Wasilla Real Estate News, Valley Market Real Estate

Alaskan Politics July 1st, 2010

Categories: For Buyers

It’s political season and even though this is a real estate blog I can’t help myself. We have a primary race coming up in August and we need to vote. I am pretty disgusted with our free people voting at a rate below 20%. I hope this year more people take it upon themselves to walk down to the voting booth. Full disclosure, I’m an active republican so this will primarily be about republicans.

I just attended a session with Don Young in Wasilla. Cheryl Campbell, a fellow Realtor with Prudential Jack White Vista, was kind enough to send me the photo taken today in the Meridian Center. Don Young was his usuall fiery self talking about shutting down the funding to all the new programs recently passed. I’m all for that idea except that I have never seen congress really do anything like that. He has been in the house as long as I have been voting in Alaska, and that’s a long time. This year he is running against Sheldon Fisher who is trying to outconservative Don Young. Honestly, my vote is still out on this race but it’s hard to ignore Don Young’s willingness to stand for Alaska. His main point today was that government doesn’t produce anything, they just regulate and tax people who do.

Then there is the primary race for governor. The current real contenders are Sean Parnell, Ralph Samuels, and Bill Wallker. I’ve given up on Sean Parnell because of the current budget…we can’t be spending money like water while we are heading toward an economic cliff. Unlike the federal government, the state is not allowed to just print more money when we run out. Samuels and Walker can see the future problem with a declining income but they come at it from different viewpoints. I wish I could merge the two of them together to get one good candidate. Both of them understand that we can forget about any pipeline heading through Canada…not gonna happen.

Walker wants to build a large in-state gas line to Valdez with spurs to go off in different places to bring gas to many parts of the state. Then he wants to ship it to Aisa in the form of Liquified Natural Gas and also has ideas to use the gas to build some manufacturing. Apparently he believes that this will produce enought income that we won’t worry about spending.

Samuels knows that we need to cut the budget SOON. If we don’t, we will make draconian cuts later. He wants to put a smaller gas line in to Anchorage and Kenai from the North Slope. This line will mainly be to bring less expensive energy to the bulk of the population but also will provide gas to the LNG plant in Nikiski so that it can once again export gas. He is ready and willing to cut spending but I don’t hear much about producing an income. So my vote is still out on this race too.

Then we have the race for US Senate between Lisa Murkowski and Joe Miller. On this one I am for Joe Miller all the way. In my mind, Lisa is barely on the Republican side of the political devide. She votes with the democrats more than the vast majority of her republican colleagues. Like I said, I’m a republican. I want a senator that votes like a republican. Joe Miller is way more conservative than is Lisa and he has an impressive bio to back him up.

I’m a republican. I’m a conservative republican. If you are a conservative too you might be interested in a meeting next week. It’s titled “WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE ?”. It will be at Kendall Park behind the Regan Building at 3161 Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Speakers include: Joe Miller, candidate for US Senate; Cathy Giesell, candidate for State Senate; Jen Bettine, with the Conservative Patriots Group; Don Haase, candidate for US House; and David Eastman, West Point grad and Afganistan veteran. There will be additional speakers as well. A barbeque will be provided with no charge, donations will be accepted.

There are more races in this primary. If I get the urge again I’ll discuss them in another article.

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How To Install CO Detectors In Your Home June 19th, 2010

Categories: For Buyers

When I was 16 years old I experienced Carbon Monoxide poisoning. I was sleeping in my grandparents camper as we were traveling down the Alaska Highway. We stopped in Fort St Johns at a store and my little sister came to the door of the camper insisting that I go into the store with her. That was one of the few times I was thankful for her penchant of not takiing no for an answer. At her insistence I slowly woke up and staggered to the door of the camper. I had a splitting headache and could hardly walk. Inside the store I leaned against a display of watches pretending to be interested but was actually just trying to gain my balance. I fainted right there and woke up on my back staring at the white store ceiling. I assumed I was in heaven and all the people staring down at me were angels. When I slowly realized that I was still on earth I got up and walked outside where my parents layed my down in the back seat of that old Plymouth with all the doors open to allow fresh air. The headache slowly went away and as far as I know…I’m OK. But they say CO kills brain cells, so who knows. I still think about carbon monoxide poisoning more than most people do.

Everyone should have a Carbon Monoxide detector in their home. Not only should you have it, it’s the law to have one on every floor of your home. I still go in quite a few homes in the valley that do not have these installed.

They are easy to install and inexpensive to buy so there is really no excuse. The state law says that you should have one that is connected to the home wiring system and has a battery back-up. The one in the photo is probably the easiest to install. It just plugs into a socket and has a battery for back-up. Here is the link to buy it on Amazon, or you can pick one up at one of the local stores.

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5200 N Heidi Drive June 18th, 2010

Categories: For Buyers, My Listings

$240,000

This cozy home sits on a 2 acre lot on Lazy Mountain. There are 3 bedrooms/2 baths and a mother-in-law apartment is included in that total. Total square footage is 2058.

Soak up the summer sun seeping through the numerous windows or sit around the wood stove in the living room and sip hot cocoa on cold winter nights. The home also has a 2 car detached garage and workshop. There are many more custom features and built-in items, schedule a showing to see for yourself!

Make this your home today! Call Marty at (907) 232-7900 for more information or to schedule a showing!

Click here for a map to the home!

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663 S Gulkana Way, Palmer Alaska June 18th, 2010

Categories: For Buyers

This is one of the very few lots for sale in Palmer. It is the only lot for sale in the area around the downtown ball fields and tennis courts. An ideal location for someone who wants to walk to work, stores, churches, and recreation areas. Even though this is a very handy location, it’s in a quiet part of Palmer. This is just across from the corner of Dahlia and Gulkana. For a Palmer location, this is very handy.

Within just a few blocks are state office buildings, medical buildings, borough offices, tennis courts, ball fields, churches, cafes, stores and shops. It is very rare to find a property like this in Alaska. Take a look at this lot for only $49,900.

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7310 False Pass Cir June 17th, 2010

Categories: For Buyers, My Listings

This beautiful 3bed 2bath home sits on a 1 acre lot off Wasilla-Fishhook Road. It has 1512 sqft, a 2 car garage and is completely wheel-chair accessible.

There is a large kitchen with dark cherry cabinets, spacious living room, and a large master suite. All appliances are less than a year old and stay with the house. All flooring is hardwood with a huge area rug and mat in the living room.

More features include: Air Exchange System, In-Floor Heat, Custom-fitted Blinds, Bonus Room, Fireplace, Vaulted Ceilings and Breakfast Bar. This is a five star energy rated home, (if you watch the video you will hear me incorrectly say it is a 5 star plus home, it would likely need an on-demand water heater to make 5 star plus).

This home is priced at only $210,000. Call Marty today at (907) 232-7900 to schedule a showing!

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