Hi everybody, We are PCSing to 29 palms in March, base housing said the wait is around 3-5 months since we only have one child. The plan is to find temporary housing and eventually move on base, since off base housing isnt that great for the BAH price, I also heard that power bills are pretty high in this area. After reading about the ghosts, open doors and weird people wondering around I dont even know if its worth moving on base, especially that we will only be here till Feb of 2014. If the base isnt safe, I dont even know what to think about the town! Is it really that bad? 

It is what you decide to make of it just like any place else. 

PCSing to 29 palms in March
only be here till Feb of 2013

That doesn't make sense. 

Base housing is not that great for the price either. As for the electricity, don't keep it running non-stop and its not bad. There are only 2 months that we really have to run the ac and never turn on the heat. So Most months, it' about $50 

My husbands bha is 9 something, I think its 950. I didn't really see anything nice for this price, considering we would also have to pay utilities, therefore base housing seemed like it would be the best option. $50 sounds super nice! How hot does it get during the summer? 

They are here, you just have to really look and/or get the right rental company. Or know someone who can look for you until you get here.

It gets HOT!! But with us both working, we really do not keep the air down all that low during the day. And our house stays pretty cool on its own. And if you have a swamp cooler, it does not cost nearly as much to keep cool as an ac. 

I've been on base for a year now and have had no problems whatsoever. I like it, and would almost rather be here for the time we're here. 

alright, I will keep looking, hopefully we can find something decent. I assume you live off base?
on the other hand I only heard bad things about adobe flats, so maybe the rest of the base housing isnt that horrible. 

There are a few areas on base I would live if I had to. The rest, I would pay not to. Adobe, Condor, any 801 housing. But even then, my husband and I both just prefer being off base. To much drama and we prefer not to share a wall with someone at this point in life. 

we have lived on base in NC and I loved it too. We have never had anything strange or unsafe going on, that's why all these stories sort of threw me off. do you guys ever go over your electrical bill allowance? 

Hijack, ha ha I know what you mean. We had a nosy neighbor once but she didn't really bother us, she just liked to listen to our conversations through the wall lol
I wish there were apartments, would make life so much easier! 

I wish there were apartments

There are apartments in 29. 

29 Palms Apartment Listings 

Here are some places for rent I ran on Zillow with the search going from $500-$700 2+ bedrooms/1 bath
Zillow 

oh thanks, I only knew of the villas, which were nice but almost 1300 

there is no way in hell that we could afford this nice of a house we have on base out in town for bah or less. 

Hi everybody, We are PCSing to 29 palms in March, base housing said the wait is around 3-5 months since we only have one child. The plan is to find temporary housing and eventually move on base, since off base housing isnt that great for the BAH price, I also heard that power bills are pretty high in this area. After reading about the ghosts, open doors and weird people wondering around I dont even know if its worth moving on base, especially that we will only be here till Feb of 2014. If the base isnt safe, I dont even know what to think about the town! Is it really that bad? 


1) We lived in town while on the wait list and had to use the AC everyday during the warmer months (which are most months lol)... Our bill each month was averaging $200! Our rent was already $650. We paid $50 for internet and like $30 for gas (stove and whatnot)

2) This is the fun part... Ghosts? "Weird" people? Okay so in what reality do you live in where you think IF ghosts are real they would ONLY be on base? Also, define weird lol.

3) Town has a long list of registered sex offenders for the amount of residents (take time, look it up) and 29 Palms is, after all called the "Meth Capital" for a reason. There has been speculation for a long time about released criminals being relocated here...it's all up to you what you believe or don't. 

1) We lived in town while on the wait list and had to use the AC everyday during the warmer months (which are most months lol)...

Yeah I don't understand how Hijack only runs the A/C two months :) My electric bill was $250 last month and thats with mostly gas appliances. I've had it as high as $400/mo (usually just 1 month a year is like that). Same deal at two houses out here. I've had inspectors come check the insulation with a thermal imaging camera, both homes were just a couple years old and the inspectors claimed they were well insulated. Blamed the high bills on my keeping the thermostat around 75/76F and having someone home during the day. 

