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 Cost Of Living The cost of living in Anchorage averages about 6.7 percent higher than the national average. But it’s not all bad news! Property taxes are reasonable and Anchorage has no sales tax. Neither does the state impose a sales tax on Alaskans. In fact, the state doesn’t have an income tax. Instead of paying income taxes, Alaskans receive the Permanent Fund dividend, a check they get annually just for living in the state. The Alaska Permanent Fund was created in 1976 by a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution, with the idea of preserving the state’s immense oil wealth. Like a savings account, the Permanent Fund earnings are the source for dividend payments to residents. Every year the fund distributes a portion of these earnings to eligible Alaskans in the form of a dividend check. In order to qualify for the dividend, a person must be an Alaska resident for at least one year and meet all other eligibility requirements. In 2004, the dividend was about $919. See, it really does pay to live in Alaska!
Buyers Remorse >First Time Buyers
People who are selling their homes should know something about the market group from which their buyers are likely to appear. Many homes are perfect for a first-time buyer. First-time buyers are making a major purchase they have never attempted before, and may be unusually subject to the inevitable stress and anxiety that goes with buying a home.
First-time home buyers are usually younger (between 25 and 34 years of age) and have distinct buying patterns. First-timers are often looking for homes that are smaller, and perhaps older, than repeat buyers. The median home size for first-time buyers is about 1450 square feet. Approximately four in ten first-timers will buy homes built before 1960, compared to two in ten repeat buyers.
First-time buyers are in the process of developing a clearly defined sense of what they want in a house. They may not have enough money to buy their ultimate dream home at first, but seventy-four percent say they like their new home better than their previous residence.
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Lisa Herrington & Associates
Dynamic Properties
255 E. Fireweed, Suite 102
Anchorage, AK. 99503
Phone: 907 646-0525
Cell: 907 229-6822
Fax: 907 279-8234
Email: lisaherrington@NUMBER1EXPERT.com
Lisa Herrington has more than 25 years of experience as a licensed Realtor in Anchorage, Alaska. She knows the challenges newcomers face when moving to Alaska’s biggest city, from choosing the right neighborhood to making new friends, and she has helped hundreds of families relocate to Anchorage.   
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