The red hot housing market has pushed its way into the new year. For January 2021 MLS reports a 41% increase in the number of sales compared to last year’s January plus an average price increase of 12.95%. This past week there were 65 pending sales in Anchorage/Eagle Continue Reading
Low Mortgage Rates Entice the Small Investor
Historic low mortgage rates are not just for the single family/condo home buyer. Mortgage rates are also a major factor in profitability for the small investor who chooses to begin with an owner-occupied property. According to Madona Rhine-Stack at Alaska Continue Reading
An Important Apology from the President of the National Association of Realtors
In 1979 I received my Alaska real estate license. I was unaware that only 11 years before the National Association of Realtors had opposed the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act. And at one time allowed members to be excluded based on race or gender. Thus, Continue Reading
VA Financing Helps Promote Home Ownership
At ten percent, Alaska has the highest per capita share of veterans than any other state. And according to the 2016 Housing Assistance Council, Alaskan veterans have a home ownership rate of 69.5% which is higher than the homeownership rate for Continue Reading
Differing Opinions Emerging on the Market
A longtime friend, client and real estate investor wrote me this week expressing his concern about the future of the south central residential real estate market. His take is there has been a slight slowdown in the market (true) and the emerging combination of Continue Reading
A Divided Housing Market
It’s hard to remember what real estate sales and the market was like before Covid-19. Booties, masks, gloves and health questionnaires are now standard protocol for open houses. Yesterday, we had a buyer meeting for a potential new home in Sandhill Reserve with the buyer’s Continue Reading
How Real Estate Is Changing
Driving down C street on my way to work, I can’t help but reflect how in just a few short weeks the real estate industry has changed. I now carry in my tote a face mask and rubber gloves. My iPhone has the zoom app and virtual tours are taking the place of most open Continue Reading
Thoughts on Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
So here I am writing this column from my home office after being encouraged by caring staff to follow the CDC instructions for social distancing and self-quarantine after having traveled last week in the lower ’49 and, even though I hate to admit it, Continue Reading
What’s Happening in the Market?
It is hard to believe but January sales in Anchorage increased by 37% when compared to January 2019. That increase was despite all concerns over the state’s economy, including job losses in the oil patch and Anchorage’s reported population loss. But, here Continue Reading
2019 Real Estate Market Report & 2020 Predictions
There’s been little change in the Anchorage real estate market over the past five years. The average price of a single family home has remained stable, varying up and down by only a few thousand dollars from $364,919 to $375,000. Residential inventory has had a slow decline Continue Reading
Connie Yoshimura, Owner/Broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty, has over 30 years of residential real estate experience. She was the number one individual realtor, according to Multiple Listing Service, in 2015,2016, 2017.