Contrary to popular belief, Anchorage, Alaska, has fairly warm weather during most of the year and is well known for its colorful flower displays in the summer. Anchorage is a great place to raise a family, retire, create business opportunities or receive an education.
Currently, there are approximately 1,180 properties are available in Anchorage, Alaska, serviced by over 700 Anchorage Realtors, 29 of which are professional agents certified with the National Association of Realtors. With the Anchorage housing market persisting as a seller’s market and with growing demands for housing, especially in the $170,000 to $250,000 range, prices continue to rise. As a result, Anchorage Realtors have become vital in helping sellers and buyers effectively and affordably capitalize on the market.
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| Population 260,283 | Median Age 32.4 yrs | Household Size: 2.67 |
| Avg Commute: 19.5 min | Avg Income $55,546 | Avg Home Value: $160,700 |
| July High: 62.5°F | January Low: 9.1°F | |
Anchorage Realtor
Since 2000, home values in Anchorage, Alaska have increased from 5.5 percent to 11 percent each year. Dramatic increases in the cost of new construction have helped drive the average sales price for a home in Anchorage to $282,000. But even finding a newly constructed home in this price range can be difficult. Ultimately, it’s the properties priced below the $175,000 level that are selling the fastest, with listings up to $250,000 in a close second. Well kept homes and condominiums are particularly desirable. Ranch style homes are also popular, and their cost reflects this fact — reaching upwards of $240 a square foot. But many Anchorage sellers are overpricing their homes. If you are planning to buy an Anchorage home, knowledge of local market conditions is invaluable, and an Anchorage Realtor can prevent you from wasting thousands of dollars on aggressively priced properties. In many of these cases, multiple offers are common, and sellers can pick the offers with the highest net gain and least buyer concessions. But don’t let that force you into making a bad decision. Even with the seller’s market, buyers continue to move into the area, especially as job stability increases and military bases continue to lack the necessary housing for their personnel.
Deciding on whether to use an Anchorage Realtor
If commission charges make you weary about hiring an Anchorage Realtor, consider a few things. First, the money an agent can save or make for a buyer can easily outweigh commission fees. Second, in addition to money, agents also save you time and hassle. Selling your home, by yourself, means placing ads, meeting with potential buyers, answering questions and managing your time around open-houses. Anchorage Realtors can simplify this process by utilizing their existing marketing systems and by meeting with potential buyers on your behalf.
Anchorage Realtors can also assist you with pricing, which is vital. For example, many aggressive sellers in Anchorage have begun to over-price their homes and educated buyers are passing over these properties. Utilizing an agent experienced in the local Anchorage market, will help save you thousands of dollars as a buyer, and will give sellers an understanding of their home’s fair market value. And when it comes time to close a deal, the agent can negotiate on your behalf, as well as help buyers get pre-approved for loans and financing.
Ultimately, remember Anchorage Realtors know more about selling and buying a home in the area than you do, and their experience and knowledge can more than pay for their commission.
By David Webster
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®