Why choose The Kristan Cole Team?  Buying a home can be a stressful experience if you do not have the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.  Let The Kristan Cole Team of knowledgeable professionals help you find your dream home without the stress.  Here are just some of the benefits of working with The Kristan Cole Team to find that perfect home in Anchorage AK:

• Highly trained buyer’s specialists will give you personalized focus as they help you find the right home in no time.
• Their computerized tracking system will instantly alert you to properties from the MLS search system so you will be the first to know about new listings.
• Kristan Cole lists more homes than any other realtor in Mat-Su Valley AK, so you will be able to see the largest inventory of homes first.
• The Kristan Cole Team will expertly negotiate for you, finding you the best home with the best possible terms.

So don’t let fears keep you from buying your dream home in Anchorage AK; The Kristan Cole Team is there to help you every step of the way.  Contact The Kristan Cole Team to start the exciting process of buying a new home today!

Alaska MLS listing #: 12-241

This lovely Anchorage AK home is in a great location, featuring views of the Cook Inlet.  A well-maintained, traditional home, it has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.  The 4 bedrooms are all on the same floor and the large master has a bath and den/study just off of it.  Other highlights include a formal dining room, sizeable eat-in kitchen with nice plank oak floor, 3 fireplaces, recent roof, new h/w heater, and attached 2 car heated garage.  It has a two story construction and is 2785 sq ft. with 0.20 acres.  List price for this attractive Anchorage AK home is $399,950.

For more on this or other Anchorage AK listings, check out the Alaska MLS search.

And for more on buying or selling Anchorage AK property, contact the professionals of The Kristan Cole Team today.

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest real estate market data?  Just sign up on kristancole.com for your own Custom E-Report on Weekly Market Statistics for Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage Alaska.  Simply fill in your information including name, email, phone number, and any other info you would like to give about your real estate interests and you will have access to the most current information available.  If you are looking to buy, sell, relocate, or are just curious, this is the perfect way to obtain all the data you need to make informed decisions in your real estate endeavors.

The E-report is updated weekly so you will be able to see what is happening now; included in the E-report are statistics on average days on market, number of sold properties, average selling prices, and other data that will help you gauge the current market.  So do not hesitate to sign up for E-Reports today and be in the know!

Looking for a realtor in Mat-Su Valley AK?  The friendly professionals of The Kristan Cole Team are there to assist you in buying or selling property in Anchorage, Wasilla, or Palmer Alaska.  Contact them today to get started.

Taking a look at Anchorage Alaska’s real estate market overview update reveals a rise in median sales price, with average listing price holding steady, according to recent trulia.com data.  Median sales price for Anchorage AK homes is at $244,086, which is 15.4 percent higher than the previous year’s data for the same time period of October-December.  Average listing price for homes for sale in Anchorage AK was $325,997 for the week ending Jan 11, which shows no change from the week previous.  As far as average price per square foot, there was a decrease of 10.8 percent compared to the same period of time last year.

Popular neighborhoods in the Anchorage AK area include Abbott Loop with an average listing price of $252,095, Sand Lake with an average listing price of $298,337, and Northeast with an average listing price of $214,011.

Check out trulia.com for more Anchorage AK real estate market data.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Anchorage AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Wood fireplaces can be a beautiful and functional addition to any home, but safety must be first.  Here are some safety tips for running your wood fireplace efficiently all winter long in Anchorage AK:

• Have your chimney cleaned twice a year.  If you typically burn more than three cords of wood each year (one cord is approximately 4X4X8).  This regular cleaning will improve the efficiency of your fireplace.
• Burn a fire safely by building it slowing.  Keep the damper of your wood fireplace completely open to increase draw in the initial stages of the fire and add more wood slowly as it heats.
• Replace damper when needed.  If the damper is poorly sealing it will cause heat loss; prevent this with a damper that will provide a tight closure such as a top-mounted one that will also function as a rain cap.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly to be sure they have fresh batteries.  If you do not have these detectors, have them installed near the wood fireplace and in bedroom areas.
• Burn only dry, cured wood.  It may be tempting to put in other scraps of lumber or construction materials, but these may compromise the air quality in your home.  Use only logs that have been split, stacked and dried for 8-12 months.
• Close the damper when not using the fireplace.  This simple task will keep warm air indoors instead of rising up the chimney.

