June 2023 Mat Su Real Estate Guide

Hey Cora, you have told us before about funny/ strange things that have happened during transactions. I would love to hear more, can you share? Signed, Needs a good Laugh

Dear Laugh, well, yes, I do. I will tell you though, sometimes, they aren’t funny, sometimes they are sad, a wife just lost a husband, or a divorce. Sometimes the things you see make you want to go home and thank your kids for being good parents and thank your husband for being a good man. But here goes, let’s find some good ones:

1) The Pooping Pug: I had these buyers that had 5 children, they were well behaved, but that’s a lot of kids to take with you to look at homes. The house I was showing them belonged to an elderly couple that was not going to leave while we showed the house. I am positive that this couple had never seen that many children at one time before! Anyway, we managed to all get into the house, and they had a cute little pug dog that was very excited to see the children. In fact, he started to chase the children... and the children ran... then the pug started “pooping with excitement” the whole time he was doing the running! All through the house, little pug turds in the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms. And then... the smell. The kids started to gag as the pooping pug chased them. Gagging and screaming was the way this showing went. Needless to say, they passed on that house! But I did get a rather upset phone call from the listing agent saying that the family that I had shown the house to was “out of control!” Which was kind funny because the kids weren’t the ones pooping everywhere! LOL

2) The Rotten Rottweiler: This house was immaculate! I had sold it to these people about 3 years earlier and they had done just a wonderful job on a remodel. While they lived there, they had raised a little rottweiler puppy named Ginger Snap! I had been around this dog before and thought I knew him pretty well. So, the house sold pretty darn quickly and the buyer and was just about to do the home inspection. The buyers and the home inspector met at the house and Ginger Snap was (we thought) in his kennel in the laundry room. There was a cat door in the laundry room door for a cat that the previous owner had. My clients didn’t have a cat. Anyway, I got a call from the home inspector saying “Cujo was in the laundry room and they needed to get in there to do an inspection.” Cujo? I said? “Yes, this dog is CRAZY, please come and put it away.” I called the seller and could not get anyone, so I drove to the house to take care of Ginger Snap. When I got there, both the new buyers and the home inspector were in their cars with terrified looks on their faces. I went inside and said, “Ginger, Oh Ginger Snap”, and walked down the stairs to the laundry room. When I got there the cat door had been ripped on the door and just a raw opening was there. Then Ginger Snap shoved his head thru the opening with the cat door wrapped around his cinder-block head!

He was snarling and barking his fool head off, drooling and showing me his pearly whites. I kept saying, “hey buddy, it’s me!”, but he was having none of it. He stepped away from the door for a moment and could see inside that his kennel was destroyed, laying in a heap on the floor. I got a call back from the seller, and he came over to contain the dog. He came and said “oh Snappy” and the dog starting to cry like a baby! He let crazy Snappy into the living room where the dog then licked everyone with his tail wagging and he brought us all toys to play with him! It was a crazy transformation! My client said “really Cora, you’re afraid of Ginger Snap?” When I got ready to leave, I bent down to put my shoes on and “Snappy” jumped up and gave me a big wet kiss on the mouth! And I am sure I saw him give me a side glance letting me know he could take my head off!

3) Ten-year-olds and trucks: Okay this one was very strange. I am helping this family sell their home. We get it sold, but they have done zero planning for actually moving. This house is huge too! 4 kids, mom and dad and ALLLLLLL their stuff. A day or two before closing, I see that they haven’t packed a box. So, I have a conversation with them about need to prepare for their move. They say they have no one to help them. I arrange for a group of people to help with their move. Now we have a large U-Haul truck, a shipping container and a huge dumpster. Throughout the day I am there, checking on the progress of all three floors that had to be put into the container and the U-Haul. At some point, I notice that the U-Haul is no longer parked in the front yard. I ask around and discover it’s at the back of the house. Now there is no road around the back of the house, the seller would actually have to drive the van through other neighbors yards to get the vehicle back there. Oh, I hope he has spoken with the neighbors I thought. Later I see the U-Haul moving from the back of the house to the front again. Then Mr. Seller comes up the basement stairs and says “basement’s done”. I thought, well who is driving the U-Haul? Around the corner comes the U-Haul swerving and sputtering into the driveway and out jumps the seller’s 10-year-old son from the driver’s seat, no one else even in the truck with him! I said, “hey, does your dad know you are driving that thing?” “Oh yeah,” he says, “I started driving it yesterday!” I honestly don’t even know how he reached the brake! Evidently, he is the one who drove the truck behind the house and through all the neighbor’s yards! It took a good week before I was able to lift my jaw off the floor! I had boys, there would be no way I would have allowed my boys to drive a U-Haul, behind people’s homes, AT 10 YEARS OLD but I guess I was just a very conservative mom? Okay, that’s enough for now, I hope you had a laugh and keep your 10-year-olds from moving trucks, your pugs from pooping and Rottie’s from being Rotten! Please call me if I can help you with real estate, or call me if you have a question too!

