Anchorage Alaska Real Estate Video Blog with Dar Walden

What's the Secret to Securing a Home Loan?

Are you planning on taking out a loan anytime soon? If so, we want to share the seven things you need to be aware of so that the process goes as smooth as possible.

1. Employment status. Make sure that you stay employed with the same employer when you fill out your loan application with your lender. If you change jobs, you need to let the lender know!

2. Major purchases. Don't go out and buy new furniture or appliances for your new home until after you have the keys in your hand!

3. Credit card debt. Keep your credit card debt as low as possible during this time. If you have a $10,000 credit limit, be sure to keep your debt under $5,000 and continue to make payments on time.

4. Applying for new credit. Don't go out and apply for a new credit card or furniture loan, or even cosign on another loan. Your lender will notice and it could hurt you!

5. Bank account changes. Don't change accounts, move money around, or anything else you might have to justify with a lender.

6. Don't spend your savings account. When you apply for a loan, you gave your savings information to your lender. The lender needs to know you have enough money in your savings account for the loan to go through.

7. Get your paperwork done quickly. Do not drag your feet! Tax returns sometimes slow people down, so make sure you get all your documents turned in early!

If you have any questions about this topic, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

10 Tips to Help You Winterize Your Alaska Home

Today we are going to talk about how to prepare your home for the winter months here in Alaska, which is quickly coming upon us. We’ve got ten great tips for you today that will save you time, money, and heat when the days get short and the weather is cold. Here are our top ten tips:

1. Get a roof inspection done
2. Check your gutters, make sure to clear out any debris
3. Have your heating system checked- doing this yearly will double its life
4. Any exterior plumbing should be insulated
5. Make sure you check your windows for drafts, and seal any that you find with caulk
6. Insulate your doors and replace the weather stripping if need be
7. Reverse the direction of your fans to keep the warm air in your home for longer
8. Get your fireplace cleaned out
9. Prepare your landscaping- putting hay over delicate plants is a good idea
10. Make sure your lawn furniture is all brought inside, or at least into the garage

There you have it, our top 10 tips for winterizing your Alaska home. If you want some more tips or have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Staging Doesn't Have to be Expensive and Complex

If you are looking to sell your home, your goal is to get the most money possible in the shortest amount of time. One of the best ways to add value and appeal to your home is through home staging. You have a lot of options for how you want to go about it. You could hire a professional staging company, but that comes with a hefty price tag. Most of the time, a few simple fixes is all it takes to transform a living room.

Today we are going to go through some of our most favorite, inexpensive home staging tips or you. We hope these will help you save both time and money when it comes time to sell your home.

A fresh coat of paint is always a good idea. Neutral, warm colors work best for highlighting the natural light in your home. This will make it easier to punch up the room with some colorful accessories and pull everything together.

A common design problem facing many homeowners is that they have no real entry way, as their front door opens up to the living room. To fix this, you can add a table, some lighting, and a rug to "fake a foyer" and make it feel like the living room and entryway are two different spaces.

A patterned rug, some pillows, or bright curtains add a ton of texture and an eclectic layer to the space, which is essential to a well-designed room.

In some cases, a "make-under" is just what you need. In the case of most fireplaces, taking some accessories and clutter away enhances the look and feel of the room greatly.

You could spend well over a few thousand dollars with a staging company, or you could do these fixes yourself for around $500. That's a small investment considering the value that you add to your home by adding those pieces.

If you have any questions of us about staging your home or anything else real estate related, give us a call or send over a quick email. We are always here to help, and would love to hear from you!

Take a Virtual Drive Through Resolution Pointe

Today we are taking a field trip to the beautiful Resolution Pointe subdivision. There are about 99 lots here, 10 of which are bluff lots. Most of the bluff lots have already been sold, but there is a wide range of homes available in the $500,000 - $1 million price range right now.

We have eight or nine builders working on homes here right now, which demonstrates one of the great advantages of building a home in Resolution Pointe. You get to pick your lot and your builder, and you have complete control over what you want your home to look like.

We’re currently on phase four of five in this subdivision and things are coming along nicely. In the video above, enjoy these great photographs of some of the homes in Resolution Pointe. After seeing the incredible architecture, accents, and views, you’ll want to take a look at them in person very soon.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I invite you to take a drive through the subdivision sometime. If you have any questions or want to schedule a time to look at some homes or lots, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dar Walden Reviews The Schneiders

Dar Walden Reviews Jeroene Bosse

Advice for Home Buyers in Anchorage

Today I'm going to be speaking about the buyer's side of the market here in Anchorage. Hopefully this information will make your home purchase easier and also more efficient.

Across the board inventory is fairly low. We're sitting below three months of inventory right now, so homes are not all that plentiful right now. When you get into $0-$400K range those inventory levels dip even lower.

As a buyer, you will have less to pick from. This means you'll need to be decisive and ready to jump on a home when you find one that you like.

One thing that you should do immediately if you want to buy a home is speak with a local lender. This will help to figure out what you can afford, and this will make your home search much easier. You won't waste time looking at homes that you cannot afford.

Once this is done you can begin looking at homes. However, you need to remember that inventory is low and that you'll need to make decisions quickly. There just aren't a lot of homes around, so the good ones are being bought up quickly.

This is where we can come in and assist you with writing a compelling offer, especially if there are multiple offers on the home. There are many ways to grab the attention of a seller, and we can do that for you.

If you have any questions about this information, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'd be happy to help you!

How Will Our Inventory Affect Your Buying Power?

Today I'd like to update you on the inventory levels here in Anchorage and Eagle River. Overall, inventory is relatively low, and we're under a three month level. This means that we're in a seller's market because there are less homes available.

Anywhere under $400K there is about a 1-2 month supply of homes, so sellers can reap big benefits if they have a home of this value for sale.
From $400K to $600K we have more inventory and homes are sitting on the market for a little bit longer. The key to selling these homes is pricing them right and making sure that they are in good condition.
From $600K to $750K we have about six months of inventory, which means that the market is balanced between buyers and sellers. Buyers will have an easier time buying these homes.
If your home is worth more than $1 million, we have roughly 23 months of inventory, which means that you're in a buyer's market.

Overall, the real estate market is very good here for buyers and sellers. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you're looking to buy or sell a home in Anchorage.

Ready to Visit Resolution Pointe?

Hey everyone, thanks for joining us today. We are excited to talk a little bit about the Resolution Pointe subdivision here in Anchorage. If you check out the video above, we will actually take you on a virtual tour of the subdivision, where you'll get to see what everyone has been talking about.

This subdivision is being developed by the Hickel Investment Team and there are currently 99 available lots. The prices of the lots start at $130,000 and go up from there. We have all different sizes of lots as well, all the way up to a 120,000 sq ft. lot. As you can see in the video above, this is a heavily wooded, secluded area with some truly breathtaking views. An added bonus is that you also get to pick your own builder to construct the home for you.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. If you're looking to build a new home, give us a call as well. We look forward to speaking with you!

Is Resolution Pointe the Perfect Place to Build Your New Anchorage Home?

Today, we want to share some insider knowledge about the newest subdivision in the Anchorage area!

Resolution Pointe is going to be a beautiful subdivision. It's already in the process of being developed and is about 100 lots large. We have sold about 30% of them and we are getting ready to open up a few more sections.

This subdivision is located at the end of 100th Avenue. If you haven't been out there and are considering building a new home, I highly recommend you check it out! The lots range from $127,500 and higher, and include rare and hard-to-find bluff lots that will soon be available. Home values in the area will likely be around $475,000 on the low end.

Resolution Pointe is a one-of-a-kind subdivision that will likely fill up fast! If you have any interest in living in this beautiful area, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. I would love to show you around!

Where Can You Learn More About Anchorage Real Estate?

Do you have questions about the Anchorage real estate market? Are you planning on buying or selling in the near future, and could use some tips? We're here to help!

We are now taking your questions! Let us know what you would like to know about the real estate industry, and we'll supply the answer in a video! Here are some examples of great questions we have the answers to:

What are conditions like in my subdivision?
How can I increase the curb appeal of my home?
What renovations and updates are worth making?
What can I do to add value to my home?
What subdivisions have the best resale values?
Where are the best school districts?

This is just a sampling of the many areas we are experts in. We are very happy to answer any and all of your questions! Give us a call or shoot us a quick email with all of your comments and concerns, we would love to hear from you!

Join Us at Our Home Selling Seminar!

