City & Neighborhood Guides

Homestead Air Reserve Base: A Guide for Home Buyers

By Jiffy Rozario8 min read
In this article

Homestead Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve base on the east side of Homestead, toward Biscayne Bay. Its host unit is the 482nd Fighter Wing, which flies F-16 fighter jets. For home buyers, the base matters in two ways. It is a big part of the local community, and military jets flying overhead are part of life in parts of Homestead.

This guide covers what the base is, its history, where it sits, and what living in Homestead near a working air base means for you. It also shows where Juniper Cove, D.R. Horton's new community on the west side of Homestead, fits in.

An F-16 fighter jet at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Florida.png

What Is Homestead Air Reserve Base?

It is a military air base. The base's history paper describes its main unit as part of the Air Force Reserve Command, the reserve branch of the U.S. Air Force.

The base's own history of Homestead Air Reserve Base names the 482nd Fighter Wing as the host unit. That means it is the main unit in charge of the base. The same history lists other units that share the base, including Headquarters Special Operations Command South, the Florida Air National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The base's news pages also mention Homestead's own 93rd Fighter Squadron.

A Short History in Plain Words

The base's story goes back to 1942. Here it is, taken from the base's own history paper:

  • 1942: Homestead Army Air Field opened on September 16, 1942, near the shore of Biscayne Bay.

  • 1945: A major hurricane struck on the base's third birthday. The field was then set to close.

  • 1955: It reopened as Homestead Air Force Base.

  • 1962: During the Cuban Missile Crisis, troops and planes rushed in. A tent city of more than 10,000 Army troops went up.

  • 1989: The 482nd switched to F-16 jets.

  • 1992: Hurricane Andrew came ashore at the base on August 24, 1992. The history says the storm ""virtually destroyed the base.""

  • 1994: The base reopened in March 1994 and became Homestead Air Reserve Station on April 1, 1994.

  • 2003: It got its current name, Homestead Air Reserve Base, on December 17, 2003.

The history also says the base has served as a staging area for relief work, meaning a place where help and supplies gather before they go out. That includes help after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

the front of a finished single-family home at Juniper Cove, taken from the street, showing the front door and the 2-car garage door..png

Where Homestead Air Reserve Base Is

The short answer: on the east side of Homestead, between the city and Biscayne Bay.

The base's AICUZ study gives the address as 29050 Coral Sea Boulevard. It says the base covers about 1,943 acres. It is bounded on the west by Speedway Boulevard (SW 137th Avenue), with Biscayne Bay to the east.

Juniper Cove is on the other side of town. D.R. Horton's site plan puts it along SW 192nd Avenue (State Road 9336), south of W Palm Drive. To head east toward the base side of town, you can use roads like W Palm Drive, U.S. 1 and Florida's Turnpike. Krome Avenue (State Road 997) is another main road on the west side.

Can You Visit the Base?

Not on your own. Access is limited to authorized people.

The base's Visitor Control Center page says a guest needs a sponsor, someone with base access, to apply for them. Guests show a visitor pass and a REAL ID compliant card, a state ID or license marked as REAL ID, at the gate. The page also says you must be a U.S. citizen to get on the base.

There is one big exception. The base has opened its gates for the Wings Over Homestead air show. Base news says the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headlined one past show, along with the 93rd Fighter Squadron. Show years and plans change, so watch the base's news page for any future show.

Living Near Homestead Air Reserve Base: The Honest Part

Jets are loud. F-16 fighter jets fly from this base. That sound is part of life in parts of Homestead, and we will not tell you otherwise.

The base's AICUZ study explains why these studies exist. AICUZ stands for Air Installation Compatible Use Zone. The study says its purpose is to promote building that fits well in areas that get more aircraft noise and overflights. In that 2007 study, the base also said it tries to keep most flights and engine tests to daytime and evening hours. It said it also tries to avoid flying over noise-sensitive places.

What we cannot tell you is how any single street will sound on any single day. So here is our advice:

  • Visit at different times. Come on a weekday morning, a weekday afternoon and a weekend.

  • Stand outside for a while. Listen in the yard, not just inside a model.