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced an increase in conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, effective January 1, 2023. These increases could provide more buying power to borrowers across the nation. The graphic example to the right is in reference to Alaska Conforming loan limits.

World renown! Log home on almost 5 acres of serene living. Gardens have been featured in multiple magazines around the world. Beautiful Alaskan plants, willow furniture, decor, and tea house. Unique opportunity!

$362,000 • MLS# 23-5013

Large guest suite w/ private access is perfect for hosting guests. Circular drive provides ample parking. New landscaping, large deck, new kitchen counters, flooring, extended garage and storage sheds!

$433,500 • MLS# 23-4540

Easy living near Big Lake. Mobile home is on private lot w/ fenced yard. Make this your weekend retreat or home. Hiking, fishing, hunting, and more right outside your door. Come take a look!

$105,000 • MLS# 23-4870

Build hanger home on this FAA Cert Airport Park (FAA 65AK) located outside city limits. Easy access to Anchorage. Close shopping, schools and rec trails. HOA fees low at $28/ mo. Electric on site, gas adjacent.

$160,000 • MLS# 22-10108

Buy, Sell with Elise Ell 907-242-0442

Elise Ell Buchholz

Jack White Real Estate Mat Su 865 N. Seward Meridian Pkwy., #200 Wasilla, AK 99654

WILLOW, 20.69 ACRES

This Susitna river front 20.69 acre property has approx. 998 feet of river frontage. No covenant or conditions. Endless possibilities. Heavy treed lot. Great property.

$200,000

WASILLA,

Enjoy great views as you sit and observe the raw beauty of an Alaskan sunset. Adjacent lot also avail. Purchase both for the perfect building site. Circular driveway on this cleared lot. $100,000

This lot has 3,540 feet of the Little Su River frontage. With 2 areas of higher elevation for building. Great location for recreational cabin or get permit for canoe, kayak, rafting or floating business. 2-3 miles to post office, gas stations. $189,000

ILIAMNA, 130.82 ACRES

This lot has 3,540 feet of the Little Su River frontage. With 2 areas of higher elevation for building. Great location for recreational cabin or get permit for canoe, kayak, rafting or floating business. 2-3 miles to post office, gas stations. $189,000

Lakefront with utilities next door!! Come build your dream home or use the gravel lot is full of gravel with a driveway already put in. Owner finance is an option for this almost 9 acre property.

$299,000

The largest parcel of land with lake frontage on Big Lake. Includes dock, rock retaining wall, cleared land beautiful lawn, and road access. Electric and a well is already on site. You don’t want to miss this one!

$2,300,000

This .92 of an acre is cleared with electric, well, septic, and a foundation, ready for you to build. Come take a look. Great lot! $49,000

WILLOW,

Beautiful Falcon’s Ridge property is a must-see. Creek frontage plus water channel to Susitna River. Directly adjacent to boat launch and picnic area. A picturesque property for your recreational cabin. Plus tons of trails all around. Electric, well, and septic on property. $70,000

AK MLS# 23-3838

WASILLA, 8.67 ACRES

AK MLS# 23-3513

AK MLS# 23-1571

AK MLS# 22-14679

AK MLS# 23-2516

AK MLS# 23-466

1.56 ACRES

HOUSTON, 11.88 ACRES

1.15 ACRES

MLS# 23-582

WASILLA, 10.91 ACRES

AK MLS# 22-9649

TALKEETNA, 0.92 ACRES

ROADHOUSE

AK MLS# 22-15026

BAR AND HOTEL

This bar has a family-friendly atmosphere. This is an amazing price, considering a liquor license alone could cost as much 235K. Amazing kitchen appliances. Some of the best food in the valley. $650,000

AK MLS# 23-2518

Jack White Real Estate Mat Su 865 N. Seward Meridian Pkwy., #200 Wasilla, AK 99654

Buy, Sell with Elise Ell 907-242-0442

Elise Ell Buchholz

Skwentna Roadhouse sleeps 34 people and is tucked between the Yentna and Skwentna Rivers. Established business. The roadhouse hosts many popular events. Located next to state owned and operated runway. $895,000

The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide & Seller’s Guide

286 W Wilmington Dr, Wasilla, AK

Beautiful Light & Bright Home

JUST LISTED! 1614 SqFt home with w/ 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Near town & recreational trails, with a short drive to Hatcher’s Pass & Gov’t Peak! New Flooring & Stainless Steel Appliances. Lovely landscaping and a bright, sunny yard with trees around the perimeter & facing a vacant, treed lot, there is a fantastic sense of privacy. Call for a private viewing today! $299,000 MLS 23-5759

Kelly Caraway & Karen Ross, your local Alaskan Realtors®, have lived in Alaska for over 30 years, and are both married with grown children. They also each have backgrounds as real estate investors and property managers. Karen also has experience as a real property appraiser.

“Quality, Not Quantity!”

Jack White Real Estate, MatSu

Karen Ross is an exceptional agent, very knowledgeable, and goes

your smartphone camera over code to see all the pictures!