Moving to Barksdale AFB? Your Home Buying & Relocation Guide
PCSing to Barksdale Air Force Base? Start planning your move before you arrive. Explore Bossier City, Benton, Haughton and Shreveport, understand your housing options, and begin narrowing down where you want to call home in Northwest Louisiana.
If you've received orders to Barksdale Air Force Base, one of your first big decisions is where you're going to live.
Barksdale AFB is located in Bossier City, Louisiana, directly across the Red River from Shreveport. Depending on the lifestyle, commute, home style and amount of space you're looking for, your home search may include Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, Shreveport and other communities throughout Northwest Louisiana.
The good news?
You have options.
As a local REALTOR® serving Shreveport, Bossier City and the surrounding Northwest Louisiana market, I help buyers understand those options and narrow their search before spending days scrolling through properties that may not actually fit their move.
You don't need to know exactly where you want to live yet.
That's what this guide is for.
[ STARTYOUR BARKSDALE SEARCH ]
Where Should You Live Near Barksdale AFB?
There isn't one “best” area near Barksdale AFB. Different communities offer different combinations of commute, housing, space, amenities and lifestyle.
Here are four areas worth considering as you begin your search.
❋ Bossier City
For buyers who want convenient access to Barksdale AFB while remaining close to shopping, restaurants and everyday amenities, Bossier City is an obvious place to begin.
Bossier offers everything from established neighborhoods to gated communities and newer construction.
North and South Bossier can also feel very different, which is why I recommend comparing actual properties, commute routes and daily-life priorities rather than simply searching “homes in Bossier City.”
❋ Benton
If you're looking for newer construction, suburban neighborhoods or additional space, Benton should probably be on your list.
Benton sits north of Bossier City and offers a mixture of newer subdivisions, custom homes, larger lots and more rural properties as you move farther outside the city.
For buyers who don't mind trading some proximity for additional space or a different setting, Benton can be worth exploring.
❋ Shreveport
Don't automatically eliminate Shreveport simply because Barksdale is located in Bossier City.
Shreveport offers a broad range of housing—from historic homes and established neighborhoods to luxury properties, waterfront homes and investment opportunities.
The right side of the river for you depends on your budget, commute tolerance, lifestyle and what you actually want from your next home.
❋ Haughton
Haughton is east of Bossier City and another area worth considering when relocating to Barksdale AFB.
You'll find a combination of established homes, newer construction and properties with additional acreage.
For someone who wants to remain within driving distance of Barksdale while potentially having more space, Haughton may offer an attractive middle ground.
Buying a Home During a PCS: Start Before You Arrive
You don't necessarily need to choose a house months before your move.
You do want to begin understanding the market before you arrive.
Starting early gives us time to narrow down:
Your comfortable price range
VA financing or other loan options
Preferred commute to Barksdale AFB
Bossier City vs. Shreveport
Benton and Haughton options
New construction vs. resale
Neighborhood and property preferences
Flood-zone considerations
HOA preferences
Lot size and acreage
School considerations
Your PCS timeline
By the time you're ready to seriously shop, you can already have a much clearer picture of what you're looking for.
My Local Connection to Shreveport–Bossier
Hi, I'm Breela Johns, a local REALTOR® serving Shreveport, Bossier City and communities throughout Northwest Louisiana.
Moving somewhere you've never lived means trying to make a major housing decision while learning an entirely new area at the same time.
My job is to make that process easier.
Tell me when you're arriving, what you're hoping to find and what matters most to you. I can help you begin narrowing the areas and properties that make sense for your move before you arrive.
Should You Consider New Construction Near Barksdale AFB?
Absolutely—especially if you're considering Bossier City, Benton or Haughton.
Northwest Louisiana offers both completed new-construction homes and properties that are still being built.
Depending on the builder, property and stage of construction, buying while a home is being built may also provide opportunities for certain selections or customization.
There is one thing I recommend:
Talk with your own real estate agent before you begin visiting builders and developments.
The builder's representative represents the builder's interests. Your agent can help you evaluate the property, understand the transaction and navigate the purchase with your interests in mind.
Looking for new construction?
Tell me what you're looking for and I can help you explore available and upcoming options throughout the Shreveport–Bossier area.
Using a VA Loan to Buy Near Barksdale AFB
If you're eligible for VA financing, it may be one of the options you consider when purchasing a home near Barksdale AFB.
Before seriously shopping for homes, I recommend speaking with a lender who regularly handles VA transactions and understands military relocation timelines.
Getting your financing organized early can help establish your purchasing range and make the home search considerably easier.
Don't have a lender yet?
That's okay. You can still reach out and begin planning your move.
What About Schools?
If schools are an important consideration for your move, let me know at the beginning of your search.
School attendance zones can vary by property and can change, so buyers should independently verify current attendance information directly with the applicable school district before purchasing.
Rather than assuming that living in a particular city automatically means a particular school, properties can be evaluated individually as you narrow your search.
Buying From Another State?
You don't necessarily need to make multiple trips to Louisiana just to begin your home search.
Depending on your situation, I can help you research properties remotely, communicate with listing agents and builders, provide video walkthroughs when appropriate and help you understand what you're looking at beyond listing photographs.
The goal is simple:
Arrive in Northwest Louisiana already understanding your options—not starting from zero.
Start Your Barksdale AFB Home Search
Not Sure Where to Start?
That's completely fine.
You don't need to know which neighborhood you want, which side of the river makes sense or exactly what your next home should look like before reaching out.
That's what we'll figure out.
Breela Johns | REALTOR®
Call It Closed International Realty
Shreveport • Bossier City • Northwest Louisiana
Equal Housing Opportunity. School information, commute times, property availability, financing information and other location-specific information should be independently verified. REALTOR® is a registered trademark of the National Association of REALTORS®.