Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate News & Info - Jesse & Kathy Clifton

Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska

2008-10-10T04:51:06Z

By: Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton

Belonging to a family in which cancer has taken a hearty toll I can think of nothing else I would so love to see wiped from the face of the earth. Perhaps brussel sprouts, but first things first. As evidenced by the little pink ribbons popping up everywhere, most folks know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In many ways Alaska still lives up to its Last Frontier moniker. We are most definitely not an urbane metropolitan area... and frankly most folks like it that way. It's only been a few years since WalMart invaded our sleepy little arctic enclave. Imagine then, what the health care landscape looked like in Fairbanks in the 70's. In 1976, the opening of the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska in Fairbanks certainly changed that landscape for the better.

Since that time the Center has provided free mammograms to Alaskan's regardless of their ability to pay. No one is ever turned away. What makes this center so special though is that they don't simply serve the community of Fairbanks.

Thanks to the addition of mobile mammogram clinics in '95 and '97 and new units in 2003 and again in 2006, the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska serves a vast area from the Bering Sea to the North Slope and just about everywhere in between.

The Center also hosts an education outreach program. One such program is the Breast Health Clinic being held this Saturday October 11th and again on October 25th. From their website;

..."For women interested in learning more about Breast Self Exams & breast health. The class will include a lecture and practice session. The instruction will be provided by Jo Miller PA/C (certified physicians assistant) who is a certified clinical breast examiner through the National Consortium of Breast Centers..."

For more information or to register for the upcoming clinic, please call the Center office at 907.479.3909 or email bcdc@acsalaska.net.

According to the National Cancer Institute there have been almost 185,000 new cases of breast cancer and 41,000 deaths in 2008 alone. As they say, early detection is the key. Make the appointment that could just save your life.

A nasty little five letter word...

2008-10-09T12:52:34Z

I've been called a lot of things in my time... some were glowing and syrupy sweet and admittedly there were a few don't bear repeating in mixed company. Yesterday, however, I had the unfortunate opportunity to explain one of the more unsavory five letter words to a Realtor colleague.

Usury

According to Black's Law: "The charging of an illegal rate of interest. An illegally high rate of interest..." i.e. robbery, stealing, exploitation...

Recently I met with a potential client who was interested in putting several parcels of vacant land up for sale. They were originally purchased with the intent to develop them when the market was hot but with the downturn he's decided to just offer them for sale. In researching the property history I noted that he bought a total of 10 lots, all of which were owner financed. It's a pretty typical scenario in our market to have the seller carry the note on land transactions. Nothing unusual there.

Unusual reared its head when the seller and I began discussing his ability and interest in carrying the note for the lots. He was open to the idea and said he might as well collect the interest rather than let the bank have it. Fine, I said. That will make it more attractive to a buyer since the rate, at least today, will be less than what they would get at a local bank.

As it turns out the owner is paying (or has paid) 11.5% on 6 lots and 11% on the remaining 4. My first thought was that both rates were illegal under Alaska law. When I looked up the rate for the time period when he closed I found yet another startling problem.

Alaska Statute 45.45.010 - Legal rate of interest:

(a) The rate of interest in the state is 10.5 percent a year and no more on money after it is due except as provided in (b) of this section.

(b) Interest may not be charged by express agreement of the parties in a contract or loan commitment that is more that five percentage points above the annual rate charged member banks for advances by the 12th Federal Reserve District on the day of which the contract or loan commitment is made. A contract or loan commitment in which the principal amount exceeds $25,000 is exempt from the limitations of this subsection.

---> The $25,000 ceiling means the actual loan, not the total sales price.

---> It's important to note the the maximum rate is determined by "the date on which the contract or loan commitment is made" and means the day the note is executed, not the day the purchase contract was ratified.

The discount rate is a fluid number folks. When this particular buyer closed on these lots the discount rate was 1.25%! That means the maximum legal rate of interest the seller could have charged was 6.25%!

Penalties are stiff: "Forfeiture of the interest of the debt, recovery of double the amount of usurious interest charge." Ouch.

From initial calculations it looks as though the buyer has paid more than $46,000 in usurious interest. Double recovery would put the seller out somewhere in the ballpark of $92,000 plus the $90,000+/- in forfeited interest. Double ouch. It's a safe bet that when the former owner receives a thick envelope from Mr. So & So, Esq. he'll invite his agent to the litigation party.

Do you advise clients on what to interest rate to charge for owner financing? If so, do you know the laws of your state regarding interest rates and usury? If not, this might be a good time to look them up.

Fairbanks AK Recycling Event

2008-10-03T04:21:06Z

By: Fairbanks AK Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton

In this case it is easy being green. Alaska Green Star is holding a fall recycling event this Saturday and Monday from 10:00AM - 4:00PM in the back parking lot of the Westmark Hotel on 8th and Noble (Google Maps Link). Green Star collected 12 tons from the recycling drive in April - a number they're hoping to match or exceed.

