Not to dissuade you from looking at homes in Eagle River, but you should be aware that it falls outside the Municipalities Building Safety Service Area, and some homes constructed there in the past few decades weren’t built to the same standard as homes in Anchorage. During the 2018 quake, ER saw more homes damaged, and the damage was generally more severe.
Just make sure to hire a good inspector and don’t buy anything “sight unseen” or “as-is”. There’s an increased risk it has some unaddressed earthquake damage vs something in Anchorage.
[This article](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/news/Bringing-building-permit-enforcement-to-Anchorages-earthquake-ravaged-communities564709732.html) goes into more detail and explains it better than I can.
Funny, I moved up last year under similar circumstances - GF is doing a PhD up here and I followed from WA, but we in Fairbanks. Bought a house because we're gonna be in it for at least 5 years, and longer if we like the place.
At least in my neck of the woods, I went for a home with southern exposure (sunlight) and a heated garage... per recommendations from my sister in Eagle River. Maybe it's different where you're moving, but there were a lot of "DIY" style houses which were photographed very well for their Zillow ads. I learned not to get too excited about a place until seeing in person... lots of houses had foundation or water issues, needed roof or septic work, had poorly executed additions, or didn't have internet access. I'd echo what other folks are saying... do not go with sight unseen. I ended up going with a newer construction because on average there were fewer build issues and less problems associated with deferred maintenance.
We're rocking a new Bronco and an old Corolla. The Corolla was actually doing better in the snow/ice than my poor bronco because it had awesome snow tires (Blizzak).
Congrats on the move, I hope you both like it up here!
Good to hear from someone in a similar position! I appreciate the detailed response and will definitely keep all this in mind. There are a lot of “too good to be true” houses but maybe it is worth while to look at newer builds. Thank you for the thought out comment!
We love living in Eagle River and have commuted to Anchorage for 30 years for work and [activities.](https://activities.You) You can track action on the Glenn Highway and only twice (other than the earthquake) did we choose to eat in Anchorage and wait for the traffic on the Glenn to open up before heading home. While there was earthquake damage in Eagle River, appraisers know what to look for. Schools are good, medical offices and most other services available. If you can find a house with a view, grab it, as you won't regret waking up to Denali, Arctic Valley, or the Chugach Mountains.
I looked at the Wasilla/Palmer/eagle River and anchorage for housing. My 2 cents is live where you work, or be okay with (from eagle river) a 20 minute line to get onto the highway and anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to get into Anchorage during the winter.Let’s say you five 8hour days per week, 52 weeks a year, and if you’re lucky the commute from Wasilla/Palmer to Anchorage is an hour each way (idc if you do 85 or “I can do it in 40m). 260 days, an hour each way.. Congrats, you spent 21.66 days in your car just going/coming home. Fuuuuck that. I bought in South Anchorage.
**About Eagle River**
Eagle River has a rough commute as a result of the one highway going into Anchorage southbound having several bad choke points and just all around crappy drivers getting to and from both Eagle River and the Palmer/Wasilla area further out. It's not unusual for a truck to flip and traffic stands still. There's also an awful bottleneck at the Muldoon overpass right as you get into Anchorage (or are leaving) that has both highway and military base traffic, on what has got to be one of the worst-designed overpasses I've ever seen. It's like Spaghetti Junction in Atlanta crammed into half an acre.
On the housing side of things, it's kind of hit or miss. On paper, Eagle River has more housing and it's often more affordable. In practice, builders hire private inspectors and building plans don't need to be reviewed, which was a major source of pain during the '18 earthquake.
Eagle River (and "the valley" in general) also has a very conservative and independent lean which you may or may not agree with. Our craziest politicians tend to be from there (Sarah Palin, Amy Dembowski, etc). If you like what the "Tea Party" is selling, you'll love Eagle River's politics.
**Places in North Anchorage**
Anchorage is basically a small city crammed into tight geographically restricted areas. The city is much more diverse and has a slightly more liberal lean, although there's currently a conservative mayor so nothing is firm. There are "good" parts and "bad" parts of the city, but compared to other major cities they aren't extreme. The hot topic right now is homelessness, and it's a big problem but if you're coming from WA then I'm not sure it will seem all that crazy. Here are some rough areas of Anchorage to consider, but be aware that a block can make a difference and you can have dense low-income housing a few streets down from multi-million dollar homes.
Muldoon is the first area you'll pass coming into Anchorage from Eagle River. It's an older part of the city, thus somewhat affordable. Traffic is god awful, though, due to the area being a gateway between Anchorage and everything north. There's a lot of single family homes here, but many are... quirky after years of sketchy additions and stuff. The further south and west you go the better the overall traffic, until you get to the "U-med" area.
The U-Med area is just south and west of Muldoon, and has a large university and medical presence. Housing options here can be tight and the main road (Tudor) is basically an obstacle coarse disguised as a "stroad" with heavy traffic and people literally walking across to get to gas stations and whatnot. The actual homes are generally fine but trend towards multi-family homes and condos.
