Is Your Property Ready for 2026? Here is How We Make It Easy

Welcome to 2026! If you own a home or a rental property in Anchorage or Eagle River, you might be wondering what is happening with the market this year.

The good news? The market is steady, and there are plenty of people looking for homes. Here is what you need to know and how All Star Realty can help you make money without the headache.

1. The Market is “Normal” Again (And That’s Good!)

A few years ago, the housing market was a frenzy. Now, in 2026, things have settled down into a “normal” seasonal rhythm.

But “normal” doesn’t mean slow. Buyers are still out there touring homes right now. In fact, because there is still a severe shortage of homes on the market, demand remains incredibly strong.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Here is what the data shows from late 2025 and early 2026:

• Median Sale Price: $403,000 (up from $398,000 the previous year)
• Days on Market: Just 28 days—homes are selling faster than ever
• Sales Over Asking: 26.1% of homes sold above list price
• Inventory Crisis: Less than 1 month of supply (a balanced market needs 4-6 months)
• Multiple Offers: Homes are receiving an average of 3 offers per listing

Even in December 2025—traditionally the slowest month—we saw 272 homes sold, a 5.4% increase from the previous year. That is buyer activity in the darkest, coldest month of the year.

• For Sellers: If your house isn’t on the market, you are missing out on buyers who are ready to move immediately. With less than one month of inventory, your property is a rare commodity.
• For Landlords: People need places to live. This structural shortage means steady demand and high occupancy rates for rental properties.

Why Inventory is So Low

The shortage isn’t going away anytime soon. Here is why:

Construction Costs: Only 237 new residential units were permitted in 2024, compared to 500 units annually between 2012-2015. High material and labor costs make new construction prohibitively expensive.

The “Lock-In Effect”: Homeowners with low-interest mortgages from previous years are staying put, further restricting the supply of resale homes.

Economic Stability: The Pikka and Willow North Slope projects are moving into production, bringing stable employment and skilled workers who need housing. Anchorage serves as the hub for these operations, creating sustained demand.

Market Activity Remains Strong

Despite the return to normal seasonality, buyer activity continues to be robust. The combination of limited inventory and steady demand creates opportunities for both sellers and property owners looking to generate rental income.

2. The Rental Market: A Landlord’s Dream

If you are thinking about renting out your property, the numbers are compelling.

Vacancy Rates Are Near Historic Lows

• Overall Market: Vacancy rates hover between 3.9% and 5.1% (well below the national average of 7.0%)
• University Area: As low as 2.9% vacancy—extremely tight
• Midtown: 3.2% vacancy with high demand from the workforce

A sub-5% vacancy rate means that for every unit that becomes available, there is an immediate backfill of prospective tenants. This minimizes “vacancy loss”—the silent killer of rental ROI.

Rents Are Rising

• Average Rent (Anchorage): ~$1,652 per month
• Rent Growth: +4.6% year-over-year (some sectors up 7.8% over two years)
• Typical Rents by Unit Type:
  • 1-Bedroom: ~$1,325/month
  • 2-Bedroom: ~$1,575/month
  • 3-Bedroom Single-Family: Often exceeding $2,400/month due to scarcity

For Investors: Cap rates on multi-family properties range from 6.25% (Class A) to 7.75% (Class B/C). In today’s investment landscape, a 7%+ yield on a tangible asset represents a compelling wealth-building vehicle.

3. Property Management: We Do the Work, You Get Paid

Owning a rental property is a great way to build wealth, but being a landlord in Alaska is hard work. You shouldn’t have to worry about late rent, fixing a leaky sink in the middle of the night, or dealing with frozen pipes in sub-zero temperatures.

That is where we come in. Our motto is simple: Maximize returns, minimize hassle.

Why Management is Critical in Alaska

The harsh Alaskan climate and strict landlord-tenant laws create unique challenges:

• Maintenance Intensity: Heating system failures, snow removal, and pipe insulation are mission-critical. A failure isn’t just an inconvenience—it is an asset-destroying event.
• Legal Complexity: Alaska’s Landlord and Tenant Act imposes strict requirements on security deposits, evictions, and tenant rights. The risk of litigation for a self-managing owner is real.
• 24/7 Demands: If a tenant calls at 2 AM with a heating failure, the response must be immediate to prevent frozen pipes. This isn’t a 9-to-5 job.

Here is How We Make Your Life Easier

We Find the Tenants: We use a simple 3-step digital process—Find, Apply, and Move-in—to screen tenants and get them settled quickly. Our rigorous screening includes credit history, criminal background checks, and eviction history reviews. We verify income (typically 3x monthly rent) to ensure reliable tenants.

We Handle the Repairs: We provide a 24/7 Maintenance Hotline. If something breaks, we answer the phone so you don’t have to. With over 5,000 doors under management, we have priority access to vendors and negotiated rates that individual landlords cannot access. This “buying power” directly maximizes your returns by lowering operating expenses.

You See Everything: We use modern software called AppFolio that gives you “absolute transparency.” You can log in online anytime to see real-time financials, rent rolls, expense ledgers, and net income. Leases, inspection reports, and insurance policies are stored securely in the cloud. Digital payments reduce late rent incidents, improving your cash flow velocity.

4. Old Roots, New Energy

You want a team you can trust. All Star Realty has been Anchorage’s trusted partner since 1987. We have over 55 years of combined experience and currently manage over 5,000 doors.

But we aren’t stuck in the past. Under our owner, Louie Crandall (a former active-duty Marine and Alaska resident since 1991), we have upgraded our technology to serve you better. As one of our happy clients said, Louie is “straightforward and honest,” and he takes care of “every detail and then some”.

Our scale grants us massive economies of scale—negotiated contractor rates, priority vendor access, and institutional knowledge of market cycles. This combination of “Old Roots” (stability and experience) and “New Energy” (modern technology and processes) positions us as the critical intermediary in this high-stakes environment.

The Bottom Line

Whether you want to sell your house or rent it out, you don’t need to stress over the details. We handle the paperwork, the phone calls, and the heavy lifting.

For Sellers: With inventory at historic lows and buyer activity robust even in winter, you have maximum pricing power. List now to capitalize on scarcity.

For Property Owners: If you are holding a low-interest mortgage, selling destroys that value. By placing your property into the rental market with professional management, you can generate positive cash flow (high rents) while retaining the asset as it appreciates.

Ready to make a move in 2026?

Call us today or visit our website to get a free home valuation. Let’s make this your best year yet.

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