According to the National Safety Council approximately 41 million computers became outdated in 2004 and 63 million in 2005. That number was expected to reach upwards of 500 million in 2007. Research shows that 75% of outdated, unused computers are stored and awaiting disposal.

Electronic equipment contains a myriad of hazardous materials. A typical desktop computer contains between 2-4 pounds of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, lithium, brominate flame retardants and phosphorus. Do something green and recycle your old unwanted electronics.

The electronics you turn in will be sorted and packed for shipment to a recycling center in Seattle (the closest recycling plant). Many of the materials in those old electronics items such as the plastics, glass, steel, gold, lead, mercury, cadmium and fire retardants can be recaptured for reuse. The recycling process separates CRT's and other equipment into component parts, some of which will be used to reduce our demand for raw materials and of course, reduce the amount of waste pouring into the landfill.

There is a nominal cost for disposing of your old electronics ranging from .50 cents to $38 depending on what you wish to recycle. A bulk discount was offered in April although no mention has been made of it for this even. Regardless, get together with your friends and colleagues and get rid of that old equipment you're not using.

Get involved. This is something we can all easily do to protect our pristine environment.

There are a few items that will not be accepted; video and audio cassette tapes, smoke detectors, loose batteries, vacuum cleaners, household electric appliances without a circuit board (toasters, vacuum cleaners, etc.). For more information please contact Interior Alaska Green Star at (907) 452-4152 or info@iagreenstar.org.

Heating your Fairbanks Ak home this winter

2008-10-02T04:34:48Z

By: Fairbanks AK Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton

With energy costs in Alaska still some of the highest in the nation, it's no surprise that the cost of heating fuel has been a major topic of discussion in Fairbanks lately. While my crystal ball is on the fritz it's a fairly safe bet that heating costs will be significantly higher this winter than last. However, there are some things you can do to ease the pain of seeing the fuel invoice hanging on your door.

Shopping for the best price goes without saying, but don't forget to see what programs are available to help with the cost, such as;

* Cash Discounts: Ask if your fuel company offers a discount for cash payments and/or immediate payments.

* Employer Plan: Ask if the fuel company offers a discount plan to employees of your company?

* Builder/Contractor Discount: If you have a new home, ask if your builder gets a special rate and if you can be on their plan.

* Multi-Property Discount: If you own several properties, you could be eligible for a discounted per gallon rate.

Budget plans are another very popular option in the Interior. The fuel company will estimate the total cost of fuel for your home for the winter and divide that amount by 12 months. A home with an annual heating oil expense of $6,000 will be billed $500 per month.

Another important reminder is to sign up for auto-fill with your fuel company of choice. With auto-fill your fuel company will keep your tank full by making a delivery (generally) once a month. You'll get a significant price per-gallon discount by being an auto-fill customer. Those folks who order small quantities of fuel at a time often pay as much as 30%-35% more than auto-fill customers. Ordering an emergency after-hours delivery because you ran out of fuel will cost even more - in cost per gallon and damage from a freeze up.

Local Fuel Companies

Alaska Aerofuel - Phone: 474-0062

Alaska Petroleum - Phone: 488-2575

Badger Fuel - Phone: 488-8500

Interior Fuels - Phone: 456-1312

Johnny’s Express - Phone: 479-8877

Nenana Heating - Phone: 832-5445

Petroleum Sales - Phone: 456-7600

Polar Fuel - Phone: 451-9355

Sourdough Fuel - Phone: 456-7798

Brooks Fuel - Phone: 452-4581

Express Fuel - Phone: 452-3309

Everett’s Air Fuel - Phone: 450-2375

I'm so not ready....

2008-09-30T21:26:28Z

I knew it was coming.... it's as regular as Uncle Herb and his fiber pills, but I'm still not ready. This afternoon around1:15 snow started to fall in Fairbanks and the Tanana Valley. What started as a few flakes has turned into a downright flurry.

As always happens folks seem to forget how to drive when the snow shows up. REMEMBER, the brakes are NOT your friend. Slow down, take your time, give yourself a few extra minutes to get where you're going. It's not worth an accident.

Wow. What a difference 24 hours makes.

