homes & real estate - fall 2010

57

37

28

61

-9-2

4-1

0H

&R

E 5

73

72

86

1-9

-24

-10

H&

RE

Issue lasts September 2010 through March 2011!

LOCAL for articles from LOCAL LOCAL Realtors, Mortgage Lenders,

Your Service Industry & More!

PLUS Real Estate Crossword

Puzzle!

L o o k I n s i d e . . . L o o k I n s i d e . . . L o o k I n s i d e . . .

Homes & Real Estate Homes & Real Estate Homes & Real Estate Fall 2010 Fall 2010 Fall 2010

n e w s m i n e r . c o m n e w s m i n e r . c o m

Featured

Featured

Homes Inside!

Homes Inside!

When You’re Ready to Buy or Sell,

CALL GINGER 907-452-8000

www.GingerOrem.com

Hillside Property with Mountain Views!

Crown Real Estate AK, Inc.

MLS #114507

Only $329,900! Only $329,900! Only $329,900!

2635 Borealis

Drive

Enjoy Mountain and wilderness views from every level! Located on a private 2.86 Acres! Just 20 minutes to UAF or Ft.WW! Built in 1995 by 321 Construction! New Burnham furnace installed in 2004 with Tekmar Control System. Spacious Master Suite, Family Room , Beautiful wrap around deck. Watch the Northern Lights from your living room through the oversized windows. Located in a full ser vice area for fire and ambulance.

• Open floor plan with Corian ® countertops, stainless appliances, 10.4 ft. ceilings, 6 panel doors and radiant heat everywhere plus custom tile

• Master suite is amazing! Walk-in 2-person shower with 9 spray jets. Double sinks and huge closet

• Super-efficient LED light bulbs throughout (made to last 15 years) • Beautiful and a must-see! Priced to sell!

Grace Minder Realty, Inc. www.GraceMinder.com

• Beautiful ranch on 1.13 acres in country setting • Paved roads and paved driveway • 3 car garage for all your toys • Open floor plan with 9 ft. ceilings breakfast nook • Formal dining area, great master suite, 3/2/3

Beautiful Ranch Beautiful Ranch 2160 Armorica Street 2160 Armorica Street

$26 7 , 000 $26 7 , 000

Custom Ranch with View ! Custom Ranch with View ! 840 Red Poll Lane 840 Red Poll Lane

$29 9 , 500 $29 9 , 500

Your Hometown Realtor

QUALITY Craftmanship

cell: 378-8934 office: 479-8000 fax: (888) 863-5851 • [email protected] t

Grace Minder, Broker

Kelli Powers Kelli Powers 322-1998 322-1998

www.kellipowers.com www.kellipowers.com Beautiful Log Home in Family Neighborhood! • Extremely Energy Efficient • 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2 Car Garage • Kitchen Remodeled With Hickory Cabinets & Flooring • 18,700 sq. ft. Lot

Right on the Runway! • Custom Built Home • Tile, Radiant Heat • Tongue & Groove • Over 900 sq. ft. Garage/Shop!

Heather Lambert Heather Lambert 460-6470 460-6470 [email protected] [email protected]

$259,900 $259,900 $259,900 $199,900 $199,900 $199,900

1167 Park Drive 1167 Park Drive 1167 Park Drive 1236 Still Valley Road 1236 Still Valley Road 1236 Still Valley Road

2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, September 24, 2010

5737

2786

9-2

4-10

HR

E

REALTORS & BROKERS

ALASKA GREAT LAND REALTY Gerrie Duffy, Broker www.AKGLR.com page 23 CHRIS CALHOON REAL ESTATE 456-3401 www.buyers-brokerage.com page 22 CENTURY 21 452-2100 www.Century21GoldRush.com page 36

COLDWELL BANKER GOLD COUNTRY 456-4653 www.cbgoldcountry.com page 18-19 COLDWELL BANKER GOLD COUNTRY Butch Currier, Realtor 590-2853 www.ButchSellsAlaskaHomes. com page 13, 18-19

CROWN REAL ESTATE AK., INC. Ginger Orem, Broker 452-8000 www.GingerOrem.com page 1, 23 EMC REALTY Eileen Cummings, Broker 374-6856 www.emcrealtyinc.com page 11

FORTUNE PROPERTIES Janet Shafer, Broker 456-4725 [email protected] page 17 GREATER FAIRBANKS BOARD OF REALTORS 452-7743 www.gfbr.org page 11 INTERIOR ALASKA REALTY Bruce Wammack, Broker 455-9550 www.interiorrealty.com page 23 JOYCE SPENCER REALTY 388-4412 www.joycespencer.com page 9

LOOK WITH LORI, INC. Lori Price, Broker 455-7244 www.LookwithLori.com page 23 MADDEN REAL ESTATE 452-3000 www.wesmadden.com page 3 MONICA DALLAS REALTY 388-4987 [email protected] www.MonicaDallas.com page 7 ROBERT FOX REALTY Christina Ashton, Broker 456-8000 www.alaska-land.com page 15 SOMERS AND ASSOCIATES 456-7653 www.somersandassociates.net page 2 STEPOVICH REALTY 378-4646 www.stepovichrealty.com page 23

QUICK REFERENCE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BUILDERS SUMMIT ALASKA CONSTRUCTION General Contracting 457-1970 page 32

BUILDING SUPPLY DONNYBROOK Kitchens, Cabinets, Countertops 479-2202 page 12 KLONDIKE DOOR SERVICE Commercial and Residential 457-7221 page 4

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

SPIRIT OF ALASKA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 459-5974 page 27

INSURANCE ALLSTATE Terri Wolters 456-1264 page 4 STATE FARM page 33 REAL E

STATE

CROSSWORD

page

33

WE EXPECT A LOT FROM OURSELVES SO CAN YOU

456-7653 www.somersandassociates.net

Put your most valued Possession in the Hands of The Proven Real Estate Professionals.

57372782-9-24-10RE

Karen Conver

By KAREN CONOVER

Selling and/or buying a home can be a stressful time in one’s life. The difficult task of moving everything you own often adds to that stress. As you guide your clients through the sale and purchase of their house, here are a few remind-ers you can share with them to aid that process.

Professional estimates are highly recommended. They are free of charge, we recommend having an estimate done as early in your relocation pro-cess as possible. This service is designed to give the shipper an idea of the possible financial costs of having an experienced team of movers pack and transport their belongings, as well as insuring that things go as smoothly as possible on moving day.

Most people build up quite a collection of unwanted junk over the years. Why pay to have something shipped that you don’t plan on keeping or have any use for? Now is a good time to eliminate unnec-essary expense and inconve-nience by having a garage sale in an attempt to rid yourself of surplus items.

If you don’t want or need professional packing services and intend to do it yourself,

Make moving an easier experience

Please see MOVING, Page 4

3Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, September 24, 2010

5737

1468

9-2

4-10

HR

E

Wes Madden Owner/Broker

Stacy Risner Director of

Operations/ Associate Broker

Ashlee Whitworth

Director of First Impressions

Jenn Shipman Director of First

Impressions

Desiree Caywood

Listing Specialist

Joel Johnson Listing Specialist/ Associate Broker

Cullen Wallace Commercial Specialist/

Associate Broker

Jewel Addison Buyer Specialist

Christina Barron

Buyer Specialist

Charlie Rogers Buyer Specialist

Brandon Phillips

Buyer Specialist

Cindy Shore Buyer Specialist/ Associate Broker

Harry Schikora

Buyer Specialist

Elizabeth Found

Buyer Specialist

Mike Maynard Buyer Specialist

Charles “Chick” Wallace

Associate Broker

Randi Britschgi Transaction Coordinator

Casandra Courtillet Transaction Coordinator

Jeri Snyder Listing

Coordinator/ Property Manager

Terri Vincent Marketing Manager

Thurston Gray

Field Coordinator

Alaska’s #1 Real Estate Team working together to achieve your Real Estate Goals!

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • LAND • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Call for details. (907) 452-3000 810 Barnette St., Fairbanks, AK 99701

View thousands of listings at www.WesMadden.com!

Comfortable Living at a Comfortable Price! Prices Starting at: $ 16 9 ,500! $ 16 9 ,500!

1108 Hampstead Ave. (off Johansen Expy. & Danby Rd.)

OPEN OPEN

HOUSE HOUSE 7 Days A Week

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.


By HEATHER LAMBERT

These days, most Realtors are accustomed to a myriad of sales that used to be somewhat unusual.

“Fixer-upper” seems to have slipped its way into the descriptions that used to read “like-new” or “totally reno-vated.” We see a lot of fore-closures, unfinished homes, flooded homes, moldy homes, sinking homes, abandoned homes and the like these days. But even after wading my way through a few years of listings in less-than-ideal condition, I was still impressed to learn that the largest home for sale in America has almost 100,000 square feet, a baseball field, 23 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, three pools, 10 kitchens, a wine cel-lar, more than a mile of pris-tine private shoreline and the architecture was modeled after the grand 17th-Century resi-dence of King Louis XIV. Oh — and it’s unfinished. As-is, where-is. A, ahem, fixer-upper.

The home is the brainchild of a Florida-based timeshare tycoon whose homes state,

profession and construction project were all hit particu-larly hard by the economic downturn. Timeshare sales fell sharply in 2008 and have yet to make much progress toward recovery.

As a consequence, some-where on a lake in Florida is an enormous abandoned man-sion available at an incredible discount. And in my estima-tion, it is more than just a good deal. It is a perfect symbol for the current dark underbelly of

our housing market, and also says a lot about how we arrived at this crisis to begin with.

America likes everything as big, shiny and fast as it can be. Where else in the universe could you buy an inflatable barbecue, you know, so that you can grill while you swim.

And hey, why not, right? I have to admit that I really don’t have a fundamental problem with that. If you want to go to work, make some money, purchase an inflat-able grill, and cook up a few T-bones while you perfect your breaststroke, have at it. This is, after all, the home of the free. But perhaps the time has come to exercise our freedom in a more reasonable way. The pursuit of happiness has become for many citizens the pursuit for things they do not need and cannot afford; a pur-suit of luxury in a dangerous extreme. Maybe the average middle American family can’t afford to own a little slice of heaven in the form of a time-share. Maybe they can just call

it good at the inflatable barbe-cue and try to find the vacation of their dreams in their own back yards. And maybe 90,000 square feet homes in the style of 17th century kings are only appropriate quarters for, well, 17th century kings.

I believe that the economy will recover — that it is recov-ering as we speak. I think that the $75 million fixer-upper will sell and go on to be fin-ished. But I also think that it would do most folks a lot of good to take the lessons from this recession and hold on to them, and so I will return to the premise with some buyer advice: Buy a home you can afford. Finance your dreams on hard work, not debt. Recog-nize that quality differs from quantity, and that there is a lot more time to enjoy life when you get to stop stressing out about how to pay the impos-sible bills.

Heather Lambert is a Realtor

for Somers and Associates and has been heard on KIAK FM. Contact Heather at 456-7653 for more infor-mation.

Signs of the times in the housing market

Servic

e

K L O NDIKE

K L O NDIKE “ The Door Store ”

DOOR MIKE TRAVERS

DOOR Serv

ice

C O M M E R C I A L & R E S I D E N T I A L

www.Klondikedoor.com

Call DR. DOOR

457-7221 Fax: 457-7211

2626 Phillips Field Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99709

Bonded & Insured Lic #23550

11371758-9-24-10H&RE

Best Appliances & Best Service Why go anywhere else?

APPLIANCE SERVICE CO., INC. ARROW APPLIANCE

700 23rd Avenue 452-1000

• Maytag • Speed Queen • Amana • Crosley • Estate

NEW & USED

Sales • Service • Parts

18372943 9-24-10H&

RE

11371755-9-24-10H&

RE

new and used boxes are avail-able that are specifically made for moving various household items. Please use quality mov-ing boxes, we do not recom-mend grocery or liquor store boxes.

If you opt to have a profes-sional estimate done, feel free to request referrals during the assessment. There is no obliga-tion, and the assurance that the company you choose will give you exceptional service is important. An experienced and conscientious team of profes-sionals will provide you with the peace of mind that your possessions are in good hands.

Be sure to request a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibili-ties When You Move.” This is a publication intended to assist the consumer in fully under-standing what is required of them and afford them an awareness of their rights, as well. Being informed is always an advantage.

It is essential that you are fully aware of the extent of your moving company’s liability for loss and damage. Although the movers may do everything in their power to take the utmost care with your items, occasionally mis-haps occur. Once again, being informed and protected in the unlikely event you will need to repair or replace something is your best bet.

Know that each time your shipment is weighed you have the right to be present. You are also authorized to request a reweigh of your shipment. This is of significance in view of the fact that most charges are based on weight.

A moving consultant will review all of these tips and fur-ther instruct the customer at the time of the estimate. If you would like additional printed material is available at Sour-dough Transfer.

Karen Conover is a fourth genera-tion Alaskan and part owner of Sour-dough Express. She began working at Sourdough Express in 1993 as a sales person. Karen is vice president of sales and marketing and in addi-tion to those responsibilities she assists in managing the daily house-hold moving operations in their Fair-banks and Anchorage offices as well as providing moving consultations to clients.

MOVINGContinued from Page 2

Heather Lambert


AN INVESTMENT TO LAST A LIFETIME ! LIFETIME !

• 30 Minute ULC • 30 Minute ULC • 30 Minute ULC Certification Certification Certification

• Welded Seam • Welded Seam • Welded Seam • Lifetime Warranty • Lifetime Warranty • Lifetime Warranty

against defects, against defects, against defects, fire, and corrosion fire, and corrosion fire, and corrosion

EXCEL EXCEL EXCEL Chimneys Chimneys Chimneys The Technology The Technology The Technology

Leader. Leader. Leader.

BUILT FOR YEARS OF BUILT FOR YEARS OF RELIABLE SERVICE! RELIABLE SERVICE!

LET US PRICE A SYSTEM FOR YOU!

Experience the beauty Experience the beauty and security of an RSF and security of an RSF

Wood Fireplace. Wood Fireplace.

WOOD HEAT ... WOOD HEAT ... bringing the Alaskan lifestyle home.

The Woodway • Where: On College Road

next to Farmer's Market • Products: Wood and gas

stoves and fireplaces, Monitor and Kuma oil stoves, chimney and stovepipe, hearth accessories, chainsaws and accessories, lawn mowers and small engine products

• Services: Wood stove, fireplace and chimney installation, Monitor service, chainsaw and small engine service

• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

• Phone: 452-4002

AT A GLANCE

Unless You Own An Oil Well, You Had

Better Own A

TH

E WOODWAY On College Road next to the Farmers Market • 452-4002 • www.thewoodway.com

Warming the heart of Alaska since 1 9 78

Paid Advertising Content

12371265-9-24-10H&

RE

Ask us about Tax Credits!

The Only

Authorized

Blaze King Dealer

in the Interior!

• Incredible Efficiency

• Long Burn Time • Available

w/Ash Drawer • Thermostat

Controlled

Open: Weekdays 9-6 Saturday 9-5

The Woodway would like to thank the Fairbanks, North Pole and surrounding communities for their continued loyalty over the last 32 years. The community has continued to grow and change over the past few decades, and The Woodway has striven to adapt, improve and diversify to meet our customer’s needs. In the last few years there have been all sorts of stores opening and closing that have sold different types of heating appliances. The Woodway welcomes competition as it helps us to assess what we do more critically and enables us to offer the community even more.

Stop by to see it burn!

This last year has offered us the opportunity to help people take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit which enables a homeowner the ability to save up to $1500.00 on a qualifying wood or pellet stove. On top of this, the Borough is spearheading a Woodstove Changeout Program by incentivizing eligible residents to upgrade their older woodstoves to cleaner burning appliances. These newer stoves not only assist in cleaning up our air, these units also help people to burn up to a third less firewood than their older stoves did. (For more information on the Borough program, please call 459-1312).

Another exciting opportunity that has made its way to Fairbanks is the opening of a local pellet mill. The mill enables The Woodway to offer appliances that use a locally made, renewable fuel as an economical alternative way to heat their homes. We are excited to introduce the Enviro pellet stoves that are not only extremely quiet, but they have the ability to burn lower grade pellets which cost less, allowing people to save even more money on their heating bills. The Woodway small engine shop has expanded to cover everything from lawn mowers and chainsaws to ice augers and snow blowers, and with an average turn around time of 3 days, we service what we sell! Don’t forget The Woodway also has local pottery and art that is displayed throughout the year and new artists are featured along with refreshments throughout the winter months on First Fridays. We also offer our “Light the Fire” classes free of charge on Saturday mornings where folks can come in and ask questions and learn how to start a fire properly and operate their stove as efficiently as they can. The Woodway would again like to thank the community for its trust over the years and look forward to keeping interior Alaska warm for many winters to come.


