Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Merry Christmas!

We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.

We just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support throughout the years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your help!

It truly brings us joy to help you make your real estate dreams a reality. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help you in any way we can.

In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas!

Don’t Be Afraid of Selling in the Winter

Don’t believe the hype; winter is a perfectly viable time to sell your home.

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) 240-2804 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

This week we’re going to talk about selling your home in the winter.

Many people think that homes don’t sell in the winter. Surprisingly enough, you’d be amazed at the number of sales that we have in the winter.

Let’s face it—when you have to sell your home, you have to sell your home, whether it’s winter or summer. However, if you have the convenience of waiting, many people prefer to do that.

Waiting can often be a mistake. Inventories in the fall tend to drop down, and buyers have fewer choices to pick from, which can often drive the pricing up on your home that is for sale.

The other thing is that in the summertime, you typically have more showings than in the winter, but often you get a lot of what we call “looky-loos” out there shopping and half-heartedly looking around. A lot of people like to go to open houses and look at homes for remodeling purposes.

In the wintertime, you have fewer showings. However, those buyers are typically more serious. They’re not out dragging themselves through the snow because it’s fun, but because they need a home.

Do not be afraid to put your property on the market in the winter. Yes, it is slower, but property still sells.

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Do not be afraid to put your property on the market in the winter.

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If I can be of any help, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’m happy to do a cursory walk around your property and give you some marketing tips. After all, now is the time to amp up your curb appeal to avoid having to do so with snow on the ground.

Have a great week!

Avoid Major Expenses With These Home Maintenance Tips

Winter is here, which means it’s time to take care of some basic home maintenance items in order to avoid major damages and expenses down the line.

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) 240-2804 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Winter is here, and we’ve had our first official snowfall. As a homeowner, there are a few things you need to do to protect your home from damage and avoid major expenses. 

First of all, you need to remove your hoses from the hose bib. If you have the older kind of hose bib, you’ll need to put a cover on it. Newer hose bibs do not require a cover. 

Secondly, although icicles may look really cool, they are not good for your roof at all. Find out why those icicles are forming and get someone out there to remove them. Do not try to remove them yourself. Hire a professional. Icicles can cause roof damage and cost you thousands and thousands of dollars.  

Finally, caulk your windows and make sure that your doors are sealed. Caulk the baseboards and walk around the outside of your house to check for any other gaps. Get everything caulked and sealed up. If you were to add all of the cracks and crevices together, the average house has a 3x3 foot window of air coming into the home.

If you have any questions or need referrals to any professionals to help you with these maintenance items, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

7 Reasons Why Fall Is a Great Time to Buy a Home

There are more than a couple reasons why fall is a great time to buy a home in our market.

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) 240-2804 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

There are seven reasons what fall is a great time to purchase a home. 

1. There is less competition. If you’re a buyer out there looking in the fall, chances are you face less competition from other buyers and steer clear of any multiple offer situations like you’d see in the spring. 
2. Sellers are tired of marketing. They want to be done with things. They’ve probably been on the market since summer, and that tends to wear them down. This makes them a little more motivated.
3. Sellers are more serious. Oftentimes, they’re trying to move before winter hits, so that works in your favor. 
4. You can also take advantage of the tax breaks you’ll get during this time of year. 
5. Pricing tends to be more reasonable. Again, sellers have been on the market for a while and they’re tired of marketing their property. As we all know, the longer a seller’s home is on the market, the less they’ll typically take for their property. 
6. There are fewer buyers out there. This is somewhat related to the first point, but fewer buyers means sellers are happy when they get active showings. 
7. Interest rates are still great! 

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If you’re thinking of purchasing a home, now is the time to do it.

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If you’re thinking of purchasing a home, now is the time to do it. If you want to start the home buying process or you have any questions about what’s happening in our Anchorage market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

How to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient Over the Winter

If you want to stay warm during the winter and lower your energy costs, there are a few things you must do around the house.

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) 240-2804 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

How can you make your home more energy-efficient now that winter is here? There are several things you can do.

