Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 07 Sep 2009 10:42 AM |
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My husband, son(4 months old), and I are moving to Florida in November for flight school. My husband has API in Pensacola and follow on orders to Whiting for Primary. We are trying to decide where to live. Would it be better to live in Pensacola and then move to Milton for Primary or should we split the difference or should we live in Milton for the entire duration? If we do live in Milton, is it better to live in Whiting Pines or rent a house off base? I have heard the community in Whiting Pines is wonderful but the houses off base seem to be much nicer for the same price. I am a new navy wife and new mom and would greatly appreciate any advice on what would be the best option! |
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Bittersweet
Moderator/Welcoming Committee-MCAS Miramar
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Posts:3391
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| 07 Sep 2009 11:03 AM |
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Welcome to area almost!
I really suggest just moving up to Milton or Pace, basically closer to Whiting. API is very short in duratio (unless there is a wait). And during flight school the hours are so jumbled, you really want to be as close as possible.
I don't suggest base housing, they take your entire BAH, when you can get a house in town for only 850. But then again you are paying utilities. But Whiting Pines is actually pretty far from base too, so you can find homes a lot closer. |
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Anne
Noteworthy CinC
Posts:151
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| 07 Sep 2009 11:24 AM |
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It seems like the closer DH is to Whiting the better, like B said, flights are unpredictable. We live in Milton, right on the edge of Pace which is about 15 mins from Whiting and 45 from NAS Pensacola. It worked out well for DH because during API he worked out a carpool with other guys living in Milton. |
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Bittersweet
Moderator/Welcoming Committee-MCAS Miramar
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| 07 Sep 2009 11:27 AM |
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pS A, there is a house for rent in our community, were you saying that you wanted to move? I know J was but I coulda sworn someone else was too. |
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Anne
Noteworthy CinC
Posts:151
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| 07 Sep 2009 12:04 PM |
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YES! We really want to move to a house that is actually in a neighborhood. Our lease isn't over until Dec. 1 so hopefully there will be something available when we can move. What's the house like? We're in a 3 br now but really we only need 2. |
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Bittersweet
Moderator/Welcoming Committee-MCAS Miramar
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Posts:3391
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| 07 Sep 2009 12:12 PM |
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well everything in this neighborhood is a 3 or 4, you know cause its track homes, you know? It looks like the 3 bedroom style.
we were on a walk when we saw it, so I couldnt write anything down. But I will try and do a drive by tomorrow to get the information |
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Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 07 Sep 2009 03:04 PM |
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Thanks for the great advice! DH and I were leaning toward living in Milton already but now we are pretty set on the idea. Is there a good place/area/neighborhood to live in Milton? Is it as easy to get involved in the community and meet other wives if you live off base? |
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Anne
Noteworthy CinC
Posts:151
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| 07 Sep 2009 03:09 PM |
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My only advice on good areas is to make sure you get a house that's IN a neighborhood. We have a great house but it's off a 35 mile and hour road in the middle of nowhere and it drives me nuts.  I actually think this is a hard place to meet other wives, but this site has been really helpful in meeting new people. They also made all the married couples go to a few seminars at the beginning of Primary which was helpful in meeting wives. |
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Jeeana
Exceptional CinC
Posts:316
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| 07 Sep 2009 04:05 PM |
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Whoa I missed this whole conversation! ha! Yeah, DH is in Primary at Whiting and will (hopefully) select in a few weeks (though there is serious drama going on now). We're giving our 30 day notice soon to move closer for (hopefully) helo advanced. We currently live halfway between pensacola base and whiting and were intending to "split the difference." A lot of guys do that... The community we live in does have a lot of Primary students, so it's something to think about I guess if you hubby doesn't mind commuting a half an hour or so.
