About Matanuska Susitna County, AK

This chart is from the Alaska MLS system. It includes the data from all the members of the Alaska MLS.

The dark blue line are the sold listings. Of course, that is the most important data on the chart. I always think its interesting to watch the rise and fall of the sales. You can see how it dips in the winter and rises in the summer.

But it doesn't die in the winter, there are a little more than 1/2 as many homes sold in the winter months as there are in summer months, but it doesn't drop to near zero, it just slows down.

The blue-green line are the new listings that come on the market. This fluctuates more steeply than does the sales line. In fact last month for the first time since Dec of 2007 there were more sales than there were new listings.

This means that winter is not a bad time to put a new listing on the market as long as it is priced right. The buyers that are in the market at that time are serious buyers and they are starving for new inventory. Most sellers are holed up for a cold Alaskan Winter and don't want to think about moving. A good house at the right price will get attention.

This article was first published on valleymarket.com

Wasilla and Palmer Realestate Statistics, 2007-2009

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Alaska Remote Home/ Business site Living - Redefining Remote

“How far away do you want to be from the grocery store?” That, my friends, is the first question most Alaskan Realtors® will ask you when you contact us to say that you want a “remote property”. After all, if you want to shop for groceries on a weekly (or daily) basis, the Alaskan definition for remote does not apply to you. If grocery stores are not important to you, then you might want to keep reading.

“How close to electricity do you need to be?” is my next question. If you can use generators, wind mills, water wheels, or “whatever”, to power your remote home/ business then you are beginning to get closer to Alaska’s “remote” homesite definition. But, keep reading.

Now, “Will you want to access the property by road?” becomes a very important question. In Alaska, your major mode of transportation can be planes, boats, the Railroad or trails that will not even support 4-wheel drive vehicles. Truthfully, there are very few Alaskans who commute by dog team. This includes Iditarod mushers. So, access is my third qualifier for a truly remote property buyer.

Please, do not be disheartened by these questions. I am not laughing at you, nor do I (or any other Alaskan) think that you are “silly, stupid, nor just plain dumb”. What we understand is that even in the US’s Midwest, remote is defined differently than it is in Alaska. Truthfully, most folks respond with “10 miles” to the grocery store question. We rarely have to ask the next two, and there are about 5 others that can eventually place you so far away from other people and services that the rest of society can forget about you, and you can forget about us.

In Alaska, you can actually still find (and buy) properties that will never have a plane fly over (although satellites might). You may not ever again see evidence of human-kind again, unless you pursue that interaction. No postman will deliver mail, unless you request it. No property, or state, income tax will apply to you. In fact, your closest neighbor could easily and conceivably be more than (literally) hundreds of miles away.

Of course, if you are one of those who are interested in this type of property, I highly recommend that you be a less-than-picky carnivore. Your growing season (if you have arable land) will be extremely short. There are a few nourishing, edible, native plants available, but not many and definitely not everywhere.

BUCK UP! We can find you a property that is large enough, and far enough out, that you will FEEL isolated. You will still be able to buy groceries, go to the doctor, get your mail, and light and heat your home commercially without having to “deal” with many people.

Isn’t that really the point of living in Alaska? After all, Alaskans really do like to be able to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, with or without whomever being involved in our lives, as we choose. I find I live in a truly diverse and “remote” place and invite you call me if you want “remote”.

I'm sponsoring a treasure hunt in Hart Lake Estates, a beautiful development in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

It's a real treasure hunt...the treasure is $100 cash.

The clues are updated on my website here:

http://www.valleymarket.com/2009/09/06/hart-lake-estates-treasure-hunt

I am also putting them on Twitter, Facebook, and craigslist as well as Active Rain.

Clue #3 is " The $$$ is in a little plastic bag tied to an Alder tree"

Go to www.valleymarket.com for the complete list of clues and rules. #1 rule...stay off of private property.

I couldn't help posting this view of Echo Lake taken on my way home tonight.  The cranberry leaves are turning red, the birches are yellow and the air is crisp with a full moon over Pioneer Peak. It's a beautiful fall day...but enough, let's talk numbers. Below are the statistics for the last week of August, 2009. Activity is relatively high. People want to get into homes before winter, they also want to lock in the low interest rates, and they want to close before November 30 to get their tax rebate.

29 new listings at a median price of $224,000.
21 pendings at a median price of $186,400
31 closing at a median price of $205,000
925 total listings at a median price of $239,000

The inventory is dropping while people snatch up the good houses with low interest rates.  I had a couple buy a house this week because they are leaving for a three year overseas assignment.  They are sure that interest rates will not be favorable when they return so they want to lock them in now.

Another client was quoted 5.25% today for a 30 year fixed conventional loan.  That is a very good rate.  If interest rates go up to 6.25% they will only be able to buy a $180,000 house instead of a $200,000 home.  If you don't think interest rates are going up, read this.  It's only a matter of time.