Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

CatMom,

Yes, both USAA and NFCU offer good car financing. USAA offers auto insurance as well so regardless where she gets financing she can insurance with USAA but she should shop around because USAA is great but they are not always the cheapest for auto insurance. Apply for financing at both and see who has the best rates for her.

Thanks Beachbunny - I wish I had a copy of the lease.  He said that there was something in the lease about this.  He kept mentioning liquidated damages.  That the landlord is charging for liquidated damages.  I just thought that being a military town that there would be an ordinance or something that would help the enlisted people get out of their lease due to deployment. 

proudmom - I asked him about paying the difference from the security deposit.  The landlord said "No way"  It was against VA laws to use security deposit as a month rent payment.  I'm not at all familiar with VA law,  Usually landlords understand and let them out but this one I think is trying to take advantage of him - being so young. 

Not 100% sure about the Navy but AirForce leases have to be approved by the housing office of the base..I have a rental home that I rent only to AF and each lease is approved and has to have a military clause for deployment or change of duty stations...doesn't sound right.....liquid damage of monetary loss of the broken lease or damage to the property?....If damage did your sailor take pictures of his rental at the start of the lease (landlord should of) and ask him again to double check for the military clause.....that's too bad...not good business for the landlord who needs to re-rent soon....

beachbunny It was liquidated damages under the miltatry clause as I understand it.  It is for leaving before the end of the lease.  He was there only 4 months so he said that he has to pay an extra months rent for liquidated damages.  The place itself is in the same condtion as he got it in.  It is fully furnished and all he has is his clothes and such.  As far as I know the Navy didn't approve the lease.  But then again I'm not sure because I didn't ask him the question. 

Or at least intimidate young renters that may not know their tenant rights..many just say ok and pay...sadly it does happens...yes, encourage  your sailor to double check his lease and follow-up with the base housing office......hope it works out for him!

CatMom509 - my son went to the Navy Federal Credit Union to get pre approved for a car loan.  They did recommend a couple dealers to look for a car and they also warned him about the ones to stay away from. 

Thank you everyone for the information!!  I appreciate it all!!

CatMom509 Your son may want to check with Langley Federal Credit Union in Norfolk to compare interest rates. My son checked with Navy Federal and Langley Federal and Langley gave him a MUCH MUCH lower interest rate. They are all very helpful there and work very well with Military.

rayner

have your son take his lease to legal on base and see if they can help him out.

beachbunny,

navy does not require that

CatMom, the great thing about NavyFed and USAA (USAA does finance automobiles, BTW)...they will divide the payments in 2 installments to be taken from their paychecks each month. My son financed with NavyFed and got his ins with USAA while still in Pensacola. He will be changing his duty station to Va, with USAA, so he can get better rates. Florida has much higher ins premium rates than Virginia. He's looking forward to the break in the premium....means a little more money on his paycheck. :)

Thanks everyone!  My Sailor daughter has already been pre-approved by Navy Federal, who she already has an account with.  I will let her know to check with Geico as well a USAA.

duhhuh---good to know...so we can  guide our sailors more for many, it's their first place away from home .:))

 rayner Can you please PM me the name of the complex and how my son can get in touch with yours? I am sure he will want to take a look at it.  Thanks.

Update on flame-resistant uniforms today from Navy Times.

I know there are several Navy Lodges in and near Norfolk. Is the one nearest o the Norfolk Lodge safe? Is it clean? We stayed in the Navy Lodge in Great Lakes and I was very nice and clean.

Unless the one in GL has been updated in the past seven years since I was there (has it?  then disregard this) my feeling is:

Navy Lodge/Great Lakes is to Navy Lodge/Norfolk as Motel 6 is to a Hyatt ;)   I didn't want to take my shoes off at the GL one, and the mattress seemed like something they use at BedBath&Beyond for a demo - the right shape, but not meant to sleep on ;)

Good to know :)

kikid, here are photos of the Norfolk one - http://www.navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/...

kikid70  I tried to PM you.  I think you need to accept me first.  Thanks!

