Anchorage Alaska was just issued a high bond rating this past week by Standard & Poor’s bond rating agency.  Bond ratings reveal the municipality’s current financial condition and determine the cost of debt when a particular city issues bonds; the higher this bond rating, the lower the cost and interest rate and so a long term good rating indicates a lot of money that can be saved.  The high bond rating for 2010 for the Municipality of Anchorage is for short-term bonds, but positive ratings this early on may be an indicator of good rating for longer-term bonds as well.  Results for the long-term rating will be issued in April 2010.

For more on this and other Anchorage AK community news stories, visit KTUU.com.

For more on real estate in Anchorage AK including Palmer and Wasilla AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

This week, state economist Neil Fried spoke to KTUU Channel 2 News on the latest trends in the economy.  According to Fried, Alaska’s population and diversity of cities as well as the demographic trends all contribute to the economy in some way.  As reported to KTUU, the 2009 demographics revealed an interesting movement with more people coming to live in Anchorage than moving out.  In the previous years’ reports from 2007 and 2008, the numbers migrating out of the state was more than those moving into it.  This reversal in trends in 2009 Fried attributes to the overall slowdown in the national economy that is not affecting Alaska the same way it is in other places of the country; with Alaska doing somewhat better than other states, residents are opting to stay and others are choosing to migrate into the state.

For more information on the Alaska economy, visit KTUU news online.

And for your Anchorage AK real estate endeavors, whether buying or selling, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

The Great Land Trust in Anchorage AK is planning on acquiring some land to complete the proposed estuary site.  The Campbell Creek Estuary could become the ‘crown jewel’ of Anchorage AK’s park system as reported by KTUU.com, if the Great Land Trust can obtain a 60 acre parcel.  Although the Great Land Trust receives most of their funds from fees paid by developers to fill in wetlands, they also receive donations and grants to buy property and improve access; the Trust already has half the money they need for the property in question and for other improvements to provide public access, but are counting on Anchorage AK citizens to help with the rest and make this park a stunning example of the natural beauty of the area.

For more on this proposed Campbell Creek Estuary, visit KTUU.com.

For more on real estate in Anchorage AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

It’s been a great weekend for Black Friday sales in Anchorage AK.  According to a recent report from KTUU.com, retailers were pleasantly surprised by the turnout despite some winter weather.  In comparison to sales last year, Anchorage retailers such as Best Buy have seen an increase of sales for this past holiday weekend; even after the doorbuster sales were over, customers were still interested in finding values, giving the local economy a great boost to kick off the holiday season.

Also notable for Thanksgiving weekend in national news, was the thousands of fans lined up with former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s new book “Going Rogue” for a book signing event in Richland WA; this is part of Palin’s nationwide book tour.

For the latest news in Alaska, visit KTUU.com.

For more information on real estate in Anchorage AK, including Wasilla and Palmer AK also, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Attractive Willow, AK home with water access

Move into this attractive chalet home and enjoy the natural beauty of the Mat-Su Valley area.  Located in Willow AK, this fabulous property comes with 39 plus acres of land on the Susitna River and offers a quiet, relaxing environment.  Highlights include deck/patio, a detached pole barn that serves as a garage or carport, 9K Lugger generator (home is heated with wood), and propane for cooking and hot water.  This nature retreat home also includes waterfront access to the beautiful Susitna River.  Priced at $179,900 for a superior value.

For more information on this Mat-Su Valley AK area home or other Mat-Su Valley AK homes contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

If you are looking for Anchorage AK area vacant land properties including Wasilla and Palmer, take a look at the Total Market Overview report for September 1, 2009:

Based on data from the Alaska Multiple Listing Service from March 1st to Sept 1st of this year, the total number of active listings for AK vacant land was 864, with pending listings at 30.  The average original list price for sold properties was $62,160, and the average final list price of sold properties was a little less at $58,322.  The average sale price of all sold properties in AK was $54,129, making the list to sales ratio 92.8 percent, showing a decrease from the average original list price.  Also, recorded AK sold property listings spent an average of 142 days on the market, with an average of 328 days on the market for active listings.