  • Go inside and listen again. Every Juniper Cove home comes with impact-resistant glass windows and sliding glass doors, per D.R. Horton's features sheet.

  • Ask us for the study. Call 561-704-0091 and we will walk through it with you.

Some buyers are fine with the sound. Others are not. Both are fair. The only wrong move is not checking first.

Homestead Air Reserve Base and Military Home Buyers

If you serve at the base, or you are a veteran, a VA-backed loan may help. The VA home loans page says VA home loan programs are for Veterans, service members and their survivors. It says nearly 90% of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment.

VA-backed loans are made through lenders such as banks and mortgage companies. You still need the credit and income for the loan amount you want. Ask a lender whether you qualify.

Service members often have gear, tools or two vehicles. See the real garage sizes in 2 car garage dimensions. For example, D.R. Horton's plan drawing shows the Dakota garage at 19'6"" x 20'3"".

Hurricane Andrew is also a reminder of why storm-ready features matter. D.R. Horton's Juniper Cove features sheet lists masonry exterior walls and an engineered roof with hurricane clips and bracing.

More to Explore Around Homestead

The base is one piece of life in Homestead. For weekends, start with things to do in Homestead FL.

On Juniper Cove's own road, SW 192nd Avenue, you will find the gators in our Everglades Alligator Farm guide. For tropical fruit and farm country, read the Fruit and Spice Park guide.

Front of a single-family home at Juniper Cove in Homestead with its 2-car garage door.png

About Juniper Cove

Juniper Cove is a D.R. Horton Express Series community in Homestead, in Miami-Dade County. It has eight plans. The Jade, Opal and Topaz are two-story townhomes with 1-car garages. The Dakota, Freeport and Merritt are single-story homes. The Sapole II and the five-bedroom Robie are two-story single-family homes.

The Opal is the only townhome with a bedroom and full bath on the first floor. That can help when family visits during a deployment or a move.

Townhomes have recently started around the low $400,000s. Single-family homes have recently started in the high $520,000s. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers. Compare every plan in Juniper Cove floor plans compared, or visit the Juniper Cove community page.

Come Hear It for Yourself

The best way to judge a neighborhood is to stand in it. Call 561-704-0091 with your questions, or pick a time here: See Juniper Cove on Homestead's west side — Schedule a Visit. Ask what incentives are available today, since they change.

Common Questions

What is Homestead Air Reserve Base?

It is an Air Force Reserve base on the east side of Homestead, toward Biscayne Bay. The host unit is the 482nd Fighter Wing, which flies F-16 jets. Other units share the base too.

Where is Homestead Air Reserve Base?

The base's AICUZ study lists 29050 Coral Sea Boulevard. The base is bounded on the west by Speedway Boulevard (SW 137th Avenue), with Biscayne Bay to the east. Juniper Cove is on the west side of Homestead, near SW 192nd Avenue.

Can the public visit Homestead Air Reserve Base?

Not freely. The Visitor Control Center page says guests need a sponsor, a visitor pass and a REAL ID compliant card. The base has opened to the public for its Wings Over Homestead air show.

Will I hear jets if I live in Homestead?

In parts of Homestead, yes, at times. How much depends on the street and the day. Visit a home at different times of day and listen outside before you choose. Call 561-704-0091 and we can help you plan those visits.

What happened to the base in Hurricane Andrew?

The base's own history says Hurricane Andrew came ashore there on August 24, 1992, and virtually destroyed the base. It reopened in 1994 as a reserve station and was named Homestead Air Reserve Base in 2003.

Can I use a VA loan to buy at Juniper Cove?

VA-backed loans are for eligible Veterans, service members and survivors, per VA.gov. Ask a lender about your eligibility and the home you pick.

Ready to see it in person? Call 561-704-0091 or schedule a Juniper Cove showing.

Related reading: Things to Do in Homestead FL: A Juniper Cove Guide · Fruit and Spice Park: A Guide From Juniper Cove · Everglades Alligator Farm: A Guide From Juniper Cove · Juniper Cove Floor Plans: All Eight Homes Compared · 2 Car Garage Dimensions: Real Sizes at Juniper Cove · Juniper Cove community page