You can visit Valdez, my wife took some of our extended family there for a little Halibut fishing.  They did well and cam back with 10 fish.  on the drive from Anchorage to Valdez you will see many spectacular sights.  You can also get to Valdez by taking the Alaska Ferry from Whittier.  This is an easy trip and a great way to see Prince William Sound.  You can then drive back or hop on the ferry for the return trip.

Homer is another excellent choice, and although I will not make it there this year there I definitely recommend it.  In Homer you can visit the spit; this is where you will find the boat harbor and launch for fabulous Halibut charters.  You can get a water taxi to Halibut Cove or Seldovia.  Both destinations offer excellent choices for dining and some fabulous art galleries.  The Kachemak Bay is a beautiful destination.

I really like visiting the Cooper Landing area on the Kenai Peninsula.  Cooper Landing offers excellent trout and Salmon fishing as well as wildlife viewing.  On numerous trips I have fished along side black and brown bears.  Eagle watch as we catch our fish, then slowly drift down the river.  This last weekend we visited the mouth of the Kenai River for a little Alaskan fun; Dip netting.  This is an Alaska tradition and a great way to stock you freezer full of fish.

On the day we visited 100,000 Red Slamon came into the river, yes, I said one hundred thousand.  People line the shore with large nets scooping out fish; in one area boats of all sizes go up and down the river with Dip nets hanging over the side.  A dip net is a 4 or 5 circle with gill netting in it.  Most people have a 5-6 foot handle on the hoop.  You wait to a fish swims into the net and then haul it in.  On the day we visited the river there may have been 500 boats on the river scooping up fish.  There is a weir just past this area, and the next day the weir count showed 68,000 fish made it through the dip nets.

Our family pulled in 55 fish, and the friends with us pulled in 65 for their family.  We got our limits and headed home.

There is so much to do up here it's really hard to get it all in.  You can go clamming.  You could hike one of the hundreds of trials that are in the South Central Alaska.  You can water ski, white water raft or kayak; don't forget ocean kayaking.  There's flight seeing, and then the normal pursuits like softball, and baseball.

Oh yeah, I forgot the most important thing.  You have to work and get some sleep.  I have to go, my wife says I need to mow the lawn, don't forget your chores.

Senate could vote Wednesday

By Inman News, Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

Inman News

In a 409-5 vote, House lawmakers have passed a standalone bill that would extend for three months Wednesday's deadline for closing on a home purchase in order to claim the federal homebuyer tax credit.

The Senate could vote on the bill, HR 5623, as soon as tomorrow, although the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., has slowed the pace of work in that chamber.

Without an extension, the National Association of Realtors estimates as many as 180,000 homebuyers who were under contract by April 30 may miss the June 30 closing deadline, including 17,700 in California, 15,340 in Texas, 14,830 in Florida and 9,130 in New York.

"Keep your fingers crossed," said Lucien Salvant, an NAR spokesman, who said prospects for quick passage of the bill are mixed.

While some observers think HR 5623, "The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act," could sail through without further delay, there's no guarantee it will come to a vote, Salvant said.

The Senate is already on record supporting an extension, having amended a bill on June 16 to push the deadline back to Sept. 30. But other provisions of that bill, the "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010," have proved controversial, prompting House lawmakers to introduce a standalone bill.

I did receive a compliment via another Realtor about our company and thought I would tell you about it.  In this case we had a listing next door to the other licensees, and yes they work for a different brokerage.  The sellers were of course friends and spoke to each other on a regular basis.  Our seller was telling his neighbor about the reports we were sending to him on a daily basis, which he then complained to his Realtor about.

The Realtor came to us wanting to know what we're sending and why are we making them look bad (yes we are friends with our competition).  We explained to them that we were just keeping them up to date on the local market.

Here's the real story and why is it important to you.  See here at Prudential Jack White Vista Real Estate we have a great tool called Online Sellers Advantage (OSA).  OSA keeps seller informed of all market activity near their home.  The receive daily updates on price changes and any new competitors that may have come on the market.  They can see when other homes are pended (sold ). This is a vital tool and or sellers really like this information. 

The reports also show how many people have looked for a home in their price range and then it shows them if the prospective buyers actually looked at their home.  This tool shows you when more buyers have entered the market, or if someone really likes your home and has saved it as a favorite.

