Annie's Real Estate Homer, Alaska

End of the Road

2009-07-16T15:03:00.001-07:00

Complications from rheumatoid arthritis has forced a detour in my real estate career. We are moving south, my husband and I, for a while to see if the warmth of a desert climate will help me defeat this nasty illness. My dear friend, Ann Koskovich, is taking over my business. If you need anything, give her a call at 907-235-5232 or email her at d-akosko@xyz.net . Happy trails! You can follow the next chapter of my life by following our new blog http://www.ak2nm.blogspot.com/ Love to you all!!! Annie

Catching up in the New Year

2009-01-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Well, a case of the sniffles with an attached case of the lazies has kept me from my little blog for a while. Three weeks of 0-degree temperatures has now given way to 40-degree plus weather, rain and crazy Chinook winds blowing everything sideways. So now we have lovely ice everywhere, folks are digging through their closet to find their crampons just to go to the post office and it's just another typical Homer winter. Beautiful sunrises this time of year, as you can see by this photo taken by my daughter from the third floor of our house. You can see the lights of the Homer Spit as the sun comes up over the Kenai Mountains across Kachemak Bay. Not bad, not bad at all! Wishing all of you a happy and prosperous 2009. The year has started out busy for a lot of us in the real estate world--interest rates have gotten down below 5% for some loans, making it really a great time for home purchases--also for construction loans to build something new. We're hopeful that the year continues the way it's begun!

Our Family Business

2008-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Not only am I a Realtor, but I am partner with my husband, David Webster, in his business David Webster Carpentry. He is a General Contractor with a Residential Endorsement--licensed and bonded. We've built two houses which we've sold over the past two years and are presently finishing a third in the same neighborhood as these two you see here. Our houses are built to 5* and 5*+ energy ratings. Our daughter Susannah and her husband own "Tough But Fair Construction" and are licensed subcontractors. When she is building with him, then you might see a "Webster and Daughter Carpentry" sign around town, as well! The two of them are building two houses right now--one is a 956 square foot home with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and a one-car garage right beside this cozy Craftsman-style ranch we built on Forest Glen Drive two year's ago. The second one is going to be for Susannah and Matt and little Beatrix on some land up off West Hill. You can follow the progress of this home by going to their Blog at www.westhillhouse.blogspot.com Susannah usually posts every couple weeks or so their progress on their home.

We have another lot in the neighborhood of the houses above. If you're interested in having something built for you just let me know!

Holidays!!!

2008-12-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

With the return of the Light at Solstice, the celebrations of Love and Hope at Christmas and Hanukkah I am reminded over and over how grateful I am for my family, my many friends, and my clients who keep me laughing, loving and learning. Wishing everyone the happiest of times! I look forward to the next year full of health and prosperity and a new promise for peace and goodwill around the world.

Winter Visitor

2008-12-19T18:13:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the winter visitors in Homer and Anchor Point can surprise you. Here's a hungry moose eating my peppermint outside the door while granddaughter Beatrix takes it all in stride!

There's always something interesting in Homer, Alaska!

Some Things for Fun!!!

2008-12-19T17:56:00.001-08:00

My clients Kevin and Kammi just sold their remote cabin through me (see the write-up on the cabin on a previous page), before I had a chance to share their Blogs with you--so for fun, check out what Kevin is doing with his cutting-edge film/video business http://frontiermediaarts.blogspot.com/, and Kammi's wonderful Cosmic Hoops blog and website http://www.cosmichoops.net/. Also, little Spencer Co's Blog is getting a lot of attention just because it's so darn cute--he was born in that remote cabin of theirs http://spencerkuanco.blogspot.com and now shares his mom and dad with his new little sister, Marina Penelope Pearl Co. Kevin and Kammi are perfect examples of the vibrant young families that populate Homer and continue to "keep Homer weird" (AND WONDERFUL!!!)

841 Goldberry Court

2008-12-11T16:14:00.001-08:00

This lovely 2.73 acre lot is located just off West Hill Road almost to the top at the end of a great cul-de-sac. This is a "flag lot" (which means it's shaped like a flag at the end of a flagpole). The "pole" of the flag is its driveway, which carries you deep into the property shown here. Lovely and private, you will have your own great view of the Kenai Mountains. This property is listed at $60,000 and would make a wonderful lot for your new home. Email me for more information!

152 West Danview

2008-12-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

This is a great little building lot right in Homer proper, just a hop, skip and a jump from South Peninsula Hospital (http://www.sphosp.com/). This lot has a paved street and City utilities, including water and sewer. As you can see, there's a mountain-top view from the front of the lot; from the back and definately from a second story you would see Kachemak Bay. This photo was taken from the front of the lot. You have neighbors across the street and neighbors on each side of you. This is a great neighborhood just off Main Street. This area is zoned "Office-Residential" so you could have an in-home business here. Other offices in the neighborhood include a physical therapy office, a structural integration office, two surgeon's offices, and a dentist's office. However, there are only residential buildings on this portion of West Danview, so you still have that neighborhood feel. The owners are asking $45,500 for this lot; if you can find a lot in Homer with these amenities and cheaper than this, I'll eat my hat!!!

Homer Real Estate News

2008-12-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Wednesday) my broker, Philip Alderfer, was one of the presenters on KBBI Radio's "Coffee Table" program (www.kbbi.org), talking about the real estate market in Homer. Some of the information he presented was as follows:

"The Good News: On average, MLS brokers sold 110 residential homes per year (including condos and multi-family’s) in the Homer area* between 2002 and 2007. In 2008 we are on pace to sell 90+. While that is a decline, the market has not totally gone away.

The Bad News: Between 2002 and 2007, MLS brokers sold an average of 120 vacant lots per year in the Homer area and in 2008 we are on pace to sell only 65-70. As I see it, the Homer “land bubble” has popped. 2006 was the high water year for land, with 160 closings. The market has slid 60% since then, to the level we see today.

What about inventory? Inventory levels remain high, especially for a softening market. With nearly 120 homes available in the Homer area, we currently have 12-14 months inventory available, excluding any new listings. And with more than 200+ vacant lots in Homer, alone, and sales of less than 100 / year, land inventory far exceeds current demand.

So what about sales prices?: In 2002, the average Homer-area home price was $143,600. In 2007 the average home price rose to $247,300, an increase of 72% over 7 years. However, in 2008 the average home price will fall, to approximately $215,100, a 13% YoY decline. While average lot sale prices rose from $35,700 to $83,400 between 2002 and 2007, the average lot sales price was $85,920 in 2008. With inventory levels remaining high, I would expect this average price to fall, perhaps significantly, over the next 1-2 years. (Nor are dramatic price fluctuations unusual. Between 1998 and 1999, average lot sales prices fell by 13% and between 2001-2002 they fell again by 19.6%)

Finally, High-end homes are most likely to experience pricing pressures: While the average home sales price was $215,000 in 2008, the average list price was far in excess of that, at $353,000. This reflects appreciation in the perceived value of the underlying land and increasing building materials costs on new construction. However, in 2008 RE brokers will sell only 8-10 homes priced at $350,000 or more. And as of today, there are 46 homes listed at or above $350,000, nearly 5 years of available inventory.

Now, more than ever, we must council “aggressive pricing” with our Sellers, especially at the high end. Lower priced homes must be in perfect condition, priced well, and immediately “show-able.” And for our buyers it is a great time to go shopping. Interest rates are likely to fall as the Feds work to stimulate consumer spending. However, they will be quick to reverse rates as soon as they sense any strength in the broader economy. So, if buying a home is a goal for the next year or two, let’s encourage clients to think about buying now!

Lastly, as always, the best measure of economic strength in a community is jobs, jobs, jobs! " So this was Philip's take on the market, and I agree with him.

Now if you're a seller of raw land, you shouldn't get discouraged. Part of hiring a Realtor to sell your property is getting it priced right and marketed agressively. That's where I come in. If you have property to sell, give me a call or email me and we'll talk about how to position your piece of property in today's market! Don't despair! What seems like a challenge is really just an opportunity!

Just for Fun

2008-12-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

Check here for all the houses between Homer and Anchor Point that have sold between October 1st and December 1st flexmls

Homer's Market

2008-12-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

People ask me all the time about how Homer's real estate market is doing, and I always answer the same: We have a small market (76 houses sold so far this past year) but we're steady, selling between five and nine houses per month. Modest houses under $250K seem to be selling the best; it's harder for houses over $300K to sell, and they are often on the market for a longer period of time. Homer doesn't have much of an economic base--fishing and the timber industry has flattened over the past few years, and our tourist industry's success in any given year depends on the amount of discretionary money that can bring folks here. A combination of bad weather and a dicey economic forecast does not bode well for our fishing charter, eco-tourism, restaurant and gallery industries during their brief seasons. That being said, there are plenty of individuals and families who are self-employed or employed by one of our major employers (the Feds, the State, the Borough, the City, the hospital, the school district, Homer Electric Association, or our many service-related businesses) and they know about the wisdom of the forced savings account and the tax benefits of home ownership. So even though a lot of our Homer real estate home and land purchases are driven by our wonderful view and by people who come here and then decide to live here, there is a steady market of folks who already are here who want to own a home. Thus the on-going predictability in our sales numbers.