News-Miner Classi f ieds

21355958 9-14-09

45 9 - 7 555

2137

1541

9-2

4-10

H&

RE

Pre job planning • On site crane & rigging management Certified crane inspection • Crane maintenance Programs

Post accident investigation

Crane Services and Consulting

Alaska Special Crane Services Inc. Oilfield-Industrial-Maritime Consulting

Certified Crane Operators & Riggers 907-590-0052 • 907-299-4969

[email protected]

18372267 9-24-10RE

By SHARON NAYLORCreators.com

You’ve seen home stag-ing done to artistic brilliance on various HGTV programs, and if you’re putting your home on the market, you could boost your home’s sale odds and profits by work-ing with a professional home stager. What is home stag-ing? It’s a home “makeover” that presents your home in an improved light, making it more attractive to poten-tial buyers. An expert stager reviews each room of your house and organizes some “tweaks” to create a more professional look, a softer feel and sometimes a redesign of your furniture placement and a paring-down of your home’s décor in a manner that allows buyers to envision themselves living there.

Home staging is now consid-ered a must. According to the real estate guide HomeGain, professional staging priced at $300 to $400 can increase your home’s value and price by $1,500 to $2,000, a whopping 586 percent return on your investment.

“Making the investment of staging in your home is far

less expensive than a price reduction on your home that would happen without stag-ing,” says Barb Schwarz, the creator of Home Staging and the president and founder of StagedHomes.com and the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.

Finding a home stagerIt’s essential to locate, inter-

view and hire a certified home staging professional who bears

an ASP stager designation. ASP stagers have the utmost training and experience and, most importantly, association-required insurance coverage and legal contracts to make sure the job gets done correctly and in your best interest. A friend who fancies herself a good interior decorator will not deliver the same expertise as a stager, so be sure to find a cer-tified expert through a repu-table home stagers association, such as IAHSP.

“Be sure to interview at least two different staging pro-fessionals,” Schwarz suggests, “because it’s important to find one with the right kind of experience and the right per-sonality to work closely with you. A stager’s communication style is going to factor greatly into the success of your goals.” For instance, a stager with a too-direct personality may insult you inadvertently with a

blunt mention that your house smells like cats. Selling your home is a deeply emotional process, and a professional with the right kind of sensitiv-ity is going to lead you better through the process.

Your potential stagers will come in and meet with you, look through your home and leave portfolios of their work. Schwarz says each portfolio is the true measure of what the stager could accomplish for you, so judge also by the “before and after” proof of tal-ent.

The next stage is getting referrals. When choosing your expert stager, consider the feedback, but ultimately trust your gut.

Working well with your stager

Schwarz says: “To work well with your stager, you

have to be able to cut your emotional ties to your home. Mentally, you need to accept that your home is now becom-ing a product through the adjustments the stager will make and recommend.” The changes suggested are not meant to injure you; they’re essential steps to improving the marketability and asking price for your home. “You’re earning yourself money by putting away your collectibles and photos and earning your-self money by keeping it that way.”

By removing personal effects, clearing away the kids’ artwork and keeping your home clean during the entire time it’s on the mar-ket, you’re improving your odds of a stronger sale. You never know when a potential buyer will arrive, so your best strategy is to keep up with the changes suggested and enacted by your stager. And keep your kids motivated to do the same, with stricter chores and room-cleaning schedules.

“You’re setting a stage,” says Schwarz, who is also theater-trained. “So set your lights on a timer; have sooth-ing music loaded and ready to play; and consider each act of transforming your home into a setting to be an investment in your home sale profits.”

What does this cost?Prices for home staging

services vary depending upon where you live, but Schwarz says you could arrange for a $250 to $800 professional staging assessment and a 35- to 55-page report of changes you could make to your home.

Or you could spend several hundred dollars (some spend $1,800), including the prices of some furniture and décor rentals, for the stager to be fully involved.

Think about that 586 per-cent return on investment as you consider your options, and talk to your accountant about whether the cost of home staging ultimately would become a sanctioned tax write-off.

Work with a pro to sell you home nowCreators.com

Home staging is “makeover” that presents your home in an improved light, making it more attractive to potential buy-ers. An expert stager reviews each room of your house and organizes some “tweaks” to create a more professional look.


18372288-9-24-10RE

Keith's Heating Service

Call before

this happens.

CALL 978-0059

or 389-3001 Tune-ups and inspections on

boilers and forced air furnaces.

57371467-9-24-10HR

E

For Ultimate Service In Real Estate

388-4987 [email protected]

MonicaDallas.com

I am dedicated to helping you with all your real estate needs from . . .

• High End Homes to Dry Cabins • Commercial Sales & Leases • Land & Remote or Vacation Property

Broker ~ Realtor ~ Owner

1837

2285

-9-2

4-10

H&

RE

NEW LOCATION at 2081 Van Horn Rd. #4 Visit us at the Winter Show at the Carlson Center

www.canvas AK .com 455-7722

By KIM COOKFor The Associated Press

You may have sensed, par-don the pun, that there are hundreds of new home fra-grance products in stores. The industry has sniffed out a trend: We’re spending more time at home, and we want our rooms to smell good.

“Good” might mean clean, or exotic, or even yummy. Always wanted to visit a Moroccan bazaar? Craving a spa day? Comforted by the waft of a fresh-baked cookie? Whatever your preference, chances are there’s a spray for that. Or a luminary, plug-in or diffuser.

Among the newest products are scent “stories” that cycle through a timed series of fra-grances; wooden wicks that evoke crackling fires; flame-less candles; and no-spill dif-fusers.

According to Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Association, “The most notable trend is toward fra-grances that transport you; that have a dreamlike or escap-ist quality.”

Holly Bohn, founder of online retailer See Jane Work, agrees.

“I want my house to smell like the great outdoors even if all the windows are shut and the a/c is on,” she says.

Her go-to product is Good Home Co.’s Beach Days. It’s part of a category known as the “ozones” — scents that are considered refreshing and evocative of fresh air and water. There are half a dozen versions of crisp, clean linen alone. Citrus-based scents are similar; many find them a fin-ishing touch to a newly cleaned house. And they’ll provide a temporary freshening-up for closets or bathrooms without laying on heavy fragrance.

“Over the past couple of years, in a colder economic climate, gourmand fragrances

— like vanilla and pumpkin — have become very popular,” says Mei Xe, founder of Chesa-peake Bay Candles. “General-ly speaking, these scents help bring back happy memories. They make you feel safe and warm, and in these times peo-ple are longing for a sense of security.”

Pier 1 has also focused on “cozy,” with scents such as Spiced Cake and Fall Fireside.

Glade and Febreze, mass market leaders in home fra-grances, recently launched an array of products in attrac-tive containers to accent home decor; scents for fall include Cranberry Pear, Pumpkin Pie

and Cashmere Woods.To avoid fragrance overload,

Xe recommends “staying with-in the same category, whether it’s florals, fruity notes, woodsy fragrances, whatever. Don’t mix fragrances that are too different from each other.”

Not sure what you like? Take the fragrance profile quiz on the Chesapeake Bay Candle website.

Christopher Brosius was the first artist to have fra-grances showcased by the Coo-per Hewitt Museum.

His 1999 concoction, “Snow,” won two Fragrance Foundation awards. His per-fumes and home sprays car-

ry names such as Gathering Apples and Burning Leaves. Others capture his interpre-tation of Russian caravans (smoky black tea and berga-mot) and gardens (hyacinth, green shoots, moss).

Marie Gartshore, spokes-woman for New Jersey’s Research Institute for Fra-grance Materials, says the industry is always looking at what scent chemicals might cause problems, and a five-year study into potential irri-tants is under way. So far, she said, “no fragrance material has been shown to be a defini-tive” allergen.

For those who prefer to go

completely natural, essential oils such as citrus, rose, laven-der and others can work well as air fresheners. Mix 4 ounces of distilled water, 2 ounces of rubbing alcohol and 30 drops of essential oil (or blend fra-grances such as 15 drops of orange and 15 drops of clove for a winter holiday air fresh-ener) and put in a carefully labeled spray bottle.

Brosius once found inspira-tion in a favorite first-edition novel in a London bookstore, which he noted “had a marvel-ous warm woody smell.” Long hours of experimenting finally yielded In the Library, now part of his collection.

Fragrances can awaken a home

The Associated Press

You may have sensed, pardon the pun, that there are hundreds of new home fragrance products in stores. The industry has sniffed out a trend: We’re spending more time at home, and we want our rooms to smell good.


Thinking of Building, Buying or Remodeling ?

Find all the professional help you need in the

view it online @ www.InteriorABA.com

HomeConstruction

Directory

find your copy on

NorthernNeighborhood

newstandsor

IABA 938 Aspen Street Fairbanks Alaska 99709

57372862-9-24-10H&

RE Check it out! Check it out! Check it out!

Issue lasts September 2010 through March 2011!

LOCAL for articles from LOCAL LOCAL Realtors, Mortgage Lenders,

Your Service Industry & More!

PLUS over 100 homes

for sale are showcased!

Homes & Real Estate Homes & Real Estate Homes & Real Estate Fall 2010 Fall 2010 Fall 2010

Over Over

100 Homes!

100 Homes!

n e w s m i n e r . c o m n e w s m i n e r . c o m

BY DAVID W. MYERSKing Features

DEAR MR. MYERS: My husband is in the National Guard and is on active duty in Iraq. He’s been over-seas for four months, and our family’s finances are really hurting. Is it true that National Guard members qualify for special debt-reduction help?

ANSWER: Yes, if cer-tain conditions are met.

The federal Service-members Civil Relief Act of 2003 caps the interest rate on home loans, cred-it cards and most other types of debt at 6 percent for nearly all service-men and -women while they are on active duty. This includes members of the National Guard and

National Reserve, as well as career military person-nel.

To be eligible, the debt must have been incurred before the solider or sail-or began active duty, and the military stint must affect the borrower’s abil-ity to repay. Those aren’t difficult requirements for most guardsmen and reservists to meet, because they typically must leave a higher-pay-ing civilian job when they are called up by Uncle Sam.

Mortgages, credit cards and other debt that was taken out jointly with a non-military spouse are eligible for the interest-rate cap.

For more information, visit the Defense Depart-

ment’s Armed Forces Legal Assistance Internet site at legalassistance.law.af.mil. The site even has sample letters that ser-vice personnel can send to their creditors in order to request an interest-rate reduction.

Another good source of information is the site operated by the nonprofit Reserve Officers Associa-tion, www.roa.org.

DEAR MR. MYERS: What does it mean when a mort-gage loan is advertised “at par”?

ANSWER: A par rate is the rate on a loan to a borrower who does not want to pay any upfront points. A point is prepaid interest, with each point being equal to 1 percent

of the total loan amount.For example, one

nationwide lender recent-ly was offering 30-year loans at 4.4 percent to borrowers who were will-ing to pay one point in advance. The par rate for a loan that involved no points was a bit higher, at 4.72 percent.

DEAR MR. MYERS: We are planning to put our home up for sale, but it needs about $13,000 in repairs. Would it make sense to sim-ply sell the home at a dis-counted “as is” price rather than spending the time and money to fix it up?

ANSWER: It probably would be better to fix up the place before listing it for sale.

There are so many homes on the market now that buyers can afford to be finicky, and many won’t even bother look-ing at a property if it’s not in tip-top shape. Even

buyers who are willing to consider a fixer upper will demand an unusually steep discount -- prob-ably much larger than the $13,000 you would need to put the house back into mint condition.

It’s also worth noting that many homeowners mistakenly believe that selling their property as is prevents them from being sued if a buyer moves in but then discov-ers problems. In reality, it simply means that the property is being sold in its current condition and the seller will not vouch for its soundness.

Sellers and their agents must always disclose any known defects, even if the home is offered on an as-is basis. You’ll be courting a lawsuit if you sell the home without telling pro-spective buyers about its physical shortcomings.

Military personnel eligible for special debt help

Please see MILITARY, Page 9


jspencer@ jspencer@ jspencer@ acsalaska.net acsalaska.net acsalaska.net

www.joycespencer.com www.joycespencer.com www.joycespencer.com

388-4412 388-4412 388-4412

JOYCE JOYCE JOYCE SPENCER SPENCER SPENCER REALTY REALTY REALTY

5737

1466

9-2

4-10

HR

E

• Professionalism • Dedication • Results

“Locally Owned & Operated since 1993”

18372417-9-24-10H&

RE

Guaranteed Profess ional Service

Our restoration services include: • Water Damage • Fire/Smoke • Pack-Out of Content

• 24 Hour Emergency services

DISASTERS HAPPE N WE’LL TAKE CARE

OF THEM ALL.

458-8304 Free Estimates

FIRE & SMOKE DAMAGE

By PHIL RINGSTAD However careful we may be

around our homes, there still may be times when you face a home emergency- frozen pipes, burst pipes, furnace puff back or fire. Regardless of the cause and regardless of how the emergency may be caused- by water or smoke damage it is not only annoy-ing, possibly life threatening but it can also cost a great deal of money.

Take some time to consider what could happen in your house. Then go through the following checklist to make sure you are prepared to prevent an emergency and to react promptly and appropri-ately in an emergency.

• Make sure you know where the main water valve to your home is located and that you know how to turn it off. This will allow you to mini-mize the effects of any water leakage from a burst pipe.

• Periodically check for

leaks and connections for appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, ice-makers and under the sink. If you notice any bulging, crack-ing, fraying or leaks around the hose have it replaced.

• Sinks and toilets that are slow draining may indicate a partially blocked drain that

needs cleaning, if you are on a septic system it may be an indication of frozen septic lines and should be investigat-ed immediately. Sewage back ups are frequently the most expensive of all water resto-ration due to the category of water type.

• If you are leaving your house unoccupied for any length of time, find a reliable neighbor or company that can check the house regularly. Leave the numbers of the pre-ferred contractors you use if there are any problems.

• Have your chimney cleaned by a professional annually to prevent fires.

• Regular maintanance of you heating system by a reputable company not only reduces your heating costs but can prevent costly damages.

• Keep your house heated to a minimum of 60 degrees in winter; the temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substan-tially colder than the walls

themselves.There are also sensors that

you can have installed in your home which will warn you if your temperatures are too low or too high, some systems have moisture sensors as well. These systems are fairly inex-pensive and easy to install. These are especially beneficial to people who are away from their homes frequently.

However sometimes no matter what extra precautions that have been taken, we still have customers who will have an unavoidable emergency situation.

If there is a fire exit your place immediately and call 911.

For water damages, turn off your water supply and call a plumber for plumbing repairs and a water restora-tion company for repairs to the affected water damage. Most plumbing and restora-tion companies offer 24hr emergency service, so regard-less of when you have found

the damage call for immediate response. It is important to lessen damages by begin-ning the drying as quickly as possible. A knowledgeable, trained company can save you thousands on secondary dam-ages and give you the peace of mind that your home and fur-nishings will be restored to its “pre-damage” condition.

Fortunately most home owner insurance policies will cover these damages, so call your insurance company as soon as possible to report your loss and open a claim.

For additional recourses on preventing damages your insurance company will often have checklists on their web-sites of additional ways that you can prevent a disaster in your home.

Phil Ringstad, is owner of Ring-

stad Carpet & Restoration and a preferred Water & Smoke Loss Con-tractor. He’s been providing ser-vices in Fairbanks for 18 years. For more information, you may contact hime at 458-8304.

How to limit house emergency costs

Phil Ringstad

DEAR MR. MYERS: I would like to refinance my home.

I have a lot of equity in the prop-erty, but there is also an $8,900 lien on it that was placed by the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes.

I plan to appeal the IRS ruling, but it will take a long time. Can I refinance the mortgage without pay-ing off the lien?

ANSWER: Probably not. Tax liens usually take priority over any other type of lien on a home, including a first mort-gage.

So, it’s doubtful that you can find a lender that will refinance the loan without requiring that the tax lien be paid off first.

If you don’t have the cash needed to pay off the lien, you can tap your equity to have the bill paid as part of the refinanc-ing process.

Essentially, the lender would earmark $8,900 of the proceeds for a check that would be sent to the IRS automatically and add the amount to the balance of your new mortgage.

If you eventually win your appeal, the IRS would send you a check for the judgment.

Continued from Page 8

MILITARY: Tax lien might hamper attempt to refinance you home


OVER 20 YEARS COLD CLIMATE EXPERIENCE

New Construction • Remodels • Roofing • Footings Slabs • Sidewalks • Decks • V.A. Approved • A.D.A.

Light Commercial • Residential

D&G CONSTRUCTION Licensed – Bonded – Insured

488-4041 or 347-9074

18370735-9-24-10H&

RE

W

a n t t o s e e m o r e h o m e s / l a n d / c o m m e r c i a l p r o p e r t y ? Check out... http://newsminerextra.com/homes/ or http://homes.newsminer.com for many more

listings in full color from your local Realtors & FSBOs. Also, search the Classifieds at http://classifieds.newsminer.com/. The Marketplace on the News-miner homepage features local Realtor s.

Last, but not least, pick up a Sunday News-Miner to see hundreds of homes featured. Realtors can contact Shawna Murray @ 459-7508 to advertise or for more information.

57372783-9-24-10RE

Robyn Neilko Independent Consultant for the Pampered Chef

(#375559)

907-978-9630

13372176-9-24-10H&

RE

Shop my website and have your order(s) shipped anywhere you wish!

www.pamperedchef.biz/RNeilko

Host a cooking show and learn new recipes! Join My Team!

