Might be moving to Anchorage (Kenai, Kodiak: home, rent, lease)

[Oceans4]

Well my husband and I have been throwing around the idea he can transfer to anchorage at around $38 per hour not sure about the cost of living it seems a bit higher than ours in Pittsburgh PA we would probably keep our home here in PA and just move temp for about 6 monts in Apr and see how things go and then make our final decision. we have young child he will be 3 when we go. Anyone have any info that may aid in our research. I can work from home so child care is not a biggy for now. we started looking at a few apartments online like the Park Plaza II in Anchorage it seems nice and it said it is new contruction but everything looks better online thats the real down side about moving across the country its not like I can just look around and take my time any info would be great
also any info on the following would be great
cost of daily living
great places to live
bad place to live in anchroage
good place for children under 4 in anchorage
nice new contruction apartments near downtown activity such as dinning, theatre, transportation, etc..
thank you

[niceplacetovisit]

Originally Posted by Oceans4

nice new contruction apartments near downtown activity such as dinning, theatre, transportation, etc..

LOL that made me chuckle.

[superstition]

Avoid any Weidner properties like the plague. Most downtown activity consists of getting drunk and passing out on the sidewalk.

Why do you want to move to Anchorage?

[mal_flisk]

I live in Anchorage and wouldn't move unless my wife would let me move to Kodiak or the Kenai (fat chance). My youngest just went downtown to see Carmina Burana at the Performing Arts Center. Concerts at the Arena off Gambell for rock or country (White Stripes just cancelled due to **** White being sick. Shopping includes the usual tourist traps and the Fifth Ave Mall.

[Oceans4]

well actually we are not moving for good probably more like 6 months and if we really like it then we can think of staying. As for why we would like to move well myhusband always wanted to move to alaska and right now is really our only chance as I can still do my job from almost anywhere and he can be transfered for around the same apy he makes now. Is there a specific reason to avoid those apartments like the plaque Im just curious they seem the nicest online although I guess you can make almost anything look wonderful online. Other than those to avoid anyone have a suggestions of apartment buildings not to avoid?
Thanks

[Rance]

I would not take advice on Alaska from someone sitting in Oregon. Come to Anchorage, look around, and enjoy your stay. They even have a ChuckieCheese on Northern Lights Blvd for the 3-4 year old.

[Oceans4]

Thank you
I'm not sure why when asking around on other boards I am treated so badly and it almost seems as though people get mad when you say your thinking of moving to their home. Do the people in Alaska really hate the rest of their country that badly or am I just choosing bad chats. I'm very glad its not that bad on here though. I think we are goingt o come visit first and try to get the feel for where we will be living before we move. However I am from PA and here we normally don't see huge amounts of tourist (we are not that exciting of a place) so we have no reason to dislike tourist or those who move here from anywhere else. I guess my question would be do people there really hate people from elsewhere in the US?

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by Oceans4

Thank you
I'm not sure why when asking around on other boards I am treated so badly and it almost seems as though people get mad when you say your thinking of moving to their home. Do the people in Alaska really hate the rest of their country that badly or am I just choosing bad chats. I'm very glad its not that bad on here though. I think we are goingt o come visit first and try to get the feel for where we will be living before we move. However I am from PA and here we normally don't see huge amounts of tourist (we are not that exciting of a place) so we have no reason to dislike tourist or those who move here from anywhere else. I guess my question would be do people there really hate people from elsewhere in the US?

A simple answer is NO!

Come on up look around, after a while you will either love it here or hate it. This goes especially for women. You will have to try us on for size, there are lots of options to choose from. The only thing we Alaskans ask it leave your attitudes and "how we do it back home", back home. Look around enjoy and please don't try to change things for the better, we tend to like them the way they are.

Thanks.

[Metlakatla]

Oh.

Most downtown activity consists of getting drunk and passing out on the sidewalk.

Was that you I tripped over last time I passed through Anchorage? Sorry 'bout that.

[superstition]

I moved to Oregon a month ago after living in Anchorage for 20+ years, the last three and a half of which was in a Weidner property.

Weidner's management staff turns every few months (one told us that their annual turnover rate averages something like 90%). In the time we were living there, we saw at least a dozen different property managers. Every time they switched, they claimed we were late on rent (which never once happened) and tried to wring more money out of us because they could not keep their books straight. We had maintenance issues go unresolved for literally years. The manager du jour would only be on site for an average of 5-8 hours per week, and would not answer or return calls. I've known several other people to have similar problems in other Weidner properties.

And, a month later, I'm still playing phone tag waiting on another check for the last bit of my deposit... which they claim I never paid, naturally.