homes for sale soldotna ak: Downsizing is Just One Soldotna Real Estate Empty Nesters’ Possibility - 03/13/14 08:29 AM
The children have grown; home feels…a little empty…
Many people assume that an empty nest means it’s downsizing time—time for a smaller house or condo. In truth, for many a homeowner in Soldotna Real Estate, downsizing is just one of a number of appealing directions.
It may sound obvious, but it’s your interests and plans that should guide your next step. After a lifetime of deferring to other people’s priorities, many of us are ill-prepared to think creatively about what it is we want. When we do, downsizing might not necessarily be the springboard to life’s next great adventure.
For instance: consider Upsizing. Moving … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: One Last ThingsYou Think About When Buying a Soldotna Real Estate Home - 03/12/14 07:04 AM
It can be perplexing—and not least because it’s one of the least-discussed details you run into when buying a home. The issue is flood insurance, and it’s sometimes first brought to the fore when you are buying a home in Alaska Real Estate that you would not have thought was on a “flood plain.” If it is, it’s going to require flood insurance before the bank will sign off on a loan.
As we only see from time to time, devastating floods can strike when and where least expected: sometimes, in areas where that ruinous flooding is unprecedented. In 2005, when … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Preparing for Multiple Offers on Soldotna Real Estate Properties - 03/11/14 09:25 AM
Part of the recovery in’s real estate scene is the increasing likelihood of multiple offers on a listed property. This is every seller’s dream— but if you are one of the bidders, it’s important that you don’t allow it to become your nightmare.
There is one way— the only sure way—to keep the specter of competing Soldotna Real Estate multiple offers from upsetting your home buying prospects. Summed up in one word, it’s “preparation.”
Preparation starts with assembling a strong financial package. If your target property attracts multiple offers, you want yours to stand out. By the time you learn that other … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Soldotna Real Estate Retirees Getting a Loan: the Big Picture - 03/07/14 08:16 AM
The ongoing housing recovery is being boosted by some older participants. Builders and developers in particular have found that catering to the 55+ segment of the market is good business.
Many retired buyers in Soldotna Real Estate looking to enter the resurgent market will be pleased to learn that getting a loan is still possible, even if their income isn’t all that it used to be. In addition to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, intended to keep lenders from discriminating on the basis of age, last Saturday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a bulletin describing new tools which help … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Soldotna Real Estate Home Prices: Looking Back, Looking Forward - 03/06/14 09:31 AM
As reflected in the near-record national rise in home prices, Soldotna Real Estate homeowners as a whole had much to cheer about in 2013. According to the S&P Case-Shiller Index, home prices increased 13.6% from October 2012—and in fact, they’ve been improving at a faster annual rate in each month for almost two years! Every expert I researched agreed that this rate of increase won’t (and, for the health of the market, shouldn’t) continue at that gravity-defying pace in 2014. Most of them do predict higher interest rates with a slower (but steady) rise in home prices. Adding to the overall … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Luxury Soldotna Real Estate Home Market See Values Heating Up - 03/05/14 03:52 AM
If you own a luxury home in Soldotna Real Estate, this will be good to know: according to researchers at DataQuick, the number of homes sold at more than $1 million rose nationally by 37% in the first half of 2013. Last Friday, the Wall St. Journal headed its Mansion section with “the recovery in high-end real estate,” and Bloomberg reports that luxury home prices in the biggest four cities that had fallen nearly 46% during the downturn have now more than doubled.
If the formerly-missing luxury home buyers have been buoyed by record-breaking Wall St. returns, it’s not surprising that … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: New 2014 Mortgage Rules Affect Getting an Soldotna Real Estate Loan - 02/28/14 06:43 AM
January presented us with major changes to mortgage lending rules. These new guidelines aim to curb some of the excesses that occurred during the sub-prime years—hopefully resulting in a lower risk of default and foreclosure by borrowers and a healthier real estate climate for everyone.
QM: “Qualified Mortgage”
This all came about as one offshoot of the Dodd-Frank legislation that went into effect in 2014. It creates a new category, “Qualified Mortgage.” Lending institutions are required to document each loan they deem to be a QM; when they do, they benefit by being able to sell them to Freddie Mae and Fannie … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: To Buy a Home in Soldotna Real Estate or Wait—Signs Help Decide - 02/27/14 07:06 AM
Spring signals the traditional start of real estate’s busy selling season, and while that’s all well and fine, when it comes to making your own momentous personal real estate decision—whether to buy a home or to sell your own—trying to decide exactly when to make the move is easier said than done.
