jesse and kathy clifton: My job is hard enough... - 06/04/08 10:51 PM
Finally... an MLS Rules Committee action that I can get behind. ...For far too long those darn listing agents have been making my job difficult. I mean, they only put the bare minimum information in the MLS which just makes it hard as the dickens for me to do my job. Like today, I sat down and checked the MLS while waiting to go to a hair appointment to see if any cute houses had come up for sale. I found one that looked perfect for that one buyer I got on floor duty. But, all it says is the house … (25 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks log homes for sale - 05/29/08 08:26 PM
Fairbanks log homes for sale - Alaskana at its truest. For many a log home is the ultimate Alaskan residence. Fairbanks home buyers often cite a log home as one of their dream requirements. Well, dream no more. There are currently 51 log homes for sale in Fairbanks and Interior Alaska ranging from a rustic cabin on a great view lot for $65,000 to a stunning lodge on Blue Creek and the Tanana River in Delta Junction for $2,000,000. With an average asking price of $250,000 there's sure to be a Fairbanks log home for every taste and budget. The majority … (2 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks River Front Homes For Sale - 05/29/08 08:24 PM
Fairbanks River Front Homes For Sale - Enjoy life on the Chena River! It seems the two things Fairbanks home buyers most often ask for is a home in the hills with a view or a home on the river. Whether you're looking for a place to park your float plane, a home for your boat, or you're just looking for a sweet spot on the river to wash away your troubles at the end of a long day, there's sure to be a Fairbanks river front home that you'll fall in love with. All of these beautiful homes are within … (0 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: For Sale By Owner; It's not easy, is it? - 05/21/08 05:08 PM
Tonight while going to check on listing, I passed the home of an unrepresented Fairbanks homeowner. It was a new construction project the sellers either built to resell or were forced to sell due to circumstances. I've watched as this particular 'builder' spent the better part of a year and a half working to finish this house. What caught my eye tonight though was a very large handwritten sign with the words "I will pay all closing costs for veterans" written across it in big block letters. My first thought was to wonder if the seller was paying closing costs, closing … (8 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks View Homes For Sale - 05/21/08 09:34 AM
Fairbanks view homes for sale - Great values await savvy Fairbanks home buyers. Looking for a Fairbanks home with an extraordinary view? With a swelling inventory and a market that certainly favors buyers, now is a great time to buy a Fairbanks view home. There are currently 20 Fairbanks homes on the market that feature outstanding city, mountain and/or river views. Homes range from a beautiful spacious home off Gold Mine Trail for $374,900 to a stunning new construction off Chena Ridge for $639,000; all with stellar views. In addition to enjoying the views afforded by these homes, those who call … (2 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: A walk on the wild side... - 05/19/08 06:11 PM
Chena Lakes Recreation Area Located just a few miles from Fairbanks and North Pole is Chena Lakes Recreation Area; a 2,100 acre Lake and River Park, campground and picnic area. It's a fantastic place to spend a summer afternoon or weekend enjoying the great outdoors. Although Chena Lakes is only a few miles from the city of North Pole, once inside the park it feels like you're a million miles away. The lake park is built around a 260 acre lake surrounded by a long sandy beach. Nestled into a winding loop are numerous waterfront picnic tables with BBQ grills and … (9 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Sunday Morning on the River - 05/18/08 10:18 AM
Greetings from sunny and slightly chilly Fairbanks, Alaska. We made the decision late Friday to head to our favorite spot on the river for a weekend getaway. This particular area is located in the Chena State Recreation Area, approximately 50 miles from Fairbanks, on the banks of the Chena River. We found this little oasis a few years ago while exploring the many access roads that lead from Chena Hot Springs Road to the Chena River. We have a couple of favorites - one in particular we were lucky to get is a secluded area tucked away on a bend in … (15 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Oil prices... we need relief! (A different slant) - 05/18/08 12:23 AM
This subject has been discussed ad nauseam by every pundit, politician and armchair general I know. No one, myself included, enjoys watching the little numbers on the pump spin around like the electric meter at the Griswold house at Christmas. On a recent fill up of our motorhome we spent right at $600. Diesel is now at $4.30; that's a near 7% increase in the price at the pump in just a couple of weeks. Ouch. President Bush just met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to request a 1 Million barrel per day increase in OPEC's daily production levels. Knowing … (31 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Maynard The Moose - 05/17/08 05:32 PM
Have you ever heard the phrase "up the creek without a paddle... with the repo man on the shore waitin' for the boat?" Well, of course you have. Apparently the saying originates from a place called Gosport, Endland where injured sailors would be sent up a creek and then loaded onto another boat that was on rails to the Hasler Hospital. At least that's the story I discovered after a little Googling. While we've probably all felt that way at least once it appears as though Maynard the Moose is livin' proof it actually happens! The above photo (click to enlarge) … (14 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Get your fudge fix... - 05/16/08 02:25 PM
Do you have a hankerin' for some fudge? Does the thought of freshly made chocolate pecan fudge make your mouth water? If so, I know just the place you need to check out. Located in downtown Fairbanks, The Fudge Pot is a Fairbanks treasure. They have been satisfying Fairbanksans sweet cravings since 1997 with some of the best fudge in the state. Do you like plain 'ol regular fudge? How about mint chocolate or my personal favorite, butter pecan. I'm telling you, this stuff is so good it'll make you swallow your tongue. Well, ok, not really but it is darn … (14 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks Homes - Real Estate w/ Acreage - 05/14/08 09:57 AM
Fairbanks Real Estate buyers are discovering now is a great time to get into the market. Now that the leaves are turning green and the sun is out in full force, many buyers are coming out of hibernation and thinking of real estate. Fairbanks - North Pole - Salcha - Fox - Two Rivers
College - Ester - Fort Wainwright - Eielson Air Force Base
Fairbanks homes with acreage are very much in demand. Smart buyers are jumping on these homes as they become available. It's possible to find homes in Rural Fairbanks; Chena Hot Springs & Two Rivers, … (3 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks AK - Sold Homes Report - April 2008 - 05/13/08 01:12 PM
Fairbanks homes sales for April 2008 show an upward trend in movement in both the number of homes sold and the average sales price. The good news is the market is moving up. The bad news is that it didn't really have anywhere to go BUT up. Home sales in Fairbanks struggled through most of last year but especially through the last two quarters of '07. Where are we today? Well, looking at the numbers sales have been increasing every month since January. April sales jumped more 36.5% over March but we're 20% under April 2007 stats. In fact more homes … (8 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: April Showers... - 04/30/08 09:35 AM
I've heard the April showers bring may flowers bit all my life. Without the rains there would be no bountiful floral harvest to enjoy. How sad would that be, I ask you? Pretty sad indeed.
I just have one little itty bitty question. If April showers do indeed bring May flowers, does it matter if the April showers are FROZEN? We woke this morning to find a beautiful white blanket of snow covering the ground.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Mother Nature was, and is, dropping snowflakes like, well, Limbaugh does Oxycontin. It's everywhere.
 
