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Showing posts from February, 2019

Fur Rondy 2019

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It's this time of the year again where Alaskans celebrate Fur Rendezvous Festival in Anchorage. We only have a few days before this festival ends. Fur Rendezvous Festival or just Fur Rondy is an annual winter festival held in Anchorage in late February and is tagged as the largest winter festival in North America. It started in 1935 when Anchorage only had 3000 residents and was very isolated so Vern Johnson organized a sports tournament to lift spirits and bring the community together. It was timed to coincide with the rendezvous which helped increased activities. Winters were difficult in Alaska and this festival helped people to socialize and exercise especially after long dark winter months. Early events included hockey, skiing, boxing, dog sled race, and even basketball. City bonfire and parade were also enjoyed by many. Over the years, it became popular even with people outside Anchorage. It is later on renamed to Winter Sports Tournament and Fur Rendezvou

10 First Time Home Buyer Tips

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Are you planning to buy your first home for the first time? We can tell that being a first-time home buyer is exciting yet also stressful and overwhelming. So, here are 10 crucial tips to help make your homeownership journey a little less bumpy. 1. Get a copy of your credit report. 2. Improve your score for best rates. 3. Get pre-approved before house hunting. 4. See what type of loans you qualify for. 5. Hire a real estate agent. 6. Know your down payment options. 7. The budget for closing costs and other expenses. 8. Make a list of must-haves for your home. 9. Let your agent schedule house tours. 10. Search for a house that fits your lifestyle. I.e. work life, school life, kids, pets, etc. Hope these tips could help. If you are ready for your big purchase and looking for a home around Alaska, we can guide and help you throughout the process. Call or text us at 907 570-6757 or 907-720-4663.

3 Ways to Value A Rental Property

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Are you planning to invest in a rental property? Whether it is a condo, multi or single family home, how would you know if it's going to be a good investment? Here are a few ways to determine if the property will be a good investment or not. Is the selling price competitive in the market? How's the comparative market analysis of the rental property? Will there be repairs needed or it is move-in ready? Is it reasonably priced? It is important to compare the property to other properties with similar characteristics that were sold recently. This can help you determine if the property is over-priced or relatively cheap. If it’s cheap, you have to research more because it may be priced low for a reason. Your local realtor can greatly help you with this. How much will be the potential rent price? Do an analysis for its potential performance. Determine the average market rate rent by checking comparables from different rental websites online. Be sure to c

3 Signs A Starter Home Is Right For You

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A starter home is a small, economical house or condo that meets the requirements of people buying their first home. Are you ready to buy your own home for the first time? Have you also considered getting a starter home? Do you think this is the right home for you? Read on to see if you're ready. You have a next plan in mind You wanted to ease your homeownership journey by purchasing your own home but this is not the final plan you have in mind. Do you see yourself staying put in your first home for the long haul? Is the home's location perfect for the present and future you? Does it fit your current and your future lifestyle? If not, a starter home may be right for you especially when you haven't experienced most of those big moments in life. You can sell or rent your starter home as soon as you can afford your dream forever home. You are just learning home maintenance If you are fresh from renting or your parent's house where you nev

Why You Should Think About Buying a Home Now

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Whether you are Alaska's native or interested in relocating to the Last Frontier, choosing the ideal time to buy a home is very crucial. It requires planning, preparation and research. If you are looking to buy a home in Alaska, it's best to get one now. Read on to know why... America's market is getting better Americans who believed it’s a good time to buy a home increased 4% from December to 15% in January according to the monthly survey from Fannie Mae. This clearly shows that consumer confidence in housing is rising this year especially when Americans are now less concerned about losing jobs as the economy is getting more stable. The warm season is fast approaching It is best to search for a new home in the spring and summer in Alaska. Homes won't be covered in snow so you will really have a good view with each of them. In the snow, everything may look the same somehow.  You will get to see the surroundings and know them clearly es

How to Get A Real Estate Agent

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A successful property hunt depends with whom you would hire to help you with it just like getting the perfect plumber or electrician to fix your home. Real estate market process always change over the years so it is necessary to have someone on your side who can help ensure you get the best deal by knowing each possible nuances and avoid them professionally. You always have the option not to get a real estate agent's help but here's why being represented by an agent never fails. So with that being said, you may wonder how to find the best real estate agent to help you start with your property ownership journey. Get some help from the very beginning Getting some help even before you look for a home to buy can be beneficial especially when most of them are knowledgeable to help you assess different mortgage programs. You can discuss your financial concerns so they can help you narrow down options the will best fit your financial status. This can help you

5 Reasons to Invest In Single-Family Rental Homes This 2019

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Are you hesitating of investing in real estate? The rental market is one of the best investment investors can have. Read on to know some of the reasons why you need to invest a single-family home this 2019. Investing in real estate especially with single-family homes work well for many investors. You will get a monthly rent from your tenant/s to either pay for the mortgage if you got it through financing or invest it to somewhere else if you bought it cash. Single-family home rental investment is not as risky as the stock market. Owning rental house leverage is five-to-one compared to the two-to-one in stocks. Also, a house is tangible where you can actually touch and see it compared to the stock market. The rental market is hot this 2019. That is because primarily, there are so many renters looking for houses for rent right now. Majority of them are low or middle-income families who like to live in independent houses. Low unemployment boosts the housing market.