Our seller was very happy with this information and was very happy with our service as we help prospective buyers find his home.  This eventually lead to a sale and a very happy seller became homeless, which in this case was a great thing.

If you have questions about Online Seller's Advantage please give me a call and I will show you why it is a tool that will work for you.

If you are a responsible person, and will be staying stable for the next 7-10 years then Buy!

If you are a responsible person, and would like to be able to move when you want to then Rent!

A lot of home were bought and sold in the last couple of months, we have many new homeowners that took advantage of the First time Home buyers tax credit.  this was a great deal and it help most real estate markets across the country.  There were many sales because of these first timers, resulting in additional sales for move up buyers, that were able to sell their existing home.  We saw many people selling and making the switch to renting, it just made sense for them.

Whether you should buy or not has nothing to do with the strength or weakness of a market.  You do not buy stocks only when their low, No, you buy a little here a little there.  You hold for the long term and sell when it makes sense.

Buying a home is the same way.  look at you present situation and ask your self this.."Do I want to be in this home in five years?".  If the answer is anything other than a big "Yes", then you should take a hard look at renting.  It is cheaper in the short term and allows you flexibility in moving. 

Purchasing a home takes a commitment that we used to say everyone should take.  Maybe not owning a home does not make you more responsible, or more successful.  However for many people this is a wise investment.  If you are stable in your life an career then home ownership is probably the wise choice.

If you would like to receive home updates by e-mail visit www.Eagleriverhomesforsale.com to sign up.

 On March 29^th the Eagle River/Chugiak Parks Board of Supervisors held a work session on the draft Beach Lake Regional Park Master Plan Update to thoroughly review the document and recommend any edits or changes.  The Planning Team has made the changes recommended by Board of Supervisors.   The project website has been updated with the full DRAFT Beach Lake Regional Park Master Plan Update.  It is available for download. 

Go to: http://www.muni.org/Departments/ERparks/Pages/BeachLakeMP.aspx. This plan will be considered for final approval at the Parks Board of Supervisors April 12^th regular meeting (public testimony is welcome).

 Mark your Calendar!

Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 7P.M. in the Eagle River Town Center Community Room (12001 Business Blvd.):

ER/C PARK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MONTHLY MEETING

The Beach Lake Park Regional Master Plan Update will be on the Agenda for approval of the Board. The public is welcome to attend and testify.

March Madness is beginning and with it we eagerly look forward to spring.  In other parts of the country you may already have spring but here in Alaska, spring comes a little later in the year.  On Sunday we changed our clocks for the annual Spring forward, and this time of year this is a welcome change.  When I arrive home from work the sun is up and bright, and the sun is up well past 8 pm. 

Spring is coming, and the snow is melting!

We are definitely on our way to Spring.  The temps are still a chilly 10-20 degrees at night; last Saturday morning the temp was -5.  By afternoon the weather was cooperating and we were up to 29 degrees, a beautiful day.  Plenty of time for outdoor activities.

As I ramble along about the weather it is important to realize that this increase in daylight and temperatures is what is needed to move the Real Estate Market forward.  This coming weekend is the Annual Spring Preview of Homes.  This annual showcase of new homes currently under construction by our local builders signals the start of the building season.  the builders are excited this year and more new homes are currently under construction than last year at this time.

The national new homes starts were down in February by 5.4% over last year; that is mainly due to the extreme storms the lower 48 suffered through (I'm so sorry).  Here in Alaska the winter has been mild and the frost is not too deep; so lets start building.  Come out this weekend a see what new; I think you will learn something about your own home by just visiting a new construction site.  You can see how homes are built; discover the mysteries inside the walls.

Local Market information

 The local real estate market has been steady through the winter months, but there have been less sales then in recent years.  There are less homes available for sale; this is keeping the sales prices fairly stable.  Chugiak and Eagle River currently have just over 140 homes available for sale, and 73 homes already in pending status.

These are good signs for home owners.  Your homes value is not disappearing before your eyes.  For those of you on your way out of Alaska, the timing for you is excellent.  Now is a great time to have you home up for sale.  Make sure you are realistic about the price you want for your home and you should be able to see it in a reasonable amount of time.

