I'm local to ORF right now. Housing spiked a couple years ago but has tapered off the past 6-12 months. Right now its a buyers market. I have a 25 year old 1600 sq ft house, it was sold 4 years ago for 160k, and I paid 235 for it 2 years ago, and today houses in the neighborhood are steady at 270-280. I don't think you can touch new construction for under 300-325. I paid closing costs 2 years ago, today the for-sale signs are showing price reductions and sellers are paying closing costs. Gas was $2.73 today. Other than housing, I think cost of living is very reasonable here, but then again I still shop at the commissary as much as possible and walmart occassionally. You can still pick up 2 bedroom condo's for around 100k, but they are in the ghetto.

BTW, for the AWAC guys on here, how tough is it to get ORF if that's your first choice? I'm guessing if guys are on reserve there for awhile that its a fairly senior base?

 

A year ago it was easy to get ORF. Now less so. It has been slightly downsized. But I think that it would be pretty easy to get after a few months.

I agree with your assessment of the ORF area. I lived there for 6 months and kind of liked it. I didn't try to buy, but there is a part of me that wouldn't have minded it. My budget would have been around $160K and I probably could have found something acceptable for that price.

It's a nice area and the climate is very mild.

In some ways it is the best AWAC domicile and the trips I flew were good trips, with lots of flying through CLT. And the airport is small and easy to deal with. Lots going for it, IMHO.

 

just saw on aviationinterviews someone got hired at AWAC w/ 65 multi. didnt catch the TT. anyone think they will hire someone with lower that 65 multi?

 

Who is hiring with that!? Even TSA wants at least 25 ME!

 

It's also a HUGE navy town.

 

True, very true.