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
Anchorage Housing Market: Where We Are Today…
The only surprise in the Anchorage housing market is that the recent bump-up in the 30 year fixed rate mortgage didn’t put a stop on the local buyer frenzy. In fact, it had the opposite effect as buyers raised into the market before another projected increase later Continue Reading
What’s an ARM?
Most buyers are familiar with the 30 year fixed rate mortgage but with higher interest rates the ARM mortgage is becoming the talk of the industry which typically has an initial lower interest rate. An ARM mortgage, according to Madona Rhine-Stack, NMLS #204026, Senior Continue Reading
Still Chasing the American Dream…
From Dubai to Dallas to Wasilla, Alaska, the residential real estate market flourished in 2021 despite the disruption of covid virus. Nationally, home prices rose 18%, according to a recently published Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices report. Anchorage experienced Continue Reading
Still a Sunny Market
All Anchorage MLS districts have had a 25% jump in sales volume year to date with downtown Anchorage leading all districts with a 220.32 per cent increase. Except, I should clarify for District 101, Girdwood-Turnagain Arm, which has had a 39.13 per cent decline due a Continue Reading
Home Prices Reach Record High
Anchorage’s average sales price rose to $428,313 for the first half of 2021 with a 7.95% increase. Even higher was May’s average sales price of $458,580 which was the highest monthly price since January 2013. No crystal ball at the end of 2020 would have Continue Reading
The Hidden Underbelly of Our Red Hot Housing Market
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
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.