Fairbanks Real Estate - Week in Review - 6/22/2008 - 6/28/2008 Jesse Clifton, Broker Associate Do you remember the story about the little engine that could? Just like that little engine the Fairbanks real estate market is surviving the housing slump that has derailed many real estate markets around the country. For the week of June 22-28, 18 homes closed escrow. The majority of those (67%) continue to be sales in North Pole, although interestingly, they aren't new construction homes. New construction represented less than 1% of homes sales this week. Days on the market dropped somewhat this week from 131 to 102 days. In a recent post I delved a little deeper into the Fairbanks days-on-market stats and found some interesting stats. This week 33% of Fairbanks homeowners saw their home sel... 06/30/2008

Sorry folks, I couldn't resist. The sun is shining with only a few clouds in the sky - for now. It's supposed to rain later today and tomorrow but it won't matter. The worst day of fishing beats the best day of working, right? We made it down to our favorite spot on the river without incident and have even been so lucky as to have the place to ourselves. No doubt that will change tomorrow but for now it's peaceful and just about as close to perfect as you can get. One of the attractions that have kept us in The Last Frontier for so long is the abundant opportunities to get out and enjoy some of the most beautiful country on earth. Fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, camping, off-roading, flying, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, snowmachining... you name it and it's all right here in... 06/27/2008

The 9th Army Band, stationed at Fort Wainwright, has an upcoming concert performance on June 26, 2008 at 7:00PM at the Noel Wien Library. Tuba Player MSG Roger Ridenour leads the ensemble that features 1SG James Thaxter and SFC Andrew Phelps on trumpet, SGT Dale McSwain on horn, and SGT Vincent Lawyer on trombone. 9th Army Band Sample Performance. If you haven't heard the Band perform, you should make time to come hear them play. They truly do a magnificent job. Request a performance of the 9th Army Band at a military function (PDF) or a civic performance. Following this performance, the 9th Army Band will perform on Saturday June 28th at 1:0PM at the Salcha Fairgrounds for the Salcha Country Fair and on Sunday June 29th at 6:00PM for the Beluga Nights Summer Festival the UAF Patty Cen... 06/25/2008

Fairbanks New Construction - $7,500 Rebate for home buyers. Jesse Clifton, Broker Associate New construction homes in Fairbanks have long represented a wise investment. Now there's one more reason to purchase a new home in Fairbanks. A $7,500 New Home Rebate Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is offering a $7,500 rebate for buyer who purchase a qualifying* new construction home that meets Alaska Housing's Energy Efficiency Program for 5 Star Plus Energy Rated Homes. What could you do with $7,500? Pay off bills? Take a trip. Pay for your wedding. Invest for the future? The possibilities are endless. This rebate is being offered through AHFC with no fees to the seller. Sellers can still make additional contributions to your closing costs, if negotiated. Perfect for first time Fairbanks ho... 06/25/2008

Fairbanks Real Estate Outlook Jesse Clifton, Broker-Associate Are you falling for the hype? Much is still being made in the national news about the slowdown in the housing market. It seems as though you can't turn on the news without hearing about rising foreclosures, default rates and slow housing starts. But is it really that bad here in Fairbanks? Not hardly. The Fairbanks real estate market might not be moving at a breakneck pace but it's far from standing still. In fact there are some segments of the Fairbanks market that are still attracting multiple offers. Homes in good condition that are priced correctly are selling. We've heard from several buyers recently who were shocked to find out their offer wasn't accepted because the offered price was too low or because another buyer w... 06/24/2008

I finally did it. I talked about it long enough. I looked at it and talked about it so much the boss told me if I mentioned it again she was going to knock my lights out... and I think she meant it. I've been using an old(er) Cannon SLR for more years than I care to remember. A couple of days ago the FedEx man delivered my new Cannon 40D DSLR. Now, where photography is concerned I'm certainly not as good as my buddy Richard Weisser or John & Margaret Hokkanen but I like to tinker with it. By the way, if you haven't had the chance to meet Richard or see the magic that John and Margaret can do with a camera then put your mouse in gear and click on over. They're all amazing people. Online Videos by Veoh.com While out running errands with our friends from out of town this afternoon Dave lea... 06/22/2008

Fairbanks Absorption Rates for June 2008 By: Jesse Clifton; Fairbanks Real Estate Broker One of the most important yet often overlooked keys in setting an asking price for a home is the absorption rate. It's as important to pay attention to these numbers as it is to the most recent closed sales in a particular neighborhood. Simply stated the absorption rate is the rate at which homes are selling. By dividing the number of available homes by the number of homes sold during the previous 30 days we're able to see how long it will take the market to absorb the current inventory of homes for sale. Keep in mind this number is not static. The absorption rate changes every time a new listing hits the market or a home in escrow closes. The rates below are a snapshot of the market today. Looking ... 06/13/2008

