Just for Fun

Check out Lori Evan's lovely editorial in this past week's Homer News: http://www.homernews.com/stories/112608/oped_4_001.shtml . It pretty much says it all!

Giving Thanks

Have spent a lazy Thanksgiving weekend musing about the levels of gratitude that exist in my own life. I live in an incredibly beautiful place. Even in the midst of the snowstorms that seem to periodically plague us (what did we do with the snow shovels last spring???), watching my 3 year old granddaughter delight in being pulled on her sled by her dad, oblivious to the cold that makes my knees complain mightily, I am filled with thankfulness that I was here to experience that moment. As I watched them run past my window and heard her squeals of laughter, I also was struck by the backdrop of spruce woods, the meadow below our house, and the sweep of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains beyond. So my gratitude at experiencing this simple, sweet moment was compounded by the fact that I was experiencing it in such a beautiful location. There is something so very special about being so close to both the mountains and the ocean. Surely we are very lucky and fortunate people to be able to be able to experience both so intimately.

Falls Creek Road

Boy, this is a great piece of rolling meadow--two lots totalling 2.52 acres slope to the south and to the east off West Falls Creek Road. You can see the property here on the left just off the road, and you can see what kind of view it has. The alder are dense here along the road, which provides great privacy and dust control, but then it opens up to the east and slopes gradually to the south-southeast. Here's another photo of the meadow just east of this photo.

All this property used to be part of a farming homestead that stretched from East Falls Creek over to West Falls Creek. The owner and his family still farm and run some cattle in this area. Down below this property there are other ranching families and a few alpaca. This land has been grazed and worked for a long time, and many of the locals in the area are related to some of the first homesteaders. The owner of this land came here years ago to farm with his family--long before East End Road was much more than a horse path. Now it's paved and this property is only a 15 minute drive to Fritz Creek and about a 28 minute drive to Homer. Friendly and hard-working folks live in this neighborhood--you'd fit right in! The seller is asking $50,000 for the property and would finance with 20% down. Contact me for more details or with any questions.

Just For Fun

Check out the Four Tops and the late, great Levi Stubbs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koQqIE_ewXY

James Maria Road

I have two one-acre + lots listed on James Maria Road, each listed for $75,000. This is truly beautiful property is located on a Kenai Peninsula Borough-maintained road just off Old East End Road at 12 miles east of Homer. This area of the Borough is often referred to as Fritz Creek. When we first moved to Homer we lived down this road and would go to the Fritz Creek General Store for sundries and our mail, and you probably would, too, if you built a house here. They have a fantastic bakery and sandwich shop, wonderful tamales and pizza, too!You might also want to eat at one of the area's finest restaurants across the street, the Homestead Restaurant (http://www.homesteadrestaurant.net/) Our youngest went to McNeil Canyon School (www.edline.net/pages/McNeil_Canyon_Elementary) and we were incredibly happy with her education there. We liked the fact that there was a very strong and active Parent-Teacher Advisory Group there. But let's talk a little more about this lovely property. One lot is a corner lot, accessed by James Maria Road and by the newly-constructed Lisa Street. (These roads are marked if you're out for a drive and each have my signs on them. ) The second lot is just to the west of the corner lot and is accessed by James Maria. Both lots have giant cottonwood trees standing on them--these trees are so wonderful. Do you know that the soothing skin salve "Balm of Gilead" is made from the sticky pitch that exudes from the spring buds of the cottonwood leaves? There are several herbalists that provide this terrific salve to local stores and at the summer farmer's market. The perfume from these trees each May is indescribable, but once experienced, will always say "Alaska." The view from these lots is wonderful--a narrowing of Kachemak Bay below them bring the Kenai Mountains even closer than in other areas that follow the Bay from Homer east to the Fox River Flats.

Thus the glaciers and the mountains themselves just seem to loom over you here. I'm going to add another photo just because words don't do justice to this property!!! Again, these properties are $75,000 each and you can email me for more information.

