If home builders are wondering what type of housing they should build in 2017 and beyond, all they have to do is read the recently published book by the National Association of Home Builders. The 124 pages with 156 pages of addendums is a blue print of home buyers’ wants and Continue Reading
Archives for 2017
Test Your Market Knowledge
1. How would you describe the Anchorage housing market? A. Declining B. Steady C. Increasing 2. Interest rates hover at Historic Lows A. True B. False 3. What is the average monthly rental rate in Alaska? A. $1,238 + utilities B. $1,338 + utilities C. Continue Reading
Stability Factors in our Housing Market
Anchorage isn’t the only city that’s suffering from a lack of housing. According to the Department of Labor’s ‘Market Trends’ report published in May, the 2,100 new housing units built stateside represented a 12.5% decline from the year before. Anchorage’s new units Continue Reading
Alaska Has State Wide Housing Needs
The Department of Labor and Work Force Development has confirmed in their May report what real estate professionals have been saying all along “a reduced supply of housing has created stability in both the for sale and for rent housing market.” Statewide, only 2,120 new Continue Reading
How’s the Condo Market?
By any indication, the Anchorage condo market continued on its path of stability for the first four months of this year. The average sales price of $214,000 has fluctuated less than $1,000 since 2015. The 94 reported closed sales in April were comparable to the 95 sales Continue Reading
Spring Anchorage Housing Update
The first four months of this year have demonstrated a remarkable stability in the Anchorage housing market due to a continued lack of single family inventory. The Multiple Listing Service tracks listing and sales data from thirteen geographical areas from Turnagain Arm to Continue Reading
What Is a Unit/Small Lot Subdivision?
Working its way through the public process is a new land use concept which if passed by the Anchorage Assembly would allow for fee simple ownership of attached or detached homes on multi-family zoned land. Already vetted and passed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Continue Reading
How to Price Your Home in Today’s Market
When appraisers are asked to establish the value of a property, they primarily rely upon past sales data. When sellers try to determine the value of their home, they often refer to a price they find on a flyer they have picked up in the neighborhood. Homeowners also Continue Reading
Why Interest Rates May Not Matter
A few weeks ago, I wrote about rising mortgage interest rates. At that time the 30 year fixed conventional rate had risen to 4.3% and I predicted that interest rates would go to 5% by the end of the year. Well, this week that same 30 year fixed rate went down to 4% which has Continue Reading
First Quarter Building Report Highlights Commercial Activity
The Municipality of Anchorage has reported that the total value for all categories of building permits in the first quarter of 2017 has increased by $15.26 million when compared to the first quarter of 2016. This increase is directly related to commercial permits rather than Continue Reading
Connie Yoshimura, Owner/Broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty.