jesse and kathy clifton: I'm thankful... - 11/26/08 10:31 AM
The house is alive with the sound of conversation and laughter; it's now filled to the brim with family and friends who are all together to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a sound I dearly love to hear. Preparations for dinner tomorrow are already well under way. There are pies in the oven and a scrumptious looking German chocolate cake on the counter. Tom the Turkey will go in around 3AM followed by a honey ham that makes my mouth water... by noon dish after dish of delicious treats will emerge from the kitchen to fill the table and then some. I'm blessed … (30 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Northern Lights - 11/18/08 09:40 PM
As can be attested to by the photo's on the right side of my blog I'm somewhat of an amateur photographer. Over the years I have taken tens of thousands of photo's that now sit in steamer trunks, photo albums, are stored on CD's and online and even have a few stacked in shoe boxes waiting to be organized. I've found it's a great way to take my mind off work. Scotch also works well but that's another story. to gather enough light for the photo. As I'm standing there I look across the river and see something moving. The cold … (30 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Holiday Food Drive - 11/17/08 06:13 AM
There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies.
-- Sir Winston Churchill My family and I are blessed. We have a roof over our heads, we have our health and we don't have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. At %*#@ pounds, heaven knows that I could certainly do with a few less trips to the kitchen. Like many, our cupboards and pantry are full. Open the doors at any given moment and you'll find a snack or meal sure to satisfy darn near any craving. Sadly, many are not that … (10 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Come on baby.... light my fire... - 11/11/08 07:24 PM
Sometimes you just have to wonder what people are thinking... if they're thinking or if they've just planted their heads firmly up their considerable.... well, you get the idea. It was reported this morning that a historic local business lost their eminent domain fight with the State of Alaska. It seems as though the city planners, with the help of our elected officials, are content to destroy yet another piece of Fairbanks past in the name of progress. In 1901, Felix Pedro (ne Felice Pedroni) and his partner Tom Gilmore, stopped to rest while on a 165-mile hike to Circle City … (17 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Happy Halloween - 10/31/08 03:46 AM
Well, it's that time of year again. Time to get dressed up as nuns and go bar hopping. ha. Just kidding. It's time to let the kids and grandkids go from door to door in an organized panhandling troupe in hops of scoring lots of sweet treats. Thanks to a grant from the Alaska Highway Safety Office, officers from the Fairbanks Police Department, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Police Department and Volunteers in Policing will be patrolling city neighborhoods between 5:30 - 9:00PM giving out glow sticks to trick or treaters. These glow sticks will help Fairbanks trick or treaters be … (21 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Are you ready for it... - 10/17/08 11:26 PM
Surviving a Fairbanks Winter
By: Fairbanks Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton This morning the thermometer outside my kitchen window said it was a balmy -12. Yep. That's twelve degrees BELOW zero. Brrr. If this is your first foray into the arctic you might be feeling as though you've been dropped off in an icy abyss. Take heart, this will feel warm at -60, I promise. First things first though; winter survival. Take it seriously, as old man winter can be an unforgiving old coot. Alaska is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. With millions of acres of unspoiled wilderness right out our … (45 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: She walks in beauty like the night... - 10/14/08 06:22 AM
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o'er her face,
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek and o'er that brow
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints … (39 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska - 10/09/08 09:51 PM
By: Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton Belonging to a family in which cancer has taken a hearty toll I can think of nothing else I would so love to see wiped from the face of the earth. Perhaps brussel sprouts, but first things first. As evidenced by the little pink ribbons popping up everywhere, most folks know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thanks to the addition of mobile mammogram clinics in '95 and '97 and new units in 2003 and again in 2006, the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska serves a vast area from the Bering … (3 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: A nasty little five letter word... - 10/09/08 05:52 AM
I've been called a lot of things in my time... some were glowing and syrupy sweet and admittedly there were a few don't bear repeating in mixed company. Yesterday, however, I had the unfortunate opportunity to explain one of the more unsavory five letter words to a Realtor colleague. Usury According to Black's Law: "The charging of an illegal rate of interest. An illegally high rate of interest..." i.e. robbery, stealing, exploitation... Recently I met with a potential client who was interested in putting several parcels of vacant land up for sale. They were originally purchased with the intent to develop … (83 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks AK Recycling Event - 10/02/08 09:21 PM
By: Fairbanks AK Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton In this case it is easy being green. Alaska Green Star is holding a fall recycling event this Saturday and Monday from 10:00AM - 4:00PM in the back parking lot of the Westmark Hotel on 8th and Noble (Google Maps Link). Green Star collected 12 tons from the recycling drive in April - a number they're hoping to match or exceed. According to the National Safety Council approximately 41 million computers became outdated in 2004 and 63 million in 2005. That number was expected to reach upwards of 500 million in 2007. Research … (9 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Heating your Fairbanks Ak home this winter - 10/01/08 09:34 PM
By: Fairbanks AK Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton With energy costs in Alaska still some of the highest in the nation, it's no surprise that the cost of heating fuel has been a major topic of discussion in Fairbanks lately. While my crystal ball is on the fritz it's a fairly safe bet that heating costs will be significantly higher this winter than last. However, there are some things you can do to ease the pain of seeing the fuel invoice hanging on your door. Shopping for the best price goes without saying, but don't forget to see what programs are … (9 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: I'm so not ready.... - 09/30/08 02:26 PM
I knew it was coming.... it's as regular as Uncle Herb and his fiber pills, but I'm still not ready. This afternoon around1:15 snow started to fall in Fairbanks and the Tanana Valley. What started as a few flakes has turned into a downright flurry. As always happens folks seem to forget how to drive when the snow shows up. REMEMBER, the brakes are NOT your friend. Slow down, take your time, give yourself a few extra minutes to get where you're going. It's not worth an accident. Wow. What a difference 24 hours makes. … (35 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks AK Real Estate - 2970 Drum Avenue - 09/28/08 06:52 PM
… (0 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Honoring Military Spouses - 09/22/08 06:42 PM
Military Spouse of the Year Award - Now Accepting Nominations Although praise is deservedly lavished on military service members serving this country, we sometimes overlook their support system at home; their military spouses. Long deployments to far away lands are no easy task. Military service members are in harms way and away from the family they love for extended periods of time. The wives and husbands left at home have an equally daunting task in that they're charged with keeping the home fires burning. In recognition of their countless contributions and sacrifices, Military Spouse Magazine is accepting nominations for the 2009 … (17 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Sell our home? Nah, we just like the sign. - 09/19/08 11:54 PM
This will undoubtedly go down as one of the most bizarre days I've had in real estate since... well, ever. I spent the morning with a very nice couple from Offutt, AFB looking to move back to Alaska next spring when they retire. After meeting them for coffee this morning to go over our list of homes to see and review the information packages we set off to see if we could find their dream home. Prospect #1 - Advertised as a "stunning charmer" by an obviously far sighted listing agent. It was anything but. I swear I saw bigfoot under … (45 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Month in Review August 2008 - 09/17/08 11:31 AM
Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Month in Review - August 2008 What a crazy month. We bid adieu to Lehman, then watched as Bank of America swallowed Merrill Lynch and now the Fed has nationalized AIG. Rumors of a similar fate surround the few other giants left standing. The real estate and finance landscape is changing daily and at a record pace. To say we’re living in interesting times would be an understatement. The good news is that the Fairbanks real estate market continues to move forward despite near catastrophic news from the financial powerhouses on Wall Street. Locally, home sales picked … (6 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: $3,269 - 09/05/08 02:15 PM
Folks have been speculating on the number for weeks. How much will it be? Today the wondering ended with an announcement by Lt. Governor Sean Parnell this morning that the 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend amount would be $2,069 plus an additional one time resource rebate of $1,200 to all eligible Alaskans. The total payout for 2008 for each eligible man, woman and child is $3,269. The one time resource rebate payout was approved by Governor Palin and approved by the legislature last month. “The royalty dollars that flow through the state are the people’s wealth,” said Parnell. “The $1,200 resource rebate … (20 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Is it over already? - 09/03/08 09:59 PM
What, just a short time ago, was a lush green lawn has turned into a bed of golden birch and aspen leaves. I love the colors of fall but I'm just not sure I'm ready to usher in another fall/winter season just yet. Where the hell is Al Bore-Gore and global warming when I need it? As they always are, the summer of 2008 was filled with family, good friends and memories that will last a lifetime... or until senility sets in, which for those of you who know me could be any day now. All told there were 33 guests … (45 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: The check's in the mail... - 08/20/08 10:14 PM
With spiraling fuel costs putting many Interior Alaska families in the unenviable position of having to choose between food or heat, the Governor and Legislature have decided to take action. While it can't be described as a perfect solution... I'm not even sure one exists… the Governor and Legislature have made a step in the right direction. With fuel costs among the highest in the nation and winter fast approaching, participating Alaskan's can expect to see an additional $1,200 "resource rebate" included with their Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend this year. This one-time energy relief payout from the state treasury is the … (26 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Jack frost nipping at my nose.... - 08/19/08 09:16 PM
Alright, we put up with the frigid winter temps, the slick icy roads and the diminished daylight for the majority of the year so we can have warm, dry arctic desert summers. I don't know where our summer went this year but it certainly won't be described as warm and dry. First came the incessent rain followed, of course by flooding and now the national weather service is telling us to prepare for the first frost of the season. Truly? Sorry to disappoint you egghead weather folks, but we've already crossed that disgusting weather bridge. The photo below was taken two … (34 comments)