There appears to be movement in the Armed Services.  We have seen many new Army families arriving at Fort Richardson and we anticipate many new Air Force families arriving in the coming months.  Spring is the time of year we see the new faces arrive and old friends leaving.  Hopefully they will be back someday.

Springtime in Alaska is coming and with it the sunshine and hope of a new day.  Lucky for all of us here in Alaska, life is pretty good.  Take few minutes, enjoy March Madness and then get outside and enjoy Alaska.  By the way, while your out stop by Powder Ridge in eagle river and say hi, I will be there this weekend showcasing a new home by Nolan Homes.  Its only about 60 days away from completion.

 I found this article online in several places, so I cannot take credit for writing it and I do not know who the original author is.  I would like to give them credit because this is a very good blog.

  A One-Weekend Garage Makeover

   Garages are the most hardworking spaces in your home. Investing a few hundred dollars in garage organization tools during one weekend will pay off in savings of both time and money.

 A clean and organized garage saves you time by keeping essentials in clear view, so you can find what you need without tripping over items or causing an avalanche whenever you pull something from the bottom of a pile.

 You'll also save money because your sporting goods and tools will last longer when they’re stored safe from moisture, heavy weights and dust. Even your car will be protected from falling skis.

 Step 1: Aim for spotless clean and clutter free
Start by cleaning out the junk. Release the clutter of your garage by selling or throwing away the things you never use. Getting rid of unneeded possessions makes more space for the ones you do need and use. Once that clutter is dwindled down to the necessities, organize it by category: athletic supplies, lawn and garden tools, carpentry tools, etc.

 Step 2: Use suitable storage units
Take a look at what’s left and decide what storage elements would work best for you.

 The essentials include:

• Closed storage: Make sure to include at least one closed-door, lockable unit. It's essential for keeping poisons like antifreeze, plant food or pest control products and sharp tools behind a locked door.
• Open shelving: Shelves are best for frequently used items which you need readily available and within reach. Vented metal styles, wood slats, or vented plastic minimize the volume of dust that can collect.
•  Hooks, clamps, and holders: These allow you to make use of vertical space, getting big items like bikes, trikes and paddles, rakes and brooms off the ground and out of your way. • Bags: Most wall-mounted garage organization systems include clamp-on mesh bags that make it easy to store soccer balls, basketballs, tennis balls, etc.
• Boxes and bins: Group irregular items and place them in big bins so you can put them under a shelving unit or work table. Group them accordingly so items are easy to find: bags of soil, grass seeds, etc. Boxes and baskets can also hold smaller items neatly on shelves.

Step 3: Paint and stain.

 The floor can be transformed with acid stain for concrete or a heavy-duty floor paint. If you plan to park your car on your newly painted floor, lay a sheet of cardboard down to catch drips of oil. The garage walls can be painted as well, especially if they still look like they're part of a construction site. Don't feel like you have to limit yourself to the traditional white walls. Get creative!  

 Step 4: Make it your second home

  Another major decision to be made prior to purchase is what kind of work areas you will need, and what kind of counter tops are appropriate for those areas. For instance, if you want to use garage space as a hobby area, you might want a sink area or solid surface counters. If you enjoy woodworking, you might need a wooden counter top. Figure out where these areas will be located and roughly sketch out how the area should look. Imagine yourself standing at the work area and think about placement of things you will use. Thinking through this process will certainly make the space more user-friendly.

 Ready to get your garage in order? Following those tips will help you find a place for everything and allow you to transform that dusty garage into something spotless in a short time.

We woke up Sunday morning and the temperature was 2 degrees, 2.  It was sunny and there was a lite breeze.  Chilly would be an understatement.  Today was the restart of the Iditarod in Willow.  The start was scheduled for 2 pm. and by then it had warmed up to 14 degrees.  It was nice and sunny as we made our way to Willow.

 We arrived in Willow with plenty of time to visit the staging area, this is were all the musher's were with their dogs before the race.  Have you ever heard hundreds of sled dogs howling at once, Wow!

We wandered around and saw the sites.  We saw Martin Buser and Lance Mackey being interviewed.  Lance Mackey had a huge crowd and looked like the celebrity he has become.  It helps to win three Iditarod races in a row.

We saw DeeDee Jonrow getting her dogs ready for the race, they each had pink harnesses.  Mitch Seavey was there and his team looked very relaxed. 

