Listen up, gear heads!  The House of Harley and Buell will be hosting a Hogs N Hot Rods event in Anchorage on Wednesday, July 25th.  Whether you're an owner of a Harley or hot rod or simply an admirer of them, you're welcome to attend this free event. Everyone who comes to the Hogs N Hot Rods event will be voting on their favorite motorcycle and hot rod.  Entrants into the competition will be vying for trophies and prizes.  If you own a car or motorcycle you would like to enter into the contest, you will need to pre-register.  Spaces are limited, so you need to register your vehicle as soon as possible.  Motorcycles, however, will not need to be registered ahead of time. In addition to the hot rod and Harley contests, there will be plenty of free food, a beer garden for the adults (cour... 07/17/2012

Waterfront condos for sale in Anchorage Alaska Anchorage has some beautiful waterfront condos from downtown to Dimond South and Spenard and these condominiums feature two bedroom floor plans starting at about $160,000. At the top of the list is a beautiful $550,000 condominium featuring sweeping views of Cook Inlet right up next to a coastal trail. Hardwood floors and cherry wood cabinets invite you in and granite countertops in the kitchen complete with modern and contemporary fixtures envelop you in the lap of luxury. This complex features common rooms complete with fitness center, a steam room, a game room with pool table, and a party room with an attached kitchen. While this is at the top and of waterfront condos in Anchorage there are several more affordable units such as those on ... 06/25/2012

Anchorage joins Dump the Pump Day this Thursday, June 21, 2012.  Gas prices have continued to go up.  To fight this ever increasing issue, the City of Anchorage's People Mover will be joining up with other public transit organizations across the country in the 7th annual Dump the Pump Day.  Instead of driving your individual car to work, school, play or other activities, the City of Anchorage is encouraging its residents to take public transportation instead. Dump the Pump began in June of 2006 as a way to combat the unheard of (at that time) $3+ we were paying at the pump.  Now that gas prices are consistently over $4/gallon, it's even more expensive to drive a car around Anchorage highways and bi-ways.  Carpooling is great, but public transportation costs so much less per person to ru... 06/19/2012

What is a Short Sale? Pros and Cons of buying a Short Sale Property Anchorage, Alaska Real Estate What is a Short Sale? A short sale is when the proceeds of a property is less than the lien amount. In other words, the proceeds of the sale fall short of the total amount owed to the bank (lien holder) and the lien holder agrees to release the real estate for the lesser amount because the homeowner cannot afford to pay the mortgage.  A short sale is often a popular alternative to foreclosure. Most short sales are done through a third party, usually a Real Estate Professional. In most short sale cases, homeowners are facing a financial hardship and have to prove their hardship to the lienholder.   Pros of a Buying a Short Sale: -The biggest advantage of buying a short sale is PRICE. Short s... 06/12/2012

This weekend, June 15-17, 2012, Anchorage celebrates Juneteenth.  If you are unaware of it, Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the emancipation of the last slaves in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865.  Although it has been celebrated in Texas since 1980, it has spread to other areas of the country as well, including Anchorage. Anchorage's annual Juneteenth celebration occurs on the third weekend of June.  Alaska is a multicultural community.  So, while this is primarily a celebration of the African American community, Juneteenth allows us to learn more about other cultures in our area.  Live performances, including storytellers, games, free food for the kids (ages 2-18), vendors and tons of fun for everyone will be made available during the three day event.  Admission is free.  While ... 06/12/2012

ENTER TO WIN A TRIP TO MEXICO! (or anywhere else Alaska Airlines Flies) Go to MEXICO! Register Anywhere on Gary's Site and be Entered into our MEXICO Drawing!   Gary Cox - Alaska Property Seller Professional in Anchorage offers a free trip each year to one lucky participant. Enter to win a Mexican vacation package, through Alaska Airlines, that will be awarded between September and October, 2012 for any our customers who do one of the following: 1.Sign Up on Any One of our Websites between now and September 30, 2012. 2.Refer a Friend, Family Member, or Co-Worker for Real Estate Services.   Rules: 1.No Purchase Necessary. 2.Must be 18 years old. 3.Must be an Alaska resident or intending to move to Alaska. 4.Multiple entries allowed. 5.Winners travel at their own risk. 6.Winner will be dr... 06/08/2012

June in Anchorage, Alaska is known for long days. That means that flowers are blooming and it’s time for the annual Festival of Flowers in Downtown at Town Square Park.  The event is Saturday, June 2 and the fun runs through the day.  It’s a fun day for the entire family. You can attend an informational seminar, purchase flowers for your own garden, bid in the auction or plant a marigold.  There is also an art fair to enjoy, face painting for the kids and awe-inspiring stilt walkers who prove again and again that they are moving up in the world! Best of all, it’s all free! What could be better than a June day in the sun and fun of downtown anchorage? How about adding music to your outdoor experience? Live music will be provided through the day. There’s plenty of food and liquid refreshm... 06/04/2012

The annual Anchorage Festival of Flowers comes to downtown Anchorage on Friday, June 1st, 2012.  Town Square Park plays host to this annual Anchorage event that offers seminars about caring for flowers, sales, an auction, live music and more.  The Anchorage Festival of Flowers isn't just about flowers, though.  There will be face painting, stilt walkers, an art fair and much more fun for the entire family to enjoy.  You can even plant a marigold.  The festival acts as an annual fundraiser for the Anchorage Endowment Fund.  All proceeds from the sale and auction will benefit the fund. Admission to the Anchorage Festival of Flowers is absolutely free.  Bring the family to Town Square Park on Friday, June 1st for some educational fun with flowers.  See why they call Anchorage the City of F... 05/15/2012

This Sunday, May 6, 2012, is Lemonade Day in Anchorage.  What is Lemonade Day, you ask?  It's a fun way to instill an entrepreneurial spirit into kids via their first business...a lemonade stand.  Each child that participates in Lemonade Day in Anchorage will receive a backpack containing a workbook that shows them how to create a budget, set a profit-making goal, serve customers, pay back investors and generally give back to the community.  Kids who participate will keep any money they earn from the lemonade they sell throughout the day but will also be encouraged to save part of their money and spend some to help the local economy. To participate, all you need to do is visit the Anchorage Lemonade Day website, register and print your confirmation page.  When you bring your confirmatio... 05/01/2012

This Saturday, April 21, 2012, is Kids Day in Anchorage.  Sponsored by Anchorage's Promise, Kids Day has been set up to offer free fun activities for kids and their families at various attractions around the City of Anchorage.  The Dena'ina Center is the centerpiece of Kids Day, where, from 10am to 4pm, free interactive activities as well as information from more than 70 Anchorage area organizations about their services available to Anchorage children, teens and their families will be made available.  There will also be live entertainment throughout the day.  In addition to the free fun at the Dena'ina Center, the following locations will be offering free admission for children on Saturday only: Alaska Aviation Museum (4721 Aircraft Dr) - Free admission from 9am to 5pm as well as free p... 04/17/2012

Three senators (Scott Brown from Massachusetts, Sherrod Brown from Ohio and our very own Lisa Murkowski from Alaska) have proposed a bill that will help shorten the time it takes to complete a short sale.  This will help prevent more American homeowners, including those here in Anchorage, from losing their homes to foreclosure.  In order to sell your Anchorage home in a short sale, you must reach an agreement with your lender where they allow you to sell your home for less than is owed.  This happens when the homeowner is struggling to make their monthly mortgage payment, is facing the possibility of foreclosure and owes more on their home than it is worth, making it difficult to sell it via a traditional home sale. Right now, an Anchorage short sale can take anywhere from four to nine ... 03/06/2012

  Anchorage, Alaska  looks like it’s ready to pull through another long winter. But just in case the spring needs a little help to melt the winter frost, there is an incredibly hot event coming in to Egan Center in March!  SPIN- Electronic Music Festival is coming March 10 and 11th and promises to heat up Alaska with a whole new dimension of Light, Sound and Themed Stage Design.  If you haven’t heard about it yet, it is because festival organizers are carving out a place for Alaska on the world festival scene map!  That doesn’t mean this year’s offering is less than amazing. Check this out:  SPIN- Electronic Music Festival is bringing no less than three world class acts to Anchorage.  Stonebridge, Matt Darey, and HyperCrush top the program!  But wait until you hear about all of the othe... 02/29/2012

Election workers are needed in Anchorage.  The City of Anchorage will be holding it's municipal elections on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 and they need people to help organize and process election day paperwork.  Even though seasoned election workers are always available and willing to pitch in during election times here in Anchorage, there is always a shortage.  Encouraging younger people to become an election worker is one way to get them more involved in local government, as well as showing them that they really can make a difference. Anchorage election workers will be required to work from 6am to 10pm on the day of the election (April 3, 2012).  To be considered, you will need to be a registered Anchorage voter, possess the ability to organize and process paperwork accurately, can follow ... 02/21/2012

Beginning this Thursday, February 9th and continuing on through the weekend until Sunday, February 12th, 2012, the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center will be hosting the Anchors Aweigh Boat Show in Anchorage.  The Alaska Marine Dealers Association and the Coast Guard are just a few of the organizations that will be on hand offering safety and education classes throughout the event.  Several financial institutions will also be available to discuss payment options for buying your very own boat through one of the many specials going on at the boat show. I know how long the winters here in Anchorage can be.  So, it's nice to be able to stretch your legs somewhere other than inside your house.  Head to the civic center this weekend to get the latest and greatest information on the boating ... 02/07/2012

When people ask “how is real estate in Anchorage doing?”. They are most commonly referring to, how are single-family home values in Anchorage and Eagle River?.   2011 was very similar to 2010. In 2011, Anchorage saw 4,429 active listings in the MLS, down just 1% from 2010. The number of properties sold actually increased by 3% to 2,307. Average sales price dropped slightly, down 2% at 322,626. The percent of list price that the homes actually sold for remain consistent at over 98%.   So what does that really mean? Basically the market for single-family homes in Anchorage and Eagle River has remained flat. Most home sellers are not upside down. And if you need to sell a home, you can expect to be able to accomplish it in a relatively short amount of time. Of course hiring a great real es... 01/25/2012

If you love folk music, you're going to love the Anchorage Folk Festival.  Beginning Thursday, January 19, 2012 and continuing through Sunday, January 29, 2012, musicians from around the world as well as our own state will be performing for the public all around the City of Anchorage.  There will also be workshops given throughout the free 10 day event. Several different acts will be performing on various days at the main stage (Wendy Williamson Auditorium, UAA campus, Lake Otis & 36th Ave, Anchorage).  Performances will be held from 7pm to 9:30pm on January 19th and 20th, 12:30pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10:15pm on January 21st, 1pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10:30pm on January 22nd, 7pm to 10pm on January 27th, 12:45pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10:15pm on January 28th and 1pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10:30pm on Jan... 01/17/2012

Christmas is just about here.  One of the fun parts of the holiday season is seeing the joy in kids' faces as they rip into their presents to find the treasures buried beneath.  The "treasures", however, have changed tremendously over the years.  To share a history of the evolution of toys, the Anchorage Museum has transformed their atrium into a Wonderland of Toys in Anchorage.  From now through January 8, 2012, the exhibit will showcase toys throughout the years, with some dating back to the 1800s. Amongst the twinkling lights in the museum's atrium, attendees will view World War I toy soldiers, full-sized French dolls and carousel horses.  Disneyland isn't the only place showing that it's a small world after all.  The evergreen tree at the center of the Wonderland of Toys exhibit is ... 12/20/2011

Winter Events in Anchorage Alaska When the rest of the country thinks Anchorage is buried in snow, we know that this is just as good a time as any to have festivals, events and activities. Here are some events happening around the Anchorage Alaska area in the next month or two. The Alaska Positive - January 7th - February 20th 2011 - Located at the Anchorage Museum this photography event showcases some of the classics around our area. The judge for this event, Richard Ross, chose 44 images from 36 artists for this breath-taking exhibit. Come view all the beauty that Alaska is known for through the eyes of the camera. Contact 907-929-9200 for more information or visit the Alaska Museum website Contemporary Alaska Native Art and Design is also on now through May 1st at the museum. This sh... 12/09/2011

Anchorage was recently named as the 10th Best City in America to live according to online magazine Businessweek.com.  Ranked #10 on the list of America's Best Places, Anchorage was recognized for its quality of life, educational access and low crime rates amongst other factors.  This is the first time Businessweek.com has compiled its list of 50 Best Cities. In its report, Businessweek.com specifically cited Anchorage for its amount of park acres per person as well as the best air quality of any other city on the list.  At 6.4%, our unemployment rate is well below the 8.6% national average reported as of last month.  Our low foreclosure rate (0.0053) has kept many Anchorage homeowners out of the mess the rest of the country has experienced in the real estate market over the last few yea... 12/06/2011

The Great Alaska Shootout!                  OK, so it isn't what may immediately come to mind. These pictures are not of Alaska and The Great Alaska Shootout is not this kind of shootout. Isn't Larry's Grampa cute though? The Great Alaska Shootout is a college basketball tournament held every year around Thanksgiving. This year the dates are November 23-26th. Teams visiting our beautiful state in 2011 are:MiamiSouth FloridaCentral MichiganU. California IrvineDartmouthMurray StateSan FranciscoNew Mexico StateSouthern Miss For more information on The Great Alaska Shootout, check out the Official Home of Seawolf Athletics, Alaska Anchorage. Jacque & Larry *all photos are copyright Alaska Dream Makers and may NOT be used without prior written consent of the Alaska Dream Makers. 11/23/2011