Housing Specialist Careers in the Army

by J. Walker

Housing Specialist is one of four basic professional positions in the U.S. Army Housing Services Office (HSO), along with HSO Chief, Housing Specialist Lead and Office Automation Clerk. The HSO itself is under the Director of Public Works and is led by the Chief of Housing Division for each particular Army installation. The Housing Specialist is tasked with assisting Army member in finding housing and helping to coordinate all aspects of the home purchase or apartment rental.
Duties

The Army Housing Specialist conducts a wide range of housing-related activities, mostly as an adviser to the prospective real estate purchaser or renter. This includes a great deal of customer service, such as interviewing applicants to determine housing needs, providing information on available housing and sharing current real estate listings. Additional activities include coordinating with local real estate agents and property owners, reviewing lease or purchase contracts, conducting property inspections and mediating disputes. Administrative duties are frequently necessary, such as filing reports and filling out forms.

Necessary Skills

According to the Army, required skills for the Housing Specialist position include intermediate knowledge of real estate terms and practices, including leasing terms and inspection procedures. In addition, problem-solving skills are considered mandatory, as well as intermediate property management skills, knowledge of contracts and rent-control laws. A current driver's is also needed. Additional desired skills include negotiation, oral presentation, property valuation, basic budgeting and leadership skills.
Housing Specialist Lead

The Army also employs a Housing Specialist Lead position. The Housing Specialist Lead performs all the duties of the Housing Specialist, but also handles escalated issues and helps to resolve chronic issues. The lead deals with large property firms, especially when they cross the Army's geographic boundaries, and thus could be in the jurisdiction of more than one Housing Specialist. The Army Housing Specialist Lead also coordinates the schedules and activities of the Housing Specialist teams. In the absence of an HSO cheif, the Housing Specialist Lead is in charge of the HSO team members.

Duties