One of the things I often see with sellers is them not having serviced their heating systems for sometimes as long as two, three, or even five years. By servicing your heating system, you can almost double the life of your heater. If you haven’t done that, now is the time to call a heating company to service and clean your heating system and make any necessary repairs to it. 

Most people wait until the heater breaks, and that’s usually during the first winter freeze-up. Heating companies can sometimes be backed up three or four days during this time, though, so you want to stay ahead of that. 

Another thing you can do is make sure all of your windows are caulked on the outside and inside. If you’ve got older windows that naturally leak air, you can also insulate them by putting plastic shields over them. 

Next, consider installing a programmable thermostat. Turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees at night or while you’re not at home can save you about 10% on your heating bill. 

Also, don’t heat unused spaces. If you have rooms you don’t use, shut the heater down in them. That will filter the heat to other places in the house. If the heater works less, it will cost you less money. 

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The less your heater works, the less it will cost you.

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Lastly, if you have large windows that let a lot of sun in during the day, make sure those windows are open so that sunlight can heat your home naturally. 

If you have any questions about energy efficiencies in your home or you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send us an email. I’d be happy to help you.

What’s Happening in the Anchorage Market?

It’s time for another quick market update for the Anchorage area.

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) 240-2804 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

It’s time for another market update for the Anchorage area.

Right now we have about 1,000 properties on the market, 35% of which are already under contract. About 360 properties have buyers who have written contracts on them.

We have close to 2.9 months of inventory on hand; if no other properties went on the market today, we'd have enough housing available for roughly three months. This is a very healthy level, and is considered more of a seller’s market, though that’s not what we’re seeing in the economy today. It’s been very give-and-take: the buyer gives a little, the seller gives a little, and everyone walks away happy.

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If no other properties went on the market today, we'd have enough housing available for roughly three months.

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The average sales price for the area is around $360,000. Sellers are getting about 99% of the last list price.

The average days on market of what homes sold is about 43 days, and the average days on market of what’s currently active is about 84 days. 

The discrepancy between the two figures is due to the fact that the properties that are on the market right now usually have had longer marketing times because we have many homes out there that are overpriced, or the condition of the home doesn’t warrant the price. The active days will typically always be longer than the days sold. If the property is in good condition, it’s going to sell quickly.

If you have any other questions, or you’d like to talk with me, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Have a great week!

Some of These Fish Facts May Surprise You

Today I’d like to take a break from talking about the market. Instead, I’m bringing you some interesting fishing facts.

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.

This week we wanted to do something a little different. 

Instead of talking about the market, today we’re going to talk about some fishing trivia. 

Did you know that when salmon spawn, they travel 1,900 miles up the Yukon river to do so? Additionally, Alaska is home to five different species of salmon: the King, the Coho, the Sockeye, the Chum, and the Pink. 

Of all of these, and of all Pacific salmon in general, the Pink is the smallest. And the Chum has one of the widest ranges of all Pacific salmon and can be found throughout the world including here in Alaska, but also in California, Canada, Russia, and Japan. 

As another fun fact about salmon, the females, just like chickens, are called “hens.” 

But Alaska isn’t just home to salmon. The Pacific halibut is one of the most sought after fish in our state.

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The Pacific halibut is one of the most sought after fish in our state.

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I remember the first time I ever saw a halibut. When I noticed both eyes on one side, I truly thought something was wrong with that fish. Another thing that might surprise some people about the halibut is its size. 

The largest halibut to have been recorded weighed 495 pounds. Any halibut larger than 300 pounds is called a Barn Door halibut. Smaller halibuts, though, are called Chicken halibuts. 

Fishing season this year may be over—but, if you’re a fisherman, remember to be safe and have fun when it comes around again. 

If you have any other questions or would like more information feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Anchorage Real Estate Market Update

Today I wanted to give you an update on what’s going on in our Anchorage market.

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.

This week, I wanted to bring you up to date on what the market is doing since it’s been awhile since my last update.

Currently in the Anchorage market, we have 1,064 single-family homes listed. We have 371, or about 35%, of those listed properties that are pended, and about 2.9 months of inventory on hand. What that means is that if no more homes were listed, it would take 2.9 months for all the current inventory to be sold off.