This snow day message was brought … (21 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Fairbanks New Homes - complete and ready for a new owner - 04/29/08 06:17 PM
Your one stop for real estate and community news for Fairbanks and Interior Alaska brought to you by Jesse and Kathy Clifton, your local Fairbanks real estate experts. Fairbanks Alaska new construction homes for sale. Brand new homes finished and ready for occupancy. New construction homes in Fairbanks run the gamet from a cozy 650 square foot log cabin on 4.4 acres for $155,000 to a fantastic new construction with spectacular views of Fairbanks and the Tanana valley for $735,000.
Fairbanks new construction represents a great opportunity for buyers looking to move up from their current home into a new … (2 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: North Pole New Homes Ready for a new owner - 04/27/08 11:30 PM
North Pole, Alaska homes for sale. Conveniently located near Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. Prices for new construction homes in North Pole are approximately 6% lower today than the 2007 average. Now is a great time to take advantage of the lower home prices and builder incentives. Combined with low interest rates these North Pole homes are an incredible value.

North Pole is a quaint bedroom community of Fairbanks. Located 12 miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway, North Pole enjoys close proximity to both Fort Wainwright Army Post as well as Eielson Air Force Base.. … (3 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: I'm not running a charity... - 04/25/08 09:23 PM
Do you work for free? If you were to ask me that I would instinctively say no, I don't. Kathy is expensive and I have toys to pay for - not to mention two mortgages, car payments, insurance, retirement funding, etc, etc. However, the truth of the matter is that sometimes I do work for free. That is to say that I'm not always compensated at the close of escrow. I read a post tonight by Jeremy Blanton in which he talks about releasing a buyer client from a buyer brokerage agreement because they couldn't afford a house without seller concessions, … (13 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Honoring Alaska Military Retirees - 04/24/08 06:12 PM
As is appropriate we have national holidays dedicated to those brave men and women in uniform who have faithfully served our country. They have willingly sacrificed so that our very way of life would continue. They fought wars to defend and promote democracy and to defeat tyranny and oppression. Without their selfless service I shudder to think where we would be. The world would most certainly be worse off if not for America's military might. This Saturday, April 26th, has been set aside as military Retiree Appreciation Day at Fort Wainwright. All military service members and their families, regardless of branch … (8 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: You know it's the right thing to do... - 04/23/08 05:57 PM
In this case it is easy being green. 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 shows that 75% of outdated, unused computers are stored and awaiting disposal. Electronic equipment contains a myriad of hazardous materials. A typical desktop computer contains between 2-4 pounds of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, lithium, brominate flame retardants and phosphorus. Do something green and recycle your old unwanted electronics. On Saturday April 26th and Tuesday April 29th, bring your old unwanted electronic … (7 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Do you like 'em home grown? - 04/20/08 01:30 PM
Welcome to the Fairbanks Tanana valley Farmers Market. Established in the early 70's as a way to develop and promote agriculture, horticulture in Alaska and to provide quality produce products to the public, the Tanana Valley Farmers Market showcases a variety of Alaska Grown products and plants as well as Made in Alaska products. TVFM is the oldest established farmers market in Alaska and the only one located in its own permanent building. 2008 Season Opening Day is May 10, 2008 Market Hours
Wednesday's 11AM - 4PM
Saturday's 9AM - 4PM With a growing season that extends from April … (10 comments)

jesse and kathy clifton: Play it again, Sam - 04/18/08 01:09 PM
Well, this is no scene from Casablanca. The title does reflect my feelings about reporting the same 'ol Fairbanks sales numbers that have I've been reporting for months. How many different ways can I describe... sluggish? There is always good news, of course. That would be that homes that are priced correctly are still selling. There are buyers actively looking every day. We have a roster of primarily single family home buyers, although there are a few skittish investors scouring the Fairbanks market. Many of them are stymied at the lack of seller responsivness to the slowing market. While many sellers … (10 comments)