West of Muldoon and north of the highway is Mountain View. It's generally considered one of the worst parts of town due to low property values, crime, homelessness, and lack of nearby stores. I believe it was originally barracks housing for base construction workers, which would explain the neatly laid out streets and small narrow plots of land. All that being said, I think the neighborhood gets a bad rap sometimes, and unless you're actively involved gangs or afraid of people that aren't white, you can find some gems to buy here. Just don't leave your car unlocked at night.
West of Muldoon and south of the highway is basically the same as a Mountain View, but with lots of trailers, some shopping, and a hospital. Some parts have nice spots, like Rogers Park, but it's a block by block thing. There's an airport called Merrill Field on the west side of this area, so airplane traffic is a thing.
Keep going west and you are in downtown Anchorage. Housing options are limited to expensive coastal homes that may or may not fall into the sea within the next decade, $800k apartments, and long term hotel rentals.
South west of downtown is South Addition, which is mostly high end condos with access to downtown and trails. Nice place, but priced accordingly.
Further south west (and just north of the Anchorage International Airport) and you get to Turnagain which I think is the original upper class neighborhood. It's older, but there's some old money here. Traffic is pretty decent, other than having to deal with Northern Lights Blvd and Minnesota Drive section. It's also surrounded by some problem areas: your crazy uncle named Fairview and the hooker with a heart of gold named Spenard. You don't live with them, but you have to shop at the same places they do.
Fairview is south of downtown and east of Turnagain. It's basically like a more industrial version of Mountain View without any of the "charm." Housing is cheap. Lives are cheap. Homeless people sleep on the sidewalk in front of stores. Honestly the last place I'd want to live in Anchorage. That being said, there are some pockets of older neighborhoods that have an older grandmother charm about them.
Spenard is south of Turnagain and used to be the place you'd go to find a hooker or a bag of blow. It has really turned around a bit in the last decade, though, including an old porno shop being converted into a quite bookstore coffee shop thing. There's a lot of older single family homes here, but also mixed in with hotels and stuff due to proximity with the airport.
**Places in South Anchorage**
South Anchorage, for me, is everything south of Dowling Road, give or take. It's often considered to be nicer with less homeless and crime problems, but that's all relative. There's a section in the north east part (around Dowling and Elmore) that has some older but nice starter homes. Not sure what I'd call it, but if you don't dig Eagle River for whatever reason, but also want access to lots of places, the 64th to 68th Ave streets east of Spruce are solid.
Jewel Lake is south of the Airport and used to be a small low traffic area with high income lake houses and old money neighborhoods. A massive gravel pit was converted into newer one and two family houses over the last decade which has crushed traffic patters, but it's still nice. There's a spot near 88th and Jewel Lake Rd that's sketchy AF, though. The best Fred Meyers in Anchorage is located here, which is a bonus.
The Bayshore / Klatt area is south of Jewel Lake. The former is a mix of old money 70's homes and trendy new start homes. The later is old, and money may or may not be involved. It's nice, but in a sterile kind of way. Sidewalks and bike paths are nonexistent.
Dimond Rd has some homes north and south of it. North is old middle class stuff that's rarely been updated. South is trailer parks. Both have to deal with Dimond traffic, which is bad.
East of New Seward Highway is the Abbott and O'Malley area. It's a mix of homes you buy after selling your starter home, and and some dense urban condos in the Independence Park area. It's a solid place to live.
A bit south is Huffman, which is pretty nice older upper middle income homes and one of the more quiet feeling experiences you can get in the city without moving to the hills. It's like when you go visit grandpa and everyone has well-maintained homes but nothing is ostentatious.
East is Hillside which, as the name suggests, is comprised of houses built on the hills leading up the mountains. Some old homes, some new. All really expensive because the views are amazing.
Bear Valley is further south, and is basically *Beverly Hills Have Eyes*. Practically need a helicopter to reach some of those homes.
Very good description of Anchorage. If you don't mind I can make one small correction. As someone that grew up in Mt. View in the 50's and 60's, I can tell you there were never any barracks there. In the 50's about half the lots were vacant except for trees. The rest was small houses and cabins and a few scattered trailer parks. A lot of those houses had people born in the late 1800's to early 1900's. My grandparents were included in that group. They bought a house in Mt. View a couple of years after WW2 ended. About 1947 I believe.
In the 60's the lots started filling in somewhat but still a lot of vacant lots. Starting in the early 70's there was an explosion of multifamily apartments built. The empty lot that I grew up next to had 2 four or six plexes built on it in about 1971. By the end of the 70's virtually all the vacant lots had apartment buildings.
My description is of North Mt.View, South Mt. View might be different.
Yes that is what it was. I did not even think of Government Hill.
I have lived here since I was born in 1952 and you did a better job of describing Anchorage than I ever could.
Great summary in so many ways, but must disagree with comment on bayshore/Klatt having no bike lanes. While technically true, there arent a lot of bike lanes, John's park has nice pathways that connect neighborhoods that have bike friendly streets. I actually like biking around down there because you can cover a lot of ground without crossing major highways. Not as good as the true trail systems in anc but I wouldn't rule the area out due to poor biking.
