If you’ve received orders to Fort Benning, first of all — welcome! Whether this is your first PCS or you’ve done this more times than you care to count, moving your family, finding a home, learning a new area, and trying to make decisions from hundreds (or thousands) of miles away can feel overwhelming.
I understand that because military life isn’t something I’ve only learned about through my clients — I’ve lived it.
I’m a 20-year military spouse, a Military Relocation Professional (MRP), and a Realtor® licensed in both Georgia and Alabama. My family has experienced PCS moves, military schedules, deployments, last-minute changes, and all the craziness that can come with Army life.
Today, I help military families relocating to Fort Benning navigate one of their biggest decisions: where to live and how to buy a home when they may not even be here yet.
And one of the first questions I usually hear is:
Should We Live in Georgia or Alabama When Stationed at Fort Benning?
The answer really depends on your family, your commute, your budget, and what you want your day-to-day life to look like.
One of the great things about being stationed at Fort Benning is that you have options on both sides of the state line.
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is one of the most popular choices for families stationed at Fort Benning because of its proximity to post and the variety of homes, neighborhoods, restaurants, shopping, recreation, and other amenities.
Depending on where you choose to live, you can find everything from established Midtown homes with tons of character to newer construction in areas like North Columbus and Midland.
For families who want to stay on the Georgia side and remain convenient to Fort Benning, Columbus is usually one of the first areas we explore.
Midland, Ellerslie & Harris County, Georgia
If you’d like a little more space or prefer living outside the center of Columbus, areas such as Midland, Ellerslie, and Harris County may be worth considering.
These areas can offer larger lots, newer neighborhoods, more rural properties, and additional options depending on the lifestyle you’re looking for.
The trade-off can be a longer commute to certain parts of Fort Benning, so I always encourage my military buyers to look at the actual drive from a home to the gate they’ll use most often — not simply the number of miles on a map.
Phenix City, Alabama
Cross the Chattahoochee River and you’re in Phenix City, Alabama.
Many military families are surprised by just how close parts of Phenix City are to Fort Benning and downtown Columbus. Depending on where you live and work, Alabama may be every bit as convenient as Georgia.
Phenix City offers a mix of established neighborhoods, newer construction, and homes at a variety of price points.
Smiths Station, Alabama
Smiths Station is another area I work in heavily and one military buyers often ask me about.
It provides a more suburban feel than some parts of Columbus or Phenix City while still keeping you within reach of Fort Benning and the Columbus area.
You’ll find established neighborhoods, newer developments, homes with larger yards, and properties with more land.
Fort Mitchell & Seale, Alabama
For buyers who want to stay on the Alabama side while remaining convenient to Fort Benning, Fort Mitchell and Seale are also worth exploring.
There are newer neighborhoods, larger properties, and more rural options depending on how much space you want and the commute you’re comfortable with.
Buying a Home Before You PCS
This is where having an agent who works with military families regularly can make a HUGE difference.
A lot of my military buyers aren't able to fly in every time a new home hits the market.
That doesn't mean you should have to buy blindly.
I regularly help buyers purchase homes from out of state. I can walk through homes for you, take additional photos and videos, look closely at things that may not show up in listing photos, and help you get a much better feel for the home and neighborhood.
I’m not afraid to point something out just because you love the house.
If I see an issue, I’m going to tell you.
My job isn’t to sell you a house.
My job is to help you make the best decision possible for your family.
Using a VA Loan to Buy Near Fort Benning
VA financing is extremely common in our market, but working with professionals who regularly handle VA transactions matters.
There can be additional requirements associated with VA financing, and the strength of your lender and real estate agent can make the transaction much smoother.
I work closely with lenders, inspectors, closing attorneys, contractors, and other local professionals throughout the process so we can stay ahead of issues instead of scrambling at the last minute.
And if you're still deciding whether buying makes sense for this PCS, I'll talk through that with you too.
Buying isn't automatically the right answer for every military family or every set of orders.
Your timeline, finances, future plans, housing needs, and comfort level all matter.
Don't Choose an Area Based Only on the Commute
Commute is important — especially when early formations are involved — but it shouldn't be the only factor you consider.
When I'm helping a family narrow down areas, we'll also talk about things like:
- Your price range
- How much space you need
- New construction versus an established home
- Neighborhood versus acreage
- Access to shopping and restaurants
- Your spouse's commute
- Activities your family enjoys
- Whether resale may be important when you PCS again
There isn't one single “best” place to live near Fort Benning.
There's the place that makes the most sense for your family.
What If You Don't Know the Area at All?
That's completely normal.
Most of my PCS clients start with a list of towns they've found online and a whole lot of questions.
That's where we narrow things down together.
I serve buyers and sellers throughout the Fort Benning area on both sides of the Georgia-Alabama line, including:
Georgia: Columbus, Midland, Cataula, Ellerslie, Harris County and surrounding communities.
Alabama: Phenix City, Smiths Station, Fort Mitchell, Seale and surrounding communities.
Being licensed in both states means I don't have to steer you toward one side of the river simply because that's where I'm licensed to sell.
We can actually compare your options.
I've Been the Military Family Making the Move
This part is personal for me.
My husband served 20 years in the Army, and our family lived the military lifestyle.
I know what it's like when orders dictate where you're going next. I know what it's like trying to build a life somewhere new while your spouse's career comes with its own schedule and demands.
That's a huge reason I love working with military families today.
You don't need someone who disappears after opening a door.
You need someone who will answer your questions, communicate with your lender, coordinate inspections, help with contractors when needed, walk properties when you can't be here, and keep things moving when you're juggling a PCS on top of everything else.
That's how I run my business.
PCSing to Fort Benning? Let's Start Before You Arrive.
You do not have to wait until you're standing in Columbus with orders in your hand and a moving truck behind you to start planning.
In fact, I would much rather talk to you early.
We can discuss neighborhoods, price ranges, VA financing, commute times, Georgia versus Alabama, new construction, resale homes, and what the buying process may look like based on your timeline.
Even if you're months away from moving, I'm happy to help you get your bearings.
Ready to start planning your move to Fort Benning?
I'm Amanda Hester, Realtor® with Keller Williams Realty River Cities, licensed in Georgia and Alabama, Military Relocation Professional (MRP), ABR® and SRS®.
As a 20-year military spouse and an experienced local Realtor®, I would love to help make your PCS to the Fort Benning area a little easier.
Reach out anytime — even if you're just getting started and have questions.
Welcome to the area. ❤️
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