Hello, we here at the Dar Walden Team wanted to invite you to our Home Selling Seminar on Saturday, February 28th from 11am to 2pm.

This event is free of charge, and we will be going through the listing process step-by-step with you. There will also be a number of other professionals from other industries to answer any other questions that you may have.

If you would like to attend, please call us at (907) 240-2804, send us an email or visit our website www.AlaskaTopAgent.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

A Look Back at the Anchorage Real Estate Market in 2014

Today we'll be speaking about what we saw happen in the Anchorage/Eagle River real estate markets in 2014. We'll be comparing statistics from 2013 in order to compare these markets.

The average sales price in 2013 was $347,000, and in 2014 it was $358,00, which is a healthy increase of 3.23%.
Average sale price for condos in 2013 was $203,000. In 2014 that price increased by 1.28% to $205,000.
2014 ended with a low supply of homes on the market.

There were only 475 single-family homes on the market in December, compared to the summer when there were about 750 on the market.

Interest rates have gone down unexpectedly, and that's great for both buyers and sellers because affordability will be up.

The rate on a 30-year loan is 3.625%, a 15-year loan is at about 3%, and an FHA or VA loan 3.25%. These are excellent rates, so any potential buyers should start shopping around now.

This pretty much sums up what happened here in Eagle River and Anchorage in 2014. It was a good year, but low interest rates and new requirements for down payments on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac products should help drive some activity early in 2015.

If you ever need assistance with real estate, please consider us your #1 resource. We're always happy to serve you!

Why Work with a Team Over a Single Agent?

There are many great Anchorage area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (907) 865-6404 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Aloha, from Hawaii! Today, I'm coming to you from Hawaii with some helpful tips to help you make informed decisions in the marketplace! Recently, people have asked me about the benefits of working with a team. There are many, but today I'll give you just a few:

When you leave town, your listing does not. Regardless of whether you or your agent goes on vacation, your home remains on the market. We have an entire staff dedicated to the sale of your home, and they will help you through your transaction at all times. If you're working with a single agent, your listing goes on vacation as soon as they do because they have no one to take care of it.

The lines of communication are always open. If your agent is out of town, or if a team leader leaves for Hawaii (like me!), nothing changes. There is a full administrative staff who are familiar with the details of your listing and are willing and able to help with questions and concerns.

If you want to work with a team that is always there for you, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We are here to serve you!

Thanks, and have a lovely day!

Are Rates on the Rise in Anchorage?

There are many great Anchorage area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (907) 865-6404 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Are you curious about what's going on in Anchorage real estate? If so, you've come to the right place!

Recently, interest rates have dropped. Over the last year or so, rates have hovered around the 4.3% mark. However, a few weeks ago 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to about 3.9% and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 3.25%!

It really doesn't get much better than this...

What do these great rates mean to you as a buyer? For starters, it means you can buy more house - you get more value for your dollar. As a seller, it also means that the prices of homes have stabilized and remain high. Whether you're buying or selling, now is the time to get real estate to work for you!

With oil dropping below $60 a barrel, it's inevitable that we'll eventually see some changes in interest rates will go up somewhere between 5% and 7%. If rates jump 1% for a home that's $250,000, you will have to pay more than $200 a month more for the same house. Over the life of a 30-year loan, you will pay over $73,000 more than you would if you were to lock in today's low rates.
rates. It's predicted that, between the next 6-18 months,

As you can see, waiting to make your move could cost you a whole lot of money down the road. If you have been on the fence about buying, now is the time to make your decision. If you're thinking about selling, now would be the time to put it on the market if you want to get great value from it.

Give us a call or shoot us an email for real estate help of any kind, we would love to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Thanks, and have a great day!

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Why Hire the Dar Walden Team?

Dar is the 'go to' person for real estate consulting in Alaska. Dar keeps ahead of real estate trends through continuous professional training and networking with top producers. She continues to raise the bar of expectations by using an effective consultative approach that offers her clients the best prospective in the real estate industry today.

Dar's exuberant personality, work ethic, attention to detail, drive for perfection, consistent contact, negotiating power, and overall service leave you smiling and completely satisfied at closing!

Dar Walden
Keller Williams Realty
Anchorage, AK
Phone: (907) 865-6404
Mobile: (907) 240-2804
Dar@DarWalden.Com

Pages