Wasilla Alaska Real Estate & Community News

The 10 Most Beautiful Places in the World

Like art, beauty is purely a subjective attribute so we all have something to say about the scenery that has inspired us. If you have traveled much overseas, or to the many awesome places here in the U.S., please comment on the natural beauty you’ve encountered.

Here are my observations:

#1 Patagonia

It’s difficult to rate any place above the many spectacular places I will soon mention in my beloved Alaska. Nonetheless I’ve made eight separate trips to the far south of Chile & Argentina and have experienced an indescribable exhilaration watching the ever changing weather and light dancing across these spectacular landscapes. What is Patagonia like? I guess the best way to describe it would be like “a blend of Alaska and the Canadian Rockies in a mixing bowl”.

For information about photo tours in Patagonia see http://www.photosafaris.com/Tours_2008/Patagonia/Patagonia.asp or for photographs visit the late Galen Rowell’s Mountain Light photo gallery at http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.classics/images.html

#2 Denali National Park, Alaska

Rising nearly 4 vertical miles above sea level, few mountains on earth compare with the beauty and grandeur of Mt. McKinley, known to the Alaska Native people as Denali, or, The High One.

Best of all is the expanse of this national park and preserve which extends across a landscape the size of Massachusetts with sprawling glaciers, tundra ridges and braided rivers and streams that provide habitat for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, fox, wolves, lynx, Dall sheep and many other mammals unique to both North America and Alaska. http://www.photosafaris.com/Tours_2009/DenaliInAutumn/denali-photo-tour.asp

#3 Prince William Sound Alaska

This may come as a surprise to those who have never plied these glacier-fed waters nor trod its lush green hillsides and wildflower meadows. For those who have, it naturally belongs somewhere in the Top 10 along with the other of the world’s great places. For a first-rate trip see http://discoveryvoyages.com/

#4 South Georgia Island

Located south of The Falkland Islands and on a plotted course toward the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island is a surreal place perhaps best known for its crucial role in Sir Earnest Shackleton’s epic journey aboard The Endurance. For the ultimate trip to South Georgia Island http://www.photosafaris.com/Tours_2008/UltimateAntarctica/UltimateAntarctica.asp

#5 Antarctica

The time I spent along the southern tip of the earth’s most remote continent was brief yet packed with exhilaration, observations and thousands of photographs. Pristine water clarity, oodles of penguins, countless humpback whales and other marine life coupled with skyscraper-size ice bergs was simply and extraordinary experience. For the ultimate trip on earth see http://www.photosafaris.com/Tours_2008/UltimateAntarctica/UltimateAntarctica.asp

#6 Coastal Katmai National Park

Although Katmai is best known for the Brown Bears of Brooks Falls, nothing can top the expansive lush green meadows and secluded shorelines of the Alaska Peninsula. Indeed from the wildflower meadows to the low nesting bald eagles to the countless brown bear that live here, there exist few places on earth that compare with this wilderness made famous by Timothy Treadwell in the Grizzly Man Chronicles.

#7 Serengeti Plains of East Africa

Once you’ve been out on a safari you soon realize that the sunrises, sunsets, dusty days and endless encounters with the African wildlife somehow penetrates your blood stream. Once it grabs hold of you it’s impossible to stop with one trip which probably best describes my successive trips to back to Kenya and Tanzania as well as the countries of Botswana and neighboring Zimbabwe and Zamia.

#8 Karakoram Highway

Alas, as I am yet to see this fabled region of the world which encompasses spectacular portions of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan & India, I can only comment as a “wanna-be and a wanna-see”! Having left a prolific career as a professional freelance photographer for my present career in real estate, a journey along this spectacular pathway is perhaps the only unresolved inner journey I pledged to experience but to date have not done so. Thanks to the inspiring images of the late Galen Rowell, I do hope to get there some day soon.

#9 The Canadian Arctic

Aside from guiding several polar bear photo safaris my connection to the Canadian Arctic has been vicariously lived through the photos and experiences of others I’ve encountered who are dearly intimate with northern Canada’s tremendous wildness and beauty.

#10 National Park System of the United States

From the Grand Canyon, to Yosemite to the Everglades to the desert southwestern parks of Canyonlands, Bryce & Zion National Parks there is little doubt that America has world class beauty all its own.

An article written by ABC News on November 3rd made both gloomy and amazing revelations about the U.S. and Alaska economies.

The gloomy revelation concerns the economy in Lower 48 states;

• Back in March of 2008 only 5 states were officially listed as being in a state of recession; Florida, Arizona, California, Michigan & Nevada
• As of September 30th there were 30 states officially listed as being in a recession.
• Nearly all of the remaining states are no longer demonstrating any expansion of their economy. As such they are all at risk of entering a recession as well.