September 29, 2008

September 30, 2008

Fairbanks AK Real Estate - 2970 Drum Avenue

2008-09-29T01:52:36Z

Jesse Clifton | Carriage House Realty | 907-699-6024

2970 Drum Avenue, North Pole, AK

Immaculate home ready for its new owner

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $209,000

Year Built	2002
Sq Footage	1,232
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	1.03 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful well maintained ranch on a great wooded lot. Built in 2002, this is an energy efficient home with great floorplan. Large open living spaces with vaulted ceilings, spacious master suite with large walk in closet. Big garage for toys, storage and/or toys. Wired for auxiliary generator power. Generator offered for sale separately. Fenced back yard for the puppies plus separate storage building. Home has lots of perennials and a wonderful garden. Private road maintenance costs approximately $40/year. Don't miss this gem!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Living room	Dining room	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Washer	Dryer	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jesse Clifton

Carriage House Realty

907-699-6024

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 29, 2008, 7:24pm PDT

Honoring Military Spouses

2008-09-23T01:42:44Z

Military Spouse of the Year Award - Now Accepting Nominations

Although praise is deservedly lavished on military service members serving this country, we sometimes overlook their support system at home; their military spouses.

Long deployments to far away lands are no easy task. Military service members are in harms way and away from the family they love for extended periods of time. The wives and husbands left at home have an equally daunting task in that they're charged with keeping the home fires burning.

In recognition of their countless contributions and sacrifices, Military Spouse Magazine is accepting nominations for the 2009 Military Spouse of the Year.

Folks are encouraged to submit a nomination for either themselves or an eligible nominee of their choice. To submit a nomination, individuals must complete the nomination form online at www.msoy.milspouse.com. The nomination period runs from today through Oct. 8, 2008. Judges will review all submissions and select ten finalists from each military service branch, after which readers will select one branch winner.

"This award is an opportunity to thank all military spouses for their invaluable contributions, in addition to recognizing them for the challenges they overcome every day," said Babette Maxwell, Military Spouse magazine co-founder and executive editor.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Sell our home? Nah, we just like the sign.

2008-09-20T06:54:20Z

This will undoubtedly go down as one of the most bizarre days I've had in real estate since... well, ever.

I spent the morning with a very nice couple from Offutt, AFB looking to move back to Alaska next spring when they retire. After meeting them for coffee this morning to go over our list of homes to see and review the information packages we set off to see if we could find their dream home.

Prospect #1 - Advertised as a "stunning charmer" by an obviously far sighted listing agent. It was anything but. I swear I saw bigfoot under the pile of whatever-that-was in the corner. I had to check the address twice to make sure I didn't accidentally drive us to the city landfill. Mr. Seller, your collection of empty capless two-liter dime store cola bottles doesn’t exactly add to the appeal of the stained with-God-only-knows-what carpet. This was a definite NO.

Prospect #2 - Beautiful log home with knock-your-socks-off curb appeal. They're grinning ear to ear as we pull into the driveway. That's as far as we got because there wasn't a lockbox (as advertised) and the listing agent didn't/wouldn't/couldn't answer her phone. After looking for the lockbox for 10 minutes (and making no less than 20 calls to the L/A - don't you love redial?) we gave up and headed to the next house.

Prospect #3 - Curb appeal - check. Lockbox - check. We open the door to hear the hounds of hell begging to be unleashed. Mrs. says she's not going in and heads back to the security of the car. I, like an idiot, push the door open and call out "hello". Great plan. Alert the four legged handmaidens of Satan you nitwit. 'John' and I enter and find two elephant sized boxers in the kitchen in dog crates that are levitating from the canine wrath inside. On the island we find a note from the owner that says, "watch out for dog bombs in the back yard." As the dogs are within seconds of breaking free of their cheap, plastic Chinese imported prisons and salivating over the thought of fresh meat, we made a hasty retreat and moved this one to the NO pile.

Prospect #4 - We pause for a second as we exit the car to see what demonic creature awaited us. All quiet. Lockbox is on the door and the key actually works. I say a silent 'thank you God' as we enter. We spend a few minutes exploring the house. Kitchen needs a little remodel and it could use new carpet but the rooms are a good size and there's lots of light. So far so good. We make our way upstairs only to end our tour when John opens the bedroom door at the top of the stairs and finds a young couple engaged in... well, lascivious behavior. That's it, we're outta here. Another NO. We get back to the car and John asks me about building. Wow, this is going well.

I've given up hope at this point. All I want is to show a cotton-picking house, for crying out loud. It's not as though we're looking at Maytag boxes with shingles for Pete's sake. There wasn’t a house on the list with a price tag of less than $350,000. What IS the problem people?

Prospect #5 - The fact that we can't get in the front door because the entire Neiman Marcus shoe department has been moved to the foyer doesn't faze us. We survived the hideous ear splitting music coming from the owners Ipod gizmo in the living room. Call me an old fart, but that thumping, wheezing, screeching, crying sound was NOT soothing (or ‘music’ for that matter). I liken it to the sound of something being eaten alive while penning its will with bloody nails on a chalkboard. Not quite what HGTV had in mind when they suggested you play music for showings Mr. & Mrs. Seller. Mrs. makes a face and says she had no idea Glade made a Sweat Sock scented air freshener. Hockey gear bag complete with stick on the dining room table. Someone's very-not-freshly-laundered undies on the floor of the master bedroom. Plate of almost finished spaghetti on the nightstand. We utter a collective sigh and head for the door.

