ANC: Buy or not...
 

Boys & Girls, Brown, Purple or otherwise,
With the every increasing likelyhood of ending up in ANC (this time with a family) I'm curious who has bought, where and why. Particuarly did you buy a condo with underground parking, a duplex (they appear to be very prolific up there), or a house. Did you buy in ANC or Eagle Creek, and how long does it take to get to the airport? Are there other areas that are close enough that you can make a call out and where do you get the best bang for the buck.
Thanks in advance,
Biff

Bifff,

I'm with Purple and recently moved back to ANC (was AF here several years ago). I mainly concentrated on South ANC, Eagle River/Chugiak, and the "Valley" (Palmer/Wasilla).
Everyone has their own opinion of schools but those areas all seemed more than adequate to me.
Don't know how big a house you're considering or you family needs, but basically, South ANC is the priciest (also called the Hillside), followed closely by Eagle River, then Chugiak, then the Valley.
South Anchorage has a great location to the airport: 15 min from most places unless you're way up. Great schools and close to lots of activities, not to mention Humpies, F Street, and Mooses Tooth. Downside is price and smaller yards.
Eagle River is a great little town. 15 min to downtown, easy access to the base gyms at Ft Rich or Elmendorf, maybe 30 min to the airport. Downside for me there is the lot size. That and if you're in the valley portion of ER, the closer to the river you are, the less sun you see in the winter (mountains block it).
Valley for me was too far with not enough infrastructure. Wife felt too isolated where we looked and even though I only go to work a couple times a month, it's an hour min to the airport. Oh yeah, you get to do that with the tail end of the 25000 cars that do the commute to ANC every day.
I ended up in Chugiak. 10 min N. of ER. I plan on 45min to the airport but normally get there in 35-40. The elementary school and the middle school are both awesome. I was also able to get a nice sized house on an acre for what I could get on 1/8 acre in ANC or ER.
I'm sure you'll get lots of other opinions. PM me if you want details. I used Mary Cox with Remax as my realtor and was very happy with her.
Best of luck

....and don't forget the ABC....giggity, giggity...

It's really a family decision...what are they more inclined to do? Spend it inside during the winter and/or summer months, or venture outdoors and explore? In town vs out of town? 15 mins from downtown in any direction gets you "outdoors and exploring." South ANC is still close to "city" life...Potter's Marsh, nice views, steep hills in the winter...no supermarkets or gas stations.

Eagle river...bigger homes, bigger lots...heavy traffic into town during rush hour (AF/Army base) but has shops and gas...adventures everywhere!

Plan on roughly ~$200/sq ft...better deals the further from downtown you go.

Nothing like engine shutdown to my front door step in 15 minutes ! :D

Biff,

I'm probably repeating what was said above...

Palmer/Wasilla lotsa bang for the buck. Wilderness Country...very quiet and only a few big-city amenities (walmarts, laundromats, etc.).

Eagle River is a little more pricey, less house for the dollar but more city amenities. High population of military personnel and the base(s) is nearby(Army/AF) if that interests you since your avatar suggests your AF
background.

I have also heard to look south of ANC in Girdwood. I havent yet, but heard it's worth a look.

Good Luck,

FF

Actually, property in Alaska is a loser's game.

You need to go rent an apartment, and invest in some much more solid opportunities. For instance, I have a horse farm in NW Florida. I think you should buy THAT and you'll be much better off. Just PM me and I'll set you up...

In all seriousness...biggest financial regret I have is not buying in AK when I was there 92-96. Thought I might bail at the 7 year point and wanted to be free without a mortgage when I left...so I passed. Would have been nice to still have had a place up there all these years. Good luck.

Danke Shen Haputman Albie!

Alb,
Where is the horse farm, I want more land in FL in case I don't get out of the pool and to AK anytime soon.


Moondog

Building new in Eagle River. I'm tripling my mortgage for a home that was the same size in the South USA. If your wife likes "neighborhoods with sidewalks"--the locals seem to make fun of that here--you can find only about 3 neighborhoods in Anchorage that are nice, and rather expensive. Many more hoods in Eagle River, and a little bit cheaper. Acre+ lots for "dirt cheap"--compared to Eagle River--out in Wasilla and Palmer. You can certainly get a very nice place for a decent price out there. FYI, I am building a custom home in ER for about $235/sqft, if that helps your cost-of-living calculator.

It's exactly 20.0 miles from my lot in ER to the UPS lot--30.0 minutes in good weather/no traffic. Exactly 9.0 miles to the the Elmendorf AFB gate. If you are willing to make the drive from Wasilla,etc--it's another 20-30 minutes in good weather, and there are no streetlights on the highway out there--part of my decision for not going past ER--those 1500# moose can kill in the dark.

Having a heated garage is VERY well worth it! I HIGHLY recommend it wherever you end up.
--My 2 cents

Thanks to all of you, that is some great information. Most of it I could not have gleaned in multiple trips to the Almost Great White North!