For more on the Anchorage AK area real estate market information check out tmoreport.com.

For more information on buying or selling your Wasilla AK home, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

image credit: sxc.hu

Plans for a new port in Anchorage AK estimate the project to cost approximately $700 million to bring it to completion.  The old structure will need to be entirely taken out and replaced by a new dock at twice the length of the old one.

Although the project is still in its early stages it has already caused controversy due to the cost, environmental issues, and its manner of construction.  The dock is planned to be made of a long wall of steel, (rather than pilings) and millions of tons of gravel will be placed to fill in the space between the steel wall and the land, which would more than double the land mass of the port.  Although some engineers are less than convinced of this designs’ ability to withstand earthquakes, environmentalists are also concerned about the effects of the new dock on the salmon and belugas that exist in this area.

Project managers for the new port have recently awarded a $95 million contract for work this summer and next summer that involves installing the first sheet pile and filling the horseshoe shapes with gravel.

Read more on the Anchorage AK new port issue at Anchorage Daily News.

For more information on real estate in Anchorage AK contact your local realtors from The Kristan Cole team today.

According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Anchorage Alaska is experiencing an increase in both wages and the number of jobs.  The BLS branch chief, David Hiles, explains that it is difficult to show the conditions of a local job-market when pay raises may mean more layoffs for less experienced or lower paid workers in the market; but the fact that wages are increasing and more jobs are appearing is telling of a positive direction for Anchorage AK this year.

For more statistics on jobs and wages in Anchorage AK visit BLS.gov.

With a growing job market and rising wages, the Anchorage AK area is a great place to live. Let The Kristan Cole team help you find your dream home in Anchorage, Wasilla, or Palmer AK today.

Home sales have increased for the third consecutive month in June, according to a recent report from Inman News.  And existing home sales aren’t the only sales that are seeing positive signs, with sales of resale homes (i.e. single-family homes, townhomes, condos and co-ops) increasing by 3.6 percent from May to June; this makes the seasonally adjusted annual rate almost the same as a year ago at 4.89 million units.

In a press release, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yan predicted that if the volume of sales is kept above the level of new inventory, property prices will stabilize near the end of this year.

For more information on buying or selling property in Anchorage AK, including Wasilla and Palmer AK homes and condos, contact your local realtors from The Kristan Cole Team today.

Paying attention to how your home will appear to others will help you sell your home

If you are trying to sell a Wasilla AK home in today’s market there are a few things to keep in mind that will help your home stand apart from the pack.  Prioritize and analyze what will fit in your budget and take the steps necessary to make your home show well and appeal to prospective buyers.

• Fresh & Clean: Inspect your Wasilla AK home inside and out. Does it need a coat of paint? A fresh coat of paint will always be recouped in the sale of a home and is well worth the cost.  Does it look clean and tight?  Pack up the mess, the more clutter free a home the better it will show.  Likewise an empty house shows better.

• Curb appeal: Pay attention to your Wasilla AK home as if you were a potential buyer.  Is it inviting?  Clean?  Shore up your landscaping, make sure that your lawn is green and well-kept, that your flower beds are weeded and mulched, and that the exterior of your house is clean and respectable.

• Inspection: There will be a home inspection completed by the Wasilla buyer be prudent and do one yourself.  Attend to items that could possibly hold up the sales process.

• Best areas of a home to update and remodel? The Master Bathroom and the Kitchen.  Don’t spend the money to gut and redo your entire home but remodeling the master bath and kitchen areas of your home will make your home more appealing and grab a buyer’s eye.

• Evaluate: Are the remodel/updates going to net you more than you are putting into them?  It is very important in the net to pay attention to your local market and make the improvements that will help you not hurt you.  If you are not going to get the money back that you are intending to put into your home don’t do the changes.  Do the low-cost improvements and make do by making your home clean in its appearance.

Check out YahooRealEstate.com for more information and ways to sell your home.

And for Mat Su Valley AK Homes including featured property in Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage AK, please think of the Kristan Cole Team today!