Any inventory that sits at three months or less means that we’re in more of a seller’s market. If you’re a seller, now is a great time to get your home on the market. We’ve had a lot of multiple offer situations with listed properties that have been priced right.

In the last six months, we’ve sold 1,072 homes, which is right on par with where we were last year. Our average sales price is up to about $364,000, and sellers are getting 98.6% of what they’re asking for their home in their final offer. This is great news, as sellers are well within the recommended 5% margin.

Right now the average days on market of sold properties is around 52 days, while the average days on market for active properties is 80 days. So, why the difference? The homes that are in great condition and kept clean while they’re listed are selling much quicker. 

The properties that are still active on the market aren’t getting sold because they're overpriced, their condition isn’t that great, or accessibility is making it difficult for agents to show to potential buyers.

So what does this mean for you? If you’re a seller, now is a great time to list your home, as inventory is low and buyer demand is high. If you’re a buyer, we can help you find the home of your dreams.

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If you’re a seller, now is a great time to get your home on the market.

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If you have any additional questions about this update or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give a call. We’d be happy to help!

An Exciting Message From Dar Walden & Wes Madden

Wes Madden and Dar Walden are together today for a special announcement.

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.

You might be wondering why I'm joined by my colleague Wes Madden in today's video. We actually have some exciting news to share: The Dar Walden Team and Madden Real Estate, two of the top real estate teams in Alaska, are merging!

To put that into perspective, last year we served a combined 778 clients with almost $200 million in sale volume. The best part is that Madden Real Estate will be part of the Keller Williams group, the world's largest franchise that has more than 150,000 agents and 800 offices around the world.

We teamed up so that we could provide our clients with true statewide service, making us the only team that serves all of Alaska. Our website is actually your only broker-owned source for all Alaska MLS listings.

We also have a worldwide referral network. If you're moving out of state, we can take care of any and all of your needs thanks to our network of 150,000 worldwide agents.

The merger also adds even more horsepower to our proven marketing systems. You might already know that we have some of the most progressive and exciting marketing strategies, and our merger will let us have synergy between all of our ideas and campaigns. We also share many of the same endorsements, including Barbara Corcoran, Glenn Beck, and Gary LeVox from Rascal Flatts.

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The merger also adds even more horsepower to our proven marketing systems.

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We also share a lot of core values; this whole deal simply wouldn't work if we didn't. Having a team with two people that carry the same belief system is truly an amazing thing.

So if you're interested in buying or selling a home here in Alaska or you're interested in a career in real estate, just give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!

We Want to Know Which Causes You Care About

We love helping out in the community and we'd like you to tell us about any causes you're passionate about.

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.

Today we're coming to you from the Alaska Heart Run, where our whole team is out here supporting and promoting healthy hearts.

We like to be active and helpful in the community, and if you've got a cause that you would like our team to join in on, let us know. We'd love to help support more great causes! 

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Let us know if there's a good cause you'd like us to know about.

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As always, give us a call or send us an email with any real estate questions you have as we're always here to help. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our Team Is Growing and We Need Your Help

There is an open position on our listing team right now. We need your help to find the right candidate.

Contact us at 907-240-2804

The Dar Walden Team is growing, and I’m reaching out to you today with an opportunity that might interest you or someone you know. Maybe you can help us out.

If you know of anyone, reach out to us!

We have an open position on our listing team that we want to fill with somebody who is motivated, driven, and enjoys working with other people. This position has a guaranteed base salary of $75,000 and doesn’t require previous experience. If you or somebody you know has experience, we would certainly be happy to hear from you as well.

If you know of anyone, have them give us a call or send us an email today and we’d be happy to have a chat with them. We want to fill this position quickly, so spread the word. We appreciate your help!

What’s Been Happening in Our Market Lately?

The Feds are raising interest rates once more next week, which means if you’re a seller in our market, the time to act is now.

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.

Today I want to share a quick market update with you. 