There was so much to see and there were thousands of peop[le there on the lake ready for the start. Yes being on the lake was safe.  Ice is over 3 feet thick.

 We made our way to the starting chute to watch the teams begin their 1000 mile journey to Nome.  Many people had been out there for several hours waiting to see the first mushers go.  Many people were from the lower 48 and you could tell they had no idea it would be so cold.  It really wasn't that bad if you dressed for it.  The lite wind made it a little cool.  After a couple of teams started people started heading for the warmth of the Willow school.

We watched as Newton Marshall came down the start chute, he is the first Jamaican to enter the Iditarod Sled Dog race.  Pretty brave young man.  Although what possessed him to leave the beach for the snow?

The crowd cheered and everyone had fun.  there were good eats, we ventured over to the vendors and found Reindeer hot dogs and Buffalo Bratwursts w/ grilled onions.  These were very good.

We had a great time, and then caught the bus back to Wasilla, to the original re-start.  In the 80's & 90's the race left Wasilla and travelled down my grandmothers driveway to the lake before heading to Knik and then up the Yhetna River.  Those were the good ole days sitting on the deck watching the teams go by.

We had just as much fun this year and will go back again next year. 

Hope to see you there! 

I had the opportunity to visit one of the truly magnificent places in Alaska.  Let me start with "I Love Cooper Landing"  I would move there if I could.  The area is known for its biking and hiking trails, and of course the Kenai River.

My family and I visit friends that are lucky enough to have found Kenai Lake front homes.  We try to spend several weekends each summer floating the Kenai River.  The fishing can be phenomenal.  Last summer it was.  The river was clear, and the water was low, which made for great fishing.

Fishing is Alaska, and Alaska is fishing.  We love it, which is why Cooper Landing, Alaska is one of my favorite destinations.  The fishing here is great year round.

So this last month I was really happy when Ed Galvez came to me to assist him in marketing a property on the Kenai River, right in the middle of Cooper Landing.  My favorite place. 

The home turned out to be my personal favorite.  If I could live anywhere in Alaska, this would be it.  This home is tremendous, and with 600 feet of Kenai River frontage the views are awesome.

We finished our video on Wednesday and the link is just below.  Let me know what you think, and be sure to pass it on if you know someone that would like this home.

This wonderful log home has 2624 square feet of living space, a fire pavilion, a 3 car garage and a 200 square foot wood working shop.  The Garage and shop are 1392 square feet.  The home is easy to get to, which is very important.  The home is easily seen from the Bridge and public boat launch.  However the log home face south west down the river, so the views are great. 

Cooper Landing is a great destination.  Princess Cruise Lines thought so, they bought an old lodge and built the Kenai Princess Lodge.  1000's of visitors come to Cooper Landing.  Imagine if this was your home.  Wow. 

We are excited to offer the 13^th annual Prudential sponsored Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute for students grades 8-12. The institute will be held March 8^th-12^th over Spring Break. This program is a 40 hour community leadership training program for teens who, want to learn leadership skills and improve themselves, their schools and make the community a better place to live.

 If you or someone you know, know a student who would be interested in applying, please contact Sabra at ext. 7295 for an application or click on the attached information packet & application. The deadline is February 26^th. Or for more information on PYLI visit www.spirit.prudential.com

Beginning Feb. 1, the Federal Housing Administration will provide mortgage insurance for some purchases in which the seller bought the property and held it for fewer than 90 days.

The agency is changing what is known as the “anti-flipping rule” to speed up sales of renovated homes in communities with too many bank-owned and foreclosed homes, says FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens.

Waiving the 90-day rule will encourage private investors to buy vacant properties, fix them up, and quickly sell them to buyers who will be eligible to buy them using FHA financing.

FHA's change "is going to be absolutely terrific" for first-time home buyers hoping to take advantage of the tax credit, says Bobby Taylor, an associate with Coldwell Banker Mountain West Real Estate in Salem, Ore.

Source: Washington Post (01/30/2010)

WEDNESDAY February 3,  2010

Downtown Eagle River Circulation Study

Are you frustrated by traffic congestion, access onto main collectors in the Eagle River business district?  The MOA has begun our downtown circulation study to identify problems and recommend solutions.  This is your chance to have input!!!  Doors open at 11:30am.

