Land in Anchorage
When you envision Anchorage and Alaska, you can't help but imagine big trees, large lots with privacy and space between neighbors. This vision may be true for areas outside of Anchorage. However, the town of Anchorage is becoming much like other mid-sized cities in the U.S.
As you see by the graph below, Alaska is owned by several entities. Private individuals are by far the minority owners. The problem is magnified in Anchorage because the town is "sandwiched" between the Chugach Mountain Range to the east, the Cook Inlet body of water to the west and Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force base to the North
These geographic constraints, combined with high development costs, have pushed the price of land higher than you might envision. Higher prices have required many lots be developed smaller, in order to provide economical housing for many people.
The average city lot is generally 6,000 - 7,000 square feet and would demand prices beginning around $45,000. Of course, extra amenities, views and better locations and neighborhoods can add more value. Nicer city lots are common in the $70,000 price range, too.
If you are interested in acreage and space, you are probably interested outside of Anchorage. I would recommend the beautiful Kenai Peninsula and the surrounding area to the south of Anchorage, or north of Anchorage to the fertile Matanuska Valley and towns of Palmer and Wasilla. Much land and acreage is available beyond these towns in Talkeetna, located at the base of Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in the northern hemisphere.
If you are interested in land in Alaska, describe your interests to me, and I will be happy to put you in touch with good real estate agents who know the property in areas outside of Anchorage.
It is difficult to shop for land on the Internet however. There is nothing quite like walking the land, smelling the clean air and enjoying the silence of great outdoors! When you come to Alaska for vacation, the saying goes "you never completely leave". The country has a way of staying in your heart!
Copyright 2008 Dan Wolf, Realtor
All rights reserved.
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