Sell our home? Why, no... we just like the FOR SALE sign in our front yard. The colors are soooo pretty.

It's simple folks. If you want me to sell your home you're going to need to take care of a few things. C-L-E-A-N it, make it market ready (call me if you have no idea what that phrase means) and let me actually get in with the buyers to see it. Oh, yea, get rid of 'Precious' and 'Spot' and their little post-digestive treasures while you're at it. If you can handle that, I'll take care of the rest.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Month in Review August 2008

2008-09-17T18:31:54Z

Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Month in Review - August 2008

What a crazy month. We bid adieu to Lehman, then watched as Bank of America swallowed Merrill Lynch and now the Fed has nationalized AIG. Rumors of a similar fate surround the few other giants left standing. The real estate and finance landscape is changing daily and at a record pace. To say we’re living in interesting times would be an understatement. The good news is that the Fairbanks real estate market continues to move forward despite near catastrophic news from the financial powerhouses on Wall Street.

Average Sales Price

Homes Sold

Days on Market

Discount from List Price

Locally, home sales picked up somewhat in August over July and with 106 homes sold. August earns the distinction of being the busiest month of 2008, thus far. We're still trailing our sales numbers as compared to this time last year by 22%. Judging from the rumblings from other brokers and buyers I expect that number to widen to perhaps upwards of 25% behind '07 by years end.

Marketing time increased slightly to an average of 106 days in august and 128% over the 2007 average. At least in the short term, home prices are going to need to come down in order to stimulate the market. The spike in the discount-from-list-price number is due to a handful of sellers who, until recently, were unrealistic with respect to value. Three Fairbanks sellers finally decided to cut their asking price by more than $100,000 to effect a sale. One slashed his price by more than $200,000 (28.3%) before a buyer showed interest.

Homes in good condition that are priced within the market will continue to sell. Those sellers unwilling to market their homes accordingly will join the ranks of hundreds of others who are languishing on the market with no buyer in sight.

$3,269

2008-09-05T21:15:47Z

Folks have been speculating on the number for weeks. How much will it be? Today the wondering ended with an announcement by Lt. Governor Sean Parnell this morning that the 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend amount would be $2,069 plus an additional one time resource rebate of $1,200 to all eligible Alaskans. The total payout for 2008 for each eligible man, woman and child is $3,269.

The one time resource rebate payout was approved by Governor Palin and approved by the legislature last month. “The royalty dollars that flow through the state are the people’s wealth,” said Parnell. “The $1,200 resource rebate goes to that philosophy.”

Direct deposit of the dividends is scheduled earlier than usual this year, Sept. 12, for more than 493,000 people. Paper checks for recipients who want them will be mailed out, starting Sept. 30.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Is it over already?

2008-09-04T04:59:03Z

What, just a short time ago, was a lush green lawn has turned into a bed of golden birch and aspen leaves. I love the colors of fall but I'm just not sure I'm ready to usher in another fall/winter season just yet. Where the hell is Al Bore-Gore and global warming when I need it?

As they always are, the summer of 2008 was filled with family, good friends and memories that will last a lifetime... or until senility sets in, which for those of you who know me could be any day now.

All told there were 33 guests checked into Hotel Clifton this summer. Not a week went by from the first of May through the middle of August that we didn't have at least two or three couples roaming around. It's the same scene with somewhat different faces every year... and we wouldn't have it any other way. We love showing off Alaska to friends for the first time and old pals coming back year after year to hit the hot fishing spots or just bask in the vast frontier that is Alaska.

We sent our last house guests home not quite two weeks ago and decided it was our time. We made it as far south as Seward before the AR Posse tracked us down. Our very own Stapler Queen called to make sure we hadn't dropped off the edge of the earth. We hadn't... trust me, you would have heard the thud when I hit the bottom.

Our first stop was Portage Glacier, roughly 60 miles south of Anchorage on Turnagain Arm. While the glacier has retreated around the valley (and out of sight) in the last twenty years, it's still a tranquil spot. We spent several days camped at the base of a very tall snow covered mountain at Williwaw Campground. The sites are tight and with the coach slides extended we looked like a fat kid stuffed in too-tight corduroys. The stunning views of a hanging glacier out our front window more than make up for the small site, though next year I will listen to the boss and reserve a double site. Ssshh... don't tell her I said that.