Recently we met with a couple looking for some help with a building project. They bought a parcel of land upon which they planned to build their dream home but due to a lack of planning and a little claimed deception on the part of the seller found themselves mired in a potential disaster. What takes this from bad to worse is the seller is a licensed (non Realtor) real estate agent. What do you do when you don't know what you don't know? The seller, who happens to live next door, told them the ground in the area was good. Based in part on his statements the buyers didn't bother having a subsurface soils investigation done. They had no idea that could even be done. Contrary to what some will say, you can not tell diddly about the soil without having the lot in question drilled. The type... 06/02/2008

Fairbanks River Front Homes For Sale - Enjoy life on the Chena River! It seems the two things Fairbanks home buyers most often ask for is a home in the hills with a view or a home on the river. Whether you're looking for a place to park your float plane, a home for your boat, or you're just looking for a sweet spot on the river to wash away your troubles at the end of a long day, there's sure to be a Fairbanks river front home that you'll fall in love with. All of these beautiful homes are within a 5-20 minute drive of downtown Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright. Drive time to Eielson Air Force Base is approximately 15-35 minutes. Here area few examples of beautiful Fairbanks river front homes currently for sale. Cosgrave Drive Southwest Rural Fairbanks Askin... 05/29/2008

Tonight while going to check on listing, I passed the home of an unrepresented Fairbanks homeowner. It was a new construction project the sellers either built to resell or were forced to sell due to circumstances. I've watched as this particular 'builder' spent the better part of a year and a half working to finish this house. What caught my eye tonight though was a very large handwritten sign with the words "I will pay all closing costs for veterans" written across it in big block letters. My first thought was to wonder if the seller was paying closing costs, closing costs and prepaids, closing costs, prepaids and reserves, or closing costs, prepaids, reserves and the veterans funding fee. Then I wondered if the seller knew the difference, but that's for another blog. I haven't been in... 05/21/2008

Fairbanks view homes for sale - Great values await savvy Fairbanks home buyers. Looking for a Fairbanks home with an extraordinary view? With a swelling inventory and a market that certainly favors buyers, now is a great time to buy a Fairbanks view home. There are currently 20 Fairbanks homes on the market that feature outstanding city, mountain and/or river views. Homes range from a beautiful spacious home off Gold Mine Trail for $374,900 to a stunning new construction off Chena Ridge for $639,000; all with stellar views. In addition to enjoying the views afforded by these homes, those who call the hills around Fairbanks home are situated above the ice fog; a Fairbanks phenomenon that occurs when the temperature drops below about minus 30 degrees in which most everything in the valley... 05/21/2008

Chena Lakes Recreation Area Located just a few miles from Fairbanks and North Pole is Chena Lakes Recreation Area; a 2,100 acre Lake and River Park, campground and picnic area. It's a fantastic place to spend a summer afternoon or weekend enjoying the great outdoors. Although Chena Lakes is only a few miles from the city of North Pole, once inside the park it feels like you're a million miles away. The lake park is built around a 260 acre lake surrounded by a long sandy beach. Nestled into a winding loop are numerous waterfront picnic tables with BBQ grills and fire rings, several pavilions with changing rooms (which must be reserved), three volleyball courts, a horseshoe pit, a playground for the kids (and the kid in you), two fishing docks and a lake boat launch. An onsite vendor rent... 05/19/2008

Greetings from sunny and slightly chilly Fairbanks, Alaska. We made the decision late Friday to head to our favorite spot on the river for a weekend getaway. This particular area is located in the Chena State Recreation Area, approximately 50 miles from Fairbanks, on the banks of the Chena River. We found this little oasis a few years ago while exploring the many access roads that lead from Chena Hot Springs Road to the Chena River. We have a couple of favorites - one in particular we were lucky to get is a secluded area tucked away on a bend in the river that affords us a measure of privacy from the rest of the riverbank camping folks. It's not an easy order to get the 'ol girl in there but it's definitely worth it. To the east all we see out is a long stretch of the Chena River and th... 05/18/2008

Have you ever heard the phrase "up the creek without a paddle... with the repo man on the shore waitin' for the boat?" Well, of course you have. Apparently the saying originates from a place called Gosport, Endland where injured sailors would be sent up a creek and then loaded onto another boat that was on rails to the Hasler Hospital. At least that's the story I discovered after a little Googling. While we've probably all felt that way at least once it appears as though Maynard the Moose is livin' proof it actually happens! The above photo (click to enlarge) was taken during an overflight to monitor conditions on the Yukon River, 12 miles downriver from Galena. U.S. Fish and Wildlife pilot Brad Scotton watched as Maynard floated down the Yukon River on an ever shrinking sheet of ice. U... 05/17/2008