Menu:

Roast Chicken Burritto with carmelized onions, cilantro, refried beans, cheese, lettuce.  Topped with roast chicken tomatillo sauce & sour cream.

Salsa & chips

February Forums sponsored by 

Alaska Small Business Development Corporation

LOCATION: EAGLE RIVER ELKS LODGE Banquet Room

Doors open at 11:30 - luncheon begins promptly at noon.

17111 N Eagle River Loop Rd

(Banquet room doors are on the west end of the building)

Cost:  $14 members/$16 non-members.  Coffee tea only $3.00

You can reserve and pay online!

Go to http://www.cer.org/estore.html

The National association of Realtors came out with their latest number and the country saw a reduction in number of sales by 17% over last year at this same time.  They were anticipating the number to be closer to 10%.  This means that the housing recovery is going to take time.  I think everyone realizes this, they just wish it would happen sooner.

In Alaska, we're seeing the same steady market that we've seen in recent years.   I hear this quote just the other day "This market is an 'Opportunistic Market'; there are opportunities for buyer and sellers.  This is so true.  Values have remained steady on nice home, and homes that need work can be bought at a reduced price. 

Here are the numbers for Eagle River* Alaska residential sales:

• 15 New Homes on the market
• 5 Homes pended under new contracts
• 5 homes Closed

There are currently 96 homes being marketed in Eagle River.

• 73 existing homes
• 0 New Construction Complete
• 11 Homes under Construction
• 12 Homes To Be Built (not started)

The number of homes available offers some great opportunities to buyers and for sellers that have very nice homes.  The current homes range in price from $169,000 to $1,100,000. 

To find out what your home is worth visit www.ValueMyAlaskanHome.com.

To receive a list of the latest homes on the market in South Central Alaska visit www.EagleRiverHomesforSale.com!

*This representation is based in whole, or part, on data supplied by, and to, the Subscribers of Alaska MLS.  Alaska MLS does not guarantee, nor is it in any way responsible for, its accuracy.  Data maintained by Alaska MLS is for its own use and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. 

January 14th, 2010.  Eagle River Community Council Meeting; the meeting was held at the new Eagle River Town Center, just down the hall from the new Eagle River Library.  The Eagle River Community Council meets on the second Thursday of each month. 

Last night’s meeting was lightly attended, with a majority of the participants being from the local High Schools.  There were several persons visiting from other community councils; they were there to hear the gust spear from Land Design North, more about this later.

 Assembly women Debbie Ossiander was in attendance and gave a recap of recent developments.  Funding was restored for the Eagle River Library; they will open one more day during the week; although one full time position will be cut.  There maybe other budget concerns as the year progresses; they will be doing a quarterly review in April. 

Local roads are being plowed on a frequent basis; one concerned citizen spoke up asking that the plow trucks be a little more responsible about how much snow they dropped in his driveway (gating).  Michael Melielo is the council representative to the Road Board; he addresses this concern and provides the contact information to the homeowner so that the proper people we notified.  The discussion at this point was how our road board worked differently from Anchorages.  The end result was that Eagle River/Chugiak was more efficient and home owner’s property taxes were lower as a result; less mill rate for road maintenance.  

The next topic was the Master Plan for Beach Lake Park; guest speaker Mrs. S Doyle of Land Design North.  This discussion was very lively; there are many different uses for the park.  In the summer you have bikers as well as hikers, and there are several different areas within the park that are in use.  Beach Lake Park does see more traffic in the winter as there are miles of cross country ski trails; as well as several dog sledding trails.  For the most part these trails do not cross.  There have been several meetings to layout the master plan, and the next meeting is February 9th 2010, 6:00 - 8:30 pm at the Eagle River Town Center.  Click here for PDF Flyer of Event.

The meeting was concluded shortly after this lively discussion. The Eagle River Community Council meetings typically last between 1-2 hours.  There is always good information about the community.

If you are watching the market than you know that every talking head has an opinion and very few of them are the same.  Now I going to chime in.  Just what we need right? Another talking head.  I will try to keep to what I know and what I see happening in the local real estate market.