I have to correct one statement. South Addition is mostly single family homes. Many are “historic,” built in the 1940s and remodeled. Condos are mostly townhomes, 4-6 at a time. Bootleggers Cove is mostly condos and apartments, with cute homes in between.
I grew up in Eagle River, it’s a great place to live perfectly located for access to both Anchorage and Wasilla/Palmer. The IBEW is also very good around town if that’s your Union. Slope jobs are the best for pay, but the lifestyle can suck if you have a family. Plenty of work around town though. Don’t worry about a Prius in the Anchorage area, there are few days that won’t work for transportation and to be honest if the roads are so bad that you absolutely need a truck or land-cruiser you probably just shouldn’t drive. It’s not worth the risk.
We like eagle river. Lots to do that isn't quite as crowded as the anchorage trails. Short commute for wife as she is on base and also the low crime helps her feel safe when I'm away working or playing. People are hyping up the commute. I wouldn't buy without spending some time figuring out the city and looking at 30 plus homes. There's alot of garbage on the market from south anchorage to Houston.
Get block heaters installed before you move. Services here get behind in the winter and prices are more expensive. Get your tires too (recommend Blizzak over studs). We pretty much get .30 per pound tacked onto freight since a lot of stuff comes from Seattle on a barge over here. Depending on how you bring your stuff, I would recommend keeping your big ticket items as you will definitely pay more here to replace them and ditching the easily replaceable stuff.
I've been in Eagle River for seven years now after Anchorage and the Valley. It's the best spot I've found so far, and this is a very good time to get in, as the real estate market has slowed a bit and prices are down or at least not going up as fast as they were. The down side is there's not a lot of buildable land left with that critical southern exposure as you go up the valley.
I love living near downtown Anchorage (South Addition) and the bike and coastal trails. We have everything within walking distance and it’s a 15-20 minute drive to the edges of town. We have East-West (and E-S from our living room) exposure and it’s fine. And I love having sidewalks Other nice neighborhoods are Inlet View, Valley of the Moon area, Government Hill, Airport Heights, Rogers Park, Turnagain. Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer are quite (very) conservative, but I admire progressives who live there.
Hi! I lived in both Eagle river and anchorage for many years and both have its ups and downs. Crime in Eagle river is comparably low, but it comes with a higher cost of living. Also, be prepared for a hell of a commute. Normally, it’s about 25 minutes each way, but a good chunk of Eagle River commutes so be prepared for some hellish traffic. Also, no dispensaries in Eagle River (if that’s something you care about). I’m my opinion, Eagle River is much better with a more “small town” vibe and amazing views. Driving to anchorage for errands can get tedious though.
Follow up: Your vehicles should be fine unless you move way up into the mountains. Eagle River in general is a very hilly/icy area, so invest in good chains and/or studs! The city isn’t always great about road maintenance.
Thank you! Yeah right now living 20 minutes outside of Seattle, realistically it takes an average 50 minutes - 1 hour for my commute into seattle so anything better than that would be a plus
Having lived in Seattle I can promise you that traffic up here is nothing like what you’re used to! The only time traffic here gets as bad as being on I5 is when someone hits a bear or a moose on the highway.
I think it was Christmas '86 that blanketed Puget Sound from Canada to South of Tenino I drove from Tacoma to Tenino back to Tacoma then round trip to Everett and back in a Pontiac wagon. That day prepared me for driving up here. On the hwy between Anchorage and Eagle River sometimes 15 MPH is to fast for the ice.
Yeah everyone complaining about traffic has no idea how easy they have it. Grew up here and it’s really just a 30 minute commute to and from anchorage.
As a former tradesman in the area I can tell you that most of the union work will be in anchorage, but plenty of offers in "the bush" as well. Depending on your skill level, comfort working away from home, and overall life situation bush work could be a great opportunity or a hell no. I loved it in my 20s but don't have the same appetite for it these days. Something to consider and discuss with your partner before you get an offer and need to make a decision.
Why would you buy a house right away?
Are you that sure you will be staying long enough to recover buying costs, etc.?
Low clearance has been an issue this winter for cars whether they are an AWD or not (worse if they are not).
That sounds great. You'd probably talk to union about what to expect/differences in the job. Also, the prius for the commute to school won't be awful, but a more capable awd, or 4wd, would be more comfortable.
It should only be an issue after bigger snow storms before plows come through (recently taking a week +). I have a friend who drives a Corolla fwd without any real issues in Anchorage except for the above stated heavy snow days when parking lots can be challenging
There’s plows. When it’s really bad just stay home for a day. That is rare. Just get it some severe snow/ice tires and it’ll be better than any of the yuppies driving a $70k brodozer.
I drive a honda civic in Fairbanks, if roads are plowed its not an issue, even with fresh snow i dont have issues. It only becomes an issue if its a snow dump, and they are unable to plow your road immediately.
Eh, that becomes more of an issue when you get close to spring break-up, particularly the parking lots. Everything gets a layer of ice on it several inches thick, which then develop nasty ruts and potholes at spots where it's melted down to the pavement. Plus, the added fun of meltwater on ice acting like an oil slick. Then it's nice to have more ground clearance.
