Relocating to Anchorage (Wasilla, Palmer, Eagle: rentals, homes, neighborhoods)

[Misschelle724]

Our family is relocating to Anchorage for my husbands job... Can anyone give me some tips on schools, rent estimates, etc. if we are going to rent for a while, do we need an agent to get a good deal or could we do it on our own? We have two active young boys (7 & 11) and a husky. Please help :-)

[LittleJazzyP]

You can get some ideas about the cost of renting by looking at craiglist. Be careful, there are legitimate landlords there, but also lots of scams. It should at least give you an idea of the price range, for starters.

We can help you more if you provide a little more information. Where do you live now? If it is back East or some other area where rents are high, like the SF area, you will likely not be shocked at the cost of living in Anchorage. If you are relocating from the Midwest, you need to be prepared for an unpleasant surprise.

Will you have an opportunity to come up for a visit before you move? That would be a very good idea, if you can do it, so you can see first-hand what rentals are available. If not, it might be wise for you to consider a short-term lease before making a longer commitment.

I know nothing about the schools here, as I don't have kids, but we have at least one person who has taught here who can probably advise you.

This is not an easy place for pet owners to find housing. It's possible, especially since you only have one dog, but it is probably more difficult here than anywhere else I have lived. Be warned of that, and don't let it get you down.

[AKStafford]

Are you open to commuting? Eagle River is a 15 -30 minute commute (depending where in Anchorage you are working.) Rent is a little lower & the schools are regarded as being a little better.
If you are willing to commute a little more (40 to 60 minutes) there's the MatSu Valley, specifically Wasilla or Palmer.

[roadfamily6now]

Schools here are pretty decent comparatively. there is a nice variety of public Charter schools as well and traditional public schools and a huge portion of the Alaskan population homeschools so there are some really good programs out there to choose from.

rent is high, so is housing prices but it will depend on where you are coming from and what you are already accustomed to.

gas is high, $4.25 a gallon give or take and so commuting might not be a good option if you spend an extra $200+ in gas a month plus the extra time it takes to commute. Just letting you know.

We have been looking at 3 bedroom rentals / dog friendly and they are about $1600 to $2000. I'm sure you can find some for less but what quality?

[Misschelle724]

We are coming from Texas and my husband will be working for an oil company up there at the corporate level so we need to be fairly close to the city. Plus my kids are adamant about going to school. We are very active and prefer being social but also value our privacy. The "outskirts" of the city would be best for us. Thanks all for your help.

[Mollym313]

Originally Posted by Misschelle724

We are coming from Texas and my husband will be working for an oil company up there at the corporate level so we need to be fairly close to the city. Plus my kids are adamant about going to school. We are very active and prefer being social but also value our privacy. The "outskirts" of the city would be best for us. Thanks all for your help.

I have heard wonderful things about Eagle River and their schools.

[bongo]

Rentals can be a bit more challenging with a dog. You might like the Hillside area which is more on the outskirts.

Here is the demographic data & test score results of all the schools:
ASD -- A&E --District and School Report Cards

Anchorage has many excellent schools. Test scores are skewed since some neighborhoods & schools are wonderfully multi-cultural with many students learning English as a second language. Amazingly, there are 80+ languages spoken in homes in town.

Good luck with your move. Anchorage is wonderful.

[hogfamily]

Anchorage schools are great if an alternative or charter school. They are a disaster if you have a child with a learning disability.

[Misschelle724]

No learning disabilities, thank God, and I think we are going to buy a home but we don't want to get taken advantage of since we are unfamiliar with the market. I believe my husbands company will find us a suitable place temporarily, I just need to have a location or neighborhood to look. I'm not very good with the cold, but I hear you adjust. Im told it's beautiful though and I'm SO excited! What an adventure :-)