Recommendations or experience?

[soon2beinAK]

Hello to All,

I would first like to begin by thanking ALL OF YOU for the time you have spent helping others on this forum, which has been of tremendous benefit to me already. Love that search function! :-)

My family and I are on the (fast moving) process of relocating to AK, most likely Anchorage to start. My significant other and I are both in the healthcare profession and will be taking jobs up there beginning in September. Since we are out of state, and therefore not able to see the properties we are considering, I was wondering if anyone had any previous experience with the company "REAL ESTATE BROKERS OF ALASKA"?

We are looking to rent to begin with, so if anyone has had any recent good experiences with a relator, I would love to hear about it. I would also greatly appreciate hearing about any nightmares you have had (PM would be best for that).

And on the off chance that anyone has or knows of a rental that would be a good fit for 2 healthcare professionals (with 2 small dogs) please let me know. We don't really want to use Craig's list or Alaska list, since we don't have feet on the ground and cant investigate much. Right now Zillow and trulia are our search functions.

Any tips or advice is more than welcome, about anything regarding our future home! We are prepared for the dark, bugs, cold and cost. And all of the amazing things that will come along with it!!

Thank you all,
Morgan

[Amigo Will]

Better places to start out and probably make more also.

[soon2beinAK]

A good point Will, and thank you for making it. Anchorage will just be a starting place for us. Absolutely no intention of staying there long term. If I wanted to stay there forever, then I may as well stay here in So. Cal, right? YUCK! :-)

As far as costs are concerned, i believe 2 healthcare professionals ( 1RN and 1 health educator) should do ok, with a combined income of over 160,000 k per year. We have 40k in the bank that we saved in prep for the move, so I am feeling ok about things.

Someday, once we are a bit older and retirement starts heading our way, the kind of remoteness your enjoy will be our goal.

Until then, thank you again,
Morgan

[Arrowchaser]

We have been seeing the Anchorage nursing jobs that pay for moving expenses. I'm sure many people take advantage of the opportunities.
Morgan- Do you have any kind of insight into what kind of strings are attached when someone agrees to accept the bonuses or moving expense help?
Will you have to agree to work at a facility for a certain period of time to receive the money? If so, how long?

We use Google mapping a lot to search different areas. While this does not answer your original question, I just wanted to point
out that Google allows people to basically drive around community roadways and see what an area is like. (Clicking on the road views from mapping option) We have been searching sites like landwatch.com. Sometimes we will see a property that catches our eye. Then a google search allows you to see things like how the neighbor may have a yard full of junk right up to the property line. The real estate pictures do not usually show things like that.

[rntim]

Can tell you, you will be fine. Me and the missus are both RN's. If you are going to work at Providence; we both loved it when we worked there. We haven't lived in Anchorage in almost 10 yrs but its o.k. for a city. The moving expense thing flucuates--sometimes they want a year, sometimes 18 mths. We live in SE AK and they are wanting a year for 5000 grand sign on right now. Its quite expensive to move up here from the lower 48--do your homework! Good luck!

[Paul H]

A good point Will, and thank you for making it. Anchorage will just be a starting place for us. Absolutely no intention of staying there long term. If I wanted to stay there forever, then I may as well stay here in So. Cal, right? YUCK! :-)

As far as costs are concerned, i believe 2 healthcare professionals ( 1RN and 1 health educator) should do ok, with a combined income of over 160,000 k per year. We have 40k in the bank that we saved in prep for the move, so I am feeling ok about things.

Someday, once we are a bit older and retirement starts heading our way, the kind of remoteness your enjoy will be our goal.

Until then, thank you again,
Morgan

There is absolutely no comparison between So-cal and Anchorage.

Pictures taken in the U-med area during lunchtime walks







There is a heck of a lot of Alaska to access just outside your door in Anchorage or a short drive away. If you tire of all the opportunities for hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing, fishing, rock climbing and ice climbing within 30-45 minutes of Anchorage, then you can go and see what you've been missing

Can't help on recommending a realtor for rentals, honestly I'd say it would be worth it to stay at one of the extended stay hotels like Residence Inn for a month of two until you find a place you like to rent. The housing market is tight and it takes some time to get a feel for town. I'd also put together a list of priorities on your rental. Distance to work, distance to recreation, etc. There are some parts of town to be avoided, Fairview and Mountainview. It's not like there are large sections of town that are bad, and you can have nice neighborhoods quickly turn into not so nice a couple blocks away. That said, the bad parts of Anchorage are nothing like the bad parts of So-cal. And the best parts of Anchorage IMHO blow away anything in so-cal.

PS,

The funny thing is we moved up to Alaska from the bay area 17 years ago. At the time my wife and I said, no way are we going to live in Anchorage, no city life for us! Well, after 17 years of living in Eagle River and commuting to Anchorage for work, church, cultural events and kids activities, we're moving to Anchorage :O Never say never

There are some very nice neighborhoods in Anchorage, and relative to CA prices, housing prices aren't that bad.

Something to be said for an ocean view to watch the sunsets

[soon2beinAK]

Arrowchaser-- sorry it took me a few days to reply to your questions. We were waiting to hear on offers, and good news came today. It looks like travel and relocation bonus will be available and in turn we have to agree to work for 2 yrs. Can transfer anywhere within the Providence system during that time and still remain within the agreement. It is a generous amount though, so it seems fair. PM me if you have any questions or would like more info.

Good luck!