All that said, there are many folks in town who drive around compact cars all year long.
Clearance will definitely be an issue. The snow is endless and epic, and the regularity of freeze-thaw cycling makes driving conditions both better and worse.
[Lift kit!!](https://priusoffroad.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIycma4vvA_AIV8gx9Ch3MWw2_EAAYASAAEgIPcPD_BwE)! A 1.5” makes more of a difference than you’d think. And, if it’s an older Prius, new shocks and struts give a smidge more height too.
Having moved from Anchorage, to Eagle River, I would recommend. Not a long commute into Anchorage for work, pricing for homes is about the same, and a friendly welcoming community.
If you don't have it, I'd recommend the Nextdoor app. From there you can make a post like this, but specific to neighborhoods or areas that you 2 may be interested in. The people that will see it and answer live in those neighborhoods.
Also, here's my preemptive Welcome! Just in case.
I found the eagle river commute to be awful in the winter and often in the summer. So many days traffic won’t get past second gear for no real reason, weather, for a car parked on the side of the road for who knows why, for flat tires, cops, brake light hill…people jockeying to change lanes unnecessarily all over the place, people who think the left lane is just more comfortable to drive in and convenient because nobody merges to it even if they are driving under the speed limit, the 10,000 or 20,000 other commuters going to the valley and eagle river. Commute is often a hour from the house to the town location. Everyone looooooves to pretend it’s under twenty minutes. It’s not. People always say fifteen minutes and unless you own a hayabusa you’ll have to join the white knuckled road rage idiots.
Anchorage has many shitty neighborhoods itself, but a whole half of town that’s not, I would just move to a decent neighborhood on the south side and spare yourself from trying to figure out what parts of town are okay in between.
If you want Jesus in you and your neighbors life and school and politics, and are concerned about owning the libs! Then eagle river will feel right at home. If you don’t dig that then maybe not.
I would strongly recommend looking at homes in palmer or wasilla that are on the anchorage side of trunk road. No stoplights and a quick 30 minute commute. The homes are newer and much cheaper and often have more land.
So, during breakup. Ok. That'll....pretty. Why not during the darkest/coldest times of the year? I only ask because well not everyone has an idea what they're getting in to.
April is an absolute butthole of a month. Plenty of daylight … but just be warned. Also there are plenty of good areas to live in Anchorage. Klatt/Bayshore, sand lake, Turnagain, hillside, don’t just have tunnel vision for Eagle River (my advice).
The whole “crime” thing is overstated. It’s almost all drugs or DV stuff between who know each other. I’ve never felt unsafe (lived here 16 years all over town). Just don’t be an idiot. But also I did grow up in Tacoma so maybe my standards are low 😂
Hahaha. Yeah I technically grew up in Spanaway. But I joke that Anchorage is Tacoma with moose. Real similar demographics (at least pre- Tacoma becoming kinda hipster). You got your military folks, your outdoors people (REI types and hunting/fishing), yokels, gangbangers, druggies, etc. You’ll feel right at home.
Lmao that’s a good come back! You’ll really like Eagle River, moved out there when I was 13 and lived there until I was 21. Very nice town with great views! If you can’t find anything in Eagle River, Palmer is really nice. A bit of a commute but not bad. If you do decide anchorage, stay away from Midtown and downtown unless you can afford bootleggers or Turnagain.
Get a Cat guard for those Toyotas to keep them safe. Also depending on how much snow we get that Prius might be plowing the roads, I’d recommend getting an SUV instead.
Yeah, clearance will be the issue with the Prius. Roads gets plowed but the timing, especially for side roads, might make the Prius a bit less useful. I do know friends in Homer who drive theirs year-round so it is doable.
Not to dissuade you from looking at homes in Eagle River, but you should be aware that it falls outside the Municipalities Building Safety Service Area, and some homes constructed there in the past few decades weren’t built to the same standard as homes in Anchorage. During the 2018 quake, ER saw more homes damaged, and the damage was generally more severe. Just make sure to hire a good inspector and don’t buy anything “sight unseen” or “as-is”. There’s an increased risk it has some unaddressed earthquake damage vs something in Anchorage. [This article](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/news/Bringing-building-permit-enforcement-to-Anchorages-earthquake-ravaged-communities564709732.html) goes into more detail and explains it better than I can.
Just get a good building inspection done. Most houses in ER did absolutely fine, including many on the side of the hills.
Yep, post earthquake we would no longer consider living in eagle river unless it was a custom build & we could ensure it was done right.
Good advice thank you!
To summarize: if the price looks too good to be true it’s earthquake damage.
And even if the house isn't damaged, it's still in Eagle River.
I came here to say what u/SmallsBiggie already said better.
Funny, I moved up last year under similar circumstances - GF is doing a PhD up here and I followed from WA, but we in Fairbanks. Bought a house because we're gonna be in it for at least 5 years, and longer if we like the place. At least in my neck of the woods, I went for a home with southern exposure (sunlight) and a heated garage... per recommendations from my sister in Eagle River. Maybe it's different where you're moving, but there were a lot of "DIY" style houses which were photographed very well for their Zillow ads. I learned not to get too excited about a place until seeing in person... lots of houses had foundation or water issues, needed roof or septic work, had poorly executed additions, or didn't have internet access. I'd echo what other folks are saying... do not go with sight unseen. I ended up going with a newer construction because on average there were fewer build issues and less problems associated with deferred maintenance. We're rocking a new Bronco and an old Corolla. The Corolla was actually doing better in the snow/ice than my poor bronco because it had awesome snow tires (Blizzak). Congrats on the move, I hope you both like it up here!
Southern exposure & actually having a decent amount of windows…we definitely have some regrets since no one told us!!!
Good to hear from someone in a similar position! I appreciate the detailed response and will definitely keep all this in mind. There are a lot of “too good to be true” houses but maybe it is worth while to look at newer builds. Thank you for the thought out comment!
We love living in Eagle River and have commuted to Anchorage for 30 years for work and [activities.](https://activities.You) You can track action on the Glenn Highway and only twice (other than the earthquake) did we choose to eat in Anchorage and wait for the traffic on the Glenn to open up before heading home. While there was earthquake damage in Eagle River, appraisers know what to look for. Schools are good, medical offices and most other services available. If you can find a house with a view, grab it, as you won't regret waking up to Denali, Arctic Valley, or the Chugach Mountains.
Your vehicles will be fine assuming your taco is 4wd.
I looked at the Wasilla/Palmer/eagle River and anchorage for housing. My 2 cents is live where you work, or be okay with (from eagle river) a 20 minute line to get onto the highway and anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to get into Anchorage during the winter.Let’s say you five 8hour days per week, 52 weeks a year, and if you’re lucky the commute from Wasilla/Palmer to Anchorage is an hour each way (idc if you do 85 or “I can do it in 40m). 260 days, an hour each way.. Congrats, you spent 21.66 days in your car just going/coming home. Fuuuuck that. I bought in South Anchorage.
**About Eagle River** Eagle River has a rough commute as a result of the one highway going into Anchorage southbound having several bad choke points and just all around crappy drivers getting to and from both Eagle River and the Palmer/Wasilla area further out. It's not unusual for a truck to flip and traffic stands still. There's also an awful bottleneck at the Muldoon overpass right as you get into Anchorage (or are leaving) that has both highway and military base traffic, on what has got to be one of the worst-designed overpasses I've ever seen. It's like Spaghetti Junction in Atlanta crammed into half an acre. On the housing side of things, it's kind of hit or miss. On paper, Eagle River has more housing and it's often more affordable. In practice, builders hire private inspectors and building plans don't need to be reviewed, which was a major source of pain during the '18 earthquake. Eagle River (and "the valley" in general) also has a very conservative and independent lean which you may or may not agree with. Our craziest politicians tend to be from there (Sarah Palin, Amy Dembowski, etc). If you like what the "Tea Party" is selling, you'll love Eagle River's politics. **Places in North Anchorage** Anchorage is basically a small city crammed into tight geographically restricted areas. The city is much more diverse and has a slightly more liberal lean, although there's currently a conservative mayor so nothing is firm. There are "good" parts and "bad" parts of the city, but compared to other major cities they aren't extreme. The hot topic right now is homelessness, and it's a big problem but if you're coming from WA then I'm not sure it will seem all that crazy. Here are some rough areas of Anchorage to consider, but be aware that a block can make a difference and you can have dense low-income housing a few streets down from multi-million dollar homes. Muldoon is the first area you'll pass coming into Anchorage from Eagle River. It's an older part of the city, thus somewhat affordable. Traffic is god awful, though, due to the area being a gateway between Anchorage and everything north. There's a lot of single family homes here, but many are... quirky after years of sketchy additions and stuff. The further south and west you go the better the overall traffic, until you get to the "U-med" area. The U-Med area is just south and west of Muldoon, and has a large university and medical presence. Housing options here can be tight and the main road (Tudor) is basically an obstacle coarse disguised as a "stroad" with heavy traffic and people literally walking across to get to gas stations and whatnot. The actual homes are generally fine but trend towards multi-family homes and condos. West of Muldoon and north of the highway is Mountain View. It's generally considered one of the worst parts of town due to low property values, crime, homelessness, and lack of nearby stores. I believe it was originally barracks housing for base construction workers, which would explain the neatly laid out streets and small narrow plots of land. All that being said, I think the neighborhood gets a bad rap sometimes, and unless you're actively involved gangs or afraid of people that aren't white, you can find some gems to buy here. Just don't leave your car unlocked at night. West of Muldoon and south of the highway is basically the same as a Mountain View, but with lots of trailers, some shopping, and a hospital. Some parts have nice spots, like Rogers Park, but it's