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
Older Alaskans Need More Ranch Homes
Alaska’s senior population is growing. According to Alaska Economic Trends, Alaska has an estimated 87,304 seniors, up from 54,938 eight years before and more are on the way. Anchorage/Mat-Su added more than 17,000 seniors, representing over half the state’s Continue Reading
A Real Estate ‘True Confession’
I have been listing and selling real estate in Anchorage for almost forty years. It’s a job I love and will continue to do in the future. You would think after all those years of experience I would not make a simple mistake but I did. It has haunted me for the past several Continue Reading
The Right and Limitation to Homeownership in Alaska
This Fourth of July weekend seems like the perfect time to reflect on our right to own property. The Declaration of Independence specifically recognized the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, as originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson, Continue Reading
Why Interest Rates May Not Matter
A few weeks ago, I wrote about rising mortgage interest rates. At that time the 30 year fixed conventional rate had risen to 4.3% and I predicted that interest rates would go to 5% by the end of the year. Well, this week that same 30 year fixed rate went down to 4% which has Continue Reading
What I Learned in 2016
What I love most about selling real estate is that every property, every buyer, every seller is different so it is never boring! Putting all those variables together to complete a transaction gives you a uber high of satisfaction. Every year also has a different set of Continue Reading
New Housing Units Continue to Decline
The Municipality of Anchorage recently released its building permit summary through September 2016. As expected, it showed a continual slide in the construction of new housing units whether multi-family, duplex or single family. At the same time, according to the report, Continue Reading
When Is a Contract Not a Contract?
The forms committee of the statewide Multiple Listing Service has done an outstanding job in creating purchase and sale agreements which are used for the vast majority of residential real estate transactions in the state of Alaska. The contract is virtually a fill in the Continue Reading
More on Price Per Square Foot
My article two weeks ago on evaluating homes on a price per square foot basis created some controversy as a result of misinformation on my part and for that I apologize. The public website of Alaska MLS does NOT have a field for price per square foot and so that 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.