If you’re planning a military relocation to the area around Fort Liberty, Raeford, North Carolina should be on your short list. Just west of the installation, Raeford blends an easy commute with a quieter, small-town pace, newer homes, lower property taxes than many neighboring counties, and quick access to Fayetteville, Southern Pines, and the Sandhills. As a local real estate professional, Jeannette Seskevich with Jeannette Seskevich | Jeannette Seskevich - Real Estate has helped countless active-duty service members, veterans, and DoD civilians land smoothly in Raeford. Below, you’ll find an in-depth, boots-on-the-ground guide to help you plan, house-hunt, budget, and settle in—whether you’re arriving with orders in hand or exploring your options months ahead of time.
Why Raeford Is a Strategic Home Base for Fort Liberty and Pope Army Airfield
- Commute and gate access: Raeford sits approximately 12–20 miles from the western/southern side of Fort Liberty, depending on your address and the gate you use. Many residents access post via routes that connect toward Chicken Road and Longstreet area entrances to the training lands or drive NC-401 (Raeford Road) east toward Fayetteville and the main cantonment. Typical drive times fall in the 20–35 minute range during normal traffic, with longer times during peak shift changes.
- A quieter pace without sacrificing convenience: Raeford offers a more suburban and rural feel than many areas east of post. You’ll find newer subdivisions, established neighborhoods, and acreage tracts where you can spread out, plus everyday conveniences like big-box shopping, grocery stores, and local eateries right in town.
- Central to everything: In addition to Fort Liberty, Raeford is well-positioned for day-to-day needs. Fayetteville’s major retail corridors and medical specialists are a short drive east. To the west and north, you can enjoy golf, shopping, and dining in Aberdeen and Southern Pines. Weekend warriors will appreciate easy access to outdoor escapes across the Sandhills.
- Lower property taxes: Many buyers choose Raeford in part because Hoke County property taxes are typically lower than in some neighboring counties. That often translates into more house for your monthly budget.
PCS Timeline and How to House-Hunt From Afar
Relocating on military orders usually means tight timelines. Jeannette’s approach is tailored to the realities of a PCS—fast, organized, and flexible.
- 90–60 days out: Clarify your reporting date and whether you’ll need temporary lodging. Get pre-approved with a VA-savvy lender so you know your price range within your BAH. Share your work location on post so Jeannette can prioritize areas and routes that minimize commute stress.
- 60–45 days out: Start your home search with detailed neighborhood briefs and virtual tours. Jeannette offers live video showings, floor plan walk-throughs, and neighborhood drive-arounds so you can “see” the home, the street, and the surrounding area in real time.
- 45–30 days out: Make offers with strategic timelines that align with your arrival window. Jeannette coordinates inspectors, appraisers, and contractors for any repairs even if you’re still out of state. If one spouse is deployed, she can work with your lender and closing attorney on a Power of Attorney to keep everything moving.
- 30–0 days out: Finalize utilities and homeowner’s insurance, confirm gate access requirements, and plan for final walk-through—virtual or in person. If you’re arriving before closing, Jeannette can help you arrange short-term lodging and storage coordination for your household goods.
Prefer to rent first? Jeannette can match you with reputable property managers and rentals near your preferred gate, then transition you into a purchase once you’ve learned the area.
Housing Options in Raeford: New Builds, Established Neighborhoods, and Country Living
Raeford’s housing mix fits many military family lifestyles:
- New-construction communities near the 401/Rockfish corridor: These neighborhoods are popular for their modern layouts, energy-efficient features, and community amenities like pools and playgrounds. Builders sometimes offer incentives that can reduce your closing costs or interest rate, which is helpful for first-time buyers and VA loans.
- Established, quiet subdivisions around town and just outside the city limits: You’ll see mature trees, larger yards, and a mix of single-story and two-story homes—often with easy access to schools and parks.