The number of homes bottomed out in recent weeks.  The lowest level of homes available for sale this decade.  That is beginning to change, the number of homes increase by 50% last week.  23 new listings, now some of these had been on the market before the holidays and were taken off the market.  Now their back and ready for sale, and that is good news because with the number of new pending transactions; the supply dropped to just 2.4 months.

There is a enthusiasm in the market, interest rates are low, prices have been steady.  This is a win-win for buyers and sellers.  Buyers there are more homes coming on the market, although they're selling quickly.  For Sellers, if you're ready to sell, there are buyers in the market looking for good homes.

Buyers can see receive e-mails updates by registering at www.eagleriverhomesforsale.com

Sellers can receive a free CMA and marketing plan by visiting www.valuemyalaskanhome.com

Christmas had come and the our kids had a great time opening presents.  They spent the entire day in the PJ's until we went out Christmas night to see a movie.  Yes. you should go see Avatar, but I am not writing about that, I am sure there will be plenty of write ups and you do not need my opinion.  No, I want to share with you the next day, the day after Christmas.

Our son was engrossed in Mario Kart on the Wii, and my teenage daughter was sleeping in.  My wife, Debbie, and I decided to go skiing (figured it would be a little more fun without the kids).  Just the two of us, jumped in the car and headed for Hatchers Pass.  This area is in the mountains above Wasilla and Palmer, and just 20 minutes from our house.  Very close and convenient.  We visit there are mainly during the summer months, as this is where my great grand father's gold mining claims are.  There is still a small cabin from 1936 on the site.

But today we were going cross country skiing. There are many trails in the area, local clubs keep them groomed.  There is the Arch Angel Valley trail, and the Independence mine trails that we would visit today.  There is also several sledding areas, including one that you drive and drop off the sledders.  They the sled down a run that is close to 3/4 of a mile in length.

There is also a great skiing/snow boarding area that may people frequent.  This are is similar to the sledding area.  Groups of skiers jump the car and one  lucky person chauffeurs them up to the top.  This is how I refined my back country skiing skills as a teen.

Today's trip was to the Independence Mine area.  The area has several trails that crisscross the mountain.  Our plan was to make it up to the Higrade Mine (The family mine), which is about a mile up the valley above the Indepence Mine.  We thought we'd check on the cabin and make sure everything was ok.  We started out the slow up hill slug from the parking lot to the Independence mine, this was about a mile.  We did good, and I only had to stop a couple of times.

Once we arrived at the half way point, halfway to the Higrade, we started the steeper climb. This became a bit of a challenge, as much of this was untouched snow.  Luckily it was only about 24 inches deep.  We made it another 300 yards and decided to call it quits.  Next time we will bring snowshoes for the final push to the cabin.  Cross Country skis were not going to get us there.

We headed back down, and yes this was a challenge.  Cross country skis do not work well on steep downhill runs.  S, after two backward flops, we made it back to the main trail system. (Picture to the right:Trail Closed).  We made it back to the groomed trails.  From here we made it across the valley.  The trail system is really nice, short uphills and gentle down hill runs. 

The trails guided us back towards the Hatchers pass Lodge.  We had a really great time, and made it back to the parking lot in about 45 minutes.  Then it was time to relax, so over to the Hatchers Pass Lodge for a nice Coffee nudge and Raspberry/Blackberry pie Ala mode.  This is a must do for anyone living in Alaska.  The trails are easy and the views are spectacular.

We've heard this many times.  Keep a steady but consistent pace.  Doesn't sound real sexy but it is the 'Cure for what ails you".  A steady real estate market is a wonderful thing.

Homes are selling each week.  We get few new listings.  The inventory does not go up, although we could use a little more to keep the buyers happy.  The nation housing news came out today and it was positive across the country.  There are some expectations that the next couple of months will be slower. 

Not here in Eagle River.  We are forecasting more people moving to the area.  As rentals become scarce many families will look at new homes.  This will fuel the construction industry and we should see new homes starts increase this year.

Here are the numbers for the week of December 14Th-20Th:

• 7 new homes were listed for sale
• 5 homes went into contract (pending)
• 3 homes closed

The current number of homes available in Eagle River:

• 56 single Family homes
• 12 homes under construction
• 11 homes scheduled to be built (not started)
• 25 Condo/Townhomes
• 6 Condo/Townhomes under construction

The real estate market in Eagle River continues to be steady.  Just the way we like it.