52546 Hematite Avenue

As a Realtor, every once and a while you're allowed to represent a really stellar piece of property--and this one fills that bill for me! Thirty acres of south-sloping meadow and old potato fields, this land was once part of the homestead of one of Homer's early Pioneers, and now belongs to the second generation. When my family first came to town, we lived not far from here, and this homesteading family befriended my husband, our young children and I and helped us make it through our first couple of difficult winters by sharing their bounty with us. I clearly remember digging wonderful fat red potatoes out of the ground next to this property on a crisp, clear September day, marvelling at the view. How close the glaciers and the mountains appear from this land! How wonderful to be so close to McNeil Canyon and it's bears and moose and all the little critters that call this property home! The view from here is really unparalled and quite difficult to describe. You'll just have to come here and have my partner Peg, and maybe one of the owners, walk it with you. A private driveway easement (presently surveyed out and flagged but not developed)off James-Maria Road ensures the utmost privacy; this easement allows for a six-lot subdivision if you were so inclined, or keep it in one piece for a family compound. This is truly a one-of-a kind property that must be walked on to truly comprehend it. If you owned this property, you would be just off East End Road at about 12.5 miles--then about another couple miles to the property. The family will sell this thirty acres for $344,500 and might make arrangements with the right buyers for some owner financing. Please contact me for more photos, maps and information.

54351 Hill Avenue

Have a large family or LOTS of company coming this summer? This place is only a couple years old and over 2000 square feet. With four bedrooms, including two master suites with 3/4 baths and walk-in closets, this home affords both room for everyone and great views from the sunken living room. Check out the photo here to the right--how would you like to see this each time you look out the window? This home has a hot water boiler system for energy-efficiency and marble floors in the kitchen/dining area. An over-sized one-car garage makes sure you have room for everything, and the septic is an engineered Advantex system http://www.muni.org/Onsite/advantex.cfm . The house and its attached garage sits on just a little over 1.5 acres off Chelsey Street, about 9.5 miles east of Homer. Neighbors to the east have horses and nice gardens, certainly an option for this home as well. The owners were in the Coast Guard and were relocated before they had an opportunity to develop this lot. The home is presently listed at $280,000 and will be part of a "Short Sale." Please do contact me for more information about this listing.

39355 Kipling Circle

Oh what a sweet little place this is! Lovingly built, this post and beam home is full of local spruce, crafted by long-time Homer resident and naturalist Ed Schofield. Although Ed is no longer with us, the loving attention to detail that really highlighted all his life's work certainly is embodied in this home. Nestled on 2.2 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac about 6 miles out of Homer, this one bedroom, one bath home has a hand-built spruce kitchen, a Monitor heater, a cistern (for drinking water to be delivered), a septic system, and a small garage/shop which has a fully insulated and heated room that could easily be a studio/guest bedroom. The picture to the right shows an example of the built-in local spruce shelving, trim and custom cabinetry in the first-floor bathroom. Spruce trim, exposed beams and finish work fill this cozy cottage and lend a warmth and ambiance that you don't always find. If you are a gardener, then this has several perfect spots for vegetables and flowers. There are also several naturalized spots containing local wild raspberries, elderberry, alder and wildflowers. The wild geranium in this area is especially lovely. The list price for this property is $179,500. Don't hesitate to contact me for more details.

54585 Florey Avenue

Ok, now this listing is going to test your romantic idea of Homer. When we first came to town in the early 80's, lots of folks we knew were living "off the grid" where they needed to walk or ski into their property, used propane appliances and lights, used an outhouse or composting toilet -- in other words, they were living the remote Homer dream. This property affords you that possibility in the 21st century!!! This heavily-insulated, Tyvek-wrapped cabin sits on 19 view acres off Hutler Road just south of McNeil Canyon Elementary school, about 12 miles east of Homer. It's accessible by trail to the property, and actually, once the ground is frozen until breakup, you can drive in with a 4WD vehicle; you can also drive in the summer when the ground dries out. Other times, skis or a 4-wheeler or your own two feet will get you there best. The house has two solar panels, inverter, battery packs etc. as well as a generator. There are propane appliances, including an on-demand hot water heater. There's a water storage tank in the kitchen for hauled water. Basically you have the beginnings of a remote dream that's being left for you to complete. The land is glorious, south-sloping view property. There are trees and meadow and as you can see from this photo taken from the second story of the cabin, you can see the Spit and all the way to Seldovia Point. The owners are asking $155,000 for the property and they would owner finance--email me for more details. Well, guess what??? This place sold on 12/19 to a Homer pioneering couple, just in time for Christmas!!! My folks are happy, and the new buyers are happy as well. Happy Holidays and Congratulations to EVERYONE!!!

