Archive for April, 2009
Monday Market Memo on a Thursday April 30th, 2009
These are the statistics for Palmer, Wasilla and the rest of the Mat-Su Borough for April 21-27, 2009. I have had some computer problems so this memo is late.
Fifty Three new listings and thirty three pendings for the week prove that the real estate market is heating up along with every thing else this spring. I even turned my air condition on for the first time yesterday.
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Average Price | Median Price | DOM | |
| New | 53 | $309,959 | $220,000 | . |
| Total Active | 801 | $285,315 | $239,000 | 139 |
| Pending | 33 | $217,354 | $209,900 | 82 |
| Closed | 15 | $203,593 | $190,000 | 78 |
Our total inventory passed the 800 mark for the first time this year. It will probably remain in that area until fall.
There was one listing over $2 million that hit the market this week. That tended to skew up the averages but it didn’t change the median range at all.
Note that the closed sales still remain around the $2K mark. That is the bullse ye of the current market.
Give me a call at 232-7900 if you have any specific questions about today’s real estate market.
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by, and to, the subscribers of Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (AK MLS, Inc.). AK MLS, Inc. does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by AK MLS, Inc. is for its own use and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Monday Morning Market Memo or April 14-20, 2009 April 20th, 2009
Wasilla Real Estate News statistics for the week of April 14-20, 2009. These are residential sales in the whole Mat-Su Borough including Wasilla, Palmer, and the rest of the borough.
Activity is definetely picking up. Buyers are making their choices on houses so that they can move in right after school is out. We have had several offers on houses and lots this week. A couple times we almost were in bidding situations.
I met with someone in Vagabond Blues on Friday to write an offer and my phone kept buzzing as it sat on the table. When I was done with the offer I had 17 missed calls. Needless to say, I was returning calls for awhile. Oh…and the offer was accepted as well.
So while the rest of the country may be in a blue real estate mood, things are still moving along a a decent pace today.
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Average Price | Median Price | DOM | |
| New | 39 | $329,079 | $229,000 | . |
| Total Active | 777 | $279,858 | $237,500 | 145 |
| Pending | 29 | $210,772 | $195,000 | 111 |
| Closed | 18 | $196,161 | $199,000 | 100 |
Although the market is fairly active, its important to be realistic about it. Notice the median sales prices. The median prices for sold properties is below $200,000. That is about $20,000 less than it was in 2007 and the difference between 2006 is even greater.
Buyers are generally looking at lower priced homes and if they do shop in the upper price ranges they are expecting concessions.
If you are serious about selling your home it needs to be priced right, and then presented right. Give me a call if you would like to discuss how to get your home sold in this market. My cell number is 907 232-7900.
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by, and to, the subscribers of Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (AK MLS, Inc.). AK MLS, Inc. does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by AK MLS, Inc. is for its own use and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Alaska Alternative Energy April 19th, 2009
Alaska is slowly becoming a leader in Alternative Energy solutions. There are several factors that tend to bend Alaska in that direction.
One of the reasons Alaska is moving out in front in the alternative/renewable energy field is the many different options that are available. We have rivers galore, tidal and wave action in the oceans, geothermal possibilities all over the place, wind and more wind, and believe it or not we get a lot of sun. Actually, we get a lot of sun in the summer…not so much in the winter.
The fact that hydro-fuels are so expensive in many communities makes people wonder if there are less expensive ways to make power than burning $ 8 per gallon diesel. The high cost of energy is the number one reason Alaskans keep tinkering with alternatives. Although the environment is always a consideration, the cost of the power is at the forefront of peoples minds. If the cost of alternative energy is expensive, then it is impractical, and Alaskans are practical people.
Another reason that Alaska is moving to the front of the pack in the search for alternative energy solutions are the Alaskan people themselves. Alaskans tend to be an independent bunch, and the thought of producing one’s own power without dependence on a utility company is very attractive. They are willing to take risks and try things that others may not.
A few years back I helped Ricky and Shannon Wilder buy a home in the Matanuska Valley. A photo of thier home is at the top of this post. 
This property is on a large parcel of land between the Talkeetna And Chugach Mountain Ranges. The Matanuska River and the Glenn Highway are in the same valley but several miles from their home. The home was primarily powered by a generator when they purchased it but the Wilders have been weaning themselves from the generator ever since they moved in.
Along with their son Jordan, they have learned so much about alternative power that Ricky and Jordan wrote and published an e-book on 
wind power. The Ultimate Consumers Guide to Wind Power walks you through the options for wind power. Written from the perspective of people who actually depend on wind power, this book is a practical solution for anyone looking into this option for themselves.
Ricky and Jordan also have a website, (power-talk.net) on which they discuss and review actual products from a users perspective. They are not trying to sell you a product with their reviews but hope to save you time and money when you start getting serious about alternative energy for your own home.
The Wilders are have been working with solar as well. They report that they get usable solar power from February through October and hope to increase their solar array this year to take advantage of these months. In fact Ricky told me that March and April are great months for solar power because the sunlight is increasing and reflecting off the snow at the same time.
They heat their house and garage with a central wood boiler that is located behind the house. The hot water is piped into the house and garage which both have radiant in-floor heating systems. The Wilders harvest their firewood in a sustainable fashion using birch and spruce grown on their own property.
With wind and solar producing electricity and with wood heat they are almost completely self-sustaining. Shannon tends a 
large garden in the sunny spot in front of their home to help with their self-sufficiency.
They still need to purchase fuel for their transportation and saws but who knows…with battery technology improving all the time, perhaps they will be able to break the hydrocarbon habit completely.
All photos provided by Ricky Wilder…click on any photo to enlarge.
Heaters, Furnaces, or Boilers April 17th, 2009
I heat my house with a 50 gallon water heater. I also heat all my hot water with the same water heater. My house is 2,900 square feet and I have 4 children. For a time there I had 3 teenage daughters who all had long hair. They took LOOOOOONG showers. You know what, my water heater kept up the whole time.
The heater is a Polaris Water Heater made by American Water Heaters. You can’t buy it in Alaska anymore. Too bad. It has a stainless steel tank and it is 95% efficient. Except for it’s bad habit of going through igniters it has been pretty much trouble free for the 11 years that I have owned it.
I notice that Radiantec a company that specializes in radiant heat systems also recommends this heater.
Almost every heating contractor that has come into my home over the years has tried to talk me into installing a boiler. I’m not going to do it. I have seen the up front costs of those boilers, I have seen the monthly bills and the complications. I can’t understand why there aren’t more systems like mine in Alaska.
I recently talked with a wholesaler in Washington about this. He let me know about another heater that appears to be a more recent take-off of my Polaris. It is 96% effecient and uses some of the same technology but with some more modern touches, like a digital readout to let you know what’s going on if there are problems. It is called a Vertex heater. I have been told that you can get them at Fergusons on Bogard Road.
This is something to think about when you are planning your heating system. This is especially true if you are thinking about radiant in-floor heating. A high efficiency water heater might just be faster, simpler, cheaper, and more efficient than a boiler or furnace.
Wasilla Tea Party April 16th, 2009
The Wasilla Tea Party was extremely well attended yesterday. There were close to 1,000 people at the event in the middle of the afternoon. That’s pretty good for a small town. Here are a few photos:
There were some Ron Paul Supporters:
It was at the Wasilla Lake Park at the corner of the Parks Highway and Crusey Street. The photo below expresses the general feeling of the crowd.
Don Young showed up to give a speech and there was also an open mike for people to have their say. Looks like this will likely be an annual event.
Marty Van Diest, Tele 907.232.7900 / marty[at]valleymarket[dot]com
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