Valley Trash? or Mat-Su Backlash? March 30th, 2007
Not long ago, a previously esteemed, and here unnamed, state senator labelled a local Mat-Su Valley citizen, “just more valley trash”. Not only that, he did it in writing! That comment spawned T-shirt campaigns, bumper stickers, and practically a whole economy.
Since then, Sarah Palin, former mayor of Wasilla smashed two powerful ex-governors for the right to run Alaska. The Wasilla High School boys flashed their way to the state championships, Colony, another Mat-Su team came in second. Wasilla High School Girls bashed their competition to become the girls state champs. Not only that the second most powerful executive position belongs to Attorney General, Talis Colberg, a Palmer resident.
Beth Bragg recently wrote an article about how Wasilla is no longer the wide spot in the road. While many Anchorage people still joke about “Wasilla garages”, (a blue tarp), and valley malls, (gravel pits with an espresso stand at one end), she recognizes that the valley is becoming a force in Alaska primarily because of population growth.
As Niel Fried mentioned, the Valley is growing faster than any other Alaskan community in almost every way. The valley has the room to grow. The Mat-Su Borough is larger than many states. It really is a bedroom community for the entire state of Alaska. People who work in Anchorage live here, people who work on the oil fields live here, people who work in the fishing industry live here. And those of us who live and work here, live off of everyone else.
Still, it’s fun to joke about the valley. A few years ago, some clients from Anchorage who have since become friends fell in love with a Palmer home. When we went back to the office to write the offer we reviewed the disclosure form. We were shocked to silence by the disclosure of a brutal murder in the home. After a few moments of awkwardness I broke the ice with, “what did you expect?, you are moving to the valley after all.” They bought the house.
No Surprises At The Closing Table March 29th, 2007
Eddie Sacapano, one of my fellow Realtors at RE/MAX of Wasilla, suggested that I write something about avoiding unexpected problems just before closing. It seems that he recently had a situation where a VA buyer was qualified by a lender prior to entering into a transaction. Then, just two days before closing the transaction, Eddie was told by the same lender that the buyer may not qualify for a VA loan because of missing paperwork. The young family had just moved up from the states intending to live in their house. As you can imagine, they weren’t happy to get this unpleasant news.
As Realtors, our job is to help make each transaction as smooth as possible. To do this, we work with many other professionals. In every transaction we depend on the services of loan professionals, appraisers, inspectors, engineers, surveyors, home owners associations, title companies, contractors, and attorneys. Our job is to coordinate the actions of all of these people so that nothing is done before it should be, and nothing is late.
If an appraisal is ordered before the inspection, for example, the money may be wasted because the buyer has every right to cancel the contract if an unexpected problem is discovered by the inspector. We need to order the survey before the title and engineers job can be finished. Over time, we develop a working relationship with these people and learn who can be counted upon to get the job done on time and correctly.
As should be expected when working with humans, someone may forget a deadline, or miss an important detail. Even Realtors can sometimes make mistakes J When this happens, we usually all just get together and work extra hard to make up for lost time. However, when a professional messes up and blames the problem on someone, or something, else that results I lack of trust. It often sends us in search of new people to add to our trusted working partners.
It is important for the buyer, seller, Realtors on both sides of a transaction, and everyone else to work together in good faith. Problems occur when important details are not communicated to the other parties in the transaction.
Thankfully, in Eddies situation, he was able to scramble around and by calling the presidents of several title companies, uncover the missing paperwork needed to allow his buyers to qualify for their VA loan and move into their new home.
Wasilla Real Estate News Deals For March 27, 2007 March 27th, 2007
Here are the deals for the week. It looks like Kevin Crozier has a corner on the market this week, BUT if you have any question on these deals give ME a call. 
907 232–7900 is my cell phone number.