For more on this or other homeowner tips, visit houselogic.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Anchorage AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Alaska MLS listing #: 11-14099

This nice Anchorage AK home has a remodeled ranch style and is located in a wonderful South Anchorage neighborhood and community.  You’ll find the desirable combination of 4 bedrooms and 2 baths for comfortable accommodations for family and guests.  Other highlights include a lovely remodeled kitchen, new tile/laminate flooring, 2 car garage, paved driveway, private yard, new roof and siding, well-maintained landscaping, and deck.  This home is 1858 sq. ft. and has a sizeable lot, perfect for large families.  List price for this attractive South Anchorage AK home is $299,900.

Click here for more on this or other Alaska MLS properties.

For more information on this or other great Anchorage AK properties, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.  The Kristan Cole Team is happy to help you find your dream home in Mat-Su Valley AK.

The New Year is a great time to think about making resolutions, and those concerning your home are no exception.  It takes time and planning to make a difference, so consider these ‘resolutions’ for your Anchorage AK home for 2012:

• Cut down on energy use.  Check the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and see if there is anything that needs to be replaced, repaired, or used less.  Replace old appliances with those that have good Energy Star ratings or simply replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
• Budget for needed improvements.  If you create a yearly budget you’ll be better prepared to avoid overspending and look at what improvements are priorities, rather than just good ideas.  Be sure to save money for major repairs or replacements (e.g. roofing or appliances).  Data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that the average yearly maintenance and home improvement expenditures are approximately $3,300 per household.
• Organize and De-clutter your home.  Think about the uses of each room in your home and store things that are not used on a daily basis.  Storage options can be as easy as putting in a few cabinets, drawers, or shoe organizers in the right places.

So make some plans for improving your Anchorage AK home this year and check out houselogic.com for more great ideas for ‘home resolutions’.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Anchorage AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Alaska MLS listing # 11-14694

This gorgeous Anchorage AK property is the perfect family home with 6 bedrooms and 4 full baths!  With great curb appeal, this home shows very well and reflects pride of ownership with elegant details throughout.  Highlights include stunning maple hardwood flooring, open great room, gourmet kitchen, 2 large decks with fabulous mountain and inlet views, gas fireplaces, finished walk-out basement, large master suite with Jacuzzi, and convenient 3 car garage.  The lay-out of this house is ideal for a possible mother-in-law set up or for teens and extended family.  List price for this stunning Anchorage AK home is $677,500.

For more information on this or to search other Anchorage AK home listings visit Alaska MLS search.

And to schedule a showing for this or other great Anchorage AK homes, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

If you are putting up that dazzling display of holiday lights inside or outside your home in Anchorage AK this year, check out some of these safety tips to keep your holidays free of accidents:

Inspect each light strand.  Dispose of all the lights that are in any way damaged and the electrical cords that are frayed.  You might find you need to replace them completely so they do not lead to fire hazards.

Pay attention to manufacturer instructions for connecting multiple strings of lights.  Generally speaking, limit this to three strings.  Stack plugs rather that plug them in end to end.

Replace bulbs that have burned-out.  The empty socket can cause an entire string to overheat, so replace dead bulbs quickly.

Do not use lights meant for outdoors inside.  These lights will be too hot for interior use.  LED lights are ideal for inside as they do not overheat and are energy efficient.

Take exterior lights down within 3 months.  If you leave your holiday lights on, they are more likely to suffer damage from animals that might chew on the wire or due to weather conditions commonly associated with this time of the year.

For more Anchorage AK homeowner holiday lights safety tips, visit houselogic.com. 

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Anchorage AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Alaska MLS listing # 11-13109

This attractive Anchorage AK home has a two story construction with a basement and 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  Great interior features include a finished basement great for use as a home gym, rustic fireplace, jetted tub, laminate flooring, solid surface counters, and a formal dining room perfect for entertaining friends or family.  The spacious 3 car garage is attached and there is discreet RV parking.  The driveway is paved and the yard is fenced in for safety or privacy.  List price for this great Anchorage AK home is $399,000.

For more on this Anchorage AK home listing or a virtual tour, click here.

And for more information on buying or selling property in Anchorage AK, contact the professionals of The Kristan Cole Team.  The Kristan Cole Team are dedicated to helping you find your dream home in the beautiful Anchorage AK area.