650 Whispering Meadows

This side-by-side duplex is located at the top of West Hill in the lovely Westwood Estates Subdivision. Each unit has a bath and a half, two bedrooms, oil Monitor heating with electric baseboard and woodstove back-up. Each unit is totally independent: each renter pays for their own utilities. The property is served with a privated DEC-approved septic and a drilled well. Because this home sits on an acre, and is built in the south-east corner of this corner lot, there is plenty of room to the west for a large garage, shop, and/or garden. This home is located just inside city limits. Each unit is afforded that great West Hill View!!! This view is an added perc for your renters and allows for a top rental price. This is a perfect place for those who need a two-bedroom home and would like the rent from their neighbors to help with their mortgage. The house has a carport with room for two vehicles, exterior storage and a detached wood-fired sauna--what a treat after a day of cross-country skiing out your door! List price is $249,500. Email me for details, rents, etc.

3672 Soundview Street

Over the next week or so I will be adding listings that I have, with some descriptions and a couple photos for you to view. I hope that in this way I will be able to discuss each one in a way that reflects their unique qualities, which will then help you know more about the property and also understand a little about the neighborhood that they're in.

The first listing is this cozy house on West Soundview here in Homer proper. It's a little over 1200 square feet and has three good-sized bedrooms, including a master with a full bath. There's a closet with a washer-dryer, a 3/4 bath also in the hallway, a kitchen with bleached oak cabinets and an open living/dining space with a sweet little propane "woodstove." If you look out the living and master bedroom windows, this is the view you see. This house is in a sweet little family neighborhood right across the street from West Homer Elementary School. This school serves Homer kids in grades 4-6 and is the newest school that's been built in Homer. From here kids in 7th and 8th grades just move down the street to the Homer Middle School and then across town to Homer High School when they reach that age. You can see a close-up of the school roof in this photo--I took it as a close-up so you could also see the Homer Spit in the background. From the living room of this house you can see from the Homer Spit all the way to the mouth of Kachemak Bay. If you look closely you can see a glacier or two in this photo, which is pretty neat! This house is listed for $193,500. Just email me for more photos and the MlS listing profile, documents, disclosures, maps and etc. Just for fun, you should visit the owner's daughter's website: http://www.spacecraftclothing.com/ . Sarah has recently begun this business full of funk and fun. She's beginning a new retail line as well as her wholesale offerings. Her website is a kick, and my seller is so incredibly proud of her! WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT AS OF THE WEEK OF 12/6!!! ~~~YEA~~~

A Little About Me and This Blog

Hi there and welcome to my blog. I'm a Realtor in Homer Alaska and have been for over 14 years now. As an Associate Broker with the Alderfer Group Realtors, I specialize in the problem-solving that often accompanies a Seller's decision to sell and an Buyer's decision to purchase. Often there are hundreds of unanswered questions that a client might have that need to be addressed in order to proceed comfortably with their decisions. And I'm there to help.

My family and I headed out to Alaska in 1981 in an old '67 Travel-all, with all our worldly goods stacked into milk crates and black plastic bags (matching luggage!!!) We settled in a campground in Anchorage and after several weeks found a house to rent. Two years later, we moved to Homer. Both our kids graduated from Homer schools and we all were, and continue to be, active members of the community here. My background is as a social worker and case manager; my husband is a general contractor and the best sax player on the Peninsula! Our other kids live far away on the East Coast, but our youngest daughter and her family recently moved back to Homer. Right now she's my husband's right-hand gal, helping him build houses.
Homer and Anchor Point are wonderful communities in which to raise a family, and now we get to watch the next generation grow up here, which is a real treat for us. (Now that we're reaching that "magic age" ourselves, we can also unequivically say it's a great place to retire as well! )
There are so many diverse and interesting people here and so many, many things to occupy your time. If you are bored here, it's your own fault!

I hope the properties you see here and the photos of the area, coupled with the information and chat that I add here really gives you a sense of this wonderful, beautiful place--I also hope it will whet your appetite for a possible real estate purchase at some point! If there are things of interest, if your curiosity is piqued, let me know. I'm glad to answer any and all of your questions, so fire away!

Welcome

This is Homer.