Okay, now for the good news for those of us fortunate enough to call Alaska our home;

Alaska is the only state currently showing an economy that is expanding.

• What are your thoughts? Will Alaska stay sheltered for the most part or do you think the woeful economic conditions will make there way here as well?

With so many homes on the market Staging Your Home has never been more important. Perhaps the best analogy

You need to prepare your home for “Beauty Contest” if you want to get your home sold. This means that every effort has been made to put the home’s interior and exterior into pristine showing condition.

The following list of recommendations should get you well on your way to properly preparing your home:

1. De-clutter
   Box up all the figurines and trinkets all over the house. Remove every loose item from every night stand, coffee table or counter top.

2. Depersonalize
   Take down all the family pictures and memorabilia. They want to picture themselves in your home.

3. Clean. Clean. Clean.
   There is no option but to clean every surface! This means light fixtures, window sills, base trim, and carpet behind the window sills.

Today’s Tip is Qualifying Your Buyer,

Most sellers are so eager to get people in the door they don’t stop to think about qualifying their prospects before allowing them to view the home. This process will help weed out the tire kickers from the folks who are serious about buying.

Due to the recent changes in the lending industry, fewer and fewer buyers are qualifying for a home purchase as available shrinks. Higher credit scores, higher minimum down payments, and a lower debt to income ratio are now required.

Additionally, many banks have gone out of business or have been absorbed by other financial institutions. This has created utter mayhem for many buyers and sellers who have a transaction in progress and many deals are falling apart after the buyer and seller have reached an agreement.

One suggestion would be to request a letter from buyer’s lender stating the following:

-     That this individual(s) has completed a Good Faith Estimate.

-     That the lender has verified their credit score, their income and verified the availability of funds to for their down payment and closing costs.

-     That the buyer DOES NOT need to sell another property before they can complete their purchase.

Finally, there are many advantages to using a local lender. Here in Alaska we can be proud to learn that most of our local branch offices have highly trained and highly ethical loan originators. If you need any recommendations feel free to contact me and I’ll pass on some reference for you.

I hope this helps!

Today’s Tip is Securing Your Home.

As a general rule, buyers do not want the seller to be present when they view the home.

One reason is that buyers won’t freely discuss their likes and dislikes about your home without fear of hurting your feelings. Additionally buyers find it unnerving to have a seller “shadow” them throughout the “tour” while trying to impress them with every detail.

Allowing a buyer freedom to view your home is also crucial because if concerns or objections arise from one individual, they will be able to discuss their concerns openly with one another which might lead to a solution. If they are prevented from this freedom they will likely scratch your home off of their list and move on to the next property.

With this all being said, the security of your home and your valuables is a major concern. Here are some tips;

-     When they set up the appointment tell them you’ll be there to let them in while you take a short walk or will be out in the yard if they have any questions. However cordially inform that you would like to see their drivers license when they arrive for security purposes. This alone will screen out some of the “tire kickers”.

-     Make sure all of your valuables are locked in a safe or are located somewhere you consider out of reach.

-     After they leave, check and make sure that none of your windows are unlocked that were previously locked when you let them inside. If anything strikes you as being odd or suspicious you may want to report it to the police.

The topic of Securing Your Home is an important one. However it is also a clear indicator of the importance of determining a Buyer’s Financial Qualification which will be the topic of my next tip!

Unlike other realtors who will contact you asking to list your home, I am offering a FSBO Assistance Program that is free of any fees or obligations;

Here’s what you can expect if you’re interested;

1. Seller Tips
   I will be sending you helpful tips by email every Monday and Friday that can increase your chances for success. Topics include Qualifying Your Buyer, The Do’s and Don’ts of Home Improvements, Home Security Issues, Home Inspections & Repairs, Pricing Strategies, Home Staging and many other crucial topics.

1. Free FSBO Web Site
   You can post your home at www.salebyowneralaska.com Just log in and post your house’s information and photos. If you need help you can contact my technical advisor, Will, by email (wshowalter@prualaska.com) or you can call him at 352.1474 on Mon/Wed/Fri from 2-5pm.

1. Free FSBO Seminar
   This Power Point presentation is something you won’t want to miss! It is offered every 2 weeks in the meeting room at Pandemonium Booksellers & Café (located in the new building adjacent to the Wasilla Home Depot). Email us a request for more information and we’ll get a flyer off to you ASAP.

1. Free Community Moving Truck
   Once you find a buyer for your home don’t hesitate to reserve my Free Community Moving Truck. All you have to do is go to www.stevegilroy.com to reserve your dates.

