Fairchild AFB relocation guide · Greater Spokane
Moving to
Fairchild AFB?
New orders come with plenty of moving pieces. Your home search can start with a clear plan, local context, and room to figure out what feels right for you.
Use this guide to compare housing, think through your commute, and prepare for a permanent change of station (PCS) to the Spokane area.
01 / Housing options
Start with the right questions.
Contact the housing office early.
Fairchild’s Military Housing Office can explain current options and provide housing referral support. Contact the office as soon as you know you are moving, before committing to a home.
Official Fairchild housing information Military Housing Office: 509.247.5185Considering housing on base?
Ask the housing office about eligibility, the application process, current availability, and the appropriate contact for your situation. Confirm move-in dates, lease terms, and pet policies directly with the housing provider. A waitlist is a reason to keep a backup plan.
Considering a rental off base?
Compare the full monthly cost, deposits, lease length, utilities, and permissions for pets. Verify the property and who is authorized to rent it before sending money. Ask for the terms in writing.
Considering buying?
Start with your budget, expected time in the area, and the costs of owning and eventually selling. A purchase should fit your plans even if maintenance, travel, or a future move costs more than expected. Sharon can help you compare homes and build a search around those priorities.
02 / Areas & commutes
Choose around your actual day.
There is no single best place for everyone moving to Fairchild. These are starting points for a conversation, not rankings or a complete list of your options. Compare the exact address, your work hours, the gate you will use, and your other regular destinations.
| Area to explore | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Airway Heights | Compare the route to your intended gate, traffic on U.S. 2, and the errands you make most often. Check parking, any HOA rules, and outdoor space at the specific property. |
| Medical Lake | Map the route from the actual street to your gate. Compare utility service, property upkeep, and access to the places you use each week before choosing a home. |
| Cheney and surrounding addresses | Look at the location on a map, not just the mailing address. Compare properties in town with outlying addresses, including checking road access, utility service, and your full commute. |
| Spokane, including South Hill and the north side | Test the complete trip across town at your expected work hours. Compare the home’s condition, parking, and winter access alongside the neighborhood features that matter to you. |
| Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake | Include the full trip toward Fairchild in your comparison, including any I-90 travel. Weigh the route and your other daily destinations against the home’s layout, cost, and upkeep. |
Drive times vary with the address, gate access, traffic, and weather. Confirm gate information with your sponsor or the base, and check the WSDOT travel conditions before a trip. For schools or child care, confirm boundaries, enrollment, availability, and care hours directly with the district or provider.
Explore the Greater Spokane community guide03 / Your PCS checklist
One step at a time.
This is a home-search planning checklist. Your orders and unit instructions guide the official move.
Fairchild’s before-arrival resourcesOnce you have orders
Confirm your reporting instructions and arrival plans with your sponsor or gaining unit. Contact the Military Housing Office, ask about your housing options, and make a backup plan if your preferred move-in date is unavailable.
Before narrowing the home search
Choose a comfortable total monthly budget and a cash reserve for the move. List your must-haves, preferred commute, pet needs, and any accessibility needs. Compare actual addresses rather than choosing only by city name.
Before signing or making an offer
Review the property, deadlines, inspection options, and move-in terms. If buying, confirm financing and estimated closing costs with your lender. Ask your housing office or legal assistance office about questions involving leases or military orders.
Before travel and move-in
Confirm lodging, pet policies, household goods delivery, and who will receive the keys. Keep essential documents, medications, chargers, and a few days of supplies with you. Allow room in your plan for weather or delivery changes.
04 / Buying from afar
Look beyond the listing photos.
When you cannot visit first, start by telling Sharon what you need to understand about a home. A useful remote tour answers specific questions and leaves time to look closely.
- Ask to see the street, parking, driveway, neighboring properties, and access to the home.
- Check room measurements against your furniture, plus storage, stairs, doorways, and outdoor space.
- Ask about visible wear, heating and cooling equipment, and items needing a closer professional look.
- Plan for inspections, document review, financing deadlines, and an agreed possession date.
Video cannot reveal every condition. Discuss the appropriate inspections and contingencies before committing, and confirm signing arrangements with your lender and escrow team if you will be away at closing.
Share your home-search priorities05 / Common questions
A few things worth knowing.
Should my housing budget match my BAH?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is not intended to cover every housing expense. Use the official BAH resource to look up rates, and confirm your entitlement with your finance office. Compare that with your actual budget for rent or mortgage payments, applicable taxes and insurance, utilities, maintenance, and other costs.
Where do I start if I want to use a VA loan?
Speak with a lender about your Certificate of Eligibility, qualification, estimated closing costs, and occupancy requirements. The VA’s home-buying guide explains the process. A VA appraisal and a home inspection have different purposes; the appraisal does not replace an inspection.
What if my arrival and move-in dates do not line up?
Build a temporary lodging plan and confirm reservation terms, availability, and pet accommodations directly with the provider. Fairchild’s before-arrival page links to lodging and other arrival resources. Ask your finance or transportation office which expenses apply to your orders before budgeting for reimbursement.
Local guidance, at your pace
Let’s make your next move feel more manageable.
Share your timeline, the kind of home you are looking for, and what matters most. Sharon will review your answers before your consultation so you can start with a plan that fits you.