It is true that this year national observers are unusually unanimous in expecting that last year’s sales upswing will continue. But if you are deciding whether now is the right time to buy a Alaska Real Estate home (or list yours for sale), the reasons behind the quickening sales activity might … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Relocating to Kenai Real Estate and a “Sight-Unseen” Home - 02/11/14 08:43 AM
One of the unusual situations that sometimes crops up in Kenai real estate is one where the buyer purchases a house without ever seeing it. This may sound nuts—but there are circumstances (more than you’d think) where it can be the only practical solution.
Wholesalers and house-flippers, for instance, sometimes simply haven’t time to visit every property they suspect is a great buy. Other times, buyers might be relocating to Real Estate Kenai from out of state (or even out of the country) under a timetable that doesn’t allow them an extra visit—or even a first visit! According to the latest full-year data … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: How a Soldotna Real Estate Vacation Home Makes Financial Sense, Too - 02/06/14 03:53 AM
For many Soldotna Real Estate homeowners, it sounds more like a pipe dream than a carefully thought-out investment: getting your own vacation home—a refuge where you can put your feet up, relax, and tune out the stress of daily life.
True, if you look only at the cost of a second home, it sounds like a pretty costly indulgence. But in many cases, stepping back to take in the bigger financial picture, it could wind up being one of the shrewdest financial decisions you can make!
Consider:
1. Vacation savings. Using your Soldotna Real Estate vacation home more than once or twice … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Why Soldotna Real Estate Smart Homes May Not Be Such a Dumb Idea - 02/05/14 04:44 AM
With cars, TVs—even watches—getting connected through WiFi and wireless telephones, it’s small wonder that “Smart Homes” are here, too. According to Forbes, companies offering smart homes technology will be a $35.6 billion industry within just three years. They already offer Soldotna Real Estate homeowners an array of connected appliances, security systems and even HVAC systems.
From what I’ve seen, their marketing has highlighted the convenience factor—but if that seems to be more sizzle than steak, here are some surprisingly substantial reasons why you might consider upgrading your own place into one of ’s smart homes:
Your current security system gives you … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Looking For Soldotna Real Estate After Moving - 02/04/14 06:34 AM
Any time you move it can be stressful even if you are familiar with the area.  If you are moving to Alaska and have never been or are moving from another area of Alaska a great place to start is to look at Alaska Real Estate in the area that you are moving to.  Moving to areas like Soldotna or Kenai Alaska means that you should focus your house searches on Soldotna Real Estate and Kenai Real Estate.  By doing research on the areas that you want to move to you will find that it is helpful so that you know … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Will Home Values Fall if Soldotna Real Estate Mortgage Rates Rise Further? - 02/04/14 06:32 AM
Right now, mortgage rates in Soldotna Real Estate (as in the rest of the nation) are higher than they’ve been for 15 months—a trend that’s likely to continue. We have to wonder about the impact higher Soldotna Real Estate mortgage rates will have on Real Estate Kenai home sales in the coming year.
First, some perspective. If mortgage rates do increase in 2014, it’s no ‘done deal’ that home buyers will be put off—nor that a wave of foreclosures will follow. The reason? By past standards, interest rates will still be low, even at the 5½% predicted by the N.A.R. Any … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: Secret Tips For Buyers on the Soldotna Real Estate Market - 01/23/14 07:47 AM
The best way to overcome your fears is to become more informed and take control of the home buying process. The Soldotna real estate market is filled with great homes that are prices fairly, but you have to find the option that fits your needs perfectly. There are some secrets that can help you find exactly what you are looking for on the Soldotna real estate market. Just be patient and trust your instinct to guide you.
Opt for an Appraisal
When you find a Alaska real estate property that really intrigues you, never hesitate to call on an appraiser. An … (0 comments)

homes for sale soldotna ak: 3 Questions A Property Owner Should Ask A Soldotna Real Estate Agent - 01/23/14 07:41 AM
A property owner shouldn’t randomly hire just about any Alaska real estate agent or agency to sell his or her property. There are many factors based on which you should hire a Soldotna real estate agent and these three questions should be included in the screening process of potential candidates. If you do not get the desired answers to these questions then you should entrust your Soldotna homes for sale on the abilities of such an agent or agency. How Would You Market My Property? This is a very important question. Regardless of what type of Soldotna homes for sale is … (0 comments)