I'm with A, we really only need 2 br... and we'll be looing soon. Annimal, have you started looking yet? All our friends live in the Pines so they're no help... |
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Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 07 Sep 2009 04:56 PM |
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Annimal, if you find a good neighborhood when your looking for your new place let me know! I really appreciate all the help! If anybody will still be in Whiting in November, I would love to meet up. I know nothing about life as a navy wife and would love some help getting started! |
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Bittersweet
Moderator/Welcoming Committee-MCAS Miramar
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| 07 Sep 2009 05:53 PM |
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we live in Cedar Ridge and love it. Ashton woods is nice too though it is a bit farther from the base (farther away than whiting pines is). I would not move into Eagle Crest because they are really close to base (yeah sounds good) but RIGHT under the flight plan, so unfortunately it can get annoying and loud there. |
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Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 07 Sep 2009 06:10 PM |
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I would not move into Eagle Crest because they are really close to base (yeah sounds good) but RIGHT under the flight plan, so unfortunately it can get annoying and loud there. That is great advice! I probably wouldn't have thought of that until it was too late! I will keep an eye out for houses in those neighborhoods. Thanks so much! |
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Anne
Noteworthy CinC
Posts:151
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| 07 Sep 2009 06:35 PM |
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We have a lot of friends down here who live in Jaimee's Ridge, which looks pretty nice. J, I've been looking on AHRN a little. There are a couple on there that look ok, all 3 or more bedrooms. Mostly I've just been finding neighborhoods that I like and driving around them looking for "For Rent" signs. Found some nice houses but it seems like everyone is trying to sell instead of just renting out. |
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Jennifer
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:2
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| 07 Sep 2009 08:07 PM |
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Hey girls. Good conversation! If I may put my 2cents in.... My husband and I have been in Pensacola for 2 years! We thought it would just be 6 months for API and Primary (we also had follow-on orders to Milton) but here we are just starting Helicopters. So I suggest renting a house in Milton. You never know how long you will be here for. Also, make sure you get a good house. Jaimie's ridge is amazing. The houses are huge and have big yards, I wish I would have picked it! The base housing is actually really nice. A few of the homes are newly renovated, but they are small. The best advice I can give you, is to wait until you get here to pick a house. Many of the homes that are for rent are not listed online. They are for rent by owner. Stay in the base hotel for a couple days (it is really nice and cheap). And then come and look around town. And your husband should know that the commute from Milton to NAS Pensacola is 30 to 45 minutes. There are a lot of really great homes in Pace off of East Spencer Field. There are a lot of neighborhoods all in that area. Best of luck and let us know when you get here! |
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Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 08 Sep 2009 08:30 AM |
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That is a great idea! I will have to suggest it to DH. We thought about living in Whiting Pines for the first 6 months while we make the adjustment to military life and then move off base if we don't love it or if it is too much of a financial strain having all of our BAH taken up every month (if this is a bad idea please let me know). I will have to check for houses on the MLS in Jaimie's Ridge. The houses in Milton are so nice for the price; I have been amazed at what is out there. I really appreciate everyone's advice and it has been tremendously helpful. Hopefully I will get to meet you all when we finally make it down to Florida. I hope the drive isn't too bad with a baby in the back seat who is cranky from teething. |
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Bittersweet
Moderator/Welcoming Committee-MCAS Miramar
Sensational
Posts:3391
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| 08 Sep 2009 08:43 AM |
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I wouldnt suggest doing th whiting pines thing. often times you have to sign a lease just like you would for a home, so there is no "we can move out whenever we want" because they aren't military run homes. |
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Jeeana
Exceptional CinC
Posts:316
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| 08 Sep 2009 11:04 AM |
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I think we'll all still be around in November. We're giving our 30 day notice the end of this month I think so we'll be moving to Milton soon... haven't even gotten out to look at places yet, DH has been so busy. I've been on AHRN and I was kind of disappointed actually. I know there are more places available than are listed there. Also, don't count out Pace. It's a bit farther to drive, but is a nice area, closer to the shopping and Pcola. Lots of nice homes there. We have a friend who lives on Berryhill road in Pace in a great housing community. |
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Alyson
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:6
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| 08 Sep 2009 09:21 PM |
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J. Joy I am not sure if you have looked but there are a ton of houses in Milton on the Pensacola MLS website: www.pensacolamls.com. There is a tab for rentals and it will show all the houses in the areas selected and you can view all the available houses in map form which was really helpful. You all have been super helpful. I am so glad my DH found the SOSA group on airwarriors! |
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lisa
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:2
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| 11 Sep 2009 08:27 PM |
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Deciding on living in Milton, Pace, Navarre, or Pensacola really depends on what you guys want around you! My husband and I live in Milton, which is less than a 10 min commute to NAS Whiting Field which is good cause primary is crazy busy and luckily I found a job on base too! But honestly, Milton is OKAY... there are not a lot of jobs available around the area- the beach is about 35-45 min. away... just letting you know! |
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Chrissy
Boot Camp CinC
Posts:5
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| 14 Sep 2009 09:38 PM |
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I agree with most of the replies to your question. We got to Pensacola back in March after Officer Candidate School and just moved to Milton 5 weeks ago. The move to Pensacola was paid for by the Navy, however, the move to Milton was not, so we had to eat the cost of that and it was expensive. I would also suggest moving directly to Milton and traveling to Pensacola for API. API is only 6 weeks long (if the student does not roll back) plus the waiting period (for us was about 3 months, but it varies). Primary will be much more demanding as far as proximity. Like one of the other ladies said, the flight schedule is crazy most of the time, flights will be done at all hours, even on weekends and can be cancelled at any time if bad wether happens, so it is much more valuable to be close to Whiting. Also, the students have more time to devote to studies, instead of sitting in traffic or driving home to Pensacola. Traffic can sometimes get very backed up here in Milton between the base and the highway to Pensacola. It can get pretty nasty... that would be dreadful after a long day of studying or a long day of a cancelled flight sitting around waiting to go. Hope that helps you some more! |
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