Do you have a hankerin' for some fudge? Does the thought of freshly made chocolate pecan fudge make your mouth water? If so, I know just the place you need to check out. Located in downtown Fairbanks, The Fudge Pot is a Fairbanks treasure. They have been satisfying Fairbanksans sweet cravings since 1997 with some of the best fudge in the state. Do you like plain 'ol regular fudge? How about mint chocolate or my personal favorite, butter pecan. I'm telling you, this stuff is so good it'll make you swallow your tongue. Well, ok, not really but it is darn good stuff. In addition to mouth watering fudge, the Fudge Pot also serves espresso and delicious deli sandwiches. Enjoy a sweet treat or lunch while overlooking the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. Just across the street from the Visi... 05/16/2008

Fairbanks Real Estate buyers are discovering now is a great time to get into the market. Now that the leaves are turning green and the sun is out in full force, many buyers are coming out of hibernation and thinking of real estate. Fairbanks - North Pole - Salcha - Fox - Two Rivers College - Ester - Fort Wainwright - Eielson Air Force Base Fairbanks homes with acreage are very much in demand. Smart buyers are jumping on these homes as they become available. It's possible to find homes in Rural Fairbanks; Chena Hot Springs & Two Rivers, Fox, Ester, North Pole and Salcha, that have some significant acreage. Many of these will be within an easy comute to both Fort Wainwright and Eielson and with zoning for horses or dog teams. 1351 Gilmore Trail Stunning views of the Goldstream Valley - en... 05/14/2008

Fairbanks homes sales for April 2008 show an upward trend in movement in both the number of homes sold and the average sales price. The good news is the market is moving up. The bad news is that it didn't really have anywhere to go BUT up. Home sales in Fairbanks struggled through most of last year but especially through the last two quarters of '07. Where are we today? Well, looking at the numbers sales have been increasing every month since January. April sales jumped more 36.5% over March but we're 20% under April 2007 stats. In fact more homes were sold in Fairbanks and Interior Alaska during the first quarter of 2007 than have been sold in the first four months of 2008. Fairbanks sellers would be well advised to pay close attention to these numbers. With more than 600 homes current... 05/13/2008

I'm not sure when it happened.  I'm not even sure how it happened, but it did.  Sometime between 10PM last night and 8AM this morning I went through the change.  You know the one where you wake up with different... um... equipment than you went to bed with.  This morning I discovered that, thanks to Inman News I apparently went from a rooster to a hen with a single mouse click.  Great.  A couple of weeks ago Glenn Roberts with Inman News sent me an email asking about our market conditions and asked me to call him.  I was running a little behind that day so I typed out a reply and told him I would call him later in the afternoon.  A reply came through while I was out thanking me for the information, saying that it would appear in an upcoming article he was working on.  A little press men... 05/05/2008

I've heard the April showers bring may flowers bit all my life. Without the rains there would be no bountiful floral harvest to enjoy. How sad would that be, I ask you? Pretty sad indeed. I just have one little itty bitty question. If April showers do indeed bring May flowers, does it matter if the April showers are FROZEN? We woke this morning to find a beautiful white blanket of snow covering the ground.As if that wasn't bad enough, Mother Nature was, and is, dropping snowflakes like, well, Limbaugh does Oxycontin. It's everywhere.   This snow day message was brought to you by... well, me silly.  Have a great day and be safe out there.  That is our backyard, which only yesterday was snow free. When life gives you lemons, go make lemonaide, right? So since Mother Nature gave us snow, I... 04/30/2008

Your one stop for real estate and community news for Fairbanks and Interior Alaska brought to you by Jesse and Kathy Clifton, your local Fairbanks real estate experts. Fairbanks Alaska new construction homes for sale. Brand new homes finished and ready for occupancy. New construction homes in Fairbanks run the gamet from a cozy 650 square foot log cabin on 4.4 acres for $155,000 to a fantastic new construction with spectacular views of Fairbanks and the Tanana valley for $735,000. Fairbanks new construction represents a great opportunity for buyers looking to move up from their current home into a new home, perhaps even one with spectacular views. SOLD - New Homes In West Fairbanks Area Bedrooms Bathrooms Res. Sq. Footage Acres Sold Price West Fairbanks 2 1 1,200 1.36 $185,000 West Fair... 04/29/2008