Kenai Peninsula Real Estate

Kenai Icons 907 Hosts All-Nighter

2012-05-25T21:23:26Z

Icons 907 in Kenai (right next door to Malstons) will host an all-nighter for kids ages 13-19 TONIGHT May 25th 2012 starting at 7pm and will go until tomorrow May 26th 2012 at 7am. Pizza will be provided, games, music, and a LIVE band! Tickets are only $20 and will be available at the door.

Soldotna Listing Agent Helps Set the Stage

2012-05-25T21:14:16Z

Deciding to put your house on the market? Recruiting an experienced Soldotna listing agent will give you a leg up on the competition. He or she will know where you need to spend money, and where you don’t.

A good example is dealing with staging – the ‘show biz’ of the real estate world. Complete staging is expensive and sometimes just is not practical. A great listing agent will help you decide whether staging is imperative for your home – and if it is not, will offer some basic fixes to help you work with what you have.

1. The first stage to set? The front yard. If the street view is untidy or the yard overgrown, you can lose your audience before the performance even begins. Of course, you will keep the lawn cut and fix the fences and gates – but also think creatively. People’s eyes are drawn to color, so adding a few cheerful annuals in pots and hanging baskets and placing them strategically can do wonders. If the front or garage doors are even a little bit chipped or flaking, sand and paint them. If trees or bushes are blocking sunlight from the front windows, take the trimming shears to them. All of this should take no longer than a weekend (and cost less than $150).

2. Buyers are not really just an audience: you want them to be participants. You want them to be able to visualize their furnishings in your space. Professional stagers have a simple arithmetic rule:

Subtracting Furniture = Adding Space

You add space by removing bulky, old or mismatched furniture. As your listing agent, I can help you walk through the house and decide what should stay and what should go into storage. Moving them can take about a weekend; cost will be the price of storage (or half of your garage – the next best option).

3. Have you ever walked into an expertly staged home and seen dirty socks hanging out in the bedroom? Didn’t think so. Nothing is quite as off-putting as evidence of personal hygiene. Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms need special hospital-clean sparkle. Do laundry frequently, and why not use a stagers’ extra? Light candles, set air fresheners — and open windows wherever you can.

The market has begun to show signs of new activity, but even so, similar homes are still competing for the same group of buyers. That’s why it is vital that you present your home as favorably as possible. Staging decisions are a good example of how I, as a listing agent with comprehensive knowledge of our Soldotna market, help you maximize your home’s potential. It is one of the ways I work hard for you – - just part of the complete service I am proud to offer. If you are considering listing a home on the Kenai Peninsula, call me anytime for a consultation!

Kenai Memorial Day Observances

2012-05-25T20:54:35Z

Memorial Day observance will be held in Kenai, Monday May 28th 2012. The Avenue of Flags will be held at the Kenai cemetery at 10 a.m., and a ceremony at 1 p.m. at Leif Hansen Memorial Park. Following the ceremony there will be a FREE open house at the American Legion 902 Cook street in Kenai. For more information call the American Legion at 283-3222

Cooper Landing Softball Tourney

2012-05-24T21:17:00Z

The 18^th annual Cooper Landing Softball Tournament will be held May 25 2012 – June 3 2012 with concessions, a silent auction, VIP parking auction and raffle every night, panning for gemstones May 26th and 27th , a dunk tank June 1st 2nd and 3rd, kids games June 3, a “put your friends in jail” event May 26, 27, June 2 and June 3, and a playoff dinner June 3.

Kenai Peninsula Mortgage Rate Direction: That is the Question

2012-05-24T21:09:31Z

The question at the top of the list for Kenai Peninsula residents thinking about buying a
home is the one about mortgage rates. May’s
rates are certainly low (really, really low: south of 4%)…but is it
worthwhile to wait for them to head lower? Even more to the point, what are the
odds they will suddenly reverse and jump through the roof?

If there were a dependable answer to that question, it would be well known. Of course, there isn’t – there are so
many economic conditions that could cause mortgage rates to change, no one can
be certain of the answer. But there is no shortage of pundits willing to try.

According to Bankrate.com last week 21% of their panelists believed mortgage
rates would rise this week, 21% thought rates
would fall, and the rest believe rates will remain relatively unchanged (+ or -
2 basis points). Their published opinions change every week — I follow them, and it’s unusual for the
experts to be exactly divided about the direction — but that’s where
they stand at the moment.

This would be almost comical were it not so important to anyone buying a home: those rates determine your purchasing
power — the whole basis of your home search.
It’s an important factor to address early on. So how can anyone even start
to go about buying a home?

Acknowledging reality is always the place to begin. Current economic conditions are keeping rates low for the time
being, but this low yield can’t last forever. Since change (in either
direction) is the only condition certain to occur, to begin the process of
buying a home, draw plans based on that current reality. Then keep your eyes
open for changes should they occur. This is also where thorough preparation
lets you take charge. If you have been pre-approved by one of our Kenai Peninsula lenders, you will be ready to lock
down the right deal when it is offered – rates and all. Then, for you, the
guessing game will be over.

If you are buying a home and want to take advantage of today’s rates, an experienced mortgage broker will help you
gain access to the different lending programs available from differing banks,
even potentially securing a lower rate than you would get on your own. The difference in percentages and points can
have positive impacts on your monthly payment.

If you’re considering buying a home, I can help you prepare to put yourself in the position to take advantage of any
and all conditions that present themselves. I hope you will turn to me as your
local real estate expert: call me anytime with questions!

Why Not Add Luxury to Your Kenai Home?

2012-05-23T18:17:06Z

When the Kenai real estate market undergoes the kind of
wide changes we’ve seen recently, you would expect changes in how prospective
buyers approach their choices. No surprise there.

With lending tight and larger deposits often being sought by lenders, many
of this summer’s Kenai homebuyers are seeking
‘move-in ready’ properties…homes that require little or no out-of-pocket cash
before moving in. That growing segment
of the buying public has grown weary of bargain-hunting, are tired of viewing
REO’s and short sales — and just want to be able to settle into their new Kenai home as-is. They want a bottom line
cost that’s nailed down.

Automatically qualified to interest such homebuyers are today’s local luxury homes: homes
with features that bring a higher-end “feel” — even if their size or
location would seem to indicate otherwise. Adding some of these features can
send the ‘luxury’ message…and adding some of those features can cost
less than you’d think!

Luxury homes almost always have a well-planned, open kitchen. One step in the right direction is to
simply remove everything from counters to create the look of more space. The current tendency is to value kitchens
with a multitude of storage and counter space. Where that’s not possible,
actually more important will be adding new appliances with a modern feel: go
for stainless steel to create the feel of luxury – possible even in modest spaces.

Another feature qualifying luxury homes is at least one luxury bathroom. Here, it is
hard to get past the need to provide ample space for comfort, though spa-style
baths are one item that can do the trick. You may also consider a tile mosaic
backsplash: that kind of tasteful design touch goes far toward creating a feel
of luxury. More simply (and economically), just changing out the faucets to a
brushed nickel or other metal surface (please – not gold!) can do the
trick. Add fluffy white towels, an
orchid or two, and great smelling candle and voila! Instant luxury. Depending on the layout of your bathroom,
changes can be pleasingly inexpensive.

Luxury homes may also include green features.
New windows, added insulation, and solar heating are prime examples, but
without the budget for major improvements, it’s also possible to take a
more modest approach. New energy-efficient LED light bulbs can be
one minor feature that can add appeal to today’s luxury
homebuyers. You may also consider
getting your home LEED rated through a national or local institution. Not only will your family benefit from
installing green features, but it will encourage most buyers to consider
your home a notch above the Kenai competition.

Of course, there is no substitution for good old-fashioned personal advice. If you’re mulling over your own home sale summer,
contact me anytime for a custom consultation about practical ways you can maximize your prospects.

Soldotna Safe Kids

2012-05-23T18:10:33Z

Child Passenger Technicians will check to make sure your child is in he right seat for their age and weight at Central Emergency Services/Soldotna Fire Station No.1 from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. on May 25th 2012 and June 21st 2012. For more information call Jane at 714-4539 or email safekids@cpgh.org

What is Your Soldotna Home Worth?

