This column is aimed more at the real estate professionals in Southwest Oklahoma. Current data shows that there are some 1.4 million active duty military members, and that about 500,000 relocate each year.

In researching Web sites that may be helpful to house hunters in the military coming to Fort Sill, there are no listings for our area (as of June 2008) on one of the best sites that I came across, http://www.off-basehousing.com/ . Off-BaseHousing.com is owned and operated by a military family.

We have a lot of new families, and singles too, that are due to arrive at Fort Sill in the next year or so. This site seems to offer a number of services to those in search of new homes and those wanting to list homes that they will be leaving behind. (Another thing I liked about it is that it gave a fraud alert about a scam artist. Something we need a lot more help with out there. I'm a big supporter myself of "America's Most Wanted.")

Real estate agencies seem to vary with what they offer in the way of special services and discounts to military home buyers.

Any realtors wanting to do something extra for our men and women in uniform need to get the word out there. That old game of we're the only business in town, so we don't have to give you a break, just doesn't fly anymore.

A fairly new sign I've been seeing in Lawton (don't know anyone with the office personally) is Exit Realty, which bills itself as being "recognized as the fastest growing real estate franchise organization in North America."

Not sure who gave them that title. But, I did come across information from the Exit office of Drew May, which serves the Fort Gordon and Greater Augusta, Georgia area, that states Exit "has joined real estate professionals across the country proudly offering something back to servicemen and women of our armed forces... Exit is offering various discounts and matching those offered by other popular networks, as a way to say thanks to all who serve and sacrifice so much. This comes at a time when military families are enduring more hardships everyday...Because military families relocate so often, their housing needs are great. By offering military real estate services designed especially for them, Off-BaseHousing.com has become the #1 website for military housing needs... EXIT agents and brokerages are able to utilize the provided tools, technology and training to better serve the needs of military personnel."