cove during the summertime? Is it humid (compared to places like California, Arizona, etc.)?

Thanks for your help.

[NOTAM]

Property Management companies usually charge the "market value" and here it is based on BAH!! Plus you will most likely not get your deposit back. Trust me, I am just a single female nurse with two VERY clean indoor/outdoor dogs and do ZERO damage and have NO kids and lived in a house in Cove for one year and only used one out of the four bedrooms-kept the other three bedrooms CLOSED TOTALLY UNUSED. I got only 200 of the 750 deposit back. They found all kinds of loopholes-even though i had done a thorough walk through, very thorough. They also have lots more rules and are not as flexible.
The houses north of 190....well that involves any in downtown area (some neighborhoods not so nice)..and those around FM 1113 encompasses a whole bunch too. you need to be more specific.
Yes regarding the gate, I already referred to the Cove gate in my previous posts-Tank Destroyer gate. It is what I use.
Summers are hot but not as brutally hot as South Texas or Georgia or Mississippi. Yes of course more humid than Arizona, but very dry compared to The South, where I have lived before.

Originally Posted by dentin

Hi Notam, I have just a few more questions, please.

What was the issue with renting through property management companies? What is nicer about renting through private owners?

What do you think of houses in Copperas Cove north of Hwy 190? I saw some listings for homes north of the 1113, almost near post. Is there a back gate near there so that I can avoid the morning rush of Hwy 190?

What is the weather like in Cove during the summertime? Is it humid (compared to places like California, Arizona, etc.)?

Thanks for your help.