Register your

wedding!

BY DEBBIE TRAVISKing Features Syndicate

When I started talking at home shows many years ago, one of the most common ques-tions I was asked was how to disguise the wood paneling in basements and family rooms.

Not being familiar with the thin wood or paper veneer panels they were talking about, I was quite shocked. I was picturing solid wood paneled libraries and dining rooms, and couldn’t under-stand why this elegant and expensive wallcovering had fallen out of favor.

Since that time, I have brightened up miles of rec-room walls with paint, and the results have been astonish-ingly good. I also have painted over real wood panels, if the dark wood tones were not what the homeowners wanted. For a decade or so, wood walls were not very popular. They were felt to be rather dark and heavy, when an open, light-weight approach to decorating had become the fashion.

Today, wood is being applied to contemporary inte-riors in a manner that is fresh and exciting. Simplicity in style is the watchword, with the wood’s natural colors and

distinctive graining the deco-rative detail. Walnut, cherry, teak and bamboo are popular choices for floors, cabinets and furnishings.

While investigating the sub-ject of wood in today’s homes,

I discovered design consul-tant Jonathan Legate on my Twitter page. Legate was asked to personalize a family home in which the modern architecture had become the domineering presence. In the

living room shown here, you can see how great quantities of wood and cool slate floors have been balanced with the careful selection of furnishings and artwork, which enhance the architecture and form a

welcoming family room.Maple built-in cabinets

stretch along one side of the 70-foot-long space, facing a wall of glass (windows and door). With so much wood, you might not consider utilizing any more in the furnishings, but here, wood is brought into the room on the coffee table and Eames chairs.

To balance all the hard edg-es on the walls, the chairs and the leather sofa have curved features and soft, inviting upholstery. A white shag car-pet makes a tactile contrast to the gray slate, and the eye is drawn to other white patches — the wall above the cabinets, the throw pillow and the mat for the watercolor. Simple, white gauze drapes diffuse the light without dominating the room. To add sparkle, the pillow has tiny reflective mir-ror dots, and a circular mirror hangs amid the artwork on the focal wall. Water shim-mers from a clear crystal vase on the table.

The mid-tone gray on the ceiling counterbalances the richness of the walls and makes a gentler contrast than the customary white ceil-ing. And also, any wood with amber tones, such as cherry wood, looks beautiful beside gray. The presence of black in the upholstery and furniture frames lightens the wood and makes the honey tones glow.

These are some clever ways to make the most of a room that has been enriched with wood panels.

The idea is to embrace such a predominant element and enhance the details of the wood with a simple selection of furnishings that hold equal but not opposing interest.

Learning to use wood’s contemporary side

King Features photo

Today, wood is being applied to contemporary interiors in a manner that is fresh and excit-ing. Simplicity in style is the watchword, with the wood’s natural colors and distinctive graining the decorative detail. Walnut, cherry, teak and bamboo are popular choices for floors, cabinets and furnishings.


57372864 9-24-10HR

E

Buying or selling a home is a BIG deal! Let me provide you with my quality service and

support. Call today! If you have questions, I'll have answers!"

Eileen Cummings Real Estate Broker

374-6856 www.emcrealtyinc.com

[email protected]

1718 Kennedy St. Fairbanks, AK 99701

2008 Affiliate Realtor of the Year. President of the Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors 2010.

for your continued support of real estate in Fairbanks.

Because of you, Fairbanks Real Estate is still strong!

GFBR Members & Affiliates

57372780-9-24-10RE

907-452-7743 www.gfbr.org Fairbanks, AK

Thank you . . . Thank you . . .

By VICKY KATZ WHITAKERCreators.com

Buying your first home can be a challenge, especially if you’re unfamiliar with real estate and finance industry jargon.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to learn the meaning of an APR, ARM, PITI or any of the other terms your real estate agent may casually drop into the conversation as you hunt for the home of your dreams.

Aware that buying that first home can be somewhat daunting, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a “Real Estate Marketplace Glossary,” an 18-page A-to-Z “talk-the-talk” guide (also available online), which can take the mystery out of terms commonly used in the real estate and mortgage marketplace.

There are also a host of online and print guides, including http://www.RealEs-tateWords.com, http://www.RealEstateABC.com and Barron’s Dictionary of Real Estate Terms, which includes definitions of 3,000 items in great detail.

Stephanie Singer, who keeps tabs on consumer trends and runs the National Association of Realtors’ Pub-lic Awareness Campaign, believes the terms “buyer agency,” “listing agent,” “ARM,” “as is” and “PITI” are among the more common terms that confuse first-time homebuyers. “Understanding the difference between the terms ‘condo’ and ‘co-op’ is another,” she says.

Also, not every real estate agent is a Realtor, she notes. “Realtor” is a trademarked designation that only can be used by members of the National Association of Real-tors, the nation’s largest trade association, represent-ing 1.2 million brokers, real estate sales representatives and others engaged in the industry.

Here are some terms to get you started:

• APR (annual percent-age rate): the cost of a loan

or other financing as an annual rate.

• ARM (adjustable-rate mortgage): a mortgage with a floating interest rate — usually adjusted annu-ally — based on and tied to a financial index.

• “As is”: “What you see is what you get.” The seller makes no guarantees on the physical condition of the property and will not make repairs.

• Assumable mortgage: a seller’s mortgage loan that can be taken over by the homebuyer with no change in terms.

• Buyer broker (or buyer’s agency): a real estate agent or agency that represents the interest of the buyer.

• Clear title: property that is free of liens, defects and other legal encumbranc-es.

• Closing costs: fees that you will have to pay upfront at the “closing,” the date on which the sale of the property is finalized and a mortgage loan transaction is completed. Bring your check-book. They may include fees for a loan origination, a title search, an insurance survey, an attorney or other things.

• Condo (condomini-um): an individually owned unit in a multi-housing com-plex in which common areas — such as sidewalks, stairs, clubhouses or greenbelts — are jointly owned and

maintained through monthly fees.

• Co-op (cooperative): housing in which residents own shares in a housing corporation that owns the real estate. Like condo own-ers, co-op owners must pay monthly maintenance fees, but in addition, they must pay interest and principal on share loans.

• Deposit (or earnest money deposit): a token amount of money a potential buyer gives to the seller to show he or she is committed to buying the home.

• Listing agent: a real estate agent who represents the interests of the seller.

• PITI: an acronym (pro-

nounced like the word “pity”) for the four primary compo-nents of a monthly mortgage payment: principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

Of course, in the great house hunt, you also will find that not every term accurate-ly describes what you find, at least according to some anonymous pundits whose tongue-in-cheek real estate classified ad descriptions can be found online. Here are a few of our own:

• Country living: Five hours from absolutely every-thing.

• Cozy: Forget about a sofa or king-size bed.

• Executive home: Over-size, overpriced.

• Efficient kitchen: Room for you, one pot and one pan.

• Close to all amenities: Overlooks shopping center loading dock.

• Must see inside: Because the outside is a turn-off.

• Motivated sellers: Offer 20 percent less than the asking price.

• Close to transpor-tation: Across from busy interstate; commuter rail line abuts backyard.

• Well below market: Well below sea level.

• Sunny lot: No trees, no shrubs, no landscaping.

• Priced for quick sale: Nobody else wants it.

Real estate terms: Know the lingo


Basic Kitchens All the Way to Custom Dynasty/Omega Diamond Cabinets

Homecrest-Edgewater . . .

Kitchen Countertops In Stock: Wilson Art and Formica

Standard Preform and High Definition

Solid Surface Countertops Corian–Hi-Macs–Staron

And Introducing Engineered Stone: Silestone-Ceasar Stone

Granite: 12 styles to choose from

Hours 11-5 p.m. Monday-Friday Anytime by Appointment

479-2202 Located with Great Alaskan Bowl Company

on Old Airport Road

11371777-9-24-10H&

RE

18372289-9-24-10H&

RE

(907) 978 4392 [email protected]

CONTRACTORS Licensed Bonded Insured

State of Alaska Contractors License #35511

10% OFF new construction

SEAMLESS STEEL GUTTERS! 29 colors with

DuPont Teflon ® Coating

60 Year Guarantee FREE ESTIMATES

By VALERIE LEMKECreators.com

When Leslie Levine, her husband and their two young children were slated to move from upstate New York to Illinois several years ago, her concerns led her to seek advice on how to ease the stress that often befalls an uprooted family.

“I discovered the logistics of moving were out there, but not how to adjust to the move,” she says. “As a writer and journalist, I needed to talk to people who had

moved, as well as people in the moving industry.”

After interviewing more than 120 individuals — relo-cation specialists, pediatri-cians, real estate agents, school counselors and trans-planted families — she wrote “Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home? Simple Advice for Settling In After Your Move,” a primer for the mil-lions of Americans annually who find themselves tran-sitioning from one area to another.

Moving begins with saying goodbye, as well as working out ways to maintain contact with friends and family left behind, according to Levine. “It’s hard work to keep in

touch, but you don’t feel so unconnected if you do,” she says.

Share something — a pho-tograph of the new house, a telephone call, a note; it bonds you, she says. “It’s a scary world. Staying con-nected gives us an anchor.” It’s also a lot easier these days because of such innova-tions as e-mail, Skype and Facebook.

Children also need this feeling of connection, and in her book, Levine — who, at the time of their move, had a daughter, 8, and son, 3 — provides lots of sugges-tions to ease the transition for youngsters.

She had a party for her daughter just before mov-ing. “All the children got notecards and envelopes addressed to her,” Levine says. “She had mail waiting when she arrived in her new home.”

Arrival at a strange, emp-ty house can be especially unsettling to young children. To start out on a positive note, Levine says, “I sent a check to our Chicago Realtor requesting she purchase a special toy dump truck and an American Girl doll and put them in the children’s respective new closets. They opened their closet doors — something kids do first in a new house — and were really excited.”

For transplanted adults, Levine advocates creating a “comfort box.” “Fill it with some of your favorite things — a beautiful mug, a framed family portrait, for example,” she says. “Bring the box with you, and open it up when you

arrive. Put these things out on display right away. They say, ‘This is our home now.’”

Settling in and establish-ing new roots are also part of this difficult change.

In many cases, people who are moving are unhappy and lonesome, Levine says. “But don’t expect neighbors to come over with cookies; that time has passed. The onus is on the person who’s moved. It’s essential for you to do your own outreach.

“One of the best places to go for information is the local library,” she says. “It’s a clearinghouse for your new community.” Talk to the librarian. Ask about groups for parents. Are there book clubs? Where should you go for groceries? How about concerts? If you volunteered at a local art gallery in your old neighborhood, ask about similar opportunities in your new town. “To reference librarians, answering such

questions is their oxygen,” she says.

And give yourself time. “Connections have schedules of their own,” Levine says. “You never know when you’ll connect. Take friendliness where you can get it. Make the effort; you won’t be lone-ly forever.”

The transition problems can be compounded when children are involved. Keep in mind that lots of kids don’t care about the big-ger house or the better job, according to Levine. A school counselor once told her, “All they want to know is, ‘Who will sit next to me at lunch?’”

“As a parent, you need to be an advocate for your child,” Levine says. “Under-stand it will take a while for kids to find a group, and a parent has to be very hopeful and positive. ‘This isn’t easy,’ you might say. ‘Tell me how you’re feeling.’” Then you can add, “I wonder where the best place to get ice cream around here is. Let’s go find it.”

“Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home?” also explores the ramifications of moving late in life, moving after the death of a spouse and mov-ing to be closer to grown children. It can be purchased on Amazon.com for $15.94 or ordered from Barnes & Noble or most independent bookstores.

Turning your news house into a homeEstablishing roots in unfamiliar soil After interviewing more than 120 indi-

viduals — relocation specialists, pediatri-cians, real estate agents, school counselors and transplanted families — Leslie Levine wrote “Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home? Simple Advice for Settling In After Your Move,” a primer for the millions of Americans annually who find themselves transitioning from one area to another.


BUTCH & TERRI BUTCH & TERRI CURRIER CURRIER

Working Overtime to Meet all of Your Real Estate Needs

590-2853 or 488-5875

57372789-9-24-10H&

RE

Realtors, Accredited Buyers Representatives, E-Pro

www.ButchSellsAlaskaHomes.com Butch&[email protected]

Coldwell Banker Gold Country

17371677 9-24-10H&RE

4 5 1-0632

IF YOU WANT TO... • replace your cabinets

• remodel your kitchen or bathroom • replace inefficient windows & doors

• add custom built-ins to your home Call for your free in-home consultation.

Building Alaska since 1977 We’ll be here next year!

By JOHN ELLISON

Considering some energy improvements for your home?

Decreasing your energy use and making your home more efficient is worthwhile considering today’s rising energy costs. It will also make your home a more com-fortable place to be, summer and winter.

There are many improve-ments to consider, such as adding wall and attic insula-tion, new windows and doors, foundation insulation. Do remember your home is a system and energy improve-ments can have a nega-tive impact if not properly planned out and done sensi-bly.

Two important things to keep in mind when consider-ing an energy retrofit, are what are the most cost effec-tive improvements for the home’s needs and what is the payback on the varying improvement options.

In recent years we have had requests from custom-ers who want to add 4 to 6 inches of insulation to the outside of their home. While this may seem like a great idea at first, there is a lot to consider.

The new insulation has to be covered with some type of siding and a secure attach-ment for that new siding is important. It is not simple to attach through 6 inches of foam without adding some type furring or another layer of sheathing. Also this added wall thickness can make for some interesting challenges around any wall penetra-

tions, such as lights, electri-cal outlets, garden hose fau-cets, vents and the electric service. Windows and doors will need to be extended, moved out or replaced, doors that are close to a inside cor-ner will also become a issue. As will fences, decks and handrails.

Typically, we will not install siding over foam thicker than 1-1/2 inches without adding some type of furring or new wall sheath-ing. Long term durability is compromised when install-ing siding such as vinyl or steel on a 3-inch long nail or screw.

There are many other great options for exterior wall coverings, but that is not the subject of this article, however the new insulation does need to be protected with some type of atheisti-cally pleasing exterior finish.

Choosing the correct insulation for the job is very important. A good quality high R-value rigid foam insu-

lation is expensive but can be more cost effective in the long run. Why add more wall thickness just because the foam board is less expensive? There are many options to be considered that may not add as much thickness to the wall, such as Polyisocyan-urate foam. R-value (or insu-lative value) is key to saving energy costs. The higher the R-value, the higher the insu-lative value of your wall. Be careful when comparing rigid foam products, as oftentimes the quoted R-value is includ-ing an air space between the rigid foam and the existing wall. In our climate an air space on a exterior wall sur-face adds very little if any R-value. There are other methods of adding insula-tion, however for the most part rigid foam is the most cost effective method than we know of.

Often, homeowners will opt for a thicker rigid foam board to save on the product costs, but this is a example of just how much of an improvement you get from as little as 3/4-inch of Poly-isocyanurate foam on a older home with a 2-by-2 wall.

A older home with a 2-by-4 wall insulated with fiber-glass would typically be con-sidered a R-11 wall. If that wall is framed with 16-inch on-center studs, then the overall R-value is reduced by 20 percent as a result of the amount of solid wood in the

wall. Furthermore, 3 percent

voids in the fiberglass insula-tion can reduce the system R-value by another 30 per-cent. This 2-by-4 R-11 wall could be as low as R-5.6. Almost the same R-value as today’s higher quality win-dows. No wonder there is ice on the inside of that closet wall.

If we take this same 2-by-4 wall and add some 3/4-inch Polyisocyanurate rigid insulation (R-5), we have improved this wall system by almost 100 percent. The rigid foam really helps stop the conduction through all the wall framing. Be careful when comparing rigid foam products, as oftentimes the quoted R-value is including a air space between the rigid foam and the existing wall. In our climate a air space on a exterior wall surface adds very little if any R-value.

I am not advocating that 3/4 inch is all you need, the point is to show what the potential gain is from a small improvement done correctly. We have found that 1-1/2 inch to 2 inches of rigid foam is very manageable on most homes and is generally a cost-effective improvement.

This theoretical 100 per-cent improvement might lead some to thinking they would cut their fuel cost in. Sure seems logical, but remem-ber the house is a system. You still have all those old

windows and doors, possibly inadequate attic and founda-tion insulation, and if you are heating your hot water from your boiler, as much as 30 percent could be used for heating domestic water.

Every house is different and most often a multitude of improvements are done simultaneously, so the exact savings for a particular improvement can be difficult to pin down.

Increasing the founda-tion insulation is another area than a homeowner can benefit by adding rigid foam. Below grade applications do require a different prod-uct and we would typically recommend some type of a extruded Polystyrene for this application. There are other options such as sprayed in place polyurethane foam, this work is generally done by a specialty contractor.

Commonly referred to as Urethane foam, it has a very high R-value and can really seal every joint and crack. Because it has a uneven sur-face it can be more difficult to cover with a flashing than rigid sheet foam.

Every home is different in this regard, in many cases it is impractical to dig up around the foundation to add insulation.

In some situations this can be done on the inside of the basement or crawlspace.

