Fort Belvoir on post or off post? (Alexandria, Burke: rentals, townhouses)

[jake2013]

Afternoon everyone, we are moving to Belvoir soon and wanted to get opinions/suggestions on whether to stay on post or live off. It's just the wife and I with two dogs. Much appreciated!

[Carlingtonian]

I used to work there but have only seen the post housing from the outside. The officers' quarters look very nice--large detached homes. The NCOs' quarters are similar but a bit smaller. Enlisted quarters are townhouses. I've read that there's a backlog of folks waiting for on-post housing.

The area north of Belvoir (Fairfax County Alexandria) is nice, but the schools I believe are just OK. Springfield, to the west, is an option, but the traffic will be worse. You don't want to live very close to Route 1.

Good luck!

[Catamounts]

First of all, I would contact the housing office about the waiting time for housing. If can be a pretty long wait. If it was me, I'd always look off post, especially if you have dogs. I don't know what kinds of dogs you have but they're making it harder and harder to live on post due to breed restrictions.
The only thing that really speaks for living on post is the commute (and if your wife likes to be around other military spouses ) in my opinion.

[djplourd]

Definitely check on how long the waiting list is. The wait was over a year when I got here a few years ago. I have no idea what it might be now.

There are some nice areas off rt 1 along with some not so nice ones. There are a couple of nice town home neighborhoods just south of Belvoir on rt 1 just before Telegraph Rd. There's plenty of nice town homes and single family homes in Lorton Station, the Laurel Hill area, and off of Lorton Rd and it's side streets. The only area around there that I'd avoid is the town homes around Hagel Circle.

You can search this forum and you'll find many other possibilities such as Kingstowne, Burke, Lake Ridge, etc.


It really depends on your budget, how long of a commute you're willing to endure, what your work schedule is, and whether you're looking to rent or buy. Also depends on where you'll be working at on post since that may give you options on which gate to use.

[ArtyGuy]

I'm stationed at Belvoir. The wait list is pretty long- 18 mos when I inprocessed a year ago. More importantly, the homes aren't worth the BAH you'll surrender for living in them. Add in the dogs, and I definitely think you'd want to look elsewhere.

[slduvall]

I live right outside Belvoir in Kingstowne, which is a close as you can get without living on base and be in a nice area. As stated the waiting list is long, depending on rank and room requirements. There are some very nice newer places on post, but those have the longest wait. And also as stated you get pretty good allowance here. The average TH in Kingstowne area will run you ~ 2300 - $2700 depending on # of garages etc. Slightly less in Island Creek area which is very close too.

Not sure what kind of dog you have, but that is an issue on post as someone pointed out, but it can also be an issue trying to rent with dogs. Take a look at Militaryby owner and see if you can find rentals that allow dogs. Try zips 22315 and 22310. Places in Kingstowne and Island can move pretty fast, but I am seeing some rental signs.

[jake2013]

Originally Posted by slduvall

I live right outside Belvoir in Kingstowne, which is a close as you can get without living on base and be in a nice area. As stated the waiting list is long, depending on rank and room requirements. There are some very nice newer places on post, but those have the longest wait. And also as stated you get pretty good allowance here. The average TH in Kingstowne area will run you ~ 2300 - $2700 depending on # of garages etc. Slightly less in Island Creek area which is very close too.

Not sure what kind of dog you have, but that is an issue on post as someone pointed out, but it can also be an issue trying to rent with dogs. Take a look at Militaryby owner and see if you can find rentals that allow dogs. Try zips 22315 and 22310. Places in Kingstowne and Island can move pretty fast, but I am seeing some rental signs.

Thanks for the good info. If you don't mind me asking, how does your monthly utility bills look like?

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by slduvall

I live right outside Belvoir in Kingstowne, which is a close as you can get without living on base and be in a nice area.

You don't think the area north of the Walker Gate is nice? That whole stretch north of the post and just west of GW Parkway I always thought looked very nice. If they can find a large old house to rent, it could be a good option for them--especially since they have dogs. And the commute would be cake.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

You don't think the area north of the Walker Gate is nice? That whole stretch north of the post and just west of GW Parkway I always thought looked very nice. If they can find a large old house to rent, it could be a good option for them--especially since they have dogs. And the commute would be cake.

I do, I sort of forget about that area. Love it there. But I was also thinking TH for this family, no kids. But good point on the dogs. Also access to a slightly nicer shopping area as opposed to Rt 1.

To OP - I live in a SFH in Kingstowne, so my bills might be higher, but I did live 3 years in a TH here, and Electric ran about $175 to $250. We were an end unit with tons of windows, so it got freaking hot on the 3rd floor in the summer. Winter wasn't bad with gas heat, except the really bad one in 09. But I also like my house cold in the summer.

[Mikemapva]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I just found a single family house in the 22309 zipcode on Ramsgate Terrace for $2650/month. As someone born and raised in that neighborhood, and who recently sold the family home, I think it's a great area.

Most of the homes in this zip code on the parkway side of Route 1 were built in the early 60's and have 1/4 acre or so yards.