We hiked beside and on a glacier, watched salmon spawning by the hundreds, encountered a very large, though huggable looking grizzly bear, explored the fascinating Indian Creek Mine and ate the first of many, many roasted marshmallows. Kathy almost had me convinced to ride the tram at Aleyska until I read the plaque on the wall that said the terminal was a 7 minute, 2,300+ foot, straight-up ride to the top. No damn thank you. There's not enough scotch on planet earth to get me on that contraption. So, I strolled the gardens while evil Knievel-ette rode to the top... alone. About 30 minutes later she calls to tell me to get my butt on the tram... "we're going paragliding." Now, that's just not even remotely funny. "Are you out of your &&(@$#$ mind?" I asked. Click. Power off. End of story.

We said goodbye to Portage and headed south to Cooper Landing and some of the best salmon fishing on earth. This late in the season most of the ~~terrorists~~ tourists had gone and it was mostly locals. If you can put up with fishing next to bears and some life changing cold water, then this is the place to be. The week before we arrived two people were mauled by a rather cranky bear at the Kenai Princess Lodge. Talk about vacation stories. ;) We were parked on Kenai Lake and each of the three mornings we were there we found very fresh (think steaming) bear scat on the beach not 30 feet from the motorhome.

From Cooper Landing we tooled down the Seward Highway, which passes through mountain plateaus and valley's that after 30 years still take my breath away, to the village of Seward on the coast of Alaska. We followed whales and sea lions across the gulf of Alaska, took a beautiful 49' Beneteau out for the afternoon, drank several bottles of merlot with the friendly Yankees parked next door and ate some of the most mouth watering salmon this side of my kitchen.

Our last stop before heading the few remaining miles home was Denali National Park. It's been a number of years since we've been back into the park in the fall. The summer months are packed with tourists but the colors that were on display on this trip were nothing short of spectacular. After getting settled we decided to drive up the 17 mile park road and look for wildlife. Buses and private vehicles regularly stop in the middle of the road or off to the side if a critter is spotted. We happened upon one such grouping of stalled vehicles who were trying to find a bear that had been reported wandering just off the road. As we stood there with cameras at the ready we noticed a large white wolf stroll across the road and stop for a few seconds to check out the commotion. A few more miles up the road we found two moose feeding and a plump black bear waddling along the road.

14 days, 1,300 miles and I'm ready to go again. I'm thinking a long road trip culminating in a backyard RV get together with Mandy and Big Daddy in Tx sounds like a great away to spend the winter. Mandy, say the word and we'll pack the Goose and head south. Btw, reservations for the 2009 summer season are now being taken. :) Here are a few photo's from the trip... enjoy!

Click the photo's to enlarge

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

The check's in the mail...

2008-08-21T05:14:07Z

With spiraling fuel costs putting many Interior Alaska families in the unenviable position of having to choose between food or heat, the Governor and Legislature have decided to take action.

While it can't be described as a perfect solution... I'm not even sure one exists… the Governor and Legislature have made a step in the right direction. With fuel costs among the highest in the nation and winter fast approaching, participating Alaskan's can expect to see an additional $1,200 "resource rebate" included with their Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend this year. This one-time energy relief payout from the state treasury is the product of an energy relief package the Legislature passed two weeks ago.

While the amount of the 2008 PFD hasn't been announced yet, it's widely expected to be in the $2,100 range, per person. With the added resource rebate, each qualifying Alaskan will receive approximately $3,300. This will certainly be a help for those folks who are feeling the pinch from higher energy prices.

Rather than wait for the traditional early October disbursement, Governor Palin announced today the first round of checks would be deposited beginning September 12th. Those who signed up for direct deposit will begin receiving their checks in the first round followed by those receiving a check in the mail.

To be eligible for a PFD, you must have been an Alaska resident for the entire calendar year preceding the date you apply for a divide and intend to remain an Alaska resident indefinitely at the time you apply for a dividend. Unfortunately this will exclude some members of the armed forces stationed at Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright as many are new to Alaska. The men and women of the Army and Air Force who have met the eligibility requirements (and have applied) will receive a permanent fund dividend check. Read the eligibility requirements.

If you're in the military, to be eligible to receive a 2008 PFD check, you'll need to...

* have arrived in Alaska before January 1, 2007.

* Obtain an Alaska drivers license, register to vote, register a vehicle or sign a lease for off-post housing (or purchase a home). In other words, become part of the community.

* Maintain your Alaskan residency at all times during the qualifying year and intend to remain an Alaskan resident indefinitely.

* Claim Alaska as your state of legal residence with the military before January 1st of the year before the qualifying year.