The lowdown on home energy projects

John Ellison

Please see ENERGY, Page 15


By DOUG WELTON

The good news is interest rates remain very low and sales are going pretty good in our little town.

But if you are used to an easy 30-day closing, those days seem to be gone. Unlike years in the past, closings are taking more like 45 days instead of 30 and the process has become more difficult. Engineers, appraisers and banks seem to be running scared. They are all going overboard on the things they are requiring and making the process more stressful than ever before. The Realtors are doing their job, but often get blamed for everything, even when it’s out of their control.

If you’re buying or sell-ing these days, expect it to take longer and have to jump through more hoops than ever before. And as always, pricing is crucial to a sale, the com-parisons don’t lie and so you have to position yourself ahead of the competition to attract a good, solid offer.

We are very fortunate here in the Interior compared to just about anywhere else. We have and hopefully always will con-tinue to enjoy a good, steady market. We have our ups and downs, but in all things are good.

Doug Welton is Owner/Broker of

Absolutely Alaskan Real Estate Ser-vices. Please contact him at 456-1713, office, or 978-4965, cell, for more information.

Changingtimes in the market

Doug Welton

By AMY WINTERCreators.com

Although the housing market has suffered from a downturn with an increase in foreclosures, there is hope for a recovery in the next several years. Robert Denk, assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis at the National Association of Home Builders, says, “2009 will go into the books as the bottom of the worst housing downturn since consistent records began being kept in 1959.” Denk doesn’t see the recovery happening at a fast pace; it will be more of a

“multiyear process.”Paul Bishop, the vice

president of research for the National Association of Real-tors, says the housing mar-ket could return to normal in the next five to eight years. However, with the recent decrease in home prices, it is difficult to distinguish the new normal when it comes to home sales. Mike Colpitts, editor of Housing Predictor, forecasts the housing mar-kets across the country on a daily basis. He believes it will take many years for the housing bubble to recover from reduced prices.

When it comes to baby

boomers, some prefer to head to the Sun Belt for retire-ment housing options, but the majority of them want to live near family members and health care facilities.

“Retirees tend to stay put or relocate to where they have children or other relatives,” Denk says. “Some retirees certainly head south, but it is not the majority. This means housing demand from boomers will be reason-ably geographically distrib-uted rather than overwhelm-ingly Sun Belt-bound.”

Second homes still will be part of the baby boomer generation, but it could be a

narrower section of buyers. Boomers who aren’t finan-cially secure may have to wait a year or two to move into retirement communi-ties or buy second homes, according to Bishop. If boom-ers have lost equity in their homes and money in stocks, they most likely will need to hold on to their primary residences. Colpitts says the housing market has made it more difficult for boomers to sell their homes; therefore, retirement communities are moving at a slower growth pace.

There is no real estate crystal ball to study

Please see MARKET, Page 17


Christina Ashton Realtor Broker

YOUR Hometown professional REALTOR serving all your Real-Estate Needs!

VIEW MORE LISTINGS AT WWW.ALASKA-LAND.COM

Land - Commercial Residential - Recreational

907.456.8000

REDUCED $219,000 Brand new 1244 sqft, 2 bed/ 1.5 bath LOG HOME on a nicely wooded 1.14 acres lot. Featuring; a 5 star energy rating, huge vaulted ceilings, stainless steel appliances and laminate flooring, just to name a few. This is a great DEAL!!

HUGE REDUCTION $399,000 Enjoy the gorgeous mountain & river views w/ direct Southern exp. from the decks of this Chena Ridge gem. Inviting vaulted ceilings & bright sunny rooms have been nicely updated. 2850 Sqft, 3bed/ 2.5 bath/2car gar + detached carport & huge master suite w/ private deck and hot tub.

57371472-9-24-10RE 3249 Anella Avenue 804 Spruce Ridge Court

16

37

21

71

-9-2

4-1

0H

&R

E

Lifetime warranty. Lifetime warranty. A water softener designed for

North Pole and Fairbanks water.

Ask About Our Lease/Purchase Plan Ask About Our Lease/Purchase Plan

Steve Ballek 488-6175 Steve Ballek 488-6175

One of the biggest mis-takes we see is inattention to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), once all the energy improve-ments are done and the house has been “tightened up,” IAQ can suffer. Often times these conditions are not recognized until all the other work is done and going back to make IAQ improve-ments can be costly.

Once you tighten up your home you may experience an increase in moisture prob-lems in the house, moisture that can turn into ice and create mold.

Remember we are talking about older homes and unless you plan on replacing the vapor barrier you will most likely have some breaches into the insulated space that you can not see.

Moisture in the insulation will turn to ice and at that point the insulation is no longer doing its job.

This is where a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) can make a huge difference.

A HRV can control the moisture in the house and recover some of the energy (heat) when it exhausts the stale moist air to the outside.

While a HRV is the Mer-cedes when dealing with IAQ, there are other choices. A good quality continuous duty exhaust fan will help a lot, This can also create a slight negative pressure on the inside of the home, a very important benefit as it will help prevent the moisture that is in the home from

working its way into the wall or ceiling insulation.

There are some other options for dealing with IAQ, we have been using some moisture sensing fans to replace old bathroom fans, they have several advan-tages, they come on as the moisture rises in the room where the moisture is most often created.

If your kids are like mine they frequently forget to turn on the fan. Any time you can deal with the mois-ture at its source you are better off. Range fans? Abso-lutely, and make sure they are vented properly to the outside, get rid of that mois-ture at its source.

All exhaust ducting should be metal (with the exception of a HRV), the joints need to be sealed and the ducting installed in such a way that condensation and moisture can drain to the outside, also make sure it is insulated if it is a cold attic or other uncon-ditioned (heated) space.

Try to eliminate moisture from coming into the house, a poor ground cover in the crawlspace can be a pathway for moisture laden air into your house.

Make sure there are no leaks in the plumbing and that groundwater from out-side is not running into the crawlspace.

Now that you have the house tightened, another consideration is providing some make-up air for your boiler or wood stove, any fuel burner for that matter.

As you tighten up your

house, there will be less air moving through the walls, and you can create a situa-tion when you could back-draft your boiler of wood burner and bring fumes into your home. Continuous run-ning bath fans are relatively low volume and generally do not create a problem by themselves.

Think about what can happen when the dryer is on, the range fan is on and now the boiler comes on, this volume of air that is being exhausted has to come from somewhere?

It’s always best to provide a path, preferably one that has a “cold air trap” so it doesn’t dump cold air con-tinuously into the house.

No one can live in a plas-tic bag, at least not for very long, our houses are just like us, they need air, the idea is to control its coming and going as best as possible.

Windows, there are many choices, currently a triple pane window is the best choice for the Interior, the cost between double pane and triple pane is minimal as triple panes windows have become the standard for our climate. A good triple pane window will typically have much warmer surfaces on the inside, so are much less susceptible to “growing” condensation. Warm surfaces also help to prevent drafts. When the surface of the glass is cold it can generate air movement and cause drafts, which can be uncomfortable to the occupants.

Quality windows will have

properly designed air spaces with sturdy hardware to support the weight of three pieces of glass.

Gaskets (weatherstrip-ping) needs to be soft and compliant so they seal when its -40 outside, they should be continuous with out any gaps at the corners and they need to be impervious to moisture, I have seen some windows that use a soft foam gasket, seems like a good idea until moisture devel-ops and soaks into the ends of the weatherstripping, at freezing temperatures the moisture in the gasket will freeze and actually push the window open.

Quality windows are also NFRC tested and AMMA cer-tified, this testing is a expen-sive procedure, but one that guarantees the consumer that they get a quality and consistent product.

Windows that have under-gone testing will have a sticker to identify this proce-dure.

Also ask the manufacturer or your supplier about war-ranties and how issues are resolved.

Air sealing can save ener-gy by preventing air move-ment through the wall. Find-ing these leaks can be done with the use of a blower door, the blower door will exhaust air and create a vacuum in the home.

With the blower door operating it is quite simple to walk around the inside of the house and identify the location of the leaks. Typi-cal air leaks are at electrical

boxes, check wall outlets, switch boxes and ceiling light boxes. Any penetrations through the framing at the top wall plate where holes have been drilled for wiring. Also most of the older ceiling mounted bath fans were not sealed to form a continuous vapor barrier. Any penetra-tion through the outside wall or ceiling can be a potential source of air flow. Air seal-ing can be tedious but it is generally inexpensive and a worthwhile procedure.

If you hire a contractor to do this work, check their reputation, make sure they are licensed, qualified and do this type of work routinely, make a overall game plan before you start so you will be satisfied with the out-come.

Ultimately you should be asking yourself how long will you be staying in this house? And will these improvements increase the value of your home? The payoff will be long term, it may take ten to fifteen years to recover your initial investment, however your home will be more com-fortable, have a better resell value and make less impact on the environment.

Good luck with your proj-ects!

John Ellison and his wife, Sue, own ABC and work together. They opened their doors in 1994 and have specialized in remodeling existing homes.

Prior to starting ABC, John was fortunate enough to work for some talented contractors in Fairbanks and had the opportunity to learn the trade from the ground up.

ENERGY: The right way to go about your home projectsContinued from


Have your landscape design ready for next spring! Have your landscape design ready for next spring! Helping you design your dream yard one project at a time Helping you design your dream yard one project at a time

ON A BUDGET YOU CAN AFFORD! ON A BUDGET YOU CAN AFFORD!

347-1929 Free Preliminary Meeting

11372879-9-24-10H&

RE

13370670 9-24-10HR

E

Bryan F. Borjesson, PE

P.O. Box 74715 Fairbanks, AK 99707

Fax 451-1948 [email protected]

Residential & Commercial Inspection Services

New Construction Planning & Design

HOME INSPECTION Experience Makes A Difference

451-4482 451-4482 Borjesson Consulting Engineers, Inc.

By GINNY FRIZZICreators.com

No matter what the state of America’s economy might be on any given day, one question is sure to be asked.

“Is this a good time to invest in real estate?”

Though the answer depends upon the individual asking the questions — as well as his or her personal circum-stances — according to vari-ous experts, it might be “yes.”

“In 2010, the housing mar-ket will experience one last gasp before its turnaround begins in earnest. One mil-lion foreclosed homes will be dumped on the market as banks clean out their inven-tories,” says Gregory Rand, managing partner of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty and author of the blog “House Rich.” “This will cre-ate the last opportunity in this wild and woolly housing cycle for buyers to invest at a historical low point. The way I view it, a million people will have the chance to buy the homes of their dreams at overcorrected prices as banks unload properties and finally write down their losses.”

Billie Redmond, CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties, agrees. “Our experience is that there has never been a better time to buy for yourself or as rental property,” she says. “It’s the best pricing we’ve had in 30 years. The choices are unimaginable.”

Brandon Green, founder of Brandon Green Companies and a broker with Keller Wil-liams, believes that now is a fantastic time to invest in real estate if one of the fol-

lowing categories applies to you. “One, you’re going to live there. Two, you are buying an investment property and know your margin of return right down to the dollar. Or three, you have cash for great deals suited to cash,” he says.

Some buyers will continue to wait to see how low real

estate prices will go, but that could be a mistake, according to Jeffrey Rogers, president and chief operating officer of Integra Realty Resources. “Most property values are on a recovery, and buyers should act now as prices are continu-ing to rise,” he says.

Yet not everyone agrees

that now is a good time to buy. Searching and waiting for the “best time” to invest in real estate is a false consid-eration, says Gunny Scarfo, creative director of a custom real estate firm. “Most people want to know if ‘now is a good time to invest in real estate.’ This kind of thinking is a bad

investment strategy already,” Scarfo says. “Good real estate investors never invest because they think a local market is going to rise. That’s too dan-gerous a guess. Good investors act when they’re able to buy a specific property with an excellent secure rate of return from rental income.”

Individuals looking to invest in real estate must realize that they have a lot to learn, according to Jim McClelland of Mack Indus-tries. He has been investing in real estate for more than 35 years. “Some newbies have been in the business a few years and think they know it all,” says McClelland, who owns 400 rental properties worth a total of $50 million. “You can’t read a book about it and get rich.”

Investing in real estate can make a person financially independent, but it doesn’t happen overnight. “Real estate can be phenomenal for long-term appreciation. You need to have a long view and hold it for 10 to 15 years,” he says, adding that equity is built as the mortgage decreas-es.

Quite simply, there is a lot to learn, he says. “A buyer will need cash or to be able to bor-row the money from a lender. If you are looking for rental property, you have to see not only how much the house is worth but also how much work it needs.”

A real estate investor needs to do a market analysis that includes what comparable houses in the neighborhood are selling for. He or she also must figure out what it would take to generate a posi-tive cash flow, including the monthly cost of the mortgage, repair costs, insurance costs, tax amounts and, if the owner chooses, the cost of hiring a property manager or manage-ment firm.

McClelland advises the average person work with a real estate agent he or she trusts. “This is especially important if someone is deal-ing with bank-owned prop-erty,” he says. “The average person knows nothing about dealing with banks.”

When to invest in the real estate market

Creators.com

If you’re looking to buy a house you can rent out, you must determine not only how much it’s worth but also how much work it needs.


Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning GUARANTEED

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

18372419-9-24-10

• Van Mounted Carpet Extraction • Expert Stain Removal • Odor Removal

• Area Rugs • Vehicles • Boat • RV Upholstery

458-8304 Free Estimates

� �

� �

� �

� �

For every $100 in cleaning get $12 off up to $60 Expires October 30, 2010 • Not valid w/other offers. Must present Ad to receive offer at time of cleaning!

Up to $60 OFF Carpet Cleaning *

*Valid for residential cleaning only.

57372787 9-24-10HR

E

IMMACULATE IMMACULATE IMMACULATE $329,900 $329,900 $329,900

4 plex. Many upgrades. New boiler. HRV's in all units. New appliances. New vinyl windows. Paved drive. Fenced corner lot. Rents are $1000 /unit. Coin-op

washer/dryer. 4 car garage. [email protected]

Janet Shafer Janet Shafer Janet Shafer

456-4725 456-4725 456-4725

FORTUNE FORTUNE FORTUNE PROPERTIES PROPERTIES PROPERTIES

2 bdrms with elevator and

garage! Top floor unit with deck

overlooking the court yard. Great

location. New appliances.

DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN CONDO CONDO CONDO

$169,500 $169,500 $169,500

TH

E

On College Road next to the Farmers Market • 452-4002 • www.thewoodway.com

AN INVESTMENT TO LAST A LIFETIME ! LIFETIME !

CLEAN DOESN’T MEAN COMPROMISE.

12371236-9-24-10RE

Locally Locally

Owned! Owned!

WOODWAY Warming the heart of Alaska since 1 9 78 Open: Weekdays 9 – 6

Saturday 9 –5

Experience Experience the beauty, efficiency the beauty, efficiency

and security of an and security of an RSF Wood Fireplace. RSF Wood Fireplace.

The first-time home-buyer tax credit is helping the housing market move forward. James Kimmons, a real estate writer for About.com, describes the tax credit as “a Band-Aid that has increased purchases, helping to slow the growth of inven-tory from foreclosures.” The tax credit provides more buyers, which can aid the baby boomers who are try-ing to sell their homes.

The tax credit immedi-ately enabled the sale of more homes, and an increase in home sales leads to more healthy activity in the mar-ket, according to Bishop. Intended to re-establish normal housing demand, the tax credit encouraged about 200,000 sales in 2009 and is estimated to bring another 180,000 sales in 2010, according to the National Association of Home Build-ers.

More demand in the hous-ing market will be coming

from the echo boomers, the children of the baby boom-ers. Kimmons says these buyers most likely will be cautious and hesitant to believe the “don’t worry, it will go up in value” idea.

Factors that could affect the future housing market include: mortgage rates, the long-term health of the economy, tax rates and lend-ing markets.

“Excess inventory in some markets, exacerbated by foreclosures and fear of further declines in house prices, has undermined homebuyer confidence and represents significant obsta-cles to recovery,” Denk says. “On the other hand, histori-cally low interest rates, the stabilization of house prices and the temporary tax credit are features of the current landscape that should sup-port recovery.

“How these opposing forc-es play out will determine the pace of return to more normal long-term housing demand conditions.”

MARKET: What to expectContinued from Page 14

By GENE DuVAL

One of the most often asked questions I get is, “How is our market doing?”

The answer is simple, but easily misinterpreted.

Best value properties are selling well and often bring in multiple, competing offers. With mortgage interest rates hovering at around 4 per-centr per annum, there are plenty of buyers, but there are also lots of properties for sale.

As of Sept. 14, there are 575 active residential (single family and duplex) proper-ties listed in the Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Compare this with previous years.

What makes a property for sale a best value? There are several factors that affect a property’s saleability, such as price, condition, location and specific features (such as a mountain view or water-front). Property quality and condition are important but price is often the overriding factor. With very few excep-tions, at the right price there is a buyer for everything.

De-cluttering a cluttered house is one of the most com-mon corrections that need to be done by a home owner prior to a house going on the market. One quick fix to an

overcrowded house is to rent a storage unit to move the excess stuff to.

Sometimes an owner may decide to completely move out prior to any showings, or an owner may choose to ask a sloppy tenant to vacate the unit prior to listing. Rely on the advice of your experi-enced Realtor for guidance on getting your property ready to show.

