Towns for homesteading within 1 1/2 hr drive (Anchorage, Fairbanks: house, buy, schools)

[Asherv]

Hi everyone,

I’m traveling up to anchorage in a few weeks and will be looking into different areas to move.
I was hoping for some insight on areas that might fit what my family is looking for.

A town under 7k population I don’t mind even if it’s 100 population but I would atleast like it to have a grocery store, a few places to eat as well as schools in the town.

We are interested in homesteading the more land we can afford the better. Annual income is around 80k so I’m not sure where within 1 1/2 hr driving distance we can get the most bang for our buck.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated

[Northrick]

I assume you mean a 1 1/2 hr drive from Anchorage?


I'm not sure what you mean by "homesteading." Grow a big garden, chickens, goats, that sort of thing? Or more of a live off the land thing? Buy an existing house or build your own?


For starters look at Willow or Talkeetna. Although Talkeetna is 2hrs from Anchorage.


Nothing going south is going to fit your criteria. It's mostly public land (National Forest) which makes available private land expensive.


Also, if your income is reliant on good broadband internet, that's going to limit your options more.

[ketchikanite]

If your homesteading not really sure where “places to eat” figures into things. Homesteading usually means you want to be self reliant. That means learning how to cook.

[OurNextAdventure]

About the only area with land within a 1 1/2 hour drive is in the Valley. Big Lake, Point MacKenzie, Willow. An annual income of 80k isn't going to get you much. You would be much better off looking in the Fairbanks area if you want to "Homestead," whatever that means to you.

Land isn't cheap anymore. Not anywhere on the road system anyway, except for maybe some areas that are burned out from fires.

Honest question- Which TV show have you romanticized to pursue this lifestyle?

[OurNextAdventure]

I just looked through your post history. You've made 2 posts about bugs. If you can't tolerate bugs, then Alaska is not the place for you. There are 35 different species of Mosquitoes in Alaska, and there are billions of them. If you've ever visited a dairy farm, and seen the swarms of flies, the mosquitoes are worse than that in some areas. The winter is the best time in Alaska to be outdoors. Lots of winter activities, and no mosquitoes. But you aren't going to be growing anything of course.

[Northrick]

Originally Posted by OurNextAdventure

I just looked through your post history. You've made 2 posts about bugs. If you can't tolerate bugs, then Alaska is not the place for you. There are 35 different species of Mosquitoes in Alaska, and there are quadrillions of them. If you've ever visited a dairy farm, and seen the swarms of flies, the mosquitoes are worse than that in some areas. The winter is the best time in Alaska to be outdoors. Lots of winter activities, and no mosquitoes. But you aren't going to be growing anything of course.

There. Fixed it for you.

[OurNextAdventure]

Originally Posted by ketchikanite

If your homesteading not really sure where “places to eat” figures into things. Homesteading usually means you want to be self reliant. That means learning how to cook.

Not only cook, but canning, grow vegetables, raise animals, slaughter and dress animals, and live off the land like the Pioneers did in Palmer.

[AKStafford]

First, bonus points for visiting first.
Second, I think your expectations will be adjusted once you visit.
3rd: contact a Realtor if you haven't already. Marty Van Diest used to visit these boards regularly and he's who I'd recommend you reach out to.