- Small acreage and rural properties: If you want a workshop, RV parking, or room for a garden—or you prefer fewer neighbors—properties on the outskirts of Raeford and across Hoke County offer space and privacy at approachable prices.
- Townhomes and low-maintenance living: For buyers prioritizing simplicity, Raeford includes attached-home options with HOA-maintained exteriors and landscaping, cutting down weekend chores.
- Golf and recreation: Raeford is home to Bayonet at Puppy Creek, a local favorite for golf. Living nearby puts weekend tee times minutes from your front door.
Jeannette will help you weigh trade-offs like HOA dues, septic versus city sewer, and yard size versus commute time. She’ll also advise on common items in Hoke County inspections (e.g., well and septic if applicable, crawlspace conditions, wind/hail coverage for insurance) so there are no surprises after closing.
BAH, VA Loans, and Budgeting for Hoke County
A well-structured budget is essential during a military relocation to the area:
- Align your BAH and monthly costs: Jeannette can translate your BAH into a realistic monthly payment that includes principal and interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and HOA dues if applicable. Lower property taxes in Hoke County often stretch your BAH further than you might expect.
- VA loan advantages: Most active-duty buyers in Raeford use a VA loan for zero down payment, no PMI, and competitive interest rates. Jeannette works closely with VA-experienced lenders and knows how to structure offers that are attractive to sellers while leveraging your VA benefits.
- Appraisal and earnest money: She’ll prepare you for typical earnest money ranges in the area, how due diligence fees work in North Carolina, and strategies for appraisal gaps if the market is competitive.
- Seller-paid concessions and builder incentives: In new-construction communities, it’s common to see closing cost credits or temporary rate buydowns. Jeannette will compare offers from multiple builders and verify what’s truly a value versus what’s just marketing.
- Long-term exit strategy: If you receive follow-on orders in a couple of years, will your home rent easily or sell quickly? Jeannette evaluates each property through a “future PCS” lens so you’ve got options later.
Schools, Childcare, and Education Options
If you’re arriving with school-age children, Raeford and Hoke County provide a range of choices:
- Public schools: Hoke County Schools serves the Raeford area with neighborhood elementary schools, middle schools, and Hoke County High School. The district also offers specialized options like SandHoke Early College High School, a partnership that allows motivated students to earn college credit while in high school.
- Nearby choices: Depending on your address, you may find additional magnet, charter, or private options in neighboring communities like Fayetteville, Aberdeen, and Southern Pines. Jeannette can map school options to specific homes so you’re comparing apples to apples.
- Childcare: On-post Child Development Centers can have waitlists; many military families supplement with off-post daycare centers and in-home providers in Raeford. Jeannette maintains an up-to-date local resource list so you can start inquiries early.
- Homeschooling: North Carolina is homeschool-friendly. Families often connect through area co-ops and community programs at local libraries, parks and recreation departments, and youth sports leagues.
Every family prioritizes different factors—test scores, commute, class sizes, extracurriculars—so Jeannette helps you create a shortlist that fits your needs and budget.
Daily Life: Healthcare, Shopping, and Things to Do
Raeford makes day-to-day living easy:
- Healthcare: You’ll find hospital campuses and outpatient services from regional systems right in Hoke County, plus urgent care clinics and primary care offices throughout the area. For specialized care, Fayetteville and Moore County offer additional options within a short drive.
- Commissary and Exchange: Many military families split shopping between local stores in Raeford and the Fort Liberty facilities. It’s convenient to do a big commissary run and then rely on Raeford’s grocery stores for weekly staples.
- Shopping and errands: Raeford has grocery chains, pharmacies, hardware stores, and a Walmart Supercenter for one-stop errands. Bigger retail hubs like Cross Creek in Fayetteville and the shops in Aberdeen/Southern Pines are under an hour for expanded options.
