Homesteading in Homer,AK

Great thread! My wife and I are seriously thinking about moving there in 2-3 years. I don't have anything to add but am happily following along

Okay, it's eleven pm here and I'm just about brain dead, but if I'm doing the math correctly that's $17,000 for the ten acres. For that area, that's probably pretty good! What does it have for access? What's the elevation of the property, and what direction does it face? (i.e. does it have a south-facing slope on even part of it?) How deep will you have to go to get water with a well? If you want electricity and a phone, how far are the nearest lines? What are the property taxes like in that area? And so on. Lot's more, but like I said, it's way past my bedtime!

Looks like a pretty piece of property, though.

Kathleen

Beautiful property! I like the price too. Trees look respectable, don't know if any of them are large enough to build a cabin from, hard to tell diameter without something for perspective. AK forestry doesn't have the log home harvesting program anymore so you would have to get the logs from a logger or if you have enough biggies you could harvest them off your land.

Soil doesn't look like it has too much gravel in it. (is that even a problem in south central? It sure is in the flats in the interior) I would definetly find out if your in a flood plain and how far out utilities are if you want to hook up. Getting power in can be pricey if your too far from the nearest pole. I wouldn't freak about phone service, you could always go wireless/sat. phone.

Good clean White Spruce, Alder, willow and grasses. Nice view too. Looks fairly level. I like it

I'm jealous!

I've been to Ak fishing outside of Nome and loved it...despite all the drinking.

You might have a look over here BTW

http://akhomesteaders.proboards44.com/

I just found out today that the USDA has a job for a soil scientist in Homer Alaska. THIS IS SO TEMPTING!!!!!

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

Quick, teach me everything you know!! I think that would be a great job, trekking around in that area & getting paid for it. I wish I had that type of education & experience but mine is in the medical field. <sigh>
I wonder if WIHH is up for another 2000 mi move or if suggesting it would get you the

You want me to teach you everything that I know? Heck, that’d take about 10 minutes.

What kinda worries me about this job is one of the special requirements:

Training in bear behavior, moose behavior, winter survival and firearm operation is necessary for working in Alaska. Incumbent must pass a firearm certification screening process and firearm operation.

See the job posting here: http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/jobs...st-714158.html

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

Well I would assume that testing soil would take you out into remote areas where grizzlies as well as moose & some of the big cats might roam. A nice large bore sidearm might be a wise idea if you happen to intrude on their territory. With your skills & joy in Northwoods living; you'd take to AK like a duck to water!
I'm still thinking about buying that parcel; it's just all the miles between AR and AK-77+ hrs just to drive there!

Right Now I am with out my computer hook up. Remodleing job in action. I Live just a bit from Homer. and I will read the thread in full and respond then so as not to dupe. I caught the land price and it scares me. Something is odd about it.

For Homer land prices it is VERY CHEAP which to me could be a warning to look closer. or it is a GREAT Deal. I know that there are non local owners selling and that they have not a clue about the recent price hikes. Agrium just struck a deal and it is a big one so people will be moving here quickly (2-4) years.

I got lucky on our land price maybe you too. Listen to Texacan man cause he is right about the water.
I live in the kenai's

Short on time today, so my apologies if any of this duplicates what's already been said.

I was born in Kenai and have lived on the Peninsula for several years. I do not live in Alaska any longer, as the long dark winters proved too much for me.

The Peninsula is probably the best place for people to move to when doing "The Alaska Thing". It's not the bush, but not Anchorage. It's kind of like Alaska with training wheels. It's constantly growing and has plenty of ameneties but you can still get pretty far off the beaten path. Every time I go back to visit my mother I am astounded at how much it has changed since the previous visit. I do miss it very much. Lots of memories for me there.

That first photo of the property, although it shows no puffballs, makes me think "swamp". Get perc tests done! Also look for highway & power easements, water quality. Elevation maps will be helpful but you can have swamps and muskeg in the highest mountain ranges. If I were you I would hire a third party to check out the land for you. Better yet, hop a plane and walk it for yourself. Swamp will be of no use to you!

Actually, those do look like puffballs in the first photo. Don't know what they're actually called, we just called them puffballs. Little white cottontail tufts on a slender grass-like stalk. Grows in swamps, muskeg and other boggy areas.

That blue Russian Orthodox church onion-top is visible from the highway. I always craned my neck to look at it as I drove by. Near Clam Gulch I think.

Do you all know this property is up for bid on ebay?
http://cgi.ebay.com/10-ACRE-BUILDING...QQcmdZViewItem
sure hope the people who started this thread know. Any way the pictures are the same and they mentioned having 30 more acres for sale. Looks like the bid is for the downpayment, it was up to 1075.00 when I last checked.
Sandie OR 5/6

Warning Warning The trees are dieing it is spruce Bark beetle kill in action. It is all over here and it is swamp land. Look up Spruce Bark Beetle. It is really bad if you have not planned for it. there does not really seem to be a way a cheap way to rid land of it. The spruce bark beetle kill is what is turning the Kenai into a fire box. Do you have a gsp location code because if you connected with the Ak forestry dept. then you could comfirm first hand about how many of the trees are in good health compared to how many trees you have they photo the area tracking the beetle kill.

Homer is very spendy for good land. The price is a red flag. 2.5 acre lots are going for $48,000

Thanks everyone. After reading the comments and doing some more research into the bark beetle problems, I've decided to just pass on this one.

The information about the area is still valid for those including myself who might find a healthy property with all of the features one would need. The posts have added more to my list of questions and that is invaluable.

Thanks for the input and the warnings; they were just what I needed to make an informed decision.