If you're PCSing and find on-base housing unavailable, you're not alone. At many in-demand installations, published waitlists stretch for months, often during peak PCS season. This leads to more families living off base longer and increased out-of-pocket expenses.

What installations have the longest waitlists, and why? Who is most affected, and how can service members make better housing decisions without guessing or overpromising?

What’s Happening With On-Base Housing

Across branches, on-base housing demand often exceeds availability, especially for families during summer PCS cycles. At some installations, housing partners publish wait times lasting months, depending on rank, family size, and unit type.

This varies by location and season, but the pattern is clear enough that housing offices often advise inbound families to plan for off-base housing even if their goal is on-base living.

Why Waitlists Are Getting Longer

Short answer: finite inventory.

• Most on-base housing is privatized and limited. Units taken offline for renovation or major maintenance tighten the available housing supply immediately.
• PCS season compression. Inbound moves peak in summer while turnover happens unevenly, creating timing gaps.
• Local housing pressure. Higher off-base rents incentivize families to remain on base once housed, slowing turnover for those waiting.
• Priority systems. Placement is based on rank, family size, availability date, and mission needs, not first-come, first-served.

Understanding how base policies affect daily life helps explain why availability can lag even when demand is obvious.

Installations Where Waitlists Are Longest

The bases listed below have publicly reported waitlists; their housing partners or installation housing offices have acknowledged. These waitlists can extend for months for certain categories. Conditions change, and availability varies by rank, home size, and timing.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Wait times here can range from weeks to many months, depending on rank and neighborhood, particularly during peak PCS windows.

Most affected: Junior enlisted families and larger households.

Naval Base San Diego

In one of the nation’s most expensive rental markets, demand for on-base housing remains high. Housing partners acknowledge extended waits for certain home types, pushing many families off base initially.

Most affected: Single-income households and mid-grade enlisted families.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Housing partners at JBLM regularly publish community-specific wait-time updates, with longer waits during PCS season and when units are offline for maintenance or upgrades.

Most affected: Families needing larger homes.

Fort Cavazos

Army reporting confirms periods when demand exceeded on-post housing, resulting in formal waitlists, you guessed it, especially during major PCS influxes.

Most affected: Families arriving mid-summer.

Why are some large bases not listed? Some high-population bases face crowding but rarely publish confirmed wait times, or data shifts too fast to include reliable information. Excluding them keeps reporting accurate. Although for everyone else, facing extended wait times for on-base housing leaves them in the dark.

The Real Financial Impact on Military Families

When on-base housing isn’t available right away, families often face costs BAH was never designed to fully absorb, including market-rate rent during peak leasing season, security deposits and application fees, utility setup and variable monthly bills, and short-term lodging between leases. Even when allowances apply, cash-flow timing matters, and not all expenses are reimbursable. Knowing what to expect during a PCS move can prevent rushed decisions that lock families into higher costs.

For many, the real choice isn’t on-base or off-base forever; it’s whether waiting makes sense now. During peak PCS, long waits, school dates, EFMP needs, or cash flow issues make going off-base a strategic bridge. Knowing when to stay off-base is sensible and can save money and stress while avoiding multiple moves.

Who Controls Housing Availability

Housing outcomes are shaped by several layers: installation commanders set local policies and priorities; private housing partners manage inventory, maintenance, and leasing; service-level guidance governs eligibility; and DoD and Congress influence long-term funding and construction.

That’s why conditions can change quickly, and why understanding how military benefits actually work matters during every PCS.

When It Actually Makes Sense to Go Off Base First

• Your waitlist exceeds your realistic timeline
• The off-base market offers flexible leases
• Your BAH covers rent plus utilities, off-base
• You’re arriving during a high-turnover PCS window
• Your family needs immediate stability for school, EFMP, or medical continuity.

Think twice before going off base first if:

• Breaking a lease would be financially painful
• Utilities or parking push costs beyond BAH
• You’d lose waitlist priority by declining a unit
• Commute time would significantly affect duty hours or family life

Questions to Ask the Housing Office Before You Decide

About the waitlist:

• What is the current average wait time for my rank and bedroom size?
• How often does the waitlist actually move during PCS season?
• Are any units currently offline for renovation or maintenance?

About prioritization:

• How are families prioritized on this waitlist?
• Do availability dates or arrival timing affect placement?
• Will changes to rank, family size, or status reorder my position?

About short-term options:

• Is temporary lodging recommended on arrival?
• Are military-friendly short-term leases commonly used here?
• How often do families move in sooner than expected?

About off-base decisions:

• If I sign an off-base lease, can I stay on the waitlist?
• What happens if housing opens after I’ve moved off base?
• Are there penalties or timing rules for declining a unit when offered?

About staying informed:

• How frequently should I check back for updates?
• Is there a preferred contact method or update schedule?
• Where are official updates posted, if at all?

What Service Members Should Takeaway From This

On-base housing is valuable, but not always guaranteed on arrival. To manage costs and stress, understand waitlists, start planning early, and remain flexible during your PCS. These steps help families handle housing realities more confidently.

Suggested reads:

• The 2026 Military Housing Rulebook Every Tenant Should Read
• DoD Reveals Full List of Bases Scheduled for 2026 Barracks Repairs
• Fort Leonard Wood Breaks Ground on 56 New Homes for Families