- Parks and recreation: The Sandhills are an outdoor playground. Locally, you’ll find community parks, ballfields, and seasonal splash areas. The Carolina Horse Park at Five Points, just outside Raeford, hosts year-round equestrian events and festivals. For adrenaline, Skydive Paraclete XP and the Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving facility are well-known regional draws.
- Golf and fitness: Beyond Bayonet at Puppy Creek, you’re within easy striking distance of courses in the Pinehurst area. You’ll also find local gyms, martial arts studios, and youth sports programs throughout Hoke County.
- Local flavor: Raeford has a growing dining scene with everything from quick family-friendly spots to sit-down favorites. Popular go-tos include familiar Southern comfort food, barbecue, Mexican fare, pizza, and cafés—perfect for a quick bite after practice or a date night without a long drive.
Commute and Transportation Tips for Fort Liberty
- Plan by gate and schedule: Shift changes can add time. Jeannette will help you test-drive routes during your typical commute window and identify the best access points based on your unit’s location.
- Know your alternates: Have a backup route for accidents or construction along NC-401. Locals often use parallel roads or cut-throughs that can save you time when traffic backs up.
- Off-post conveniences near post: If you need to run errands before or after work, consider homes that make it easy to swing by grocers, daycare, or the gym without doubling back across town.
- Regional travel: Fayetteville Regional Airport is the closest for quick trips. For wider flight options, Raleigh-Durham International is an easy day trip. Amtrak service is available in Fayetteville and Southern Pines for stress-free weekend getaways.
How Jeannette Seskevich and Jeannette Seskevich | Jeannette Seskevich - Real Estate Make PCS Moves Simple
Military relocation to the area is a specialty for Jeannette Seskevich at Jeannette Seskevich | Jeannette Seskevich - Real Estate. Her approach is designed around the realities of your orders, your timeline, and your goals:
- Gate-first home matching: She maps your work location to the most efficient routes and highlights homes that keep your commute reasonable.
- Virtual-first house hunting: From live video tours to neighborhood drive-bys and detailed inspection recaps, you can make confident choices even if you can’t be in town.
- VA-smart offers and negotiations: Jeannette positions your VA offer to stand out, negotiates builder incentives when applicable, and protects your interests with thorough due diligence.
- Trusted team: Inspectors, lenders, closing attorneys, contractors—she connects you with professionals experienced in VA and PCS-specific timelines.
- Buy now, rent later strategy: If you anticipate follow-on orders soon, Jeannette evaluates each home’s resale and rental potential and can refer reliable property managers.
- Sale of your current home: Need to sell at your departure location? She coordinates with trusted agents nationwide to synchronize timelines and minimize double moves.
- After-closing support: From handyman referrals to tips on registering your vehicles and setting up utilities, Jeannette remains a resource long after the keys are in your hand.
You can learn more about working with Jeannette and view current listings at jaysellsnc.com.
Quick PCS Checklist for Moving to Raeford
- Get pre-approved with a VA-experienced lender and confirm your comfort range within BAH.
- Share your post assignment and typical work hours so your home search aligns with reality.
- Decide on must-haves versus nice-to-haves (yard size, bedroom count, garage, commute cap).
- Tour virtually with Jeannette and narrow to a top 3–5 list.
- Submit a competitive, VA-savvy offer with timelines that match your report date.
- Schedule inspections early; review findings with repair cost estimates before moving forward.
- Coordinate insurance, utilities, and any POA needed if one spouse is away.
- Plan your final walk-through (virtual or in person) and move-in day logistics.
- Explore local parks, dining, and activities to make Raeford feel like home fast.
A military relocation to the area doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right local guide and a clear plan, you can land in a home that fits your lifestyle, budget, and career. If Raeford’s combination of convenience, value, and community sounds right for you, connect with Jeannette Seskevich at Jeannette Seskevich | Jeannette Seskevich - Real Estate to start your Fort Liberty PCS home search today. Visit jaysellsnc.com to get started and see what’s available now.
