Mat-Su Valley Real Estate

Located roughly 35 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, Matanuska-Susitna or Mat-Su Valley has become one of the most alluring areas to live. In fact, Mat-Su Valley real estate has always been in great demand, especially for the nearly 11,000 residents that commute into Anchorage for work. A number of towns make up the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, including Big Lake, Houston, Palmer, Talkeetna, Wasilla and Willow. The area was first settled by the Athabaskan Indians and later explored by the Russians in 1818. As part of the New Deal in 1935, 200 families hailing from the Midwest traveled to the area in order to begin the Matanuska Valley Colony. In addition to its rich history, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley attracts many families due to its many amenities and attractions.

Shopping and Dining

There are a number of excellent options for both dining and shopping near Mat-Su Valley real estate. Popular dining spots in the area include Qdoba Mexican Grill, The Palmer City Ale House and Peking Garden. There are some great shops spread around the area as well, including the Artisans Open-Air Market, the Beadberry Patch and Nagley’s General Store. One of the factors that make Mat-Su Valley real estate so attractive to homebuyers is the fact that it is within a 30-minute drive to the city of Anchorage, where one can find an enormous amount of restaurants and shopping options.

Parks and Recreation

Nature lovers adore living in the Mat-Su Valley area, and it’s easy to see why. The valleys are surrounded by three different mountain ranges that include the Alaska Range, the Chugach Mountains and the Talkeetna Mountains. Because the area was carved out by glaciers, there are thousands of gorgeous lakes to enjoy full of Chinook, sockeye, coho, chum and pink salmon – perfect for residents that enjoy fishing. And this is without mentioning the 31 state parks and campgrounds littered throughout the valleys! Anyone that has any sort of affection for nature will never tire of the amazing views surrounding their Mat-Su Valley real estate.

Living

The 25,000 square mile Mat-Su Valley is governed by the Mat-Su Valley Borough seated in Palmer and according to the 2010 census, is home to a population of 88,995. The population spiked almost 50 percent since 2000, in large part due to the quieter and more serene alternative that Mat-Su Valley provides to the bigger city of Anchorage. According to the 2010 census, are 41,329 housing units in the area at an average density of 2 every square mile. Out of the 41,329 households, 31.7 percent had children under the age of 18 living in them.

While there are employment opportunities to be had directly in the Mat-Su Valley, especially in the education and retail sectors, many residents opt to commute to Anchorage. The unemployment rate for Anchorage, which has hovered around 5 percent for most of 2013, is relatively low compared to the rest of the country, where it is currently at an average of 7.3 percent. The greatest employment opportunities lie in the trade, transportation and utilities industry as well as government and education and health services.

Schools, Health and Transportation

Mat-Su Valley real estate is located near a large number of schools, both public and private. The public school system consists of 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 6 high schools and 4 K-12 schools. There are 6 different charter schools in addition to 3 alternative education schools as well.

One of the major medical centers in the Mat-Su Valley is the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, which provides 74 licensed beds to its patients, cared for by 660 hospital employees. For preventative care, pediatrics, maternity care, disease treatment and more, there is the Providence Matanuska Health Care, which has provided health care to the area for over 25 years.

Mat-Su real estate is located within a short drive to almost everything residents need. However, those who do not own vehicles or do not wish to drive can use the Mat-Su Community Transit system, which is also known as MASCOT. MASCOT is a nonprofit organization that is funded through federal, state and local grants working to meet the need for public transportation in the area.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at 907-360-7471 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.