1. Buyer Representation
   If you’re looking to buy something after you sell, I can send you listings by email automatically. This means you’ll know every new listing right when they hit the market, long before most of the other buyers and agents find out about them.

That’s about all for now. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.

My personal experiences relating to Governor Palin and her administration have been limited but meaningful.

When my wife and I received word that the State Education Board was proposing some changes that would impact the home school community, I sent an email to her office. Within a day I received an email, and a phone call, from one her right-hand aides. The assistance we received thereafter was amazing, they really cared about our view points and concerns relating to the education system.

On several other occasions I attended some community functions that held no benefit for political gain but she was in attendance because you could tell she truly felt it important to be a part of these various community functions. This is quite consistent with the Palin family strolling through the State Fair as everyday people, with no need for security or any other insulation from their fellow Alaskans.

Additionally, while some may not share the Governor’s spiritual beliefs, she has the courage to express them without concern for popular opinion, the opinion of her peers, or the political scrutiny that often follows. She is simply who she is and isn’t afraid to declare it over a microphone. This is, in my opinion, very non-Washingtonian, which I admire.

Perfect? Heck no! Do I think that her and her administration have been flawless in the handling of all state matters? Heck no! Do I think that her character is absolutely without blemish? Heck no. But are you and I? But I value that she strives to be ethical and honest. I also appreciate that she is a person of conviction; she saw no need for a private Governor’s jet and sold it. She saw no need for excessive staff to help with the domestic issues and trimmed it down. She saw corruption for what it is and pursued ethics reforms. She saw the impractical gridlock that the school administration faced every year by an outdated fiscal budgeting system and found a way to reschedule budgetary approvals so that school systems knew if, how much, and when to expect their budgets for each upcoming school year.

Do I believe that Sarah Palin was chosen by the McCain camp solely for political gain? Heck Yeah! But that was the McCain camp’s decision and motivation. Do I believe that she is qualified according to Washingtonian’s view point? Heck no. But isn’t it the traditional, “qualified politicians” that have us in our present financial mess because they have passed, and failed to pass, legislation that has allowed the financial industries to rape American taxpayers over and over again?

Sarah Palin is her own person and I’m sure she had her own motivations for accepting the nomination in spite of being a poster girl for the McCain camp. But within her motivations I am convinced lie a desire to work tirelessly for changes in Washington that will improve the quality, character and fabric of life in American. That’s why she’s getting my vote as a US citizen.

There are independent companies that offer home warranties throughout the U.S.. The one I am most familiar with is called HAS Home Warranty. They are located in Madison Wisconsin and they offer some products that I believe are very beneficial to both buyers and sellers of real estate.

For starters, these begin as low as $360 (2008 rates) with a $100 deductible. In the case of properties listed by a real estate professional, HAS offers something called “Buyer and Seller Coverage”. When a seller chooses this option, their policy is effective as soon as the real estate professional faxes the application into HSA’s main office. But here’s the beauty of it;

Seller coverage is immediate but the seller doesn’t have to pay unless, and until, the home is sold. This means that if the home inspection process (see my blog; Should a Home Seller pay to have a Home Inspection?) reveals some unknown repair items that qualify for coverage, the seller may receive some compensation immediately to help defer the cost of repairs that will need to be completed before the home can be sold. Equally cool is that the buyer will receive a full year’s coverage beginning the day of recording their purchase.

Aside from the possible financial benefit for seller, it is a good selling feature. It communicates to the buyer that they can rest easy about purchasing the home because they’ll know they have somewhere to turn if something major happens during their first year of ownership. This can be especially appealing to first-time home buyers.

The final benefit I will mention is that of “risk management”. If you sell your home and have disclosed everything you know about the property truthfully and in written form, at least now the buyer will have a place to turn if something unknown or unexpected occurs with the home after the buyer moves in. If the home warranty covers the problem the buyer is far less likely to blow a problem out of proportion and therefore lowers the likelihood that they will try pinning something against you through legal action.

In most states every home buyer is given the right to have a home inspection performed prior to closing on a home they wish to purchase. This makes great sense. How else would you know if there were structural issues, insect infestations, mold, electrical issues and all the rest.

Due to the obvious advantages it is a rare situation for a buyer to be too foolish (or too cheap) to hire a professional home inspector (or at least a licensed tradesman or contractor) As such, the home buyer (not the seller) will pay this fee which here in Alaska, averages about $450.00.

