The 3.8% real estate tax is back in the news again. The good news is that this tax will not affect most of us, but if you would like to know more details, read this article that outlines the scenarios for people who will be affected.
Are you wondering how the F-16 move could influence home prices in Fairbanks and North Pole? Watch Wes's recent interview on CBS News to find out!
Wes was interviewed on KTVF on the impact the relocation of the F-16s from Eielson will have on the housing market and local economy. Watch the full interview here.
Warren Buffet suggests single family homes as a great investment! Watch the full interview to learn more!
The future of Eielson Air Force Base is up in the air, read the recent article to learn more about the F-16 Squadron being relocated and what that means for Fairbanks and North Pole.
North Pole, AK gets a shout out for being a town where Christmas lives year round. Read the full article.
Planning On Buying A Home In The Next Year? Here's What You Need To Do Right Now!
Fairbanks, Alaska was ranked #7 in the Forbes.com 10 best places to live cheaply!
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced changes in their funding fees for VA loans closed on or after 10/1/11. Rates are down from 2.15% to 1.4% for First Time Use! For full details, check out the offical notice from the VA: Funding Fee Changes
Agentgenius.com posted a story on taking the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) approach to selling your home. The article highlights that the former CEO of FSBO listed his 2,000 square foot New York condominium on his own through online classified ads and FSBO sites, but after six months, he opted to hire New York broker Jesse Buckler who immediately advised a price change as the listing was not attracting the right buyer.
He eventually gave up and hired a realtor who sold his home for $150,000 over the asking price. We thought you might be interested in this article. To read the full story, click here.
The February 26 edition of the Wall Street Journal contained an editorial by Karen Blumenthal entitled “Getting a Mortgage Before the Door Shuts”. We found the article very interesting and thought we would pass on its message. In the article, Ms. Blumenthal starts out by saying ”If you have been sitting on the fence trying to decide whether to buy a new house, or refinance a mortgage, you should act soon. New loans are starting to get costlier.” Click HERE to read more.
GOOD NEWS!
The Department of Defense (DOD) is proud to offer the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) to eligible service members and federal civilian, including non-appropriated fund, employees. The program is authorized by law, and administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to assist eligible homeowners who face financial loss when selling their primary residence homes in areas where real estate values have declined because of a base closure or realignment announcement.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) temporarily expands the HAP to assist service members and DOD employees who are wounded, injured or become ill when deployed, surviving spouses of service members or DOD employees killed or died of wounds while deployed, service member and civilian employees assigned to BRAC 05 organizations, and service members required to permanently relocate during the home mortgage crisis.
For more information, CLICK HERE!
Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan Fact Sheet