Archive for the 'For Buyers' Category
Engstrom Road Area – Wasilla January 31st, 2012
The Bogard-Engstrom Road area is one of Wasilla’s hidden gems. With the icy roads and constant stop-and-go of the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy, lately I have found myself trying to avoid it as much as possible and take routes with less stop lights. Bogard road has really grown on me in these last few months! The speed limit is usually around 50, with minimal slowdowns depending on the cars in front of you. There are really only three stop lights on the entire stretch.
Engstrom Road is only about 2 miles from the Palmer-Wasilla and Trunk Road intersection. You can also eventually connect with Wasilla-Fishhook Road with a few turns.
Subdivisions include: Shorewood, Hart Lake Estates, Horizon Estates, Wolf Lake, Aspen Ridge Estates, Harmony Acres and Rover Ridge. There are no less than 5 lakes in the area, and “one of the premier private airports in Alaska:” Wolf Lake Airport.
Map of the Area. Click for a bigger view.
This area offers beautiful mountain views and quiet privacy, with quick commutes to Palmer, Wasilla and even Anchorage. The following photos were taken off Engstrom Road and its connecting streets. Click on any photo to see a larger version.
 Moose off Engstrom |
 Off Settlement Avenue |
 Off Hart Lake Loop |
 Off Rutan Avenue |
 Off Engstrom in the Fall |
Click HERE for more information on a home under construction in this area right now!
Click here or see below for listings currently available in the Engstrom-Hart Lake Loop area, from Bogard to Pamela Drive.
Matanuska River Erosion Study January 24th, 2012
Cabin on the Matanuska River
I have been able to watch this river since 1969 when our family moved to Victory High School at mile 95 Glenn Highway. Over that time I have witnessed the Matanuska River do some significant damage to property along it’s edge. I have stopped several times to take photos of the cabin at the top of this page thinking every time that this may be the last time I will see it before it topples into the river. I am amazed that it’s still hanging in there.
Matanuska River Erosion
The Matanuska River is a glacial braided stream. This is a type of stream that constantly moves back and forth within a broad stream bed over time. Because it carries so much silt down from the glacier it fills it’s stream bed and then moves over to another channel. If you happen to be living next to that old channel you will eventually see water flowing in your front yard and perhaps even in your living room. Take a good look at the house to the right. Click on the photo to enlarge. You can see the stairway to the basement exposed to the river.
Click here to read the report for yourself.
I’m glad this report is available now for people to study as they make decisions to purchase property along the Matanuska River. When selling property in these areas in the past I have always discussed the dangers of river erosion with my clients. Some people decide not to take the risk while others evaluate the situation and decide that the risk is minimal and they go ahead with their purchase.
One of the places I bring up when talking to buyers is Circle View Subdivision. When my wife and I were looking for our first home we looked at a house on the Matanuska River in this subdivision. As the name implies, the view is incredible. But after growing up on the Yukon River I knew the risks of living near what we called, “a cut bank”. This is a steep bank where the river is actively washing away the soil. I stood at the edge of this bank and watched little bits of gravel slide down into the muddy current of the river. Needless to say, we shied away from that home, and I’m glad we did. That home isn’t there anymore.
The photo below is a good example of the braided Matanuska River.
Photos by Janet Curran and Mary Price courtesy of the US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center
5515 E Rutan, Wasilla January 20th, 2012
Status as of February 7 Jan, 25,2012, Walls are going up! There is already someone interested in this house, I will continue to document construction even if it sells during construction to show a good example of Pacific North Construction. This beautiful home is going up right now under Pacific North Construction. It is an upgraded ranch with granite counters, high-end trim, nice cabinets, fireplace, and breakfast area. The floor plan also includes a formal dining room that could be used as a den/office along with a split bedroom design and a very nice master bedroom. The home is 1800sqft, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with a 3 car garage and 5 Star Plus energy rating. It sits on a 1.12 acre lot in the middle of Hart Lake subdivision. Jan 20, 2012. The foundation has been sitting here since October when Pacific North Construction put it in the ground. The builder wanted to put in some foundations before freeze-up so this is one of two that he is starting the framing on this week. So I took a video today and put another sign up because the winds demolished my last one. Jan 23: The Framing is going up! Feb 6: Framing is almost finished, next will come rough plumbing and electrical.
3 Bedroom, 2 Bath
$278,900
Alaskana Books, Palmer Alaska January 16th, 2012
http://www.vimeo.com/35171182This is one of my favorite stores in the whole state. I almost never go in there without buying something. Therefore I try to limit the frequency of my visits. With over 25,000 titles all on Alaska you will find almost certainly find something interesting.
Only open on weekends, the store is located on the corner of Dahlia and Denali in Palmer in a quaint little building that was originally a hatchery for the Matanuska Colony in 1935. Watch the video.
124 S Megan Way, Wasilla January 9th, 2012
This is a beautiful home in a central location off the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Great commute to Anchorage or just a jump to the Parks or Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. 4 Bedrooms and 3 baths, with a wrap-around covered porch. Great landscaping and lots of sun with a mountain view to top it off. .62 Acres, 2196 sqft with a 2 car garage. Check out the photos below to see more of the home.
4 Bedroom, 3 Bath,
$250,000
Marty Van Diest, Tele 907.232.7900 / marty[at]valleymarket[dot]com
- Property Information
- Palmer, Alaska
- Categories
- 365 Things To Do In The Mat-Su Valley
- Sold Listings
- Pacific North Construction
- About Wasilla Real Estate News
- Alaskana
- Blog Roll
- Closing Costs
- Commission Rates
- Consulting
- Cottonwood Shores
- Deals of the Week
- Financing Your Home
- For Buyers
- For Sellers
- Getting Ready For The Sale
- Healthy Homes
- Listing Your Property
- Market Trends
- Matanuska Valley Businesses
- Monday Market Memo
- My Listings
- New Construction
- Wells
- Wasilla Real Estate News
- Archives
- Listings This widget is temporarily unavailable. Please refresh the page or try again later. Error code: 1000
