Land In Alaska

Land buying options in the state are abundant, as is indicated by the rapid increase of the population in Alaska; since 1990, the population in Alaska has increased by more than 110000 people, reaching a total populous of greater than 710200 Alaskan inhabitants.

Popular Destinations In Alaska To Live

Alaska’s population is sparse. Estimates suggest that there is about 1 person inhabiting the state per square mile.  The most popular region of the state of Alaska is South Central Alaska; this region contains the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula, but it also consists of land in Alaska considered less rural like the Wrangell Mountains, and the Alaska Range.  The Southeast area of Alaska is nearest to the rest of the states in the nation, and is home to Juneau, the state capital, another popular location where people move, as well as the former capital of the state, Sitka.  In Southeast Alaska, one will also find Ketchikan, a large town of just over 14400 people, and a region of the state that serves as a marine and air transport hub for the entire Southeastern Alaska region.

The state name “Alaska” is believed to be derived from the word “Aleut” meaning “that which breaks against the sea,” or “great land.”  The state is also commonly called “The Last Frontier,” or “The Land of the Midnight Sun.”  The changing times between daylight and darkness need to be considered when you are planning to relocate to Alaska.  Different destinations in the state have varying degrees of sun and darkness throughout the year, and the place you choose to live should suit how much exposure to natural sunlight you prefer.  For example, Anchorage and Juneau are two of the most popular locations where people buy land in Alaska.  Juneau is a bit warmer during the winter months than Anchorage, but Anchorage is a sunnier location having as much as five hours of sunlight on the day of the year that is the shortest.  In Juneau, residents have fewer hours of sunlight, and on Summer Solstice on June 21st each year, Juneau has a dusk-like darkness for several hours in the evening. 

Considerations When Buying Land In Alaska

If you plan to buy land in Alaska to live in the state, you need to realize that the cost of living in Alaska is higher when it is compared to the average cost of living in the remaining 49 states.  In fact, Alaska has one of the highest costs of living in the US today.

People who like growing crops can invest in land in Alaska, but suitable land for agricultural practices is limited. Since there are regions of the state that have nearly 24 hours of sunlight, the additional light exposure can accentuate and accelerate the crops for growth.  While the crop-growing season is shortened in Alaska, agricultural endeavors in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley as well as the Tanana Valley situated near Fairbanks, in Palmer, and in other regions of the state prove abundant.  Further, the Southeast region of Alaska gets a lot of rain and not as much sunlight as other parts of the state. This fact is important to those who appreciate gardening since it is necessary to seed plants in mounds of dirt to improve the drainage of plants.

While regions of Alaska are great for agriculture, much of the state is absent of arable lands suitable for agricultural pursuits. The most valuable agricultural commodities in the state are potatoes, dairy products, and greenhouse products.  On the other hand, Alaska is an ideal region for commercial fishing, with the main commodities consisting of cod, herring, halibut, shrimp, crab, and salmon.  The Dutch Harbor and Anchorage are main ports for fishing, and the food processing industry is dominated by practices of canning and freezing fish.  Additional industries that have proven prosperous in the state of Alaska include lumber, hunting, natural gas and petroleum mining, and fur trapping.

Land In Alaska Online Information For Buyers

Alaska Department of Natural Resources

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources offers an array of information related to land in Alaska.  You can find out about the latest public notices, over the counter land sales in Alaska, the Remote Recreation Cabin Staking Program, and alternative land offering programs in the state.  The state will finance the land that it sells, particularly if the land consists of parcels that are purchased by entry into a sales contract or by paying for the land with a lump sum fee.  Usually a 5% down payment is expected, and there is a $100.00 document-handling fee that is not refundable.  For more information visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/landsale/.

LandWatch™

LandWatch™ is a site listing land in Alaska for sale, including hunting land, timberland, waterfront property, ranches, farms, homesites, and more.  You can view land sales in Alaska by county, by city, by parcel size, or by price.  You can look for land in Alaska based o the home type you are interested in too, like ranches, farms, condos, houses, multifamily homes, and land.  You can even narrow your search based on activities like family activities, conservation, canoeing, kayaking, camping, boating, biking, beach activities, and aviation.  For more information visit http://www.landwatch.com/Alaska_land_for_sale.

Homes&Lands

Homes&Lands lists land in Alaska, particularly in the Greater Alaska region.  You can easily find homes and land in Willow, Anchorage, Palmer, and Wasilla, as well as outlying areas.  You can search for properties by price and home configuration, or you can view featured listings.  The site has new home listings, a listing of real estate agents you can contact, information about local open houses, and a map you can use to find properties for sale.  You can view neighborhood profiles, information about local schools, and there is additional information about waterfront properties too.  For further details visit http://www.homesandlandalaska.com/.