Housing Management Office: Helping Airmen find place to live

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Colbert
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  There is an office on Luke Air Force Base where Airmen can go who want information about off-base housing, information about living on base versus off base and a multitude of other housing-related questions. It's an office that every Airman living in a dormitory moving off base must visit. It's a place that can save Airmen money, time and frustration.

This office, located in the Balfour Beatty Communities building, is the Housing Management Office Referral Services. The HMO Referral Office is committed to providing a full range of relocation options and offers complete referral services.

"I work with people moving on base and those moving off-base," said Rodney Marks, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron housing referral specialist. "We educate them on the benefits and pitfalls of living on and off base and let them make the decision. Then, we assist them in whichever way they want to go."

The Referral Office has a plethora of off base rental and apartment listings. Dedicated to ensuring Airman that visit the office are armed with knowledge, the referral office helps with lease reviews, prepares applicants on what to look for and urges them to do property condition reports. They also warn Airmen to watch for and expect fees.

For those wishing to live on base, the referral office ensures eligibility. After that's been established, the referral office assists with required forms before sending them to the BBC management office.

"We work as partners with the HMO to allow military members and their families to live on base," said Donnell Oakley, Balfour Beatty community manager. "The HMO also ensures that BBC is compliant with certain standards, such as the waiting list. We have built a relationship, a partnership where we have come together to support the military family. We work together toward the goal of taking care of them."

The housing referral office offers home-buying seminars four times a year to help educate future home buyers on the process. At these seminars, home buyers learn how much to expect to pay for a house, what they can afford, what mortgage brokers' look for in a credit score and many other useful tips. They can also connect with Veteran Affairs representatives. HMO also helps current Airmen home owners with renting their property.

"Keep an open mind," Marks said. "Continue to use us a resource. Check with us and we will share our information with you, regardless of which way you want to go, on base or off. We work in the BBC office, but we are here to help the customer."