Wasilla Real Estate News, Valley Market Real Estate

Palmer Real Estate, Midtown Estates. December 6th, 2007

Categories: For Buyers

One of the reasons so many like Midtown Estates is its proximity to the local schools. Click on the map to the left and you will see that the Colony High School and Colony Middle School border Midtown on the North. 

In fact, at the end of Broadway is a gate through a fence to the back of the school grounds.  Many of the people who live there just walk to school.  For a rural area like the Mat-Su Valley, that is a rare luxury.

In addition, Pioneer Peak Elementary is on Trunk Road just West of Midtown.  The new realignment of Trunk Road is going to go between Midtown Estates and Pioneer Peak Elementary School, who knows, maybe they will provide a foot bridge across the road.  That would be a good thing for the people of Midtown to lobby.

I happen to have a listing at 2190 Broadway.  If you are looking for a place close to the schools click here

More on Midtown: Midtown Estates, Palmer Alaska.

Written by Marty Van Diest 1 Comment »

Wasilla Real Estate Deals Of The Week 12-4-07 December 4th, 2007

Categories: Deals of the Week

I scoured the Alaska MLS for deals this week.  I only look at the listings that just came on the market this week, or came back on the market, or had their price changed.  There were only 17 to look at because it was a slow listing week. Both of these properties are in the Wasilla area.

Of the two I highlighted last week, one is pending.

These two stood out this week:

• $85,000.  A foreclosure on 1681 Crazy Pearsons Road.  If you can handle that address, take a look at this house listed by Uli Johnson at Double Eagle Real Estate.  It appears to be a 1700+ sq foot manufactured home on a one acre lot.
• $192,500. An Estate Sale on 7883 S Lahti Circle.  A newer Wolfe Construction home listed by Lee Mitchell at RE/MAX of Wasilla.  It’s only $133 per square foot which is low for what you are getting.

While not meeting the strict criteria of my deals of the week.  After looking at over 35 homes in the $250–$350K range this week I am convinced that my listing at 365 Weiss Circle is a deal.  It’s only $120 a foot for a Sumner Construction house in better than new condition.  Click here for info and videos

Remember the rules below:

• 1. Just because I say its a deal doesn’t mean that you should buy it “sight unseen”.  I am only looking at the MLS.  In most cases I am not physically previewing these properties.
• 2. To qualify for DOTW, within the past week the property must have either been newly listed, come back on the market, or had the price lowered.  This is based on the assumption that if a property was truly a “deal” it would not last more than a week on the market. 

Written by Marty Van Diest Please leave a comment.

Monday Morning Market Memo 12-3-07 December 3rd, 2007

Categories: Monday Market Memo

Wasilla, Palmer

and all Mat-Su Borough Statistics for the week of 11/26–12/3/07

After the short week last week, this week made up for the delay.  There were 45 closings and 27 pendings this week.  Those are very healthy numbers for this time of year. 

I don’t expect the high number of closings to hold up between now and Christmas,(that is just because of closings that were delayed due to Thanksgiving), but I do think that the market is pretty healthy for the winter.  Now that we are past Thanksgiving, we have definitely hit the traditionally slow time of the year.  But the market isn’t slow!  It’s surprisingly active.

		Average Price	DOM
New	14	$292,721	.
Total Active	801	.	.
Pending	27	$236,232	99
Closed	45	$216,462	74

New listings have certainly dropped and that is to be expected, people don’t usually put their houses on the market just before Christmas.  But that means the houses currently on the market are getting more activity because buyers are still out there.  If this continues, we will be back to a sellers market by spring.

Look at the chart to the right.  Click on it to expand.  This is from the AKMLS system and shows the averages for the last two years.  Notice that the the new listings drop sharply every winter but the pending activity remains comparatively steady.  That is the reason I now recommend that a seller consider hitting the market before the spring rush.  You will have less competition.

Compare to previous Monday Market Memos, click here.

“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. “

 

Written by Marty Van Diest Please leave a comment.

Best Builders In The Valley December 2nd, 2007

Categories: For Buyers, New Construction, Wasilla Real Estate News

I have been showing houses pretty much all day for the last 3 days to a buyer moving up from the states.  We have looked at a lot of new and almost new houses. 

I was reminded again that the best builders in the Mat-Su Valley are usually people that you never hear about.  These are builders that build only 1–6 homes per year.  They are hands-on builders.  They take pride in their work and make sure that things are done right.

I did not count the houses that we saw but it must have been close to 30 or more.  We drove past a lot more because he knew the type of setting that he wanted and didn’t even go into a house unless the lot was acceptable.  We narrowed it down to two homes, one is built by the owner and the other was built by a small builder who has been building in the valley for decades.

We went in a house yesterday that is for sale by owner.  This house was obviously just a step above all the other homes in quality.  It had in-floor heat, hard wood flooring, granite counter tops, upgraded trim, a fantastic master suite, three car garage on a nice one acre lot for $290,000.  Unfortunately for this buyer, the 1,680 square feet was just a little too small. 

I looked at another house just tonight that is almost finished.  It is built by two brothers who have experience in the construction trades but have never built a complete house before.  I was very impressed.  For $229,000 you get a 1,400+ sq ft ranch, granite counters, stainless appliances, vaulted ceilings, upgraded trim, tile and travertine flooring, fireplace with stone hearth, blow-you-away master suite, and quite a few more extras that I can’t mention. 

So for about the same price as a  production builder’s home you get thousands and thousands of dollars in upgrades.  You won’t find either of these homes on the MLS, so if you are interested in an appointment to view them give me a call.  I have permission to show both of these homes.

I am about to list a Fonov Electric and Construction house in Heritage Farms Estates.  The top photo and bottom one are examples of his work.  He does not build very many homes a year and buyers always rave about the quality. 

Related article:

New Construction in the Mat-Su Valley

Written by Marty Van Diest Please leave a comment.

Wasilla Dinner Theater November 30th, 2007

Categories: Alaskana

Last night was opening night for the Christmas Carol at the Valley Bistro in Wasilla.  It opened to a full house in the Teeland Building.  The historic building was a perfect setting for this dinner theater. 

People who know me understand that I usually go in for camping, hunting, and fishing for my leisure activities but I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this play. 

Because of the intimate setting you feel almost as if you are in the Cratchit’s dining room watching their Christmas meal. 

The dinner was also very good.  Grace enjoyed her prime rib dinner and I had grilled chicken.  I’m not sure if the same menu is every evening but halibut was also available as an entree last night.

It was very well acted by the whole cast and especially by the director AJ Seims who also played Mister Scrooge.

The dinner theater will be every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night between now and Dec 22, 2007.  Buy tickets at the Valley Bistro or call 357–5633 for more information.  If you are interested you might want to buy your tickets soon.  This same play was offered last year and sold out for the season fairly quickly.

For more information visit the Triumvirate Theatre website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Marty Van Diest Please leave a comment.