As you know, the Feds have announced they will raise interest rates again. They’re predicted to raise them next week, and the margin is predicted to be 0.25%. Right now, rates are at about 4.25%, which means after next week they’ll settle at 4.5% for the time being. In the middle of last December, they were at 3.88%. 

What does this mean to you if you’re thinking about selling your home? When interest rates go up, prices drop. The average sale price in the Anchorage/Eagle River/Girdwood area has dropped from $366,000 at the beginning of the year to $341,000. That’s a drop of about 6.7%, one of the largest we’ve seen in a long time.

Keep in mind that we’re also in the slow quarter, so some of this is a result of the time of year. Hopefully, that will level out as the year progresses. If you’re thinking about selling your house, don’t wait. Do it before these interest rates rise again and values go down. 

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If you’re thinking about selling your house, don’t wait any longer.

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If you have any questions or are thinking about putting your home on the market, please feel free to give me a call. I’d be happy to help you!

How to Keep Your Home Safe While You’re Away

How can you keep your home safer while you’re away? Here are our best tips.

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.

One question I’ve been getting a lot is, “What can I do to keep my home safe while I’m away?” Crime is on the rise in the Anchorage Valley area and keeping your house safe is important, especially if you’re traveling or on vacation. Here are a few things you can do to keep your home safer.

The first thing I would suggest is installing a camera in your doorbell. I’ve got one, and it tells me every time somebody rings the doorbell. I can even talk to the person before I open the door.

Another good idea is adding some exterior lighting with motion sensors. A lot of times, these will scare people off if they are snooping around.

It’s also a good idea to let your neighbors know you are leaving. I have neighbors on both sides of me that we inform every time we leave. Remember to put your mail on hold as well.

Finally, double check those windows and doors before you leave. One-third of all break-ins are unforced entries.

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Double check those windows and doors.

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I hope these tips are helpful and keep you safe and sound in your home. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

How Do Rising Interest Rates Impact You?

Interest rates have increased by 0.75% since the election and will continue to rise through 2017. What does this mean for you as a homebuyer?

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.

Interest rates have increased 0.75% since the election. That might not seem like much, but what do rising interest rates mean to you as a homebuyer? 

A 1% increase in interest rates on a $300,000 house can mean an extra $200 in your monthly mortgage payment. Not only that, but in order to qualify for that home, your income would need to increase by nearly $600 a month thanks to that rate increase. 

When interest rates go up, buying power goes down. You have to make more money to qualify for the same house, and your payments will be larger. 

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When interest rates go up, your buying power goes down.

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If you are on the fence about buying a home, now is the time to make your move. Interest rates will continue to rise over the next few years. They are expected to rise twice in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Now is the time to make your move if you want to beat those rate increases. 

If you have any other questions about buying a home or about the real estate market in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

It’s Your Last Chance to Register for the Home Seller’s Seminar

This is your last chance to register for our Home Seller’s Seminar on January 21st from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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.

Today I just wanted to send out a quick reminder to register for our Home Seller’s Seminar.

This is your last chance to sign up. If you’re thinking about selling your home in the next few months or even in the next year, I recommend that you attend.

Join us on Saturday, January 21st from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will provide lunch!

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This is your last chance to register!

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By the time you leave our seminar, you will understand the complete process of selling your home.

Register at AlaskaTopAgent.com or call 907-240-2804 to make sure you have a seat!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to seeing you!

You’re Invited to Our Home Seller’s Seminar

We’re hosting a home seller’s seminar on January 21st to teach you all about the home selling process.

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.

Today I wanted to give you a quick reminder that my team is hosting a home seller’s seminar on Saturday, January 21st at the Keller Williams building from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The point of this seminar is to help home sellers better understand the entire selling process. There are so many different facets along the way that people often get confused or just don’t understand. We have appraisers, heating companies, stagers, home inspectors, and a title company representative all attending to offer their expertise.

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We would love to educate you on the home selling process.

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This event is completely free to attend, and lunch will also be provided. If you bring a friend, we’ll even put your name in for a $100 drawing. If you’re interested in attending, you can call me on my cell phone at (907) 240-2804 or go to www.alaskatopagent.com and sign up.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to see you there!