Have specific questions? Contact your local Permanent Fund Dividend office:

Elizabeth Ladewig
616 E Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Phone: (907) 269-0370
Phone: (907) 269-0370

Fairbanks
Marjorie Marlow
1005 Cushman Street
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Phone: (907) 451-2820
Fax: (907) 451-5142

Skyler Lashley
333 Willoughby Avenue
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0461

Phone: (907) 465-2326
Fax: (907) 465-3470

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Jack frost nipping at my nose....

2008-08-20T04:16:20Z

Alright, we put up with the frigid winter temps, the slick icy roads and the diminished daylight for the majority of the year so we can have warm, dry arctic desert summers. I don't know where our summer went this year but it certainly won't be described as warm and dry. First came the incessent rain followed, of course by flooding and now the national weather service is telling us to prepare for the first frost of the season. Truly?

Sorry to disappoint you egghead weather folks, but we've already crossed that disgusting weather bridge. The photo below was taken two weeks ago at about 7:30AM. That white stuff you see across what was my green lawn... yep, you guessed it. Frost on the pumpkin.

One report tonight suggested we could see temps drop as low as the mid 20's. Break out the electric blankets and get me a cup of hot buttered rum. Mother Nature is off her meds. Stay warm, ya'll. Now where are my electric socks?

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

A two Gold medal family

2008-08-20T04:16:01Z

Former Fairbanksan and UAF multiple national champion, Matt Emmons, has won the Silver in the 50 meter prone rifle event in Beijing. Emmons won the Gold for the same event at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Together with his wife, Olympic sport shooting champion Kateřina Kůrková of the Czech Republic, they now hold five Olympic medals.

Congratulations Matt & Katerina on a job very well done!

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Photo courtesy of Tzatziki

Fairbanks Alaska - Bucking the 'Zillow' trends...

2008-08-12T12:59:50Z

This morning I open up the 'net and start reading the news (my how times have changed I tell you) and the first article I come across is from Bloomberg; One third of new owners owe more than house is worth. "Almost one-third of U.S. homeowners who bought in the last five years now owe more on their mortgages than their properties are worth...

Ok, so that's not exactly new news, is it? Can anyone say 'declining market area?' :)

Aside from the "negative equity and declining prices are making it difficult for homeowners to sell property for a profit" (duh) comment, what I found most interesting (aka comical) about this article is that Zillow is the source of information for home prices.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for folks coming up with new and inventive ways to make a buck, even if they are wrong more times than not and do more to confuse consumers about market value than just about anyone I know. But Zillow as the source of accurate real estate sales information? Seriously? They don't even have a value assigned for our personal residence nor are they even remotely close in any of the other dozen home sales I checked both in Fairbanks or Anchorage as well as North Carolina or Mississippi.

Btw, while the Fairbanks market is struggling, here are a few charts you might find interesting. The first shows the average sales price in Fairbanks and North Pole from 1999 through YTD 2008. Although we've leveled off a bit, prices have been increasing since early 2000. The second shows the average sales price for the period between 2005 and 2008; otherwise known as 'the hot years' in real estate. Notice that while we've seen some periods of decline our average price is still on the rise. Lastly, look at the period from July 2007 through July 2008; the year of massive foreclosures, short sales, near unprecedented bank failures and billions in write-offs where our average price is UP 7%.

Bottom line, folks... if you want to know what your home is worth call a Realtor. Zillow might be fun to play with but don't make any decisions based on what they have to say. Their model might improve but as of today, it's about as accurate as a rock.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

True Confessions: I love short red heads...

2008-08-07T02:31:46Z

Can you blame me?

Dear Diary... Kathy has been laughing at me lately. We've been puppy sitting this little angel for the past week and for someone who didn't have much use for four legged pillows a few years ago, this little munchkin has stolen my heart. I'm gonna catch the devil from a certain slingback-less eye-talian friend, but I can't help it. This is about the sweetest little thing I've ever seen. We took these tonight while playing in the yard. If only we could bottle that energy. :)

This post has absolutely nothing to do with real estate whatsoever and I'll probably end up in the real estate bloggers penalty box for straying off topic, but it's worth it. Sometimes you just gotta let your hair down and live a little.

Click for a larger image

Do you need a yard for your four legged friends to play in? Contact us online or call us 907-699-6024. We would love to help you find a new pad.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Schandelmeier Joins Yukon Quest

2008-08-05T14:39:28Z

Yukon Quest organizers appoint John Schandelmeier as trail coordinator.

In response to critics who argued the Quest trail was poorly maintained, the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race appointed Quest veteran John Schandelmeier for a newly created trail coordinator position.

Schandelmeier has completed 16 Yukon Quest Races and won two; once in 1992 and again i 1996. John went on to found the Taiga 300 race and worked on improving the Gin Gin 200 ad Copper Basin 300 trails.