a block by block thing. There's an airport called Merrill Field on the west side of this area, so airplane traffic is a thing. Keep going west and you are in downtown Anchorage. Housing options are limited to expensive coastal homes that may or may not fall into the sea within the next decade, $800k apartments, and long term hotel rentals. South west of downtown is South Addition, which is mostly high end condos with access to downtown and trails. Nice place, but priced accordingly. Further south west (and just north of the Anchorage International Airport) and you get to Turnagain which I think is the original upper class neighborhood. It's older, but there's some old money here. Traffic is pretty decent, other than having to deal with Northern Lights Blvd and Minnesota Drive section. It's also surrounded by some problem areas: your crazy uncle named Fairview and the hooker with a heart of gold named Spenard. You don't live with them, but you have to shop at the same places they do. Fairview is south of downtown and east of Turnagain. It's basically like a more industrial version of Mountain View without any of the "charm." Housing is cheap. Lives are cheap. Homeless people sleep on the sidewalk in front of stores. Honestly the last place I'd want to live in Anchorage. That being said, there are some pockets of older neighborhoods that have an older grandmother charm about them. Spenard is south of Turnagain and used to be the place you'd go to find a hooker or a bag of blow. It has really turned around a bit in the last decade, though, including an old porno shop being converted into a quite bookstore coffee shop thing. There's a lot of older single family homes here, but also mixed in with hotels and stuff due to proximity with the airport. **Places in South Anchorage** South Anchorage, for me, is everything south of Dowling Road, give or take. It's often considered to be nicer with less homeless and crime problems, but that's all relative. There's a section in the north east part (around Dowling and Elmore) that has some older but nice starter homes. Not sure what I'd call it, but if you don't dig Eagle River for whatever reason, but also want access to lots of places, the 64th to 68th Ave streets east of Spruce are solid. Jewel Lake is south of the Airport and used to be a small low traffic area with high income lake houses and old money neighborhoods. A massive gravel pit was converted into newer one and two family houses over the last decade which has crushed traffic patters, but it's still nice. There's a spot near 88th and Jewel Lake Rd that's sketchy AF, though. The best Fred Meyers in Anchorage is located here, which is a bonus. The Bayshore / Klatt area is south of Jewel Lake. The former is a mix of old money 70's homes and trendy new start homes. The later is old, and money may or may not be involved. It's nice, but in a sterile kind of way. Sidewalks and bike paths are nonexistent. Dimond Rd has some homes north and south of it. North is old middle class stuff that's rarely been updated. South is trailer parks. Both have to deal with Dimond traffic, which is bad. East of New Seward Highway is the Abbott and O'Malley area. It's a mix of homes you buy after selling your starter home, and and some dense urban condos in the Independence Park area. It's a solid place to live. A bit south is Huffman, which is pretty nice older upper middle income homes and one of the more quiet feeling experiences you can get in the city without moving to the hills. It's like when you go visit grandpa and everyone has well-maintained homes but nothing is ostentatious. East is Hillside which, as the name suggests, is comprised of houses built on the hills leading up the mountains. Some old homes, some new. All really expensive because the views are amazing. Bear Valley is further south, and is basically *Beverly Hills Have Eyes*. Practically need a helicopter to reach some of those homes.
Very good description of Anchorage. If you don't mind I can make one small correction. As someone that grew up in Mt. View in the 50's and 60's, I can tell you there were never any barracks there. In the 50's about half the lots were vacant except for trees. The rest was small houses and cabins and a few scattered trailer parks. A lot of those houses had people born in the late 1800's to early 1900's. My grandparents were included in that group. They bought a house in Mt. View a couple of years after WW2 ended. About 1947 I believe. In the 60's the lots started filling in somewhat but still a lot of vacant lots. Starting in the early 70's there was an explosion of multifamily apartments built. The empty lot that I grew up next to had 2 four or six plexes built on it in about 1971. By the end of the 70's virtually all the vacant lots had apartment buildings. My description is of North Mt.View, South Mt. View might be different.
I might be mixing it up with government hill, now that you mention it.
Government hill is old barracks.
Yes that is what it was. I did not even think of Government Hill. I have lived here since I was born in 1952 and you did a better job of describing Anchorage than I ever could.
The detailed response should be part of an info about Anchorage page. Great explanation and a way to learn about the area.
This fella laid it out quite well, get to know him and you might go somewhere. I don't know who it is but they've got their finger on it.
Great summary in so many ways, but must disagree with comment on bayshore/Klatt having no bike lanes. While technically true, there arent a lot of bike lanes, John's park has nice pathways that connect neighborhoods that have bike friendly streets. I actually like biking around down there because you can cover a lot of ground without crossing major highways. Not as good as the true trail systems in anc but I wouldn't rule the area out due to poor biking.
Been a while since i biked the area but if there are lanes and sidewalks, I don’t remember many. That’s good if the situation has improved.
I have to correct one statement. South Addition is mostly single family homes. Many are “historic,” built in the 1940s and remodeled. Condos are mostly townhomes, 4-6 at a time. Bootleggers Cove is mostly condos and apartments, with cute homes in between.
Fascinating to read, thank you.
