What’s Really Driving Home Costs and a Turkey Tips for Next Week from Dave and Travis!

Success Story!

 

We were introduced to Mary & Marvin in March by their daughter who insisted we would do a great job. She was right, and we’re grateful she sent them our way.

Their daughter also introduced them to Tracy Ottinger for financing. Tracy had done an awesome job helping her buy her own home, so it was an easy choice and once again, she delivered. Marvin was set to retire in April, and they were ready to come back home to Alaska after living in Washington. They missed being close to family (and honestly, they just missed Alaska). So we started watching the market together. By May, they were already up in Wasilla and ready to look.

We toured several homes until we landed on the one on Spruce Hen, it just felt right for them. We wrote up the offer, went pending on 5/25, and everything moved smoothly from start to finish. We closed right on time on 7/3. Big thanks to Valeria Carter on the other side she did a great job, too.

We couldn’t be happier for Mary & Marvin. We even sent them off with a bunch of raspberry plants to get their garden going for next year. Great people, great story, and we’re thankful to be part of their journey. Looking forward to keeping in touch.

 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! 
If you’re the one in charge of cooking the bird this year, here are a few quick reminders for all the chefs out there:

Buying the Right Size Bird
It all depends on how many people you’re serving. Smaller turkeys have less meat and more bone, so if it’s under 12 lbs., plan for about 2 lbs. per person. For anything larger, 1½ lbs. per person should do it.

Pro Tip: The turkey might be the star, but with all the great sides, your guests might eat a little less meat  so keep that in mind when choosing your bird.

The Great Stuffing vs. Dressing Debate
No matter what you call it, one thing’s for sure  if you’re cooking it inside the turkey, make sure the center reaches 165°F.

Pro Tip: Want to keep your turkey juicy? Cook the stuffing separately and bring it up to temp after your bird’s done.

Wishing you all the best with your turkey prep, great food, and time well spent with family and friends.

 

Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a national survey, a lot of people believe big investors are to blame.

Even though data shows that’s not true, nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) think investors are the top reason housing feels so expensive (see graph below):

 

But that theory doesn’t actually hold up once you look at the data.

The Truth About Investors
Investors do play a role in the housing market, especially in certain areas. But they’re not buying up all the homes like so many people on social media say.

Nationwide, Realtor.com found only 2.8% of all home purchases last year were made by big investors (who own more than 50 properties). That means roughly 97% of homes were bought and sold by regular people, not corporate giants. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:

“Investors do own significant shares of the housing stock in some neighborhoods, but nationwide, the share of investor-owned housing is not a major concern.”
So, if it’s not investors, why are home prices so high?

What’s Really Behind Today’s Home Prices
The real story behind rising prices has less to do with who’s buying and more to do with what’s missing: enough homes. Robert Dietz, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), says:

"It's been popular among some to blame investors, but with housing, the economics of that don't make a lot of sense. The fundamental driver of housing costs is the shortage itself—it's driven by the fact that there's a mismatch between the number of households and the actual size of the housing stock."
There simply haven’t been enough homes for sale to meet buyer demand. And that shortage, not investor activity, is what’s pushed prices higher just about everywhere.

Bottom Line
It’s easy to believe investors caused today’s housing challenges. But the truth is, the market just needs more homes, and that’s finally starting to happen.

As more options hit the market, buying may feel a little more realistic again.

 

Whether you’re thinking of selling while prices are high or jumping in before rates or inventory shift again — now is the time to act. The Mat-Su markets are moving, and we’re here to help you navigate

LET US BE YOUR TRUSTED GUIDE

Call or text Dave now at 907-863-7289
Call or text Travis now at 907-575-6779

davesalaskahomes@gmail.com

http://www.DavesAlaskaHomes. com