- $35,000 lot in Serendipity listed by Kevin Crozier, RE/MAX of Wasilla
- $134,900 house in Palmer listed by Kevin Crozer, RE/MAX of Wasilla
- $165,900 house in Timberview listed by Donnie Allen, Century 21 North Homes
- $187,900 house on Palmer-Fishhook by Kevin Crozier, RE/MAX of Wasilla
- $225,000 Chalet in Glacier View by Marty Van Diest, RE/MAX of Wasilla
- $227,000 house in Eagle Estates by Sonja Stoker, Coldwell Banker Best Properties
Check out the deals of the week every week in the Wasilla Real Estate News
Monday Real Estate Stats, 3/26/2007 March 26th, 2007
These statistics are for real estate in all of the Matanuska Susitna Borough. This includes Wasilla and Palmer real estate. The chart below is for the week of March 19–26, 2007. The indications for this week are pretty healthy for sellers anyway. Compared to lasts weeks memo the numbers indicate more pending sales and closed sales, higher average prices and a lower total inventory.
If this keeps up, it could turn into a sellers market again. You buyers might want to step off the sidelines into the fray while interest rates are still attractive. As I said in this post, a 1% hike in interest rates will cost you quite a bit over time.
| Average Price | DOM | ||
| New | 52 | $260,092 | |
| Total Active | 708 | $300,070 | 105 |
| Pending | 34 | $248,891 | 107 |
| Closed | 23 | 250,591 | 107 |
I get a weekly mortgage update from Alice Roe of US Bank in Arizona. You might want to call her to compare loan costs. Her number is (800) 839–4025 ext 5565. Tell her Marty sent you. Her update shows that interest rates rose last week by about 1/8%. Buyers already in contract may want to discuss with their lenders the option of locking their interest rates.
Notice the Alaska MLS chart to the right, (click to expand).
It shows that the February inventory is a little less than February of last year. We had a spike last month but it looks like real estate in the Mat-Su remains healthy while much of the rest of the nation is hurting.
Check out some of the past market memos for comparisons.
AlaskaMLS disclaimer…“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. “
Equestrian Acres, Palmer Alaska March 24th, 2007
Equestrian Acres is a well established neighborhood about 2 miles east of Palmer on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. It is an organized community with its own website. A nice park is in the center of the subdivision.
As you will note from this map, many of the homes in Equestrian Acres are on quiet dead-end streets. There is a nice park in the middle of the subdivision that many of the neighborhood children play in during the summer.
There are about 230 homes in Equestrian Acres and another 20 or so in and subdivision next door, Equestrian Glen.
As of today, March 24, 2007 there are 8 homes for sale in Equestrian Acres and Equestrian Glen.
Here they are:
$245,000–$260,000 (range priced) 1768 sq ft, built in 2003. 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage.. Listed with yours truly, Marty Van Diest, RE/MAX of Wasilla
10875 Black Eyed Susan. $269,900 1834 sq ft. built in 2001. 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage. Listed with Tammy Ervin Dynamic Properties
1893 Citation, $265,000, 1883 sq ft. built in 2003 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath, 3 car garage. Listed with Jo Sonerholm, Prudential Jack White Real Estate.
2205 N Verde, $264,900, 2009 sq ft. Built in 2003. 3 bed 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage. Listed with Amy Garrison, Help-U-Sell Matsu
2208 N Tobasco Cat, $396,000 2704 sq ft. Built in 2006. 4 bed, 3 bath, 3 car garage. Listed with Cindy Ziegler, RE/MAX of Wasilla
2288 N Verde, $250,000 1890 Sq feet, Built in 2002. 3 bed 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage. Listed by Kibe Lucas, RE/MAX of Wasilla
2310 N Verde, $239,900, 1700 sq ft, built in 2002, 3 bed 2 1/2 bath 2 car garage. Listed by Helga Larson, RE/MAX of Wasilla
2329 N Kelso, $345,000, 1956 sq ft, built in 2004. 3 bed 2 1/2 bath 3 car garage. Listed by Dan Sacapano. RE/MAX of Wasilla
If you would like to know any more about any of these houses…leave a comment below, click my contact above or call my cell 907 232–7900
Marty Van Diest, Tele 907.232.7900 / marty[at]valleymarket[dot]com
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