'Drum Country' praised as one of best places to buy house

The region surrounding Fort Drum has been cited as one of the top areas for military families to purchase homes by Military.com, a Web site aimed at service members.

The article calls the area "ideal for military families on the move," and cites listing prices of about $126,000, a relatively low turnover of homes and stability in the market as reasons to invest. The story also notes the large Army population, the proximity to Canada and Syracuse and the many opportunities for outdoor recreation as draws for families seeking a high quality of life.

The designation came as no surprise to Carl A. McLaughlin, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization.

"We're probably one of the best kept secrets in the Army," he said. "There's a lot of quality housing, affordably priced. ... We're tainted because of our winters, but once you get past that hurdle, you discover what a great place it is to live."

The recognition by an outsider of what "Drum Country" residents already know is gratifying, Mr. McLaughlin said.

He also noted that the writer advised military house-hunters to check regional job markets before making a purchase.

"That's something that we always need to be thinking about," he said — military spouses, too, need job opportunities.

The writer's other picks for military families looking for safe bets with home purchases are the areas surrounding the Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton in California, the Army post at Fort Knox, Ky., and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

To read the article, go to www.military.com and search for "Fort Drum housing market."