Buyers in today’s Fair-banks market tend to have looked at several, if not many, properties before they make an offer to purchase. Overpriced homes linger on the market and are used by the Buyers to compare with others in determining what a good value is and which property to make an offer for.

Properties should be priced right from the beginning; you should not list high and slowly work your way down in price. This approach nor-mally will net you less than if you had priced it properly to start with.

North Pole homes and Suf-alane contaminated ground water.

During the past months I have received several calls from property owners in the North Pole area asking how much the refinery ground water contamination affects their property value. Does this contamination affect value? At this time there is not enough sales history of affected properties to quan-tify value damage. If you live in, or near areas affected by the contaminated ground water, please have your well water tested right away. Miti-gation of drinking water con-tamination is being achieved in many instances by con-necting to public utilities or by installing a water holding tank. Check out the Alaska Department of Environment Conservation website at http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/csp/sites/north-pole-refinery/index.htm for further infor-mation.

Gene DuVal is an experienced

Realtor of Re/Max Associates of Fairbanks & can be reached at 452-4363 for more information.

A look at the market inFairbanks and North Pole

Gene Duvall


Cameron Harter 590-3612

www.cameronharter.com [email protected]

Nikki Whiting 978-2297

www.nikkiwhiting.com [email protected]

Audra M 590-4

www.fairbank amcghee@

MLS# 114825 3 Story Home on Private

Lot. 3 Bed/2 Bath/ 2 Car Garage $254,900

MLS# 114876 Custom Built Home

in Vue Crest 4 Bd/2 Ba/2 Car

$319,900

REDUCED! REDUCED!

MLS #114427 3 Bed, 2.5 Ba, 2 Car

Huge Master $244,900

[email protected]

MLS #114824 Big Waterfront Home

Airstrip Access 4 Bed/3 Bath/2 Car

$284,900 [email protected]

REDUCED! REDUCED!

MLS #114953 4/3/2 on Almost 2 Acres

in North Pole $324,900

[email protected]

Just Listed

! Just Listed

!

MLS #1 Brand New Custom Ho Landscape

$525

Just Listed

!

MLS #1 Beautifu

2 Bedroom NP w/Gat

$197

Just Listed

!

MLS #1 Custom Ho Hills, Many

A Must Se $395

MLS #113464 3 Bed/3 Full Ba

Master Suite w/Sauna Loft & LR/FR–2680 SF

$289,000

REDUCED! REDUCED!

MLS #114043 2 Bed/1 Bath/1 Acre 5 Star Energy Rating Newer Construction

$178,450

REDUCED! REDUCED!

MLS# 114750 4/2/2, Downtown Fbks! 2647 SF, +SF Potential

Foreclosure Listing! $188,900

REDUCED REDUCED AGAIN! AGAIN!

MLS #114205 3 Bed/3.5 Ba

Rural Fairbanks $425,000

Just Listed

!

MLS #115017 2 Bed/1.5 Bath

Beautiful Log Home Great Community

$165,000

Just Listed

!

MLS #114766 4 Bed/2.5 Bath/2 Car

$0 Money Down! $0 Closing Costs!

$239,900

Traci Schachle 322-0228

[email protected] View all my listings:

www.tracischachle.com

Butch Currier 590-2853

Butch&[email protected] ButchSellsAlaskaHomes.com

Elizabeth Schok 322-9188

Search for homes at www.ElizabethSchok.com

Kirk Maynard 388-3560

Owner/Broker www.FairbanksProperty.com

[email protected]

MLS #114648 Beautiful Home Just

Minutes From Town Off CHSR 3 Bd/2 Ba/4 Car

$249,900

MLS #114905 4 Bedrooms,

3 Baths + Bonus Room $425,000

MLS #115105 3 Bed/2 Bath/3 Car

New Carpet/Laminate With a Gigantic Shop

$245,000

Just Listed

!

MLS #114417 1 Bed/1 Bath

Located in Fox Full Water System

$139,900

MLS# 114821 4 Bed/3 Bath/2 Car

Spacious and Sunny Stainless Steel

$299,000

REDUCED! REDUCED!

MLS #114671 3 Bed/2.5 Bath/2 Car

Gated Community Vaulted Ceilings

$329,900

MLS# 114432 Tri-Level Home in Downtown!

3 Bed/1 Bath/992 SF $146,900

Gold Country 600 Third Gold Country 600 Third Gold Country 600 Third


www.ZebMabie.com email: [email protected]

Zeb Mabie 388-6348

Toni Brewer 322-7210

[email protected]

Michelle Evans 978-0995

www.fairbanksdeltahomes.com [email protected]

57371469-9-24-10H&

RE

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT A re you tired of having two full

time jobs?

S it back and relax while we manage your investment.

CALL 456-RENT

TODAY TO ADD YOUR HOME TO OUR INVENTORY.

www.ahomeinalaska.com [email protected]

Jim Arend 378-5447

McGhee4816

[email protected]

MLS #114339 Mountain View Property

4 Bed/2 Ba/1 Car Garage on 2.44 Acres

$260,000

MLS #114889 Tenderfoot, AK 10 Acres

of South Facing View Property w/Livable Cabin!

$80,000

Just Listed

!

114997w Beautifulome w/Fullon 2 Acres

5,000

115018ully keptm Home inted Yard!7,000

115063ome in they Upgradesee Home!

5,000

REDUCED REDUCED AGAIN! AGAIN!

MLS #114695 3 Bed/1 Bath/1588 SF Recently Remodeled

Close to UAF and FTWW $165,000

Just Listed

!

MLS #114915 4 Bed/2 Bath/1809 SF Chena River Property Gorgeous Must See

$305,000

Just Listed

!

MLS #115062 3 Bed/2 Bath/1782 SF Beautiful Log Siding Sloughfront Property

$248,900

MLS# 113801 4 Bed/2 Bath/2 Car

Great Deck, Lge Garage Conv North Pole Loca

$219,900

Just Listed

!

MLS #114582 3 Bed/2.5 Bath/3 Car Amazing Lawn & Deck Conveniently Located

$315,000

MLS# 114742 3 Bed/2.5 Ba/2 Car

Conveniently Located Great Yard! Must See!

$298,000

Still can't find what you're looking for? Let me guide you to

your next home purchse. Call me

today! Michelle Evans

978-0995

Are you interested in seeing more listings in the categories of:

• Commercial & Residential?

• Land: Remote & Local?

• Income Properties? Call Benjamin

Blackburn @ 388-6671 for a tour today.

Whether buying or selling, I’m here to

help you.

Experience & Integrity

are #1.

BUYING? Please call me today

to view any of the hundreds of homes in the Multiple Listing

Service.

SELLING? Please call me for an assessment of your

home’s value and let’s get it on the market!

Morgan

Macchione 978-5985

Just Listed

!

MLS #115097 3 Bed/2.5 Bath/1508 SF

Fabulous Home! Near FTWW & EAFB

$245,000

MLS #114041 Fabulous View Lot

1.85 Acres on Chena Ridge

$90,000

Buyer’s Specialist www.blackburnhomes.net

[email protected]

Benjamin Blackburn 388-6671

www.morganmacchione.com

Morgan Macchione 978-5985

Street, Graehl Suite 102Street, Graehl Suite 102Street, Graehl Suite 102


13370668-9-24-10H&

RE

17371678 9-24-10H&

RE

Fairbanks’ leading

company in home

remodeling

REM

OD

ELER

S

Door & Window • Replacement

4 5 1-0632

Call us today! Mike Ness, owner

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

We specialize in Residental Remodeling

Bathrooms & Kitchens •

Custom additions • Design Suggestions •

Modest Upgrades •

By WES MADDEN During difficult economic

and financial times, homeown-ers may find themselves on a self-perceived path towards an inevitable foreclosure. While there are many unfortunate reasons for financial hardship, it is important to know your options. One of those options is a short sale. A homeowner is considered “short” when the borrower owes an amount on their property that when combined with closing costs and commission is higher than the current market value of the property. A short sale may allow eligible borrowers to sell their home for less than the amount owed on the first mortgage. In doing so, the bor-rower may be released from their obligation to pay back the first mortgage under its origi-nal terms. Now, this sounds easy enough, however, a short sale is an involved process that takes time, patience, good com-munication skills, organization, and professionalism on the

part of a qualified Realtor.

How does a short sale help?

A short sale may allow a homeowner avoid a foreclosure sale. The mortgage lender or servicer may consider allow-ing a short sale even if the foreclosure process has already

begun. It must be clear, how-ever, that a short sale is a way to avoid a foreclosure, not a “get out of my mortgage free card.” In order to qualify for a short sale, the seller must have a valid financial hardship for why they can’t pay their mort-gage. A seller without a finan-cial hardship who is upside down on their mortgage and wants to sell is not a potential short sale.

A common financial hard-ship in our market is the military service member who is forced to leave the area due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. When military orders require the service member to move, the service member most likely will lose their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or receive a considerably less BAH at the receiving installation, thus giv-ing the military homeowner a valid financial hardship. Other examples of acceptable finan-cial hardships include:

• Loss of a job• Death of a spouse

• Severe illness• Divorce• Mandatory job relocation• Medical bills• Mortgage adjustment

Why would a lender accept a short sale?

One of the most common misconceptions homeowners have is that their lender is lying in wait ready to jump out and take their house. Noth-ing could be farther from the truth. In reality, lenders and financial institutions are in the finance business, not the real estate business. The last thing the lender wants is to take the borrower’s home into inventory. Most often than not, a lender is actually better off with a below-market value offer even if the lender is able to sell a property in 6 months for full market value. The financial situation could get drastically worse for the lender if the property declines in value, a tenant needs evicted, or if there are costly repairs

that need to be made such as freeze-ups or septic system repairs. Fairbanks is a dan-gerous market for lenders to take homes into inventory and lenders tend to be agreeable to short sale terms in order to keep the property off their books.

Short sale, foreclosure consequences

The biggest difference in short sales and foreclosures is the consequences related to each. Foreclosures have drastic affects on borrower’s eligibility for future mortgages, credit scores, credit history, security clearances, current or future employment and may cause deficiency judgments against you.

Short sales are not reported on credit history reports and therefore do not affect cur-rent or future employment and have a drastically reduced impact on credit scores and the future ability to qualify for another mortgage. Quite often it is possible to convince the lender to give up the right to pursue a deficiency judg-ment against the homeowner on a successful short sale. It is important to also note that while negative credit items fall off of an individual’s credit report after 7 years, the one question that is asked on every mortgage application is “Have you ever had a foreclosure?” This event has staying power and will follow a person around indefinitely. Be sure to con-sult your Realtor, tax adviser and/or legal advisor about the implications of a foreclosure or short sale.

How do I get started?Contact a Realtor who spe-

cializes in short sales. He/she will help you determine if your situation and your mortgage may be approved for a short sale. A Realtor who specializes in short sales will help you obtain the necessary docu-ments and paperwork needed for you to complete a success-ful short sale.

Wes Madden is the owner/broker

of Madden Real Estate and retired U.S. Army Captain.

Short sales explained: Know your options

Wes Madden


• Joshua Industries has been in business 25 years. • We installed more Energy Kinetics boilers and hot water heaters last year than any other dealer in town.

• Low overhead means savings to you. • Speedy installation, boiler usually operational in 12 hours with Joshua Industries.

• We will dispose of your old boiler and hot water heater free of charge.

Say so long to high fuel bills. Saves up to 30-40% off fuel! � Quieter than a microwave!

We'll upgrade your heating system to provide virtually unlimited hot water, silent operation and the lowest fuel bills possible. Call now! Free in-home estimates available.

18372275 9-24-10H&

RE

If a smart man like Jim Whitaker chose the System 2000 boiler system from Joshua Industries, then maybe you should follow his lead and give us a call. Jim saved enough fuel in 3 years to pay fo r his installation.

Date Gallons 11/17/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164.0 12/11/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147.0 01/05/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232.5 01/30/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254.5 02/21/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244.2 03/21/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185.30 05/06/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208.8 08/07/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166.2 10/20/08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156.8

Date Gallons 10/02/06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384.4 11/22/06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351.8 12/20/06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350.4 01/14/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.0 02/10/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263.0 03/10/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362.30 04/10/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271.60 07/10/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297.60 10/18/07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199.9

former North Star Borough Mayor, chose the Energy Kinetics System 2000

for his home heating system in 2007. It was not an accident that Jim chose Energy Kinetics to lower his fuel

bill. Jim Whitaker has been heavily involved in energy concerns for Fairbanks and Alaska in general. He has been one of the principals in the move to get a natural gas pipeline to Fairbanks. He researches his options before making a decision. Here are the facts from his fuel records before and after the installation of his EK-2 New Frontier boiler.

Fuel delivery charges AFTER ENERGY KINETICS Boiler installed, 1,759.3 Gallons

Fuel delivery charges BEFORE ENERGY KINETICS boiler installed,2,810 Gallons

Jim Whitaker, Jim Whitaker,

As you can see below, he saved more than 37 percent on his heating fuel from 2007 to 2008. he saved more than 37 percent on his heating fuel from 2007 to 2008. After researching Energy Kinetics installers, he concluded that Joshua Industries, Inc., was the bes t for efficiency and price.

JOSHUA INDUSTRIES (907) 457-3832 • (907) 460-7523

STEW'S HEATING (907) 378-7467

We are now scheduling

installations

Installing Boilers and Heaters locally for over 25 years! Jaye Delbridge, President

SAVED 1050.7 gallons the first year

Energy Kinetics system was installed!

For Emergency Service Calls,

Call Any Number


57371465-9-24-10RE

Broker/Owner Colonel, US Army (Retired) “Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®)”

BUYERS! We are Fairbanks’ most experienced real estate office dedicated to helping buyers. We will fill out your pre-qualification financing forms, get you the right financing, find your dream home, negotiate the best deal & hand you the keys to your new home after closing. We’ll even be there to manage your property if you decide to leave or travel. Best of all, we serve as your buyer’s broker for free — sales commissions are generally paid by the seller.

Fairbanks’ Most Experienced Brokerage Specializing in Buyer Assistance Commissions Generally Paid by the Seller

456-3401 Bus. • 457-1167 hm • 460-7905 Cell • 456-1352 Fax [email protected] • www.buyers-brokerage.com

CHRIS CALHOON REAL ESTATE The Buyer’s Brokerage

Buyers: Search current MLS listings on www.buyers-brokerage.com

Call Karen Conover

Certified Moving Consultant

456-6040 www.sourdoughtransfer.com

[email protected]

13370674-9-24-10H&

RE

By GINGER OREM

In this day and age of eco-nomic uncertainty, where can a person safely invest?

The Bernie Madoffs of the world still exist and even for the honest advisers can’t guarantee what stock is going to do well. The non collateral Wall Street derivatives were as much to blame for this financial crisis as the mort-gage market was.

So what is a person to do outside of stashing your cash in the mattress? First, let it be said that no one can guarantee any investment. Investing is about taking risks. Some risks are higher than others; some returns are higher and lower than others. While we don’t know what the future holds one idea would be to watch the actions of the successful investors. What are they buying?

Many investors across the country are scooping up the deals where real estate prices have fallen. Do they know something we don’t? Obvious-ly, they are purchasing these properties with the expecta-tion that prices will eventu-ally go back up and when they do, provide a nice return on

their investment. Again, it’s a risk factor.

I am not a financial expert or advisor but I am a real estate expert. I have been selling real estate in the Fair-banks North Pole area since 1994 and I have personally witnessed many fortunate home owners “cash-in” when selling their properties. I’m always excited when able to assist a client with selling a property then see how happy they are when they leave clos-ing knowing that they just deposited thousands of dollars into their bank account. I’ve

witnessed many who made well over $100,000! This is truly living their American dream. Currently, when you make a profit on the sale of your personal residence, you do not have to pay capital gains tax on the first $250,000 per person.

Thus this profit is essen-tially tax free. Consider this, all they did was live in their own home, maintain it, upgrade as necessary then when time to sell pocket a nice “tax-free” profit for their effort. This investment which has bestowed such financial wealth on so many people over the years is the one material item that every American desires, needs and strives to obtain, a place to live.

Whether you are buying or renting, everyone needs a home. Talk about purchasing a product that maintains a market demand! People may change computers or brands of soap but no one wants to give up a safe place to live.

It’s inevitable to have a home you must pay cash or pay a monthly stipend. Either to a landlord and never see that money again or to a mortgage lender in the form

of a mortgage payment. Tak-ing the tax deduction at the end of the year is a bonus.

It is possible to buy a house and lose value. If you overpay for a property in the beginning or if you neglect your investment by lack of maintenance and repair, if the market changes and values decline, these are all ways to lose value in a property. With that said, there is also an opportunity to increase your value. Ways to do that are to keep the home in good repair and update outdated or worn elements such as floorings, kitchen appliances and the list goes on. A well maintained home will always sell faster and attract higher offers than a neglected property will.

If you are one of the lucky ones whose employer provides a housing allowance then you are what I call the “double dipper.”