3) Town has a long list of registered sex offenders for the amount of residents (take time, look it up)

I've heard this but it seemed suspicious.

http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov says there are 57 registered sex offenders in Twentynine Palms. The 2010 census http://factfinder2.census.gov/ says 25,048 people live here. So that means .23% of the population are registered sex offenders.

The above census link says 308,745,538 in the US. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says there are 747,408 registered sex offenders in the United States.

http://us.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4615

So that means .24% of the US population are registered sex offenders - so Twentynine Palms per capita has an average number of registered sex offenders.

There has been speculation for a long time about released criminals being relocated here

If there was a program to relocate sex offenders out here, they would represent a larger percentage of the population here - its ever so slightly below average as it is!

it's all up to you what you believe or don't.

Its about looking up the facts and a little arithmetic :) 

We live in an older house that is all electric with a Master Cool and our level pay plan is $260/month currently! Our high bills came from the winter months of Dec, Jan, Feb. Although clearly this year that isn't that case since December has been so warm.

3) Town has a long list of registered sex offenders for the amount of residents (take time, look it up) and 29 Palms is, after all called the "Meth Capital" for a reason. There has been speculation for a long time about released criminals being relocated here...it's all up to you what you believe or don't.

This town is also full of GREAT town people that have been born and stayed in 29 Palms that are very active in the community as well as a huge retired military community that give back and watch over the active duty. And don't think there aren't sexual predators that get on Base or already live on Base; they just haven't been caught or convicted yet. I would be more concerned with the ones I DON'T KNOW that are out there. There are a ton of contractors that work on Base as well as other non military people. And yes, there have been plenty of times where big drug busts have been made in base housing and the barracks.

Should we go into all the cases of child abuse/neglect that come from base housing? 

KElJoY, I agree. I am more worried about the ones that haven't been caught than the ones I can find out about!! 

When we lived in Hawaii there was a single, good looking GUNNY that was in my SSSHH's unit. Mr. Charming himself; Poster Boy for a Marine poster. Screwed around with a Sailor's wife while the Sailor was on deployment. She had 2 little girls. Turns out, he was sexually abusing the girls as well. He was convicted and will be in Leavenworth for a very long time.

That is just one example of something that happened on a Base. Predators are everywhere. There is a false sense of security that comes from living on a Base. Crazy and dangerous people are everywhere; on and off the base; in the schools; everywhere. Don't fool yourself otherwise.

No doubt you can find a neighborhood that has a better reputation than another but then again how well do you really know your neighbors? 

It is simply what you make of it! 

Im thinking that base would be the best option, even in Camp LeJeune, where we are right now, it is impossible to find anything nicer than base housing for the same price with utilities, considering that BAH here is $1200.
We do have to find somewhere to live while on the waiting list. Can anybody recommend nice area that does month by month lease, we are willing to go up to $1250 with utilities.
Other than that I'm pretty upset about moving here....is there anything positive about this place at all? 

Also one more question, which neighborhoods that are on base would you guys recommend?
I know we rate joshua heights, fairway heights, and maybe ocotillo? there might be a couple more but I cant recall all of them right now 

is there anything positive about this place at all?

Its nice being a couple hours from lots of stuff. We take the kids on weekend trips frequently to LA, Vegas, San Diego.. when you want snow you can go to Big Bear or take the Tram in Palm Springs to Mt. Jacinto. I like going on walks around Joshua Tree. The geography around here is breathtaking! Downside - I spent a fair bit on gas and hotels going to all those places :) Priceline is my friend! 

Ocotillo is SNCO and Officer. 

we are willing to go up to $1250 with utilities.

Several houses for rent in the Indian Cove area. Nice area right off of Hwy 62 so it's easy to jet down the hill or to Yucca and back. 

We've lived in adobe flats housing for almost 4 years. Can't speak for others but our little street is quiet & we've never had problems. We've been blessed with good neighbors especially since we always have new ones. When our last neighbors moved out, Lincoln updated the house & put in nicer carpet & tile than we're used to seeing. I prefer on base but just my preference. 

If you have only one child you do not rate Joshua Heights (at least I am nearly 100% confident that they only have 3+bedrooms and you only qualify for 2. )