2012-05-21T18:45:11Z

Figuring out home values when
the market is in flux is truly a job for experts. We have seen the national
real estate market begin to rebound, and expect Soldotna
home values to soon start to reflect movement as well. Most local homeowners
are in the habit of keeping an eye on area home values. But especially for
anyone considering buying or selling summer,
estimating their home’s value is one of the first items on the agenda.

To get you started, there are a
couple of different methods to help establish a ballpark estimate of what your
home may currently be worth.

Certainly the quickest and
easiest tool is the calculator on Bank of America’s website, at
http://realestatecenter.bankofamerica.com/tools/marketvalue.aspx. This free online calculator uses accumulated
public record data joined with other factors to produce an estimate of home
values. All you need to do is enter your address and wait for the magic.

I do have to put in a word of
caution, though. Like any computer program, it’s fast and precise –but also
maddeningly capable of disregarding what we humans think of as ‘common sense.’
So, while it is fun and interesting to get this kind of readout, it’s at best a
ballpark estimate (and at worst, downright misleading!).

There are many other sites
boasting similar tools — variations of the same idea and pulling from slightly
different data sets — but the approach they use to calculate home values stays
the pretty much the same. You only need to enter your address and there you go:
instant estimate.

While these calculators are
great at aggregating data, nothing replaces human input. Real estate is, after all, the very
definition of a local occurrence, so if you’re looking for more than an
estimate, it’s time to call the pros in.

When an experienced agent
(someone like yours truly) creates their professional estimate, it not only
takes into account the trends for properties closest to yours, but also
incorporates real life features — such as the curb appeal your home and garden
offers right now. The better kept your property is at any given time, the
greater its estimated value should be. An agent can also suggest the small
changes that work best to enhance a property’s value.

If you have been considering
selling a home and are curious about today’s Soldotna
home values, call me anytime for a complimentary (and 100% human) consultation!

Kenai Peninsula Run for the River

2012-05-21T18:07:06Z

Registration for the Kenai Watershed Forum’s Run for the River 5K and 10K
Miler, scheduled for June 9 2012, is open. Held in conjunction with the 2012
Kenai River Festival, this event supports watershed education on the Kenai
Peninsula. Early registration is $20. Prizes will be awarded in several
categories. Runner’s gift is included with registration fee. Contact Rhonda
Orth at 260-5449 for a registration form or download at www.kenaiwatershed.com or register at www.active.com

Soldotna Investors Eye Flooring Decision

2012-05-18T18:27:23Z

Both hardwood and carpeted flooring can
look great in any Soldotna property.
However, when that property is purchased by an investor whose intention is to
make it a lucrative long-term rental, hardwood floors can have a real advantage
over carpeting — for both durability and enhanced aesthetic appeal.

Yes, the initial investment is definitely more expensive. But hardwood floors are extremely durable: they
withstand years of the toughest use (by even the roughest of boots!). By
comparison, carpets tend to rip and stain easily. With replacement costs
starting in the neighborhood of $3.50 per square foot, that means their actual
property management expense will usually be higher. The resulting value to
present (or future) landlords can be considerable. Hardwood flooring also gives
any property a higher-end feel to it, which could tend to attract higher
quality tenants.

Canny Soldotna landlords know that there are both good and bad tenants out there; only time
can guarantee which kind will wind up in any given house. Although hiring a
great property management company is one step that goes a long way toward
keeping an income unit in great condition, over the years there is always a
risk that some renters may cause damage, leaving the landlord or property
management agency to deal with the mess after they move. And the fact is that any carpet can be ruined
through one accidental stain — even by the most conscientious of occupants.
Conversely, if hardwood floors get scratched, it’s a fairly simple matter to
sand and re-varnish it a vacant property.

The only real downside to hardwood
floors — aside from the initial expense — is that they can make a house seem
a little ‘cold,’ while carpet can make a house feel cozier. It may not be the
responsibility of a property management firm to make a house feel cozy, but it
still can affect occupancy rates.
Nonetheless, many income property owners decide that it is not a good
enough reason to choose carpeting. They hope that hardwood’s durability is
equally valuable in the minds of the high quality tenants they hope to attract.

If you are a Soldotna investor considering buying an income property, or a current property owner
looking for a great property management company referral – give me a call to
discuss today’s options. As an experienced and well-networked agent in Soldotna,
I always have a number of sound referrals I will be happy to share with you.