The Yukon Quest is an annual 1,000 mile sled dog race from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Fairbanks, Alaska. Much like the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest is a grueling test of endurance. Racers and their hearty four legged friends must survive the bitter cold of Alaska and the Yukon Territory as well as traverse some of the most magnificent scenery known to man.

Lance Mackey won the Quest (again) this year, which marks his fourth consecutive Quest win. Mackey also holds the honor of having the fastest running time of 10 days, 2 hours and 37 minutes.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Spaulding Interiors - "The" furniture store in Fairbanks

2008-08-03T05:33:13Z

Since when does a new house mean new furniture? If you ask Kathy it's in the fine print on page 43 of the marriage contract. I don't know where my reading glasses are so I'll have to take her word for it.

We've built several homes over the years and it seems that with each new house comes a new slate of furniture. Sure, the antique pieces and family heirlooms get moved under the watchful eye of my better half. But it's inevitable that certain rooms in the house seem to undergo a transformation with each change of address.

We have several furniture stores here in Fairbanks that offer solid, if uninspiring (can furniture be inspiring?) furniture. You know, the one's with the it-all-looks-every-other-store furniture. Then, there are the few special places where you find truly spectacular estate quality pieces.

Spaulding Interiors is one such place.

An oasis of extraordinary estate quality furniture. Tamara Spaulding has been decorating and furnishing Fairbanks for many years and let me tell you, she does it very, very well. Hew new showroom is open on Illinois just south of Minnie Street. If you're looking for a particular piece or furniture for an entire room, do yourself a favor and go see Tamara. You'll be glad you did!

Spaulding Interiors
505 Illinois St, #D
(907) 452-5064

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Eielson AFB to host the President & First Lady

2008-08-02T17:34:23Z

The White House announced today that President and Mrs. Bush will make a stop at Eielson Air Force Base en route to South Korea and Thailand before spending three days at the Olympics in Beijing, China. Officially designated as a refueling stop veterans and active duty personnel from both Fort Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base will get the change to hear the President speak on a variety of military related subjects.

The Richardson Highway, which runs directly parallel to the runway at Eielson, will be closed for security purposes during the arrival and departure of Air Force One. The highway will be closed from 3:35 to 4:35 p.m. and again from 5:55 to 6:20 p.m. so please plan accordingly.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

... if the creek don't rise

2008-08-01T14:19:04Z

Houston, we've got a problem.

It's official. We're a disaster area. The Fairbanks North Star Borough issued a disaster deceleration this morning. Citing damage to more than 500 homes, the Borough Assembly has requested emergency assistance from Governor Palin. The last time the Tanana River was this high was during the disastrous 1967 flood that devastated Fairbanks.

The resolution says "substantial damage is occurring due to high water and river current on the Tanana River, the Salcha River and the Chena River, resulting in damage to over 500 private residences with an estimated 1,000 inhabitants and to the road networks" maintained by the borough and the state.

They ain't just whistling Dixie folks. The creek is still rising. There are reports of heavy flooding in Salcha, some areas of North Pole, as well as Chena Pump Road and the lower Rosie Creek area. Although forecasters are saying the Chena and Tanana Rivers have crested, many folks who live along the river are saying just the opposite.

Several area roads remain impassable due to the flooding and it was announced this morning that the Alaska Railroad has canceled it's passenger service into and out of Fairbanks for the second straight day. Various areas were reported without power although Golden Valley is hard at work getting those folks back online.

The Red Cross is running evacuation shelters in elementary schools in Salcha and southwest Fairbanks. If you need assistance or would like to volunteer time, money, food or supplies, please call (907) 451-8267. Your help is greatly appreciated! Click the Red Cross logo to see how you can help.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Are you kidding me?

2008-07-30T01:39:39Z

Ok, I've just gotta ask. Who the *%@#& pissed off Mother Nature? I want names, people!

I know you folks in the PNW are used to this kind of rainy weather but we live in an arctic desert. Our annual precipitation comes from SNOW. We've had three weeks of RAIN, RAIN, and more RAIN. Now, according to the boys and girls at the weather service, we're going to have rain through the end of the week.

I think I just sprouted webbed feet.

I haven't heard from the big guy upstairs YET, but I'm thinking it's probably a good idea to start assembling some hand tools, a load or two of 2x12's and maybe, just maybe a pair of moose and a brown bear or two.

And to think we spent all that money on a diesel pusher when we should have bought a floating RV. Geez!

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Fairbanks Alaska - Real Estate Review - 7/20/2008 - 7/26/2008

2008-07-29T14:54:36Z

Hi, Folks. It looks like the Fairbanks real estate market is still somewhat in flux. Existing home sales continue to dominate the market. New construction homes are still relatively soft despite a current Energy Efficiency rebate offering from Alaska Housing.