In spite of the traditional process involved with the buyer paying for their own home inspection there are several huge benefits to a seller opting to have a home inspection done in advance of receiving an offer on their home. Here is a list of several such benefits;

~ A home inspection will allow the seller to know in advance if there are any health, safety or code issues with their home. Having these discovered in advance may allow the seller to make some of the basic repairs themselves, while having the time to chase down a reliable tradesman for those items they are not qualified to tackle, or those that should be left to a licensed professional (such as an electrician). Since many transactions involve time constraints, waiting for the buyer to present you with a home inspection may create unnecessary stress and may not allow for enough time to get the repairmen you prefer, which may result in higher repair expenses than you would have incurred had you had time on your side. This benefit alone might gain you enough savings to cover the home inspection, and then some.

~ The home inspection process is one of the biggest “unknowns” in any real estate transaction. Additionally it poses a substantial degree of unease for the seller because not only is it an unknown, but it represents a possible pint of renegotiation even after the sales price and terms and conditions have been agreed upon between all parties. After all, you may offer, or accept, a purchase price of $200,000 for a home and be ready to close the transaction in 45 days. But if the home inspection reveals something substantial or disconcerting to the buyer, they negotiate for a substantial repair at the seller’s expense or pull out of the contract all together while in most case, be entitled to receiving a return of their entire earnest money deposit.

~ If you, as a seller, have performed a home inspection, and proceed to make the repairs, a buyer will be delighted to receive a copy of the home inspection and a list of receipts indicating which repairs have been made following the recommendations of your home inspector. As such this builds the buyer’s trust because you are sending the message that you care about the home, are confident about it’s condition and that you have nothing to hide. Best of all, if the buyer or the buyer’s realtor are familiar with the home inspector that you used, they may accept your inspection report and feel no need to pay to have another one performed. This will help you close the transaction sooner and removes a huge hurdle and source of anxiety as described earlier.

There are other benefits to paying for a home inspections when you are getting ready to list a property for sale. These are some of the most biggest advantages. However, whatever you do, DO NOT choose an inspector who will “doctor his report” or attempt to hide issues because you will quickly fall into what is known as “misrepresentation” which the courts take very seriously when disputes between buyers and sellers arise. Protect your self by being honest and by selecting a licensed professional who will do it by the books!

Somewhere around 1936 or 1937 the National Park Service had a press release describing the incomparable beauty, and height, of North America’s tallest peak. It was wrapped into an announcement about what was then named, Mt. McKinley National Park (later, and presently named Denali National Park & Preserve).  I only know this because I was living in the Denali area at one time and a park service employee came across the memo written by a member of the Indian Consulate in Washington DC and he passed a copy on to me.

I took no small interest in the memo because Mt. McKinley had played an important role in my life. At age 21 I was flipping through a magazine in the New England state of Massachusetts and my eyes popped out of my head when I saw an image of McKinley towering over the Denali National Park landscape, dwarfing a tiny school bus as it traveled along the park’s road. The image was taken from a famous, and well photographed section of the park, called Stony Hill Overlook. Being remarkably enamored with dramatic scenery, I purposed it in my heart to behold that mountain and in the spring of 1985 I was headed to Alaska to quench my thirst for beauty.

Mt love affair with visual beauty lead to a 16 year career as an internationally published free lance photographer. Over the years I had seen many claims that Mt. McKinley was the tallest mountain in the world, when defined by the vertical relief of the world’s great mountains. By “vertical relief” I mean to say; the difference between a mountain summit’s height above sea level, and the height of the mountain’s base.

Now it’s been a few years but as I recall the base of Mt. McKinley is somewhere around 1800 feet above sea level. Since her summit is 20,320 feet above sea level, her vertical rise, or “height” would be in the area of 18,520 feet. Okay, back to the letter from 1937;

In it the writer congratulated the National Park Service for the magnificent park that graced our national park system. However he pointed out that Naga Parbat, a peak located in the Himalayas of Pakistan, was in fact taller than Mt. McKinley and this perked my interest. After all, who wants to feed into American superlatives? We’ve got extraordinary parks and mountains but we certainly don’t have the skinny on the earth’s grandeur!

Well I don’t have that letter handy right now (I have it filed away somewhere) but thanks to Google, here are the facts about Nanga Parbat;

Nanga Parbat is the world’s 9^th, tallest peak. However from a vertical perspective, it may very well be the tallest peak on earth when measured by vertical relief.  You see its’ base is easily defined by a river located at 6,100 feet above sea level. This would give a vertical relief of 20,560’, which is indeed a taller rise than my beloved Mt. McKinley, which we Alaskan’s prefer to call “Denali”, or, “The Mountain”.

So if anyone out there has facts and figures about other tall peaks or simply wants to correct me  for any inaccuracies I’d love to hear from you!