You make the payment on your investment using your housing allowance, then take the deduction at tax time for mortgage interest paid and local property taxes, again, paid using employer funds but you get the deduction! In the first 3 to 5 years of a new mortgage the majority

of the payment is mortgage interest which is currently a tax deductible item. So do the math, your employer funds most if not all of the payment, a majority of that payment becoming a tax deduction to you. Then, if you’ve invested wisely and hold the property long enough, when you’re ready sell the house, hopefully you will make a profit or keep it as an avenue of retirement income by converting it to a rental property. How great is that?

You can of course lose money on real estate transac-tions. There are ways to mini-mize your risks. First, do your homework. Second, obtain the advice of a real estate profes-sional that is familiar with the market and the area you are considering. Finally, when you do purchase real estate, keep it in good condition, remodel or update as necessary then sit back and enjoy living in your best investment ever, your home!

Ginger Orem is broker/owner of Crown Real Estate AK, Inc. She was nominated as one of Fairbanks’ Favorite Realtors in the 2008 DNM People’s Choice Awards. You can contact Ginger for more information at 452-8000.

Do you trust the stock market?

Ginger Orem


5737

2790

9-2

4-10

HR

E

C ALL J OAN AT 378-4646 C ALL J OAN AT 378-4646 C ALL J OAN AT 378-4646 WWW . STEPOVICHREALTY . COM WWW . STEPOVICHREALTY . COM WWW . STEPOVICHREALTY . COM S TEPOVICH R EALTY S TEPOVICH R EALTY S TEPOVICH R EALTY “Personal service GUARANTEED,

from listing to closing!”

Energy Efficient Ranch built in 2008 off Chena Pump. 2/1 Bath on 1.2 acres.

Features Laminate, granite & Marble Finishes.

2560 2560 2560 WAUGSTROE DR. WAUGSTROE DR. WAUGSTROE DR.

$195,000 $195,000 $195,000

Exceptional Rental Property! Three 2 BDRM Apts. PLUS a one BDRM HOUSE! Rental income @ $3,500 monthly.

Off College Road.

209 BRIDGET 209 BRIDGET 209 BRIDGET AVE. TRIPLEX AVE. TRIPLEX AVE. TRIPLEX

$232,000 $232,000 $232,000

Affordable, remodeled kitchen and bath, new boiler, new roof, new artic entry in Aurora w/ 3/1/1 and detached studio rents for $650! Ready for quick closing!

1615 SOUTHERN AVE. ONLY $207,000! 1615 SOUTHERN AVE. ONLY $207,000! 1615 SOUTHERN AVE. ONLY $207,000!

Nestled in the Woods on 1.09 acres. PRIVATE

2/2.5/2 garage w/ fenced in yard, cedar siding, large deck and double wall construction.

1880 1880 1880 KITTIWAKE KITTIWAKE KITTIWAKE

$217,000 $217,000 $217,000

NEW LISTING! NEW LISTING!

NEW LISTING! Drastically Drastically Drastically reduced reduced reduced under under under assessed assessed assessed value! value! value!

List with Me and

I will Stage your

Home for FREE!

Interior Alaska Realty Bruce Wammack, Broker 455-9550 www.interiorrealty.com

Family Delight 4 bdr, 2.5 ba, 2 car gar, lots of extras.

$299,000

Pilot’s Envy 3 bdr, 2 ba on Chena Marina

Float Pond. $376,500

Tenant Pays 2 bdr downstairs,

upstairs tenant pays. Garage/

Storage. $175,000

Hillside Home 3 bdr, 2 bath,

currently a duplex. $280,000

2631 Horsetail Trail

$179,900

2789 Waldheim

$212,900

1250 Vixon

$209,900

110 Hickory

$158,900

791 Goldfinch

$2195/mo

Single Bedroom Delight on 5 Acres. Super insulated, Wood floors & ceilings – Scandinavian design influence. $395/mo income from rental cabin, too!

Artistic Wood- Accented Haven on 5 acres. 2BR/ 1BA + ofc/ workshop. Major systems are very new, locally hand- crafted kitchen remodel.

PENDING PENDING PENDING

Absolutely immaculate condition 1500+ SF remodeled home on 2 separate acre+ lots set in a forest glade. Includes heated workshop.

Easy Living in this remodeled & move- in ready 3BR/1.5Ba *plus* heated attached garage townhome. West side, short drive to everything. Enjoy this winter with no exterior maintenance hassles!

Executive 3BR log home on almost 5 acres, but <5 min from UAF. 2 wheel drive accessible. Tenant pays utilities.

rented rented rented

Gerrie Duffy Gerrie Duffy ABR, CRS ABR, CRS 1225 27th Avenue 1225 27th Avenue

3 bdrm, 2.5 ba, mstr suite, gar, custom tile

work, stunning kitchen, and recent gas heat. SHOWS LIKE NEW!!!

N EW L ISTING ! N EW L ISTING ! N EW L ISTING !

ALASKA GREAT LAND REALTY V ie w a l l M L S p r o p e r t ie s a t w w w .A K G L R .c o m o r c a l l 3 2 2 - 6 6 1 2 . ALASKA GREAT LAND REALTY

THE MARKET HAS CHANGED. THE MARKET HAS CHANGED. Having the right realtor on your side Having the right realtor on your side

is more important now than ever. is more important now than ever.

F e a t u r e d H o m e F e a t u r e d H o m e F e a t u r e d H o m e

$190,000

View ALL Crown & MLS Listings @

www.GingerOrem.com

907-452-8000

Ginger Orem, Ginger Orem, Broker Broker

Crown Real Estate AK. Inc.

431 Carlton Drive 3bdrm, Den, 1.5 bath, Huge Gar! Fenced Yd Also has a 1bdrm/1bth Apt!! Only $284,900!

1610 Hans Way Vaulted ceiling, 4bdrm, 3bth, Fam Rm &Gar

MIL Apt on 2 Acres! Only $274,900!

1816 Carr Avenue 3bdrm, 2.5 bth, Sauna, Park like

Setting! Oversized Gar! Only $249,900!

977 Eldorado Road 2bdrm, 1bth w/Gar on 2.77 Wooded Acres!

Near UAF! fenced yard! $209,900

3881 Cresent Drive Privately located 2bdrm, 1bth & Gar!

Near Lakes, Only $154,900!

2635 Borealis Drive Beautiful View Property! 3bdrm, 2bth

Gar, Fam rm on 2.86 Acres! Only $329,900

1855 Osborn Court 5 Star+ 4bdrm, 2.5bth, Den, Mstr Ste

w/Jetted tub! Deck w/Arctic Spa Hot tub! $384,900

PENDING

3710 Regius Avenue 5*Star Plus Construction! 3bdrm, 3bth

Mstr Ste, Fam.Rm & Garage! Only $259,900!


HOME HEATING OIL

Products we deliver:

• Heating Oil • Diesel Fuel • Unleaded Fuel • Jet-A Fuel • Avgas

Aviation: • Off Airport Deliveries • Full into-plane service at Fairbanks International Airport • 24-hour self-serve Avgas Cardlock

"Fairbanks International Airport/Chena Marina Airport" • Full service FBO on West Ramp of Fairbanks

International Airport • Pilots' lounge on the East Ramp of Fairbanks

International Airport

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1982 Servicing Nenana, Salcha, Fox, North Pole and Fairbanks

P.O. Box 60669, Fairbanks, Alaska 99706 www.alaskaaerofuel.com • email: [email protected]

18372351-9-24-10H&

RE

Some of the services we provide:

• 4x4 fuel delivery trucks • Competitive pricing • Friendly staff • Budget Payment Plans • Auto-service available • Prompt payment discounts • Call-in delivery service • Environmentally conscious • 24-hour Emergency Service


By APRIL FRICK

Homestead is defined as a home and surrounding land occupied by a family. Yet that one word has so much to do with the character and his-tory of Alaska that the two are irrevocably linked, and for Alaskans the word is infi-nitely more meaningful.

The true beginning of homesteading in Alaska began with the first tribes that occupied the land now known as the Last Frontier. For many thousands of years before any of the indigenous peoples of Alaska would hear the word homestead, they truly were the first persons to make this land their home.

The inception of Ameri-can homesteading in Alaska began with the Homestead Act of 1862. The brainchild of Abraham Lincoln’s admin-istration, the Homestead Act was designed to encourage Americans to settle on the

vast expanses of federal land and create new vibrant agri-cultural communities. The original act laid the ground-work for homesteading in theLast Frontier, and 1898 the act was extended to include the territory of Alas-ka.

Homesteads, rich in Alaska history, are still part of today’s market

By KRISTINA [email protected]

Many people in Fairbanks

choose, and possibly enjoy, building their dream homes, rental units or businesses from the ground up.

And why not? In most cas-es it proves to be easier on the pocket book and they get from it what they put into it. The biggest mistake most people make is not considering insur-ance to protect what they’re about to put into the build-ing or, in most cases, what they’ve already put into it.

The most common mis-conception is that insurance isn’t needed until there’s a substantial amount of materi-als put into a building project. Why would you insure a piece of land that has nothing on it yet? This couldn’t be more

wrong. Insurance companies prefer to see that no construc-tion has begun yet and that they’re starting with a clean slate. This means that before anyone decides to lay a finger on a shovel, they had better think about placing insurance on the property first.

Placing insurance on your soon-to-be property is easier than most people may think. All that’s really needed is an idea of how much the owner plans on putting into the proj-ect and some basic informa-tion about themselves. The sooner a person insures the property, the better the cover-age, and premium, could be. In some cases, premiums are as low as $375 per year.

If you have already started construction on the prop-erty — that’s OK too. This phase of construction would

qualify for a Course of Con-struction or Dwelling Fire policy. These policies require the same basic information that would be needed at the pre-construction phase. One should note that these policies run the risk of having higher premiums and usually do not include coverage for liability, medical, theft of building materials, freezing of pipes, etc. So if these coverages are of big concern, make sure to place a policy before construc-tion.

Coverage can be purchased on residential, commercial or model homes. Some policies include coverage for build-ing materials, trees, shrubs, lawns and even property owned by subcontractors. Most of these policies also cover theft of materials, mate-rials in transit, fire, vandal-

ism, and debris removal. The only coverage not available on any building under construc-tion is liability — so please be careful.

No matter where the project lies there is usually a market that the building can be placed in. The best thing a property owner should do is first place insurance dur-ing the course of construction phase to keep premiums low and then again after con-struction is complete. One of the first things insurance companies ask on applications is “where is the premises cur-rently insured?” Having cur-rent insurance in place con-tinuously proves to be more cost efficient than waiting until something comes up and placing insurance later. Insur-ing your home during the con-struction phase will help you

secure a homeowners insur-ance policy when the time comes. Some insurance com-panies prefer not taking on the risk of a prior uninsured building and will only offer a dwelling fire policy, if offering any policy at all, thus possibly resulting in inadequate cover-age for the building owner.

It doesn’t take much to get these policies in force so that you can soon be on your way to building your dreams. If anything, insuring a build-ing from the get-go can be more cost efficient and less of a headache in the long run. In the end, you’ll be glad you did — because we all know how fun construction can be all on its own.

Kristina Johnson is a personal

lines agent at Kenneth A. Murray Insurance.

Insuring buildings already under construction

Please see HOMESTEAD,

April Frick


By 1900, more than 1.3 million homestead appli-cations had been filed in the Lower 48 under the tremendously popular pro-gram. Alaska, conversely, had seen only a measly 200 applications by 1914. Yet Alaska would ultimately see a significant surge in appli-cations following both the World Wars and then again after Vietnam. Perhaps the residents of a no longer innocent America recaptured the concept of true pursuit of happiness being only to have a mule, 50 acres, and a dream alone to subsist on. Whatever the case may be, by the time Alaska achieved statehood in 1956 the num-ber of active homesteads had surged to more than 3,000.

Homesteaders in Alaska were of a uniquely tough ilk.

Many of them walked or flew into some of the harshest geography on the planet and not only lived to tell their tale, but helped to make the image of a singular home-steader’s log cabin alone in a sea of snow, northern lights over head, as representative of our great state as our very flag.

The last of the American homestead land was granted in the late eighties in Inte-rior Alaska. Today there are not nearly as many home-steads left, and those that remain have changed a great deal. Many have private if crude airstrips, satellite tele-vision, and Internet access. Others have transformed into remote tourist destina-tions. But the impression of the homestead days remain fresh in Alaska’s memory.

Today, we see the tradi-tional homestead accessible

by only plane, river, dog team or foot on the mar-ket in small numbers in the more rural areas of our state. Once in a great while a property that recalls that simpler way of Alaska life becomes available on the market right here in Fair-banks.

There are “homesteads” nowadays that are still a reminder of simpler days, but have all the modern amenities. These are like hitting upon gold with your shovel while digging your garden. Just keep your eyes open and pick up the phone quickly when you find out about an Alaskan Homestead advertised that you’re inter-ested in.

April Frick is a Realtor with Somers & Associates and can be contacted at 460-2310 for more information.

C ALL T ODAY 452-8680 “THE COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST”

ALTROL’S “ENERGY SAVINGS CLUB”

MEMBERSHIP SAVES YOU $$ MONEY $$

18372365-9-24-10HR

E

What You Benefit By Becoming An Altrol Energy

Savings Club Member: • A s an ESC member you will receive a 20%

discount off the Standard Rate in the Customer Approved Pricing Book, on all tune-ups and service calls.

• ESC members are entitled to a 10% discount on a boiler of furnace replacement.

• Altrol will call all ESC members once per year to schedule their yearly tune-up, at the ESC member’s convenience.

• ESC members receive a 32 point service checklist, at each yearly visit, showing that a thorough inspection has been done. Efficiency of heating unit will be listed also.

• ESC members pay no overtime charges for after- hours, weekend, or holiday service calls.

• ESC members receive priority service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Scheduled maintenance keeps your equipment running at its highest efficiency, thereby reducing breakdowns during extreme temperatures. Gives you peace of mind, knowing that your equipment is being maintained property, by a quality company.

SINCE

1982!!!

HOMESTEAD: Building a life in AlaskaContinued from

BY AL CARRELL and KELLY CARRELL

King Features There are times when you

really ought to use a funnel. Hopefully you can have one ready before you need one. If not, you can make one in a hurry from a sheet of paper or an empty envelope. For shop liquids, a piece of cardboard or

vinyl works best. Just fold it into a square, and then, with the open ends facing upward, open up one side of the square. Now cut the tip end off so that the liquid will filter through the inside of the square as you pour it. When you are finished, you can throw the “funnel” away.

Dear Carrells: I’ve been

hesitant to throw away the garden hoses and reel that I have been using for years, even though we now have a sprinkler system in the yard. But I have, at last, put the hoses away, since I rarely need them. I have converted the hose reel to a cord reel, and use it to store and carry my extra-long extension cord that I use for my mower, edger and weed whacker. It’s so much easier to bring outside to use, and even easier to wind back up when I’m finished using it. — R.S.

A SUPER HINT — Batt insulation is easy to install, and it does a great job. To cut it, just set a two-by-four over your cutting line and press it down. Run a utility knife along the edge of the two-by-four to cut through the layers.

Dear Al: I have trouble get-ting oil into my ceiling fans when I need to lubricate them. I have to do this a couple of times a year, and I have made some really bad messes while

trying to do it. My son suggest-ed that I use a flexible straw on the oil bottle to get it into the right spot. It worked great. I can bend the straw into the right position and give the oil a squirt. It goes just where it’s supposed to go. No more drips. — C.S.

Q: My air conditioner is still working, but I’m glad I don’t have to use it anymore this season. It was starting to squeal a lot. Do I need to replace it, or is there some-thing I can do to fix it? — N.R.

A: That depends on what the squealing is coming from. If it’s just the fan motor, which is common, then you might be able to oil the motor. If that doesn’t work, or if the problem isn’t the fan, then you probably need to have it serviced by a profession-al. If you do this in the off season, you will be ready to go next summer.

Dear Kelly: Here’s my crazy idea for stirring paint: I use a wire whisk. I actually had an

extra one in my kitchen, so I tried it on a thick paint I had to stir. It worked really well, and I felt like it did a better job than the old paint stir stick. You should try it, if you haven’t. — L.R.

SHOPTALK — Loc-tite Threadlocker Blue is a great addition to the workshop. It’s designed to seal and lock a variety of threaded fasteners. It protects the threads from rusting and corroding so they can be removed when needed. But it also prevents loosening from shock or vibration, so they won’t come undone until you are ready. Use on metal fasteners from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in diam-eter. Great for all sorts of tools, bikes, automobiles, boats and tons of other things around the house. You can find Threadlocker at hardware and auto-sup-ply stores, as well as many home centers. For more information, visit www.loc-titeproducts.com.

Helpful hints for those around-the-house duties


By MICHELINE PATTERSON Your business or home

has a 26 percent chance of being damaged by a flood during the course of a 30-year loan, compared to a 9 percent chance of damage or loss due to fire.

Floods can occur almost anywhere at anytime — not just near water. Flooding is the No. 1 natural disaster in the United States, and has caused nearly $1.6 million in damages in Alaska and $23.8 billion in the U.S. over the last 10 years.

