Where do I want to live in Anchorage? (Fairbanks, Eagle: rental, house)

[globetraveler]

Originally Posted by oh_brien

We live in North Seattle right now and really like the family friendly nature, granola attitude, and walkability of our current neighborhood, and are hoping to find something similar in Anchorage.

Call me clueless, but what is granola attitude?

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by AlaskaNana

I've lived in the Muldoon area twice and never had a problem. Granted I tried to remember to lock car etc, and the house when we left, but still never had a problem and none of my neighbors had any problems either and most of them didn't even lockup at all. Not to say there were not any problems just none that I knew of. I heard bad things about the Hilltop area and I can say most of my, adult, daughter's friends lived --and most still live --there. You are talking the 20- 35 year old group, a lot of them hanging out there are young military.

Hilltop or Hillside? equinox1 indicated Hillside was an area to avoid, but I thought Hillside was supposed to be a nice area.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

Why do you suggest avoiding Hillside (Southeast Anchorage)?

Guess he doesn't like the sweeping views and spectacular sunsets.

[equinox1]

It's prob Hilltop-the North area of town. I often forget names. : )

When my friends were buying there, her son looked up the crime areas and told them to avoid some areas and they shared the info. AKNana, I looked at the Spicewood condos which is near Muldoon and talked to a number of residents-they also felt it was a safe area. I also looked at a complex right in midtown whcih the residents felt fine about, but the area around it looked pretty iffy. The condo available wasn't great, but the convenience would have been wonderful. Tradeoff's, I think.

[JasonAndJulie]

Except that if you have a kid(s) you can't trade off iffy. I had heard that we would spend $2500-$3000/month on rent for a 4 bedroom in a safe area, but that the "fanciest" areas would be more.

[AlaskaNana]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

Hilltop or Hillside? equinox1 indicated Hillside was an area to avoid, but I thought Hillside was supposed to be a nice area.

Hilltop. It's in the North end. Looked at few nice places but the neighbors were not what I would choose. I like the area, roughly 3rd and Muldoon. East side, behind the businesses, is a house area and the west side has a mix but more apts and condos than houses. I've bought a mobile, how I ended up off Muldoon, the first time up and rented an apartment the second. We specifically looked for the Muldoon area.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by globetraveler

Call me clueless, but what is granola attitude?

Its more of a lifestyle than an attitude. Think of places like Berkeley, CA, Burlington, VT, Eugene, OR, and the granddaddy granola of all granola areas in the country; Wasilla, AK. (that's for you, Mr. Glitch)


EDIT: A great place to launch your granola lifestyle would be at UCLA. Great school. Great granola (liberal) lifestyle. Might just as well kill two (Alaskan) birds with one comment.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by oh_brien

My family will be moving to Anchorage from Seattle in August of 2013. I'm pretty excited about the move, but, having never been to Anchorage, I'm completely clueless about what neighborhood to look for housing in. We live in North Seattle right now and really like the family friendly nature, granola attitude, and walkability of our current neighborhood, and are hoping to find something similar in Anchorage. We are hoping for a single family house, and looking to spend around $2000/month. Any thought?

Should I look into working with a relator or property management company? If so recommendations would be great.

Also, any advise on childcare would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

These are the various areas in Anchorage: Anchorage Areas

Avoid the Fairview Area, Mountain View Area, Muldoon Area, and Spenard Area. These areas around Anchorage are the high crime areas.

[jdhpa]

Good map, thanks!

Do the neighborhoolds near the water get a lot of snow? I would think it's more temperate closer to the water, but maybe it's cold enough that it snows just as much close to the water.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

Good map, thanks!

Do the neighborhoolds near the water get a lot of snow? I would think it's more temperate closer to the water, but maybe it's cold enough that it snows just as much close to the water.

Actually, those who live furthest from the water, up on the Hillside, Abbot Loop, Bear Valley, and Glen Alps areas get the majority of snow, and wind, in Anchorage.