On Monday, October 2, 2017, the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear a request from the Anchorage Assembly amending the Municipal Code for Accessory Dwelling units. It is one of the many attempts by the MOA to help fix Anchorage’s affordable housing crisis by adding new Continue Reading

Everybody wants an expansive deck to enjoy our fleeting summer days. Almost all new home buyers ask to increase the size of the builder’s deck. And it is a popular remodeling request as well. Decks come in all sizes, shapes and materials because decks are one of the most Continue Reading

Anchorage single family permits still lag behind last year’s with a total of only 95 new home permitted through June 2017 compared to 106 in 2016. However, the good news is a total of 300 new housing units have been permitted compared to 208 in 2016 thanks to a big boost in Continue Reading

Soil conditions in Alaska can and do vary widely from street to street and even lot to lot in residential development. No matter how many test holes are dug prior to building a road or putting in a foundation, there are almost always surprises—some good and some not so good. Continue Reading

Anchorage has had sixteen homes sell so far this year with an original list price between $700,000 and $850,000. There are also six pending sales and currently nine homes for sale in this price range. One home sold downtown built in 1939 and a bluff home sold that was built Continue Reading

The construction quality is the most important factor in all price ranges, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ recent survey. However, entry-level and moderate income buyers are also significantly influenced by financing. Sellers and builders offering Continue Reading

Last weekend a friend and I went car shopping. Having been in sales for over thirty years and where my favorite place to meet buyers is at an open house, I was curious to compare selling techniques. We visited three dealerships and had three very different experiences. My Continue Reading

The Alaska Housing Financing Corporation (AHFC) has a little known new grant program for single family home buyers called the ‘Closing Cost Assistance Program’. Available only through First National Bank of Alaska and Mt. McKinley Bank in Fairbanks, it offers up to a 4% Continue Reading

Last week, two major lending changes suddenly made it easier to get a mortgage. And here in Alaska, the Alaska Housing Financing Corporation has jumped into the mortgage market with a new grant program. First, changes to that dreaded credit score that everyone worries about. Continue Reading