Matanuska Susitna Real Estate Blog

New construction has become a major force in our market.  Before 2004 most new homes were pre-solds.  That is, the buyer would decide they wanted a new home, they would contract with the builder to build the home before any actual construction had begun.  This pre-sold market was a reaction by le...

I drove by a little yellow house off of Lucile Street in Wasilla today.  I took a good look as I went by.  Kids toys were outside in the fenced yard.  The driveway was plowed, the owners were obviously living there.  It made my day!  I thought back to last winter when that family first contacted ...

The Willow Winter Carnival organizers must have fantastic weather forecasters.  They schedule this years in advance and hit the weather perfectly.  It was a bright, windless day and a balmy 20 degrees.  The carnival is two weekends long, the last weekend in January and the first weekend in Februa...

The cities of Palmer, Wasilla, Houston have true zoning.  Here are the zoning maps for Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston.  These maps are similar to what we generally think about when we hear the term "zoning".   The maps are also useful in that they delineate the city boundaries. In the rest of the M...

The cities of Palmer and Wasilla have water systems that provide water for some of the residents. Some developments have their own community water systems.  All the rest of us in the Matanuska Valley get our water from wells.  If you have a private well you are the one responsible for knowing wha...

It must have been the weather.  The day dawned bright and clear, and it felt warm.  I showed houses in shirt sleeves today.  The phone rang, and rang, and rang.  By 11:30 AM I had more than 60 calls.  I know this because my cell phone only holds the last 60 phone numbers.  I looked for a number f...

I am working with someone looking for land on Lazy Mountain. I have a beautiful log home listed there, but no land.  Land is always hard to come by in that area.  Most of the folks who live there know a good thing and hold it tight.  I was searching last night on the Valley MLS system in the PA06...

I took this photo just this morning from my house. Pioneer Peak stands out from Palmer to Wasilla and is a premier landmark for the Valley. This view is worth something to me, and it would be worth something to a buyer of my home.  But exactly how much is it worth?When you price your home there a...

Moving to the Matanuska Valley brings with it beautiful mountain vistas, large lots covered in birch and spruce, quiet neighborhoods and pristine wilderness settings.  Often, we neglect to mention the dreaded MATANUSKA WIND! The photo is of Engstom Road just yesterday taken from my junker Toyota ...

In two previous articles we looked at possible contamination in your well water and at finding water.  This article will deal with how to use and maintain your well.  Most wells in the Palmer and Wasilla areas are deeper than fifty feet.  I have people tell me every year that a well shallower tha...