Why so few garages in Mat-Su Valley? (Anchorage, Kenai: rental, insurance)

[malagagirl]

I've been searching the Alaska MLS for houses in the Mat-Su Valley and keep finding LOTS of properties with no garage. I get it why they are not the norm in Anchorage where land is at a premium, but why is it there are so many houses in the valley on an acre or more with no place warm and safe from snow to put cars? I must be a wimp, but I just don't want to have to sweep off my vehicle and scrape my window every morning all winter long.

[Alaskapat528]

Where have you been looking in Wasilla? Everyone on our road has a garage and the roads surrounding us also do. If you do move here I think a realtor who can look for the particular specifications you want would be very helpful.

[malagagirl]

Absolutely. I am sure we'll find something with what we need. I just found it interesting that when I did a general search on the MLS for 3 bedroom / 2 bath homes with 1500 sq feet or more MANY did not have one. Once I get up there I will definitely be working with a realtor, but for now while I'm still pining away down here I'm trying to gather all the info about options that I can on my own.

[Barkingowl]

Everyplace I've looked at had a garage...

[akvarmit]

Depending on what price range you're looking at, many of them do not have garages. All the construction supplies have to be shipped here, making construction more expensive than Outside. Someone here told me most garages are just a glorified $20,000 storage space. The garage we had in the first rental we were in was barely big enough for a VW.

Many homes don't have basements or attics, so if you're used to "using" that space, you might not find it here. A solution you'll see is used ship-containers parked in peoples yards as outside storage. Not my solution of choice, but to each his own.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by akvarmit

Depending on what price range you're looking at, many of them do not have garages. All the construction supplies have to be shipped here, making construction more expensive than Outside. Someone here told me most garages are just a glorified $20,000 storage space. The garage we had in the first rental we were in was barely big enough for a VW.

Many homes don't have basements or attics, so if you're used to "using" that space, you might not find it here. A solution you'll see is used ship-containers parked in peoples yards as outside storage. Not my solution of choice, but to each his own.

This is right on...garages cost money. Right now they are running at about $50 per square foot for a new construction heated, finished garage. So a very small 2 car garage would cost an additonial $25K.

And many Alaskans stuff their garages with junk that they don't want out in the snow...I am guilty of that as well.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by malagagirl

I've been searching the Alaska MLS for houses in the Mat-Su Valley and keep finding LOTS of properties with no garage. I get it why they are not the norm in Anchorage where land is at a premium, but why is it there are so many houses in the valley on an acre or more with no place warm and safe from snow to put cars? I must be a wimp, but I just don't want to have to sweep off my vehicle and scrape my window every morning all winter long.

I have noticed the same thing. An inordinate number of homes in the Mat-Su Valley/Kenai Peninsula area do not have garages. As far as I am concerned, a garage in Alaska is a requirement, like a basement in the mid-west. I suspect that the reason there are not more garages is because 1) the additional cost; and 2) many contractors are from Washington State, where carports are more the norm. Nevertheless, there are still lots of homes with garages.

You will also find that most Alaskan homes do not have an arctic entrance/mud room built into the design of the home. The vast majority of arctic entrances/mud rooms are added on to the home after-the-fact. Most home designs come from the lower-48. It is only the custom built homes that appear to be designed with the conditions in mind.

[warptman]

My uncle has a garage at his house, it's never held his car though. It's full of all of his crap!

[starlite9]

Yeah, cost is a big factor as well as insurance being a small factor as well. When you have a garage separated from the house, the insurance rates go down a bit. Built on the house, it goes up because of the chance of a car catching on fire and burning down the place, which isn't as common now days, but that is a bit of a factor as well.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

This is right on...garages cost money. Right now they are running at about $50 per square foot for a new construction heated, finished garage. So a very small 2 car garage would cost an additonial $25K.

And many Alaskans stuff their garages with junk that they don't want out in the snow...I am guilty of that as well.

thanks Marty....I was wondering what the cost of building a finished garage with heat is....is that pretty much though out Alaska....another question I have...if you know.....what is the going price per sq ft of new construction on a stick built house vs log cabin...or is it the same price??? thanks