Exploring life at the 64th parallel... and beyond.

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Home Builder - Jesse Clifton & Associates - AREC License #15292

ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS

2007 

Earlier this year I predicted the absorption rate for the Fairbanks real estate market would hit the 6-month threshold around the first of the new year. We haven't even celebrated the new year yet and I've alreday been proven wrong. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. With home sales slow...
12/31/2007
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Remember them? When all you had to do to sell your home was to put a sign in the front yard and within a matter of days multiple buyers were standing on your front porch vying for the chance to outbid each other? Well, that was yesterday. Welcome to today. I sat down this afternoon to look throug...
12/30/2007
Years ago we had the opportunity to invest in a global energy fund. At the time we were relatively new to managing our own investments. As a result we tracked the funds movement on what seemed like an hourly basis. At the end of the first year saw a return of almost 61%. Feeling confident we let ...
12/28/2007
While it's true that the US housing market is not as healthy as it was even a year ago, it's important to remember that real estate is local. Overall, Fairbanks Alaska real estate prices, for example, are up 5.1% from 2006. Prices for existing homes are up 6% from 2006. Not every segment of the r...
12/27/2007
Despite being at the heart of the holiday season, the market continues to march forward. The total number of homes sold rose a bit this week, and along with it, the total sales volume. Two $400K+ homes on the Ridge closed this week, although to get to closing they each took a 20% hit on their in...
12/24/2007
The Sarasota Herald Tribune has created a searchable database of teachers names who have been sanctioned for various offenses. The database, which contains almost 40,000 names is maintained by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. No mention is made a...
12/21/2007
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The Federal Reserve announced today it auctioned off yet another $20 billion to commercial banks at 4.67%, which is slightly lower than the current discount rate of 4.75%. This follows their $20 billion auction on Monday. According to the release, the FED received almost $58 billion in bids for t...
12/21/2007
21 Comments
Well, we've had it pretty easy so far. It took most of the year before we even saw the mercury dip below zero, but old man winter has arrived with a vengance. The past few days have seen temperatures nearing the -50 mark. I love Alaska and thankfully the summers make up for the few bouts of extre...
12/20/2007
In addition to provisions providing billions for the development of safe, clean biofuels, and a 40% increase in the CAFE standards, the energy bill signed by President Bush makes the incandescent light bulb obsolete. According to Bryan Dundan of Phillips Lighting, incandescent light bulbs current...
12/20/2007
This afternoon I was watching Hardball with Matthews. I only caught it for a few minutes but Matthews and Donny Deutsch were reviewing the Presidential candidates Christmas messages. The one I found most insulting was Edwards condescending "I'll look out for the little guy" message. Who would wa...
12/19/2007