Alaska Real Estate Blog

Finding the right home security system may be one of the most important tasks for a new homeowner, as home security systems can mean the difference between a safe, secured home and a disaster in which one's belongings are stolen or destroyed. It is critical that they do their best to keep their loved ones safe from any possible harm, as well as keeping their valuables out of the hands of criminals. Many home security systems provide these essential services and so much more, and a home security system should be considered when purchasing a new home.

Diligent and customer service-oriented home security companies that listen to customers' feedback and request have something to offer homeowners, no matter what they are looking for.

What Types of

Even with a tight budget, it's often still possible to buy a home. There may have to be some concessions made along the way, but that doesn't mean your new Palmer home has to be too small for your needs or in poor condition, either.

With some careful thought and planning, it's often possible to find a home that may be a great choice, even if the budget for buying a house is a little on the smaller side. Before you try to buy a new home, here are some questions to ask.

1. How Much Repair and Remodel Work Does it Need?

Most houses, other than new construction, probably need some kind of repair or remodel work to make them feel like home. And for buyers with a limited budget, that may be even more true. Even so, the home should be solid and

Staging a home for selling is a very important part of getting buyers interested in making a purchase. Sellers want their home chosen over other options, and when they focus on making sure the home looks its best, it's easier for buyers to make that choice. But knowing exactly what to do when it comes to staging a home does not always come easy. Here are five ways any seller can improve the look of their home's interior, so buyers will be more interested in what they have to offer.

1. Make Sure You De-Clutter Everything

One of the best things you can do to stage a home is to de-clutter it. Buyers want to be able to see themselves living there, and that's very hard to do when they are stepping over and around the seller's things, or when

Buying a fixer-upper can be a great way to get into a home "on the cheap," but too often what seems a sure thing can turn into a disaster. Repainting interior walls may be easy, but foundation repairs, structural alterations, adding square footage, or alleviating a mold problem can be costly. 

Depending on what "fixes" are required, even a low asking price may be way too high in terms of time and effort required to make a house desirable. Here are some tips to assure that your dream house doesn't become the money pit you'll regret ever considering.

Know the Neighborhood

There's no substitute for local knowledge. Remember that there's always a reason when a home is underpriced for its area, be it in Eagle River or elsewhere. If it's simply

Becoming a homeowner is one of the largest steps that many people will take in their lifetime. Not only is it exciting to have control over your dwelling and design it to look any way you choose, but it also brings about a sort of rite of passage into adulthood.

Many people don’t take the time to consider that there are actually multiple ways of buying a home. While most go down the traditional path of hiring a real estate agent and buying something for sale, others take a more unique approach and decide to custom build a home. Which is the better option and why? It depends on your priorities.

Going With An Existing Home

While it’s definitely the more popular way to go, choosing to purchase an existing home oftentimes gives buyers less

A lot of homeowners don't have a lot of experience painting interiors. However, it's a great skill to learn whether you just want to spruce things up for fun or improve the home before selling. Using the right tools and following best practices can help you achieve a professional finish. These tips make it easier to paint an interior room with good results.

Paint Samples Before Picking the Color

It’s hard to tell what a paint will look like by looking at a small swatch. Applying the paint to the wall is the only way to judge whether or not a color is right for a room. Paint stores sell samples for this very purpose. To get the best idea of what a color will look like in a room, paint a large square on the wall. View the square at different

Down payments can be scary, especially for first time home buyers. 20 percent of the home’s total value is the standard for a down payment, with some variations, but even on a $200,000 home, that still comes to a $40,000 down payment. A down payment can seem like a lofty goal, but here are some strategies for buyers to start saving that don’t involve giving up coffee and avocado toast.

Buy Generic and Store Brands

Many large chain stores offer their own store brands as alternatives to name brands. These store brand products are often very similar to their name-brand counterparts, and they’re often far less expensive.

This doesn’t just apply to cookies and paper towels, though. Many over-the-counter medicines, like pain killers and eyedrops,

Although recent television ads might make it seem like reverse mortgages are something new, they actually came into being more than five decades ago – way back in 1961. After some initial problems with the way they were structured, reverse mortgages were systemized by the federal government in 1987 as part of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Program by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing and Community Development Act. But even though reverse mortgages have now been around for more than half a century, they are not as well-known or widely used as other types of home financing, such as conventional mortgages. Because of this, homeowners who have reverse mortgages, or those who find themselves inheriting a

Buyers commonly insist on a home inspection. Most real estate agents strongly recommend them. It protects the buyer from ugly surprises in the form of problems they were unaware of at the time of sale. Of course, a home inspection could find a deal killer, a problem so egregious the buyer backs out entirely. Or perhaps it finds something requiring an expensive fix. Still, there are many reasons why sellers should not fear and should actually welcome a home inspection.

It Puts Buyer and Seller on Equal Footing

Licensed inspectors are impartial. Their job is to identify problem areas and suggest solutions. By having a detailed report lay out the issues, buyers and sellers negotiate from the same starting point. A buyer cannot insist a problem is

Summer is the season to enjoy your yard and the outdoor life, but it can also be the time to complete some value-adding DIY projects around the house. Here are 5 great ways to improve your property –you'll never call it work!

Enhance your Patio

Extend outdoor living space with a new deck and bench seating along two sides of an existing patio. Or place stepping stones strategically to through a planting area, leading guests to an wood deck with an attached ramada. Find ideas for both simple and "over the top" decks at houzz.com.

Beautify the Front Entry

Repaint your front door a bright new color, then add a new keyless lock set to complement the architecture and provide better security. Add stylish numbers, large and distinctive enough to