Valley Neighborhoods

Much of the development over the last 20 years in the Valley has been shaped by the the requirement that homes be within a reasonable commute to Anchorage.  Although this is slowly changing, having a "close commute" is still a plus when touting the virtues of most Valley neighborhoods.  Today, about 20,000 people a day commute to Anchorage to work.  Their commute time ranges from 35 minutes to 60 minutes each way.

Wasilla and Palmer cover a relatively small area of the Valley and their combined populations make up less than 25% of the Valley core's population of 45,000 or so.  More people live in the area near Wasilla than the area around Palmer.  This is probably due to the fact that immediately east of Palmer the mountains restrict development for residential use.

The Valley has much more available land than Anchorage or the Eagle River/Chugiak areas. This has resulted in Valley land prices that are typically one-third to one-half of a comparable property in the Muni. Valley lot sizes range from a city-sized, 10,000 square-foot lot in Palmer or Wasilla to subdivisions in the core area with lots averaging over five acres each. 

Premium features, like having a view or lake frontage, increase the market value for an individual residential property in the Valley.  All other factors being equal, lake frontage is probably the most pricey followed by view, size and location. Location plays a smaller role in valuing property in the Valley than in other places because of the plentiful supply of land.  Knowing your preferences can help us make a recommendation on which areas would be best best for you to investigate, give us a call, we'll be happy to help.

The map below is interactive and will zoom and move so you can take a closer look at Valley neighborhoods. You can also search by using the search bar under the map.  See "Search Hints" below the map.