Fort Lewis (Tacoma, Lakewood, Olympia: for sale, rentals, insurance)

[Yolanda1115]

My Fiance Will Be Stationed At Fort Lewis. We Are Not Sure If We Want To Live On The Base Or Not. Can Anyone Give My Any Information On The Nicest Cities, Neighborhoods...etc. To Live Near Fort Lewis. I Also Need Information About The Weather And About Any Job Listing You May Know About. Thank You.

[Ultrarunner]

I know many Fort Lewis families live off base in Lacey and Dupont. Right now there are a number of new or 1 to 2 year old homes being advertised.

Just do a search on Lacey WA rentals or Olympia rentals and see what comes up.

[bellabella2]

Well it all depends on your rank. If he is lower rank enlisted and unmarried there is a requirement for him to live on post in military quarters. If he is an officer that is another situation.
If you are really committed to each other and plan to get married anyways don't wait to have a civil wedding..that will give you the extra amount for housing as well as it will allow you to live in family housing on post. Without children you will live in the smallest housing but it will save you a lot of money on gas, plus you will be close to all the shopping etc...
Now if you are settled on living off post then check with the housing relocation unit at Fort Lewis. Another great source of information on rental is the Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN). It is the Defense department site where you canseek housing for rent etc...
There are many options available. Just make sure your BAH is enough to pay not only rent but the utilities as well. Many make the mistake of using the whole BAH for rental without counting on the extra expenses that should be accounted for within that range.

good luck! I am also an army wife and married to a captain.

[bellabella2]

To make myself clear "military quarters" is housing just for the soldier. You can't live there. The other option is family housing and for that you must be married or he must have children..

If he knows what unit he is going to be assigned to then you should ask him to contact the FRG leader (family readinness)for some input. Since I read you are looking to work in the corrections then try to find a month to month somewhere until you find your job and then relocate to a more convenient location for both of you.

[Macanudo]

Can you give us an idea of his rank? Then we can give you an idea what areas of Ft. Lewis you'd be eligible for. Here's a great resource for Army living:
https://onestop.army.mil/

You can look up the different posts and installations. You can see floor plans, etc. And you also look up what his BAH will be unless, as a currently single soldier, he's required to live in the barracks.

We live on the north/west side of IH-5 (Tacoma/University Place/Lakewood area) and love it.

[Sandy Nelson]

Originally Posted by bellabella2

Another great source of information on rental is the Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN). It is the Defense department site where you canseek housing for rent etc...

I just wanted to point out that the AHRN site is sponsored by the Defense Department, but is not a Defense Department site. They are a private company with an exclusive contract with DOD.

I would agree with the previous poster that Dupont and Lacey are probably the best communities close to Ft. Lewis. The housing office on post can give you rental listings in those areas, or you can search on Craigslist.

As far as employment, the biggest employers in the Ft. Lewis area would be the state of Washington, the DOD, MWR, State Farm Insurance, Intel and Venture Bank.

Sandy

[bellabella2]

Originally Posted by Sandy Nelson

I just wanted to point out that the AHRN site is sponsored by the Defense Department, but is not a Defense Department site. They are a private company with an exclusive contract with DOD.

I would agree with the previous poster that Dupont and Lacey are probably the best communities close to Ft. Lewis. The housing office on post can give you rental listings in those areas, or you can search on Craigslist.

As far as employment, the biggest employers in the Ft. Lewis area would be the state of Washington, the DOD, MWR, State Farm Insurance, Intel and Venture Bank.

Sandy

It is the site for military members to access rental or buying information. At the military relocation office at any installation you will be directed to use this service. As many other support services wheter contracted or not these are the sites sponsored for our use.
For example the Army Community Services at Lewis uses a contractor to provide and manage the Family Exceptional Program. Yet we do not mention the contractor. We mentioned the Army's Family Exceptional Program. It is an Army program ...

I hope all soldiers use that site... There is no charge for posting your rental or for sale info and there is no charge for looking !