Well, COVID has finally caught me so I am writing this article from my home office. Being sequestered has certainly given me some time to reflect on the market fluctuations we have had over the past three years. From our locked doors until we came together Continue Reading
Archives for 2022
What Is the Benefit of a Lot Reservation?
From the time a land developer purchases a tract of land until he/she is able to sell lots in a fully approved and platted subdivision, there are multiple steps and obstacles to overcome. That approval and construction process may take anywhere from six months (if you are Continue Reading
Why HOAs Are So Important
Aside from being the Broker/Owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, I am also a residential land developer. I began my development career almost forty years ago and specialize in single family new home communities, including Kempton Park, Turnagain View Estates, more Continue Reading
To Refresh or Remodel…That Is the Question
Facing the 45% of homeowners who live in a home built prior to 1980. Today, the median age of a house in the MOA is 42 years. The Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES) didn’t exist until January 1, l992 when the 4 STAR minimum energy rating was Continue Reading
Have Interest Rates Had a Negative Impact on the Residential Real Estate Market
Sometimes I forget that the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) is more than the Anchorage Bowl. Its 1,947 square miles stretching all the way to Portage and north to Eklutna. We all tend to be a bit myopic and get comfortable with our favorite Costco or coffee Continue Reading
Time to Test Your Local Real Estate Knowledge
Learn more about the market and test your real estate knowledge with this quiz! 1. According to the US census, what is the population of the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) ? A. 292,090 B. 302,100 C. Continue Reading
If You Build It, Will It Sell?
And the answer is YES, despite the fact national homebuilder confidence has fallen for the 8th straight month. According to a recently published report by NAHB, 69% of builders reported higher interest rates as the reason behind falling housing demand, the top impact Continue Reading
Have We Reached a Post Covid Normal?
This past week I saw in MLS several price reductions, open houses and bonuses to selling licensees—all of which seemed like a return to normal pre-covid marketing activities. Despite the continued shortage of inventory and the 5% plus mortgage interest rates, I Continue Reading
Mortgage Lenders React to Market Shifts with New Loan Programs
Mortgage lenders and their back-end investors are reacting with aggressive new and revised loan programs to help potential buyers disappointed with higher interest rates while they struggle to find an affordable home. Despite the increased 5.75% for today’s Continue Reading
A Mid-Year Perspective on Alaska’s Housing
According to the 2021 U.S. census, there are 327,890 occupied housing units in Alaska which amounts to about two people per household. That’s an interesting statistic but what is even more interesting is the age of the housing stock. The median age for a dwelling Continue Reading
Connie Yoshimura is the Owner and Broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty. With over 40 years of residential real estate experience, she continues to be a leader in Alaska’s housing market. Most recently, she sold the highest-priced home ever recorded in the Alaska MLS.