About Matanuska Susitna County, AK

Fully Accredited Alaska Online Real Estate School. We offer the very best prices available. The Rowlett Career School is one of the leading educational services in Alaska. We provide state approved online courses for pre, post and Continuing Education (CEU) for the Real Estate industry and many other professional state licensed occupations.

Captain Wayne Rowlett welcomes you to the finest in educational services. Please take a few moments to explore our site http://www.rowlettcareerschool.com/ak-alaska.htm where you will find detailed information on our full service online courses.

Online Courses.
A mouse-click away.

Alaska Real Estate Courses

• Continuing Education

Alaska Appraisal

• Appraisal Exam Prep
• Continuing Education

Alaska Home Inspection

• ASHI Courses
• NAHI Courses
• NACHI Courses

Alaska Mortgage Broker

• Not at this time

Consumer Ed. Courses

• Credit Restoration
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Personal Financial Management
• Saving your Home From Foreclosure
• Avoid Homebuying Mistakes

Professional Course List

• Land Surveyor (PDH)
• Professional Engineer (PDH)

• Personal & Professional Development
• Counselor

www.RowlettCareerSchool.com

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.

Just returned from the Keller Williams Mega Camp in Austin Texas and it was fantastic. The 100 degree heat was a bit tough for an old fat guy but it sure is easier to get the bones moving in the morning. Learned a bunch, met some neat people and by pure chance my 21 year old daughter came in on the flight I was leaving on. She is entering her third year at Evergreen State College in Olympia (yes, I'm a proud Daddy). She and a friend from high school are driving up from Austin to Olympia for the next couple weeks. On the one hand I'm worried sick but how cool to be young and on the road traveling in this awesome country. I'm sure she was happy to see me but slipping her a fewhundy for the trip was a bonus.

Managed to snag a first class mileage ticket (thanks brother Randy) and my seatmate was Jonathan, the CEO of Active Rain. What an impressive young man and a real pleasure to visit with. Best of luck taking AR into the future!!

Be Well