Flood coverage is sold sep-arately from all other types of insurance coverage.

Protection from flood damage is available for protection from loss for commercial buildings, resi-dential buildings/homes, and renters’ personal belongings. Coverage is available up to $250,000 for single-family, multi-family and other resi-dential buildings and up to $100,000 for contents cover-age.

Non-residential buildings, including small businesses, can acquire coverage up to $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for contents. Coverage for damage from flood is not covered in any other type of policy except a flood insurance policy.

Lender placed vs. owner/buyer placed insurance

If you are applying for a building or home loan, the lender may take the ini-tiative to place insurance coverage for you in order for you to meet the loan requirements.

This is known as “lender placed” insurance cover-age, and it often may be more geared to protect-ing the lender’s interests rather than your interests. Additionally, lender placed coverage could cost you up to three to four times more than if you placed the insur-ance yourself through an insurance agency/agent. Lenders will notify bor-rowers if flood insurance

is required as a condition of the loan (National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994). Additionally, there is no 30 day waiting period for flood insurance purchased

in connection to a mortgage loan.

Flood insurance is manda-tory if the lender is federally regulated and your property is located in a special hazard area.

What is a special hazard area?

This is a designated area with the highest risk of flooding.

Flood insurance rate maps show high risk areas as Zones A, AE or V. How-ever, nearly 25 percent of all flood claims come from medium or low-risk flood areas which are listed as Zones B, C and X.

Anyone can purchase flood insurance whether or not they are in a special haz-ard area. If you already have

flood insurance, and are sell-ing your business or home, you can assign your current flood insurance policy to the buyer at the time of closing.

How are premiums calculated?

Flood insurance premi-ums are based upon the elevation level of the build-ing or home. A flood eleva-tion certificate is necessary before flood premiums can be determined.

This certificate must be completed by a licensed land surveyor or professional engineer who is authorized by law to certify elevation information.

Flood elevation certifi-cates should be kept on file with your local community planning department as

required by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulation 44 CFR 60.3b1, FEMA 480 Publi-cation, and the local flood reduction ordinance for the community.

Remember, if you sell your home you can transfer this policy to the new own-ers.

Paying too much for flood insurance?

This is because the home has a basement or crawl-space that is below the base flood elevation. Installing flood vents or filling in this space could reduce your flood insurance premiums. A LOMA or LOMA-F can be filed with FEMA to have a structure removed from the

Don’t forget the flood insurance, even in Alaska

Micheline Patterson

Please see INSURANCE, Page 31


Fairbanks Realtors Get the Job Done! SUSAN RAINEY Riverview Realty

www.suerainey.com • [email protected] Call Sue at 479-4410

Susan has successfully been helping her clients

meet their real estate goals for more than 25 years!

Put her indepth experience to work for you!

RICK EMERSON RE/MAX Associates of Fairbanks

Rick has lived in Alaska since 1975 and became a realtor in 1997. Rick works with all land types as

well as homes - he has a little something for everyone. He

was Third in closed transactions for all of Alaska

with RE/MAX for 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, first in closed

transactions (Individual) 2005, 2006. 2007 & 2009 and in the

100% Club.

www.alaskaland4u.com [email protected] Call Rick at 452-6387

Call Jo Anne at 460-2525 www.fairbanksakrealty.com

[email protected]

JO ANNE WEAVER Pruhs Real Estate

Jo Anne has roots in Fairbanks stretching

back 100 years and is committed to her town. Let her help you find the right place to call home. Associate Broker, ABR and UAF Alumni. “Let me lead you home!”

GINGER OREM CROWN Real Estate AK, Inc.

When you’re read to buy or sell Real Estate,

call Ginger! at 452-8000 www.GingerOrem.com

Ginger is a local real estate expert, licensed in Alaska since 1994 and nominated as one of Fairbanks’ Favorite

Realtors in the 2008 DNM People’s Choice

Awards.

JANET SHAFER Fortune Properties of Fairbanks

Call Janet at 456-4725 [email protected]

Broker/Owner of Fortune Properties of

Fairbanks calling Alaska home for over 35 years and assisting

the Fairbanks community and

surrounding area with their real estate needs

for over 25 years.

RICH KELLEY Rich Kelley Realty

www.richkelleyrealty.com, [email protected].

Call Rich at 452-7424

Realtor Since 1985; Residential & Commercial;

Buyer’s & Seller’s Representation;

Certified Residential

Specialist; Member Local MLS.

GRACE MINDER Grace Minder Realty, Inc.

Call Grace 479-8000 [email protected] www.graceminder.com

Honesty, Integrity, Enthusiasm! Grace is amazing! Mother

of 3, active in the community. Top producing

Agent & Broker. Born & raised in Fairbanks! 2007 Affiliate Realtor of the

Year!“ 1st Class Service every time,Your Home Town

Realtor”

EILEEN CUMMINGS EMC Realty, Inc.

[email protected] or call her at 378-1864

Eileen has lived in Fairbanks for over 30

years. Graduated from UAF, raised children in

Fairbanks schools and has volunteered on many local boards. Eileen received

the 2008 Affiliate Realtor of the Year award and serves on the Greater Fairbanks

Board of Realtors as President for 2010.

JUDY SOMERS Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Judy at 456-7653 ext. 105

www.somersandassociates.net

40 year Alaskan and graduate of University of Alaska. Holds Accredited

Buyer Representative (ABR) Designation & Seniors Real Estate

Specialist (SRES). Judy stresses attention to detail

and communication to ensure smooth transactions.

DAVE SOMERS Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Dave at 456-7653 ext. 101

www.somersandassociates.net

Committed to excellence in both

residential and commercial real estate. Dave is a consistent top

producer and believes in

satisfied and fully- informed clients.

CAMERON HARTER Coldwell Banker Gold Country

Call Cameron at 456-4653 www.cameronharter.com

Cameron Harter, Associate Broker and Top Producer, was born and raised in

Fairbanks, and earned his BBA in marketing at

Washington State University. Cameron has extensive knowledge, skills and

experience in marketing and real estate, and will work

hard with you to accomplish your real estate goals.

MONICA DALLAS Monica Dallas Realty

Call 388-4987 [email protected]

MonicaDallas.com

Monica is a knowledgeable, down-to-earth Realtor who

offers outstanding customer service. She will

work hard to make the buying/selling process an easy one for you. Monica has lived in the Fairbanks area for 28 years and has raised her children here.

ANDREA BARKER Alaska Land & Residential

Properties

Call Andrea at 378-0336 [email protected]

Specializing first in quality of service for

Buyers and Sellers, not quantity of sales for me. Put my 35 year Alaskan residency and 27 year

Real Estate experience to work for you. With me

you are always the Boss.

For dedicated and professional service, call Patty today at 750-0606!

Specializing in residential sales, Patty has lived in the Fairbanks area for over 40 years. She is very familiar

with Fairbanks and North Pole real estate market trends and construction techniques. Patty will be

happy to assist both buyers and sellers with all their real estate needs.

PATTY STATES Riverview Realty/States Real Estate

GRACE MOORE Century 21 Gold Rush

A 32-year Alaskan, Grace Moore knows the community well and enjoys helping people buy or sell their homes. She is an Accredited Buyers Representative and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Grace has worked with first-time homebuyers,

military clients, Seniors, and seasoned homeowners. She’ll give you her best whether buying or selling a home.

Call Grace at 590-0306 email: [email protected]

MORGAN MACCHIONE Coldwell Banker Gold Country

Buying and Selling property is one of the biggest financial decisions one will make. Choosing the right Realtor to represent your needs makes a BIG difference. That’s why I say “Experience &

Integrity are #1!”

458-0055 • 978-5985 CELL www.morganmacchione.com

57372859-9-24-10H&

RE


HEATHER LAMBERT Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Heather at 456-7653 ext. 102 or 460-6470

[email protected]

As heard on KIAK FM! I have been a REALTOR for nearly ten years and I work for the top local real estate

company in town. I am pleased to serve you and

to provide you with excellence in Real Estate!!

SALLY ATWOOD Advantage Alaska Realty

Sally Atwood

BUTCH & TERRI CURRIER Coldwell Banker Gold Country

GENE DUVAL RE/MAX Associates of Fairbanks

Specializing in friendly & professional service for residential, commercial and

investment properties. Experienced in mortgage lending, military family life, military relocation services,

and listings/sales from Fairbanks to Cantwell. Quality Service Award, Certified Residential

Specialist and Broker. 2006 Fairbanks Realtor of the Year.

[email protected] Call Becki at 378-1766

BECKI STAUBER Alaskan Sales

JOAN STEPOVICH Stepovich Realty

Broker/Owner. Success = Mother of 4, married 25 years, college degree, 28 years experience in interior design, 13 years as a

Realtor. Owner of “White Palms” Furniture and Design. This

lifelong Alaskan is helping make dreams a reality. I look forward

to serving you in all your interior design or real estate needs.

[email protected] 374-2825 or 378-46 46 www.whitepalms.net

www.stepovichrealty.com

I’ve lived in Fairbanks 39 years. I have 18 years

experience in land development, new

residential construction, remodeling, interior

decorating and property management. My first priority is to meet the needs of my clients.

Remember....You Always Come First!

JERRIE WAGNER Wagner Realty

Call Jerrie @ 460-2381 www.JerrieWagner.com

JOYCE SPENCER Joyce Spencer Realty

Joyce Spencer, Broker -

Professionalism, Dedication &

Results! Committed to each buyer and

seller, works hard to make your real

estate experience enjoyable.

Call Joyce at 388-4412 [email protected] www.JoyceSpencer.com

[email protected] www.HomesForFairbanks.com

Call Sally at 347-8486

GERRIE DUFFY Alaska Great Land Realty

www.GerrieDuffy.com, [email protected] Call Gerrie at 322-6612

An established high standard of quality client service. I am ready to meet the unique challenges

and problems families sometimes

encounter while selling their home or selecting their new

home. My customers are my #1 priority.

MELISSA BIDWELL MVI Realty

Call Melissa at 322-8873 [email protected]

ELIZABETH SCHOK Coldwell Banker Gold Country

Call Elizabeth at 322-9188 www.elizabethschok.com [email protected]

You will find honesty and integrity while I work hard to help you meet your real

estate goals. “Attitude is a little thing that makes a

big difference.” -Winston Churchill.

WHITNEY BOESE Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Whitney at 750-1704 [email protected]

Call us at any time at 590-2853 or 488-5875

www.ButchSellsAlaskaHomes.com Butch&[email protected]

TRACI SCHACHLE Coldwell Banker Gold Country

Selling Real Estate is one of my all time loves. Having extensive

knowledge with customer relations, being reliable, tenacious and listening to your needs are qualities that make me stand out as a full time, top producing agent. With that I have developed a full

complement of skills that it takes to get families into the

HOMES of their dreams!!

Call Traci at 322-0228 or 456-4653 [email protected]

www.tracischachle.com

KIRK MAYNARD Coldwell Banker Gold Country

• Specializing i n Military Relocation • Member o f Coldwell Bankers Elite

President’s Circle • President o f Greater Fairbanks Board o f

Realtors 2009 • Member o f Board o f Directors f or Greater Fairbanks Board o f Realtors Since 2005 • 2009 Affliate Realtor o f t he Year • Born a nd Raised i n Alaska • Expert

Knowledge o f Fairbanks, A K • Owner/Broker Coldwell Banker

Gold Country

[email protected] www.FairbanksProperty.com

Call Kirk at 456-4653 or 388-3560

ZEB MABIE Coldwell Banker Gold Country

Zeb is a lifelong resident of the Fairbanks and North Pole areas, and is Director at Large for the Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors. Whether buying or selling you can expect full

service professionalism, honesty, and integrity. Zeb is

ready to assist you!

C all Zeb at 388-6348 www.ZebMabie.com email: [email protected]

CHRIS CALHOON Chris Calhoon Real Estate

Chris is a decorated Vietnam Veteran who retired as

Colonel in the U.S. Army after 23 years service. In

1998, he started Fairbanks’ first exclusive buyers’

brokerage. He will take care of your most important

investment and negotiate the best deal for you.

www.buyers-brokerage.com [email protected]

Call Chris at 456-3401

KRISTEN COUTURE Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Kristen at 978-3593 [email protected]

Gene is the #1 Listing and Selling Realtor at RE/MAX of Fairbanks & one of the Top

Realtors in Alaska. For experience, integrity and results, put Gene and his team to work for YOU!

Call Gene at 452-4363 www.geneduval.com • [email protected]

Broker/Owner – ABR,CRS, Accredited Buyers Representative, Certified Residential

Specialist, Past Fairbanks Realtor of the Year, Past President of Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors, Alaska State CRS Board Director. Whether you are buying or selling, let me put my years of extensive real estate experience

to work for you. I work one on one with my clients to provide the very

best service with proven results!

Specializing in Military Relocation & 1st Time Home Buyers.

Our goal is to make every aspect of your Real Estate transaction as stress free as possible for you!

Dedicated to clients and committed to excellence. I am a 20 year resident of Fairbanks and I love my community.

I have discovered my passion in helping buyers and sellers realize their dreams in

home ownership. Having a knowledgeable Realtor working for you is a sure advantage! I will develop a successful plan of action based on YOUR wants and needs. I pledge myself to work diligently in making your dreams a reality. Clients

appreciate my knowledge of the local market, non-pushy sales approach and

dedication to making sure that your real estate transaction is a stress free as possible.

ABR, GRI

Whether buying or selling real

estate, Whitney works hard to

provide a smooth transaction with

honesty, integrity, and good

communication. Call today to get started!

Kelli was born and raised in Fairbanks and

has extensive knowledge of the area.

Kelli is reliable, courteous, dependable & available to help you with your real estate needs. Kelli enjoys

living in this wonderful town and all it has to offer.

KELLI POWERS Somers & Associates, Inc.

Call Kelli at 456-7653 www.kellipowers.com

HONESTY • TENACITY • EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION

Broker/Owner, CRS, ABR, Military, 1st Time Homebuyer,

National Referrals, Clients say, “Friendly, honest, trustworthy, reliable, professional, personable, dedicated,

experienced, knowledgeable, no pressure, considerate,

genuine caring.”

MIKE VANSICKLE Century 21 Gold Rush

Call Mike at 347-4484 or 488-2100

www.mikevansickle.com

As a Top Producer in the North Pole/Fairbanks

area, I work hard to make the home buying and

selling experience enjoyable and stress-free.

Specializing in single family sales, first time home buyers and new

construction.

JONI SCHNEIDER Heartland Realty

Call Joni at 456-1221 [email protected]

I have over 30 years experience and have owned

and operated Heartland since 1990. I was voted REALTOR of the year in 2003 and was president

of GFBR in 2006. I represent buyers or sellers with great success! If it is

experience you’re looking for, I’ll look forward to helping you!

I am a long time Resident of North pole, A business

owner, Avid hunter & Fisherman And best of all a Realtor. I love

what I do, So For quality service you can Trust contact

Rich Harter.

RICHARD HARTER Centure 21 Gold Rush

Call Rich at 322-5888 [email protected]

www.harterrealty.com

A 58 year resident of Alaska, Bruce

has sold residential, commercial, and land real estate in

Fairbanks as a 40 year member

of the Greater Fairbanks Board of

Realtors.

BRUCE WAMMACK Interior Alaska Realty

www.interiorrealty.com [email protected]

Call Bruce at 455-9550

As broker/owner, Audrey has been helping

Fairbanksans buy and sell real estate for over 30 years. Meyeres Real Estate, named for the

founder Bud Meyeres in 1950, is now a small

family business.

AUDREY J. FOLDOE Meyeres Real Estate

907-456-6000 www.meyeres.com

[email protected]

57372860-9-24-10H&

RE



When potential buyers drive up to your home, the decision of “to buy or not to buy” might be made before they even step foot in your carefully cleaned and staged house.

It’s the outside view — that all-important curb appeal — that can close the deal for you or, if you don’t spruce up your home’s outer appearance, send buyers looking for the next listing.

According to real estate industry Web site HomeGain, if you invest $300 to $400 on landscap-ing, your home price could increase by $1,500 to $2,000, a return on your investment of about 500 percent.

Think about how your house looks from the front curb, which is where poten-tial buyers get their first look and form that all-important first impression.

“If you’re standing at

that curb and you see that the windows are dirty, the trees are overgrown and the shutters are faded or peel-ing, that’s a turnoff,” says Jennie Norris, president of the International Associa-tion of Home Staging Pro-fessionals, which is a source of professional home stagers who also work on staging the outdoor sections of your property for best effect.

“Buyers will likely spend several minutes at your front door while their real estate agent unlocks it, so invest time in setting the stage for a grand entrance,” says Marcia Layton Turner, co-author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell.”

“Make sure the door is clean and freshly painted, if needed. Polish any brass, such as a door knocker, hinges or doorknob. Clean any glass sidelights or glass windows on the door or

Curb appeal: The view from outside

Creators.com

Spending a little money to transform your current outdoor space into something fantastic goes a long way. Please see CURB, Page 32


high risk flood zone and the mandatory flood insurance requirement.

In order to file a LOMA the lowest adjacent grade has to be at or above the base flood elevation.

