Builders, realtors promise good things

PALMER -- Ron Bikertmeyer, of the Mat-Su Homebuilders Association, and Jean Kay, president of the Valley Board of Realtors, spoke to the Palmer Greater Chamber of Commerce last week, bringing news of good fortune and a positive future.

"We builders are all busy," Bikertmeyer said. "We can't find enough help."

Valley homes are popping up like mad, and builders and realtors alike are feeling the positive effects from one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.

"[The Valley] is filling up fast," said Bikertmeyer. "There are only one or two major subdivisions available in our area."

Bikertmeyer said the number of homes being built isn't just increasing, but the quality of homes being built is also on the up and up.

"Five-star quality is a minimum," he said. "We build a better quality home than other places."

Kay agreed.

"The quality of life is better in the Valley than in the rest of the state," she said.

The Valley Board of Realtors is handling 60 percent of homes being sold in the Valley, Kay said. The other 40 percent is being sold independently.

"This much for-sale-by-owner as far as I'm concerned means we have a healthy Valley," she. "It is just awesome."

Kay also said that with interest rates this low, even a rise in the rates won't upset the Valley's forward movement.

"We are repeating history, but it is not sad if it goes up, you can still afford a nice home," she said. "Six to six-and-a-half percent is nothing, if they go to eight to eight-and-a-half percent it is still excellent."

Kay and Bikertmeyer said this upward trend has caused new subdivisions to be divided, and newer, bigger, higher-quality homes to built. But with all this new construction and growth, Kay reminded chamber members what makes living in the Valley such an appeal -- that small-town feeling.

"Please don't give up all your farm land," Kay pleaded with the chamber. "Please, please find a way to save it."

A number of the new Valley homes will be available to visit during the fall showcase of homes in September. New subdivisions on Knik-Goose Bay Road and Palmer Springer Loop are in the primary planning stages.