Lets get the bad news out of the way first. This week 12 homes were sold in Fairbanks; the third week of declining home sales and the lowest sold since the first of June. The average days on the market, while on a decline in June, has increased to 175 for the week ending July 26th. This is a 33% increase in marketing time since June 1st and an 8% increase since July 1st.

With all that doom and gloom you would think there might not be any good news, but take heart, because there is. The good news is that the average price is still climbing, albeit somewhat slower than previous quarters. Our current average of $216,145 is 2.9% above the average 2007 prices and 1.6% above the average sales price for 2008 YTD.

The key, of course, to surviving in this market is to be prepared. Make sure your home is ready for the market by clearing out the clutter, finishing the 'honey-do' list and most importantly, setting a realistic asking price based on current market conditions. I see a lot of sellers who appear to be pinning their hopes on a quick market resurgence.

Not sure how to proceed? That's ok. Contact us online or give us a call at 907.699.6024 and we'll help you every step of the way. Click the images below to open full size in a new window.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Fairbanks Alaska; New home buyer finds money in house...

2008-07-22T18:56:32Z

... and you can too!

ANOTHER NEW HOME SOLD

Another smart Fairbanks home buyer just qualified for the $7,500 new construction rebate. This 3 bedroom 2 bath home on a wooded one-acre lot qualifies for the new construction Energy Efficiency Rebate from AHFC.

In the past five years more than 460 new homes representing $100.4 million have been built whereas only 238 ($56 million) have been built in Fairbanks.

Why buy new?

* More choices in design/layout/amenities

* Lower maintenance costs

* Lower heating/cooling costs

* Quality of construction

Now, there's a whole new reason to buy new. Buyers who purchases a qualifying* new home in Fairbanks or North Pole will be eligible for a $7,500 rebate.

$7,500

Use the money to help with your down payment or closing costs. Pay off bills. Take a trip. Pay for your wedding. Invest for the future.

The possibilities are endless.

North Pole is a bedroom community located barely 10 miles from the southeast of Fairbanks. A thriving community of 1,200, North Pole is minutes away from both Fort Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base. Noted for being the home of Santa Claus House and the home of Flint Hills Refinery, the population of the North Pole/Badger Road area is growing by leaps and bounds.

There are currently more than 50 new construction homes on the market in North Pole alone. Ready to start shopping for your piece of the last frontier?

* Property must meet minimum AHFC energy guidelines. Call us for more details.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Review - 6/22/2008 - 6/28/2008

2008-07-01T01:53:18Z

Fairbanks Real Estate - Week in Review - 6/22/2008 - 6/28/2008
Jesse Clifton, Broker Associate

Do you remember the story about the little engine that could? Just like that little engine the Fairbanks real estate market is surviving the housing slump that has derailed many real estate markets around the country.

For the week of June 22-28, 18 homes closed escrow. The majority of those (67%) continue to be sales in North Pole, although interestingly, they aren't new construction homes. New construction represented less than 1% of homes sales this week.

Days on the market dropped somewhat this week from 131 to 102 days. In a recent post I delved a little deeper into the Fairbanks days-on-market stats and found some interesting stats. This week 33% of Fairbanks homeowners saw their home sell in under 30 days.

Keep that in mind if you're shopping for a home. Homes priced correctly and in good condition are selling... and in some cases they're selling quickly.

The average sales price came in this week at $220,251. That's a whopping 19.2% increase over this time last year. We've even beat the year-to-date average for 2008 of $211,692.

The Fairbanks real estate market may not be setting any world records, but we are moving forward. If you're in the market to purchase a home, this could be a great time.

Ready to find your piece of The Last Frontier? Contact us online or call 907.699.6024. We are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.

The weather is here.... wish you were beautiful

2008-06-27T19:16:02Z

Sorry folks, I couldn't resist. The sun is shining with only a few clouds in the sky - for now. It's supposed to rain later today and tomorrow but it won't matter. The worst day of fishing beats the best day of working, right?

We made it down to our favorite spot on the river without incident and have even been so lucky as to have the place to ourselves. No doubt that will change tomorrow but for now it's peaceful and just about as close to perfect as you can get.

One of the attractions that have kept us in The Last Frontier for so long is the abundant opportunities to get out and enjoy some of the most beautiful country on earth. Fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, camping, off-roading, flying, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, snowmachining... you name it and it's all right here in our very own backyard.

Ready to find your piece of The Last Frontier to call home? Contact us online or call 907.699.6024...

Just give us 'til Monday to call you back. We've gone fishing.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in Fairbanks or Interior Alaska? We know Fairbanks real estate – Jesse and Kathy are your local Fairbanks real estate experts.

Search Fairbanks homes for sale, sign up for free new listing notifications, view Fairbanks market statistics or browse our virtual relocation package.

Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (907) 699-6024. We would love to hear from you.