This information can be found on the flood elevation certificate.

What is the payout for flood insurance?

How flood insurance policies are paid out vary depending on the type of building covered.

Building coverage on a primary residential home is paid on a replacement cost (RC) basis while on a rental and/or secondary residential home it is paid on an actual cash value (ACV) basis. Buildings considered com-mercial are also paid out on an ACV.

Contents coverage, no matter what type of build-ing, is always paid out on an ACV basis.

The amount of cover-age available on residential policies is no more than $250,000 for the dwelling and up to $100,000 for its contents.

On commercial buildings, the coverage amount goes up to $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for its con-tents.

New construction information

The community that you intend to building in requires a flood hazard per-mit.

This permit is issued by the community planning office and requires property owners to build above the base flood elevation.

If your building site is located in a special hazard area, it is be wise to have a licensed land surveyor, professional engineer, or reg-istered architect come and set a temporary benchmark before construction begins. This will allow the builder to refer to the benchmark and build above the base flood

elevation (BFE). Additionally, it will help

you determine how much fill material is needed to raise your structure above the BFE which will result in lower flood insurance costs.

Remember: building above the BFE results in

lower flood insurance pre-miums; building below the BFE results in higher pre-miums.

Lower flood premiums are available

Buildings with a crawl-

space can install flood open-ings, as long as the inside grade and exterior grade has no more than 2 feet differ-ence and there is no more than 5 feet between the crawlspace floor and the top of the next higher floor. This is FEMA’s preferred meth-od. The openings are on all sides and allow flood waters to flow freely through the space without building up hydrostatic pressure.

How do I get flood insurance?

Applying for flood insur-ance is easy! Flood insurance is available through about 90 insurance companies in more than 20,300 participat-ing communities nationwide.

Your insurance agent will require a flood elevation certificate which will have

the necessary information to rate the policy.

The premium charged for an accurately rated NFIP policy will be the same, regardless of from whom you purchase the policy.

For more information on rates, premiums or maps contact your local indepen-dent insurance agent.

Flood elevation certifi-cates can be turn into your local city or borough office for safe keeping!

All information provided in this

article was obtained from the fol-lowing websites www.fema.gov or www.floodsmart.gov.

For more information call Taunnie Boothby with the Alaska State Division of Community and Regional Affairs 907-269-4583 or Micheline Patterson with Kenneth Murray Insurance at 907-456-6646 [email protected].

INSURANCE: Flood evaluation certificate required by the agentContinued from Page 27

Flood insurance is available through about 90 insurance companies in more than 20,300 participating communi-ties nationwide. Your insurance agent will require a flood elevation certificate which will have the necessary informa-tion to rate the policy.


EROSIO

N

CONTROL P

RODUCTS

• 8" & 12" diameter • Locally made, wood chip

filled tube

Gillmore Construction Inc.

907-479-5367 907-590-0598

SWPP & BMP SWPP & BMP approved & approved &

recommended recommended

1837

2400

9-2

4-10

RE

57372788-9-24-10HR

E

Call Eric at

457-1970 for more

information

Still time to pick out colors, appliances and flooring.

• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths • 1-car garage • Vinyl siding

• Radiant floor heat • 5-star energy rating • City water & sewer

924 Marquette Loop, North Pole 924 Marquette Loop, North Pole

New Construction $215,000

Lic #26393 Residentially Endorsed

BONDED INSURED

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA

Thinking of building a new home? Adding an addition, updating that old kitchen or bath? Summit Alaska can help, with years of experience building in the interior we can make your

wants, needs and dreams a reality! Call us today _ We have building lots available.

457-1970 Fax 457-1968

GENERAL CONTRACTING

CONSTRUCTION CO.

FEAT

URE

D H

OM

E!

FEAT

URE

D H

OM

E!

storm door. Sweep the stoop. Put down a new welcome mat. And add a couple of potted plants on both sides of the front door to add color and make it feel like a more inviting space.”

Norris agrees, suggesting topiaries on both sides of the door, large colorful planting bowls from the nursery, and annuals on a plant stand to add a touch of color.

Hued upColor is a very big issue

when it comes to your home’s outer appearance.

It may be a wise invest-ment to have your home professionally painted. Nor-ris says a house looks best when the main color and the trim are within the same color family and there’s just one contrasting color for a “pop” accent, such as on the shutters.

But it may work just fine to have your home’s siding power washed, which can make it look as if you had new siding put on.

Color also applies to your landscaping. Norris says, “Buyers are impressed with pops of color in your

landscaping, so for annuals that you’ll plant in front and along walkways, stick with just one color of flower rather than mix six different shades, and plant in clusters rather than rows for the best effect.”

Turner says to trim any bushes or shrubs to neat and controlled shapes, put down new mulch and cut down any dead tree branches.

Norris advises, “Use the outdoor home staging wis-dom of making sure that you have high, medium and low plantings, such as a few tall trees, some medium-height bushes and then some flow-ers or ground cover close to the ground.”

This style of planting is the nicest aesthetically, and it also serves to direct the eye toward your home’s best

features. For instance, a taller tree will bring the eye upward to show off the top frame of your front door or the new windows.

Light effectsMany potential buyers

will schedule visits for after work hours.

To make your home shine after dark, consider a lighting strategy. Pretty lanterns and modern fix-tures can be found in most home improvement stores and installed in less than an hour.

Turner advises making sure that all of your outdoor lights — from your solars by your steps to your front porch light — are clean and in good working order.

Lawn décorA fabulous backyard will

feature a new, clean patio furniture grouping so that potential buyers can imagine the entertaining they could do on that back deck, and a clean grill is also a must, even if it’s a portable unit and not a built-in part of an outdoor kitchen.

“Water features are ter-rific,” Norris says, “such as

ponds and waterfalls or a clean and well-manicured backyard pool, and a clean copper or modern-looking birdbath is fine, too.”

As far as additional out-door décor goes, the experts say to put everything away. Remove plaques with your family name on them. Get rid of the creepy little gar-den gnomes and plastic pink flamingos, even those cute fabric flags themed to the season or the holiday or to a favorite sports team or alma mater.

The goal is to depersonal-ize the outside, as well as the inside, of your home so that buyers see the house as a house, not your house.

And Turner says to make sure that all lawn equipment is put away.

“You don’t want any hint that you had to work hard to make the yard look that good,” she says. “Buyers want the illusion that your home will require very little in the way of maintenance and upkeep.”

With just a few simple outdoor “spruce-ups,” your house will impress those potential buyers, perhaps right into saying, “We’d like to make an offer.”

CURB: Spruce up the outside to make a good impressionContinued from Page 30

Color is a very big issue when it comes to your home’s outer appearance. It may be a wise investment to have your home profes-sionally painted. Norris says a house looks best when the main color and the trim are within the same color family and there’s just one contrasting color for a “pop” accent, such as on the shutters. But it may work just fine to have your home’s siding power washed, which can make it look as if you had new siding put on.


11371754-9-24-10H&

RE

3. Married Realtors on Pg. 13. 5. Who is advertising 1374 Joyce Drive,

$239,900. Pg. 1 8 –19. 6. Cover Pg. Your Hometown Realtor 7. On which avenue is the house for $207,000

located? Pg. 23. 10. The "H" in FHA. 11. Part of a stair 12. Pg. 29. Which Realtor offers "…no pressure,

considerate, genuine caring."? 14. Sometimes, it's a walk-in 15. Zeb ______ Maybe? Pg. 29. 16. A roof overhang 20. A home loan 22. Typical roof covering…or a medical condition. 23. She's got the ______ (plural). Pg. 1.

57372785-9-24-10HR

E

ACROSS

DOWN 1. The abbr. for bedroom. 2. Wants you to enjoy the mountain view…also

a spice. Pg. 1. 4. The 2 in 3/2/1. 5. In vinyl or aluminum for exterior covering. 6. Pg. 28. An accredited Buyers Rep and a

Seniors Real Estate Specialist. 8. Pg. 28. Which Realtor says: "Experience &

Integrity are #1."? 9. Pg. 29. She's a 20 yr. resident and dedicated

to clients. 10. She and Kelli sell homes. Pg. 1 13. Who is the right Realtor now that "The

Market Has Changed." Pg. 23. 17. She has Tenderfoot property for sale…with a

cabin. Pg. 18–19. 18. Pg. 28. Received his BBA in Marketing at

Washington State. 19. Realtor selling "Walden Estates." Pg. 3 21. 5 Star ______ rated.

Presented by Participating Realtors and the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Email [email protected] for solution.

By CHANDRA ORRCreators.com

Your real estate agent is busy. That’s not to say he isn’t amazing, but when he’s juggling a full client roster, multi-tasking is the name of the game.

From drafting listings and touring homes to open houses and closings, he has a lot of responsibilities. Help him help you by doing your part.

“Brokers and clients need to work together as a team. Making things easier for the broker will benefit the customer,” says Drew Glick, a senior vice president at Brown Harris Stevens Resi-dential Sales.

Whether you’re buying or selling, there are plenty of things you can do to help make the experience a suc-cess. At the top of the list? Be prepared. Get your finances in shape; have your home ready to show; and know what you want before you sign on with an agent.

“A Realtor can come in and help with everything, but a well-prepared client, both financially and with a home ready for the market, is ahead of the game,” says real estate expert Michele Lerner, author of “Homebuying — Tough Times, First Time, Any Time: Smart Ways to Make a Sound Investment.”

Figure out your finances

Before you start shop-ping, know where you stand financially. Get a copy of your credit report. Determine how much you can afford to spend on a monthly house payment, and meet with a mortgage broker.

“Get preapproved, and have a relationship with a local bank or mortgage bro-ker,” says Realtor Brendon DeSimone with the Paragon Real Estate Group. “Having a solid understanding of your finances before you engage with a Realtor will be a tre-

mendous help and timesaver.”Have your down payment

set aside and easily acces-sible. If you need to borrow from your 401(k) or cash out long-term investments, start the process early so the funds are available when you need them.

“Nothing wastes more time than not having a depos-it ready and down payment money easily accessible,” Lerner says.

As you navigate the buying and borrowing process, col-lect all pertinent paperwork in a central file — and take it with you when meeting with your agent.

Know what you want“As a buyer, you can help

your agent most by know-ing what you want before you sign on,” Lerner says. “Carefully weigh your needs and desires so that you know which features are must-haves and which are want-to-haves.”

Come prepared with a list

of preferred neighborhoods and school districts, your desired bedroom count and square footage, your must-haves and a realistic budget.

“Even if inventory is tight, there are thousands of prop-erties on the market at any

Help your agent do his or her best

Please see HELP, Page 34


Tired of the Look of Your Kitchen?

Change Your Countertops!

452-1975 • Fax 452-4821 1971 Livengood Avenue • Fairbanks

Let the experts at

help you with that NEW LOOK!

13370673-9-24-10H&

RE

given time. If buyers give me all their criteria and a wish list, I might know the right property for them immedi-ately,” Glick says.

Paint a picture of your dream home, and be flexible.

“Being open to properties that do not fit into the initial criteria can be important. I advise buyers to focus on what they are looking for in an ideal world. If it is not available, then expanding horizons is the way to go,” Glick says.

Be ready to showBefore your home hits the

listings, be sure it’s in tiptop shape. Fix minor problems;

freshen up the landscaping; organize the closets; clear the clutter; stash nonessentials in storage.

“Chances are you know that you plan on selling your home months in advance,” DeSimone says. “Start plan-ning for it. Get a storage unit. Get stuff out of your house, and start organizing now. The faster the Realtor can get in and do his thing the faster you can get your house sold.”

While your home is on the market, stay on top of house-hold chores and yardwork so the property looks showroom-ready at a moment’s notice.

“Homes take longer to sell nowadays. That means regular upkeep,” DeSimone

explains. “If I could just show up and know that the place shows impeccably, that would be a lifesaver.”

Let your agent know upfront the best times for showing your home — but be prepared for impromptu visits.

“Flexibility in allowing the broker to show a property at various times is key,” Glick says. “Requests for showings are often made last minute with relatively short notice. Turning buyers down for a showing may lead them to just move on.”

The same holds true for buyers; not all sellers are going to be flexible, so you might need to adjust your schedule if you want to see the hot new listings as they hit the market.

HELP: Have your affairs in order for a smooth, easy purchaseContinued from Page 33

Before you start shopping, know where you stand financially. Get a copy of your credit report. Determine how much you can afford to spend on a monthly house payment, and meet with a mortgage bro-ker. Have your down payment set aside and easily accessible. If you need to borrow from your 401(k) or cash out long-term investments, start the process early so the funds are available when you need them.

35Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, September 24, 2010 13370669-9-24-10H

&R

E

Phillips Field Rd

Well St

Minnie St

Good

St

Driv

eway

St

Located in the Railroad Industrial area, off East Phillips Field Rd.

25% through the roof

10% through the windows

15% in droughts

35% through

the walls

15% into the ground

ARCTIC TECHNICAL SERVICES ENERGY EFFICIENT COMFORT

452-8368 1318 Well Street [email protected]

Energy Ratings Radon Testing Thermal (Infrared)

Imaging Building Consulting Training & Education Toyo Repair Energy Kinetics High-Efficiency Boilers Toyotomi Products Quadrafire Stoves Nordic Oil Drip & Much More!

Where Where Where

going? going? going?

is is is your your your

Arctic Technical Services Offers Quality Products & Services:


A well-written listing is the best marketing tool to get your house looked at, loved and sold. Real estate agents devote extra effort to include the best selling points of houses on the market in order to attract the attention of potential buyers.

“In this slower market, we are off-peak of our usual annu-al sales of 6 million homes, so it’s important for any house on the market to stand out from the crowd,” says Alison Rog-ers, author of “Diary of a Real Estate Rookie.”

To make your home’s list-ing stand out from the many other listings out there, shine a spotlight on elements that bring to mind what the buy-er’s lifestyle would be if he or she were to buy your home. That means mentioning that your house is located close to a park with biking trails so the buyer registers that your home location supports an active lifestyle. Homebuyers looking for a serene place to walk their dogs or have family picnics will flock to your open house. If your home is located close to a train station lead-ing into a major city, it may attract a buyer who loves the energy and culture available in a metropolitan area. Revealing that it would be easy to hop in and out of the city could add a checkmark in that buyer’s mental “plus column.”

When attempting to load your listing with attractive lifestyle elements, you have to be careful not to violate the Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968), which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-ment summarizes as prohib-iting “discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other hous-ing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (dis-ability).” This means you can-not try to sell your home by

mentioning that it’s close to schools or to religious centers. Doing so is simply against the law because these elements apply only to certain demo-graphics.

“You can’t say that the

home is near an ‘ample playground,’” says Rogers, illustrating that your listing cannot give the appearance of favoring any demographic. You’re not being a good mar-keter, and you’re breaking the

law by unintentionally dis-criminating.

So, to avoid any brush against the Fair Housing Act, it’s far better to illustrate lifestyle elements by listing that your house has a pool, a

garden, a roof deck, a tennis court, water features, a home theater and any other on-prop-erty attractions. Descriptive wording enables potential buyers to imagine themselves enjoying these very elements as the home’s new owners.

Illustrating lifestyle ele-ments may catch potential buyers’ attention, but don’t forget the basics. “People may appreciate the wrapping paper,” Rogers says, “but they need the present, too. It’s far better to provide the essential details that are truly going to attract the ideal buyer, such as the number and sizes of rooms.”

What buyers really want to know is whether the house or condo is large enough for them, how many bedrooms there are, how many bath-rooms there are, whether the heat is electric or gas, when the roof was redone, whether there is a security system, etc.

These may not be fun top-ics, but they’re the ones that carry the most weight when it comes to selling your home. So be sure that your house’s inner details are illustrated fully and that photos of your rooms are high-quality and plentiful for showing on online media players.

Adding lifestyle attractions to your listing

Creators.com

To make your home’s listing stand out from the many other listings out there, shine a spot-light on elements that bring to mind what the buyer’s lifestyle would be if he or she were to buy your home.


Gold Rush

1427 Gillam Way Fairbanks, AK 99701

(907) 452-2100

541 St. Nicholas Dr. North Pole, AK 99705 (907) 488-2100

Call or stop by

either of

our offices!

Tina Morales Property Manager

Mike VanSickle

Grace Moore

Larry Dotson

Debbie & Paul Coben

Nic Sanford

Jason Ballek

Lori Peterson

Bert Perkins

Tom Presler

Evelyn Arnott

Rich Harter

Davida Flenaugh

Kino Abrams

Hank Bartos Broker

Visit Century 21 GoldRush.com to view all MLS listings!

Century 21 Gold Rush Century 21 Gold Rush will lead you home! will lead you home!

57

37

27

84

-9-2

4-1

0H

&R

E 5

73

72

78

4-9

-24

-10

H&

RE

G O

L D S T A N D A R D

G O

L D S T A N D A R D

G O

L D S T A N D A R D

I N R E A L E S T A T E I N R E A L E S T A T E I N R E A L E S T A T E

homes & real estate - fall 2010

Documents

n s i d

n e w s

crown real estate ak

custom ranch

chris calhoon real estate

real estate crossword

beautiful wrap

years beautiful