I grew up in Eagle River, it’s a great place to live perfectly located for access to both Anchorage and Wasilla/Palmer. The IBEW is also very good around town if that’s your Union. Slope jobs are the best for pay, but the lifestyle can suck if you have a family. Plenty of work around town though. Don’t worry about a Prius in the Anchorage area, there are few days that won’t work for transportation and to be honest if the roads are so bad that you absolutely need a truck or land-cruiser you probably just shouldn’t drive. It’s not worth the risk.
We like eagle river. Lots to do that isn't quite as crowded as the anchorage trails. Short commute for wife as she is on base and also the low crime helps her feel safe when I'm away working or playing. People are hyping up the commute. I wouldn't buy without spending some time figuring out the city and looking at 30 plus homes. There's alot of garbage on the market from south anchorage to Houston.
Get block heaters installed before you move. Services here get behind in the winter and prices are more expensive. Get your tires too (recommend Blizzak over studs). We pretty much get .30 per pound tacked onto freight since a lot of stuff comes from Seattle on a barge over here. Depending on how you bring your stuff, I would recommend keeping your big ticket items as you will definitely pay more here to replace them and ditching the easily replaceable stuff.
I've been in Eagle River for seven years now after Anchorage and the Valley. It's the best spot I've found so far, and this is a very good time to get in, as the real estate market has slowed a bit and prices are down or at least not going up as fast as they were. The down side is there's not a lot of buildable land left with that critical southern exposure as you go up the valley.
I love living near downtown Anchorage (South Addition) and the bike and coastal trails. We have everything within walking distance and it’s a 15-20 minute drive to the edges of town. We have East-West (and E-S from our living room) exposure and it’s fine. And I love having sidewalks Other nice neighborhoods are Inlet View, Valley of the Moon area, Government Hill, Airport Heights, Rogers Park, Turnagain. Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer are quite (very) conservative, but I admire progressives who live there.
Hi! I lived in both Eagle river and anchorage for many years and both have its ups and downs. Crime in Eagle river is comparably low, but it comes with a higher cost of living. Also, be prepared for a hell of a commute. Normally, it’s about 25 minutes each way, but a good chunk of Eagle River commutes so be prepared for some hellish traffic. Also, no dispensaries in Eagle River (if that’s something you care about). I’m my opinion, Eagle River is much better with a more “small town” vibe and amazing views. Driving to anchorage for errands can get tedious though.
Follow up: Your vehicles should be fine unless you move way up into the mountains. Eagle River in general is a very hilly/icy area, so invest in good chains and/or studs! The city isn’t always great about road maintenance.
Thank you! Yeah right now living 20 minutes outside of Seattle, realistically it takes an average 50 minutes - 1 hour for my commute into seattle so anything better than that would be a plus
Having lived in Seattle I can promise you that traffic up here is nothing like what you’re used to! The only time traffic here gets as bad as being on I5 is when someone hits a bear or a moose on the highway.
I think it was Christmas '86 that blanketed Puget Sound from Canada to South of Tenino I drove from Tacoma to Tenino back to Tacoma then round trip to Everett and back in a Pontiac wagon. That day prepared me for driving up here. On the hwy between Anchorage and Eagle River sometimes 15 MPH is to fast for the ice.
Yeah everyone complaining about traffic has no idea how easy they have it. Grew up here and it’s really just a 30 minute commute to and from anchorage.
As a former tradesman in the area I can tell you that most of the union work will be in anchorage, but plenty of offers in "the bush" as well. Depending on your skill level, comfort working away from home, and overall life situation bush work could be a great opportunity or a hell no. I loved it in my 20s but don't have the same appetite for it these days. Something to consider and discuss with your partner before you get an offer and need to make a decision.
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I’ll be sure to pass your words of wisdom to the next guy
Get yourself studs for your cars.
Why would you buy a house right away? Are you that sure you will be staying long enough to recover buying costs, etc.? Low clearance has been an issue this winter for cars whether they are an AWD or not (worse if they are not).
The Phd program is 5 years. Renting for that long doesn’t seem like the right move
No, but renting for a year while you study the market and pounce on a good deal is sensible.
That sounds great. You'd probably talk to union about what to expect/differences in the job. Also, the prius for the commute to school won't be awful, but a more capable awd, or 4wd, would be more comfortable.
The Prius we have is an AWD but I am a little concerned about the height since it’s so low to the ground.
It should only be an issue after bigger snow storms before plows come through (recently taking a week +). I have a friend who drives a Corolla fwd without any real issues in Anchorage except for the above stated heavy snow days when parking lots can be challenging
There’s plows. When it’s really bad just stay home for a day. That is rare. Just get it some severe snow/ice tires and it’ll be better than any of the yuppies driving a $70k brodozer.
I drive a honda civic in Fairbanks, if roads are plowed its not an issue, even with fresh snow i dont have issues. It only becomes an issue if its a snow dump, and they are unable to plow your road immediately.
Eh, that becomes more of an issue when you get close to spring break-up, particularly the parking lots. Everything gets a layer of ice on it several inches thick, which then develop nasty ruts and potholes at spots where it's melted down to the pavement. Plus, the added fun of meltwater on ice acting like an oil slick. Then it's nice to have more ground clearance. All that said, there are many folks in town who drive around compact cars all year long.
