Home show underway this weekend

WASILLA — While browsing through dozens of vendors at the Mat-Su Home Builders’ 35th Annual Home Show April 10 through 12 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, save a bit of time to talk to the folks at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

Jim McCall works for the housing corporation and lives in Palmer. He said a combination of factors make this a good time for Mat-Su residents to consider remodeling or refinancing their homes.

Much of Alaska’s housing stock is about 35 years old, McCall said. That means it may be time to remodel that old kitchen, or upgrade that old brown paneling in the family room, and maybe even improve the home’s energy rating at the same time. But while homeowners are at it, he suggested they think 20 or 30 years down the road to what changes will need to be made to your house to allow you to “age in place,” McCall said.

“It’s a golden opportunity to improve aging housing stock,” he said. “Personally, I just think it is incredible opportunity for Alaskans.”

The loan program also can be used to purchase a fixer-upper.

“If they like the bones of the property, they like the location, and this will give them the opportunity to buy it and make the upgrades,” McCall said.

Year-round, it’s McCall’s job to work with Alaska’s senior population on housing issues. He’s also the head of the newly formed Mat-Su Commission on Aging. He said Mat-Su has the fastest growing senior population, and when he asks seniors about their plans for aging, the response is nearly universal.

“People want to age in place,” McCall said.

He suggested people take the long view and begin planning now for the changes their homes will need to meet their changing needs, such as adding grab bars in the shower.

“It’s so much easier while you are renovating to put the extra studs in behind the shower now rather than rip the whole thing out later to add the studs that support the grab bars.”

For loans to be approved, he said proposed upgrades have to boost the assessed value of the property.

“You’ve got to think about improving value,” McCall said. “Upgrading kitchen, adding a room, energy efficiency.”

He suggested stopping by the housing booths at spaces F12 and F14 and talking with staff about what you want and how they can help.

Other programs offered includes an income-based weatherization program, a rebate program that can pay homeowners back for investing in energy efficiency and weatherization, and a first-time homebuyers program.

People will also have a chance to sit down with McCall and pick his brain during three, one-hour sessions he will teach at the Valley Board of Realtors booth during the home show. Classes are at 4 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m., Saturday; and noon, Sunday. He said he’s offering the same classes for real estate agents and licensed contractors, too.

The timing wasn’t right 20 years ago for people to see the value in the program, McCall said. Housing stocks were too new, energy was cheap and interest rates were higher then, he said.

These days when he teaches the class, he said he can just see the light bulbs going off in people’s minds.

The home show is from noon to 6 p.m., today; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday at the sports center, 1001 S. Mack Dr., Wasilla.

Admission to the home show Friday is $2, free with five cans of food; free for kids 12 and younger; and free for active military. Saturday and Sunday cost is $5; free for seniors 65 and older; free from 10 a.m. to noon, free for kids 12 and younger; free for active military.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.