Wasilla

Kick back and relax in South Lakes, a Wasilla neighborhood offering budget-friendly homes with plenty of acreage, amenities, and an easy commute to Anchorage. "This is a great place for folks looking to buy land or new construction without the hefty prices," says Realtor Richelle Killian with Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group. "Prices here are more budget-friendly than in Anchorage, but you can still easily commute to the city."<br><br>Houses here offer plenty of room to spread out, with larger lots that offer plenty of elbow room. You'll find homes sitting on lots between one and two acres, making it easy to create your perfect homestead. You'll find a mix of