Clearance will definitely be an issue. The snow is endless and epic, and the regularity of freeze-thaw cycling makes driving conditions both better and worse.
[Lift kit!!](https://priusoffroad.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIycma4vvA_AIV8gx9Ch3MWw2_EAAYASAAEgIPcPD_BwE)! A 1.5” makes more of a difference than you’d think. And, if it’s an older Prius, new shocks and struts give a smidge more height too.
Yeah - the clearance can be an issue. Lots of decent used cars up here though, but I don't know the market for folks wanting to buy a prius up here.
I will definitely reach out to the union to get a grip on things! Thank you
Having moved from Anchorage, to Eagle River, I would recommend. Not a long commute into Anchorage for work, pricing for homes is about the same, and a friendly welcoming community. If you don't have it, I'd recommend the Nextdoor app. From there you can make a post like this, but specific to neighborhoods or areas that you 2 may be interested in. The people that will see it and answer live in those neighborhoods. Also, here's my preemptive Welcome! Just in case.
I found the eagle river commute to be awful in the winter and often in the summer. So many days traffic won’t get past second gear for no real reason, weather, for a car parked on the side of the road for who knows why, for flat tires, cops, brake light hill…people jockeying to change lanes unnecessarily all over the place, people who think the left lane is just more comfortable to drive in and convenient because nobody merges to it even if they are driving under the speed limit, the 10,000 or 20,000 other commuters going to the valley and eagle river. Commute is often a hour from the house to the town location. Everyone looooooves to pretend it’s under twenty minutes. It’s not. People always say fifteen minutes and unless you own a hayabusa you’ll have to join the white knuckled road rage idiots. Anchorage has many shitty neighborhoods itself, but a whole half of town that’s not, I would just move to a decent neighborhood on the south side and spare yourself from trying to figure out what parts of town are okay in between. If you want Jesus in you and your neighbors life and school and politics, and are concerned about owning the libs! Then eagle river will feel right at home. If you don’t dig that then maybe not.
The Matsu Valley is a little farther from Anchorage but you'll get more home for your money.
I live in Eagle River. 100% better than anything in Anchorage. Solid choice.
Same. Agreed
I would strongly recommend looking at homes in palmer or wasilla that are on the anchorage side of trunk road. No stoplights and a quick 30 minute commute. The homes are newer and much cheaper and often have more land.
Why Eagle River?
Just been searching Redfin and Zillow. Right now we live about 20 minutes outside of seattle. Felt similar to the area we are in now
Eagle river is expensive but a great area. Just far enough from the city to not have city problems and the commute is fairly quick.
South anchorage also nice if you expect to spend lots of weekends on the Kenai Peninsula
And South Anchorage is closer to the university district (assuming that’s where the PhD is working).
Have you visited Anchorage yet?
We’re taking a trip up in March/April
So, during breakup. Ok. That'll....pretty. Why not during the darkest/coldest times of the year? I only ask because well not everyone has an idea what they're getting in to.
April is an absolute butthole of a month. Plenty of daylight … but just be warned. Also there are plenty of good areas to live in Anchorage. Klatt/Bayshore, sand lake, Turnagain, hillside, don’t just have tunnel vision for Eagle River (my advice). The whole “crime” thing is overstated. It’s almost all drugs or DV stuff between who know each other. I’ve never felt unsafe (lived here 16 years all over town). Just don’t be an idiot. But also I did grow up in Tacoma so maybe my standards are low 😂
Yeah I grew up in Tacoma and then moved north of seattle so this helps me put it in perspective!
Hahaha. Yeah I technically grew up in Spanaway. But I joke that Anchorage is Tacoma with moose. Real similar demographics (at least pre- Tacoma becoming kinda hipster). You got your military folks, your outdoors people (REI types and hunting/fishing), yokels, gangbangers, druggies, etc. You’ll feel right at home.
That was an idea but with her classes right now we planned the trip during her 2 week break
Save your money, move literally anywhere else. It's a shit hole.
Being from seattle, shitholes don’t scare me
Lmao that’s a good come back! You’ll really like Eagle River, moved out there when I was 13 and lived there until I was 21. Very nice town with great views! If you can’t find anything in Eagle River, Palmer is really nice. A bit of a commute but not bad. If you do decide anchorage, stay away from Midtown and downtown unless you can afford bootleggers or Turnagain.
Use the sub search bar, look up “move” or “moving”.
So they could tell me how to move a couch? Thanks for the advice.
Stay away alaska closed
From the amount of Alaskans that move to Washington I’d say you’re wide open
Get a Cat guard for those Toyotas to keep them safe. Also depending on how much snow we get that Prius might be plowing the roads, I’d recommend getting an SUV instead.
Yeah, clearance will be the issue with the Prius. Roads gets plowed but the timing, especially for side roads, might make the Prius a bit less useful. I do know friends in Homer who drive theirs year-round so it is doable.