Just for Fun

2008-11-30T16:05:00.001-08:00

Check out Lori Evan's lovely editorial in this past week's Homer News: http://www.homernews.com/stories/112608/oped_4_001.shtml . It pretty much says it all!

Giving Thanks

2008-11-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Have spent a lazy Thanksgiving weekend musing about the levels of gratitude that exist in my own life. I live in an incredibly beautiful place. Even in the midst of the snowstorms that seem to periodically plague us (what did we do with the snow shovels last spring???), watching my 3 year old granddaughter delight in being pulled on her sled by her dad, oblivious to the cold that makes my knees complain mightily, I am filled with thankfulness that I was here to experience that moment. As I watched them run past my window and heard her squeals of laughter, I also was struck by the backdrop of spruce woods, the meadow below our house, and the sweep of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains beyond. So my gratitude at experiencing this simple, sweet moment was compounded by the fact that I was experiencing it in such a beautiful location. There is something so very special about being so close to both the mountains and the ocean. Surely we are very lucky and fortunate people to be able to be able to experience both so intimately.

Falls Creek Road

2008-11-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

Boy, this is a great piece of rolling meadow--two lots totalling 2.52 acres slope to the south and to the east off West Falls Creek Road. You can see the property here on the left just off the road, and you can see what kind of view it has. The alder are dense here along the road, which provides great privacy and dust control, but then it opens up to the east and slopes gradually to the south-southeast. Here's another photo of the meadow just east of this photo.

All this property used to be part of a farming homestead that stretched from East Falls Creek over to West Falls Creek. The owner and his family still farm and run some cattle in this area. Down below this property there are other ranching families and a few alpaca. This land has been grazed and worked for a long time, and many of the locals in the area are related to some of the first homesteaders. The owner of this land came here years ago to farm with his family--long before East End Road was much more than a horse path. Now it's paved and this property is only a 15 minute drive to Fritz Creek and about a 28 minute drive to Homer. Friendly and hard-working folks live in this neighborhood--you'd fit right in! The seller is asking $50,000 for the property and would finance with 20% down. Contact me for more details or with any questions.

Just For Fun

2008-11-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

Check out the Four Tops and the late, great Levi Stubbs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koQqIE_ewXY

James Maria Road

2008-11-22T17:07:00.001-08:00

I have two one-acre + lots listed on James Maria Road, each listed for $75,000. This is truly beautiful property is located on a Kenai Peninsula Borough-maintained road just off Old East End Road at 12 miles east of Homer. This area of the Borough is often referred to as Fritz Creek. When we first moved to Homer we lived down this road and would go to the Fritz Creek General Store for sundries and our mail, and you probably would, too, if you built a house here. They have a fantastic bakery and sandwich shop, wonderful tamales and pizza, too!You might also want to eat at one of the area's finest restaurants across the street, the Homestead Restaurant (http://www.homesteadrestaurant.net/) Our youngest went to McNeil Canyon School (www.edline.net/pages/McNeil_Canyon_Elementary) and we were incredibly happy with her education there. We liked the fact that there was a very strong and active Parent-Teacher Advisory Group there. But let's talk a little more about this lovely property. One lot is a corner lot, accessed by James Maria Road and by the newly-constructed Lisa Street. (These roads are marked if you're out for a drive and each have my signs on them. ) The second lot is just to the west of the corner lot and is accessed by James Maria. Both lots have giant cottonwood trees standing on them--these trees are so wonderful. Do you know that the soothing skin salve "Balm of Gilead" is made from the sticky pitch that exudes from the spring buds of the cottonwood leaves? There are several herbalists that provide this terrific salve to local stores and at the summer farmer's market. The perfume from these trees each May is indescribable, but once experienced, will always say "Alaska." The view from these lots is wonderful--a narrowing of Kachemak Bay below them bring the Kenai Mountains even closer than in other areas that follow the Bay from Homer east to the Fox River Flats.

Thus the glaciers and the mountains themselves just seem to loom over you here. I'm going to add another photo just because words don't do justice to this property!!! Again, these properties are $75,000 each and you can email me for more information.

