Hi Adam,

What zone are you in?  If you are in zone 8 or above, you could probably get away with planting them now, but I think you'll be safer doing so next May when the chance of frost is reduced.  Planting them near the house is okay too, but will still need winter protection if in zone 7 or below.  I would get a bunch of cuttings going late winter so they will be ready for your orchard planting next spring/summer.

Thanks. I am on the edge of zone 7 and 8. Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Adam,

Figs like unobstructed spaces, ideally facing South and getting maximum sun-hours
Soils should be ph neutral ,or slightly alkaline,  fertile, well drained, flat or in gentle slopes

Old habits requested holes to be made with the first rains (September) and the bottoms manured a month or two after... the top soil excavated to make the hole (first foot deep) is to go first to cover the roots of the transplanted tree,.. then the deeper dirt. Best timing to get the tree to its new place shall be early spring.

Checked the climate on your town whereabouts and see no objection of planting in ground.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/kannapolis-nc/28083/december-weather/329829?monyr=12/1/2015

good luck

Francisco
Portugal

In your climate I don't think you have to plant them next to your house.  They might do better there, but not necessarily.  Plant in the spring and they should have plenty of time to grow and then by next fall they will do OK. 

Put them in your garage in the winter if they are small and in pots.  Plant them first sign of bud break and when danger of hard frost has passed. 

Full sun is best. 

More sun is good sun.

Hi akatennant,
If it was for me, I would plant them on the south side, 2 at 3 meters from the house, and the others at the end of the property.
Those last trees would be a fruiting hedge . Year after year, I would keep on planting until the number of trees that you are targeting is reached.
For now you can plant the trees at 3/5 meters from one to the other. I want my trees to stay small to be able to reach the ripe fruits easily... I'm not feeding birds with a big over-sized fig tree !
Still, you can plant on east an west side, but I would avoid north face if the house is shading the area. Of course if you plant at a certain distance of the house, then there is no shadowing as well even on the north side...
Check your dirt. If it is compacted from heavy vehicles like trucks, I would make holes of almost a cubic meter to soften the dirt and add fertilizer, manure or compost to the dirt.
If your dirt is rock hard, the trees will have a bad time to grow.
If you have a brown clay dirt, I would replace some dirt with compost for draining purposes.
Good luck !