Here's a happy Navy news story to start the weekend :)  Navy corpsman Jeremiah Sawyer returned on leave from deployment in Bahrain for the birth of his daughter - and ended up delivering her on the living room floor 90 minutes after arriving home!  News story/interview: Navy corpsman delivers baby daughter  He returns to Bahrain in 11 days...

Fun story, boy in the nick of time.

Praying for all of the sailors as well, and their families.

rayner: I accepted it yesterday. Maybe I need to request you. I am checking.

Lord God,

We ask for Your protection of our Sailors in the Syria situation.  If there is any way for that situation to de-escalate, we ask for that.  Whatever needs to happen for no further loss of life and movement toward a peaceful solution for all, we ask that it be Your Will.  Also, if for Your continued protection of all of our Sailors throughout the world.  Give all the families of our Sailors peace and comfort, and ultimate trust in You.    In Jesus' Name,  Amen~~

How awesome is that-that Jeremiah Sawyer had the privilege of delivering his own daughter! What a gift from God that he will remember for the rest of his life. :)

I know that going is part of the deal, that is what our military is for, but as moms and parents we still will worry about our kids.  I was unhappy to see that Obama ordered to reduce the militaries January raises to 1%. Why don't they reduce pay for the house and Senate. 

The last thing politicians will do is reduce their own pay!!  Yea, the last cost of living raise for our military was pathetic!!  Well, we researched the pay of the Navy before our daughter joined and knew it would not compare to private sector, but it was something guaranteed when she made it through and she would be paid while she was being trained and going to college when she wasn't working, plus the opportunity to see ofher parts of our country and the world!

My Sailor daughter just bought her first car today!!  We sent her links to CarMax and AutoTrader for vehicles.  She chose a used 2013 Hyundai Sonata GLS Sedan.  She took a taxi which costed $45 from the Norfolk base to Virginia Beach.  Her female taxi driver told her the Charles Barker dealership was very reputable, which was very reassuring to our daughter.

The dealership was at Charles Barker Toyota, but she bought the Hyundai used from the Charles Barker Automotive lot right next door at 1877 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454 (757)437-4000.  It used to be a rental vehicle with 19,000 miles on it.  The CarFax record was clean and you could read it online before even going to the lot.. The price shown on the internet was not negotiable.  It had already been reduced recently by $110. 

JOSH NEITZ  was her salesperson and he was very friendly and informative.  She had us on Skype with her on her cell phone as she test drove the car, inspected the car, and doing all the paperwork and listening to the service people's spiels and the finance lady's explanation of service options.  Rejected the polyurethane coating, and the different service program options.  Could see that paying for "just in case" would be more than paying for something when it came up.

My daughter was pre-approved by NavyFED and had a check from them with her, but ABNB Federal Credit Union beat their 4.74% rate. The dealership allowed her to call NavyFED, USAA on their phone and they also checked GEICO, Wells Fargo, and ABNB Federal Credit Union on their end for insurance and used car financing rates.  She ended up with USAA ($800 for 6 months) and ABNB with a 4.29% interest rate.  Her car was washed, vacuumed and given a full tank of gasoline!!  There was a light on the dash indicating one of the tires had a problem with its pressure, but they gave her a voucher to go to a repair place and they would pay for the repair.

This whole process took 4 hours from start to finish.  I think the fact that we were on Skype asking questions and talking to our daughter, guiding her made this car buying experience comforting for her.  Also, going to an established Toyota dealership primarily selling new cars with a used car area probably made the difference. 

Dad of a sailor  do you know where I can find a listing of what all the ribbons that our sailors can earn that get pinned to their blouse?

CO-Twin,

Sure, here is one place...

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/blnavawards.htm

I've been looking for some stationery to write my son instead of just plain white-lined paper.  Any suggestions? 

You should check the NEX for stationary if you want Navy. Or if you are crafty make your own, buy lino blocks and carving tools. glue the lino block to wood, thay are made by Speedball. You can also paint with watercolor on a stamp.

(I own an art supply store) 

Ellen, if you have a Mac, open Pages and make your own! You can type your own heading and change the color, drag in photos from the Internet or family photos, etc, print it out on white paper and write your note on it.  This way you can change it whenever you want - seasonal, his ship, family events, whatever :)  Made you a sample, only took a minute :) Ellen%20stationery.pdf