52546 Hematite Avenue

2008-11-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

As a Realtor, every once and a while you're allowed to represent a really stellar piece of property--and this one fills that bill for me! Thirty acres of south-sloping meadow and old potato fields, this land was once part of the homestead of one of Homer's early Pioneers, and now belongs to the second generation. When my family first came to town, we lived not far from here, and this homesteading family befriended my husband, our young children and I and helped us make it through our first couple of difficult winters by sharing their bounty with us. I clearly remember digging wonderful fat red potatoes out of the ground next to this property on a crisp, clear September day, marvelling at the view. How close the glaciers and the mountains appear from this land! How wonderful to be so close to McNeil Canyon and it's bears and moose and all the little critters that call this property home! The view from here is really unparalled and quite difficult to describe. You'll just have to come here and have my partner Peg, and maybe one of the owners, walk it with you. A private driveway easement (presently surveyed out and flagged but not developed)off James-Maria Road ensures the utmost privacy; this easement allows for a six-lot subdivision if you were so inclined, or keep it in one piece for a family compound. This is truly a one-of-a kind property that must be walked on to truly comprehend it. If you owned this property, you would be just off East End Road at about 12.5 miles--then about another couple miles to the property. The family will sell this thirty acres for $344,500 and might make arrangements with the right buyers for some owner financing. Please contact me for more photos, maps and information.

54351 Hill Avenue

2008-11-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

Have a large family or LOTS of company coming this summer? This place is only a couple years old and over 2000 square feet. With four bedrooms, including two master suites with 3/4 baths and walk-in closets, this home affords both room for everyone and great views from the sunken living room. Check out the photo here to the right--how would you like to see this each time you look out the window? This home has a hot water boiler system for energy-efficiency and marble floors in the kitchen/dining area. An over-sized one-car garage makes sure you have room for everything, and the septic is an engineered Advantex system http://www.muni.org/Onsite/advantex.cfm . The house and its attached garage sits on just a little over 1.5 acres off Chelsey Street, about 9.5 miles east of Homer. Neighbors to the east have horses and nice gardens, certainly an option for this home as well. The owners were in the Coast Guard and were relocated before they had an opportunity to develop this lot. The home is presently listed at $280,000 and will be part of a "Short Sale." Please do contact me for more information about this listing.

39355 Kipling Circle

2008-11-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

Oh what a sweet little place this is! Lovingly built, this post and beam home is full of local spruce, crafted by long-time Homer resident and naturalist Ed Schofield. Although Ed is no longer with us, the loving attention to detail that really highlighted all his life's work certainly is embodied in this home. Nestled on 2.2 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac about 6 miles out of Homer, this one bedroom, one bath home has a hand-built spruce kitchen, a Monitor heater, a cistern (for drinking water to be delivered), a septic system, and a small garage/shop which has a fully insulated and heated room that could easily be a studio/guest bedroom. The picture to the right shows an example of the built-in local spruce shelving, trim and custom cabinetry in the first-floor bathroom. Spruce trim, exposed beams and finish work fill this cozy cottage and lend a warmth and ambiance that you don't always find. If you are a gardener, then this has several perfect spots for vegetables and flowers. There are also several naturalized spots containing local wild raspberries, elderberry, alder and wildflowers. The wild geranium in this area is especially lovely. The list price for this property is $179,500. Don't hesitate to contact me for more details.

54585 Florey Avenue

2008-11-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, now this listing is going to test your romantic idea of Homer. When we first came to town in the early 80's, lots of folks we knew were living "off the grid" where they needed to walk or ski into their property, used propane appliances and lights, used an outhouse or composting toilet -- in other words, they were living the remote Homer dream. This property affords you that possibility in the 21st century!!! This heavily-insulated, Tyvek-wrapped cabin sits on 19 view acres off Hutler Road just south of McNeil Canyon Elementary school, about 12 miles east of Homer. It's accessible by trail to the property, and actually, once the ground is frozen until breakup, you can drive in with a 4WD vehicle; you can also drive in the summer when the ground dries out. Other times, skis or a 4-wheeler or your own two feet will get you there best. The house has two solar panels, inverter, battery packs etc. as well as a generator. There are propane appliances, including an on-demand hot water heater. There's a water storage tank in the kitchen for hauled water. Basically you have the beginnings of a remote dream that's being left for you to complete. The land is glorious, south-sloping view property. There are trees and meadow and as you can see from this photo taken from the second story of the cabin, you can see the Spit and all the way to Seldovia Point. The owners are asking $155,000 for the property and they would owner finance--email me for more details. Well, guess what??? This place sold on 12/19 to a Homer pioneering couple, just in time for Christmas!!! My folks are happy, and the new buyers are happy as well. Happy Holidays and Congratulations to EVERYONE!!!

650 Whispering Meadows

2008-11-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

This side-by-side duplex is located at the top of West Hill in the lovely Westwood Estates Subdivision. Each unit has a bath and a half, two bedrooms, oil Monitor heating with electric baseboard and woodstove back-up. Each unit is totally independent: each renter pays for their own utilities. The property is served with a privated DEC-approved septic and a drilled well. Because this home sits on an acre, and is built in the south-east corner of this corner lot, there is plenty of room to the west for a large garage, shop, and/or garden. This home is located just inside city limits. Each unit is afforded that great West Hill View!!! This view is an added perc for your renters and allows for a top rental price. This is a perfect place for those who need a two-bedroom home and would like the rent from their neighbors to help with their mortgage. The house has a carport with room for two vehicles, exterior storage and a detached wood-fired sauna--what a treat after a day of cross-country skiing out your door! List price is $249,500. Email me for details, rents, etc.

3672 Soundview Street

2008-11-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

Over the next week or so I will be adding listings that I have, with some descriptions and a couple photos for you to view. I hope that in this way I will be able to discuss each one in a way that reflects their unique qualities, which will then help you know more about the property and also understand a little about the neighborhood that they're in.

The first listing is this cozy house on West Soundview here in Homer proper. It's a little over 1200 square feet and has three good-sized bedrooms, including a master with a full bath. There's a closet with a washer-dryer, a 3/4 bath also in the hallway, a kitchen with bleached oak cabinets and an open living/dining space with a sweet little propane "woodstove." If you look out the living and master bedroom windows, this is the view you see. This house is in a sweet little family neighborhood right across the street from West Homer Elementary School. This school serves Homer kids in grades 4-6 and is the newest school that's been built in Homer. From here kids in 7th and 8th grades just move down the street to the Homer Middle School and then across town to Homer High School when they reach that age. You can see a close-up of the school roof in this photo--I took it as a close-up so you could also see the Homer Spit in the background. From the living room of this house you can see from the Homer Spit all the way to the mouth of Kachemak Bay. If you look closely you can see a glacier or two in this photo, which is pretty neat! This house is listed for $193,500. Just email me for more photos and the MlS listing profile, documents, disclosures, maps and etc. Just for fun, you should visit the owner's daughter's website: http://www.spacecraftclothing.com/ . Sarah has recently begun this business full of funk and fun. She's beginning a new retail line as well as her wholesale offerings. Her website is a kick, and my seller is so incredibly proud of her! WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT AS OF THE WEEK OF 12/6!!! ~~~YEA~~~

A Little About Me and This Blog

2008-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hi there and welcome to my blog. I'm a Realtor in Homer Alaska and have been for over 14 years now. As an Associate Broker with the Alderfer Group Realtors, I specialize in the problem-solving that often accompanies a Seller's decision to sell and an Buyer's decision to purchase. Often there are hundreds of unanswered questions that a client might have that need to be addressed in order to proceed comfortably with their decisions. And I'm there to help.

My family and I headed out to Alaska in 1981 in an old '67 Travel-all, with all our worldly goods stacked into milk crates and black plastic bags (matching luggage!!!) We settled in a campground in Anchorage and after several weeks found a house to rent. Two years later, we moved to Homer. Both our kids graduated from Homer schools and we all were, and continue to be, active members of the community here. My background is as a social worker and case manager; my husband is a general contractor and the best sax player on the Peninsula! Our other kids live far away on the East Coast, but our youngest daughter and her family recently moved back to Homer. Right now she's my husband's right-hand gal, helping him build houses.
Homer and Anchor Point are wonderful communities in which to raise a family, and now we get to watch the next generation grow up here, which is a real treat for us. (Now that we're reaching that "magic age" ourselves, we can also unequivically say it's a great place to retire as well! )
There are so many diverse and interesting people here and so many, many things to occupy your time. If you are bored here, it's your own fault!

I hope the properties you see here and the photos of the area, coupled with the information and chat that I add here really gives you a sense of this wonderful, beautiful place--I also hope it will whet your appetite for a possible real estate purchase at some point! If there are things of interest, if your curiosity is piqued, let me know. I'm glad to answer any and all of your questions, so fire away!

Welcome

2008-11-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is Homer.