An Alaskans Opinion, Where to live? (Fairbanks, Kenai: houses, rent, job)

[07chevy]

Alaskans, since you live there and have lived it, where would you live now if you had a chance to do it all over again. Here are the details. I like to fish, hunt, have a dog, exploring on atv's carpenter by trade. So need employment in that field somewhere. would like to have anywhere from 1 - 10 acres to build on and have a little space. Coming out in April or May, So I need your input, on where to go and look when I get out there. Also if you know of a great realtor if one is needed to find and buy a place. Thanks

[stiffnecked]

You've either got to go to the Mat-Su Borough or the area around Fairbanks. That's where you most like to be able to find affordable land and some type of employment.

[missy2]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

You've either got to go to the Mat-Su Borough or the area around Fairbanks. That's where you most like to be able to find affordable land and some type of employment.

Stiff neck, where do you live?

[Arcticthaw]

Stiffnecked is correct about where to start out, but a word of caution. Alaska seems filled with people that once they lift a hammer think they are carpenters. We tend to refer to them as wood butchers. A really good finish carpenter seems rare at least in Fairbanks. I would strongly suggest if you headed this way to build up your resume and have verifiable references and letters of recomendations. I worked with a contractor on base, and they had someone show up at least once a week looking for work and they asked for all of the above. Without it you probably won't get you foot in the door with the bigger companies.

[User 2]

I worked as a carpenter for a number of years. Used to make as much fixing bad construction as building new houses.

Back in the pipeline boom times there were a lot of 'california carpenters' who showed up in Alaska.

The local contractors in our area are still rebuilding many of those houses today.

What were the 'accepted' methods and practices of the 'california carpenter', don't translate well to building in a completely different climate. Most of those houses are in bad shape today, with insufficient foundations, insufficient framing, ineffective vapor barriers, and poorly installed insulation.

{Not to mention the number of roofs covered with asphalt tab shingles when it was too cold for the asphalt tabs to stick, those roofs blew right off in the first big wind.}

Unless a carpenter is a union trained hand with knowledge of arctic building methods, I wouldn't have them anywhere near a job site.

(well, they'd be good for wheeling barrow loads of cement, .....maybe)
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[Rance]

If I had to do it all over again? I'd pick right where I'm at. I like it here.

[Glitch]

I am in agreement with both Stiffnecked and Arcticthaw, somewhere in the Mat-Su Valley or around Fairbanks might suit your needs best. The land is cheaper than on the Kenai Peninsula, and there is a lot of it. Be advised, Alaska is NOT a right-to-work state, so unless you are a member of a carpenter union work may be scarce or non-existent.

[Metlakatla]

I've been all over the state but...I really dislike atvs and the noise and destruction they cause, so I'm gonna suggest that you move to St. Paul.

[Marty Van Diest]

Mat-Su or Fairbanks. I'll second it...or third it as the case may be.

Unless you get a slope job, or other job where you work a few weeks and are home a few weeks, you will need to be within driving distance of a good amount of construction.

Residential construction has slowed down some, so you might want to broaden your horizons job-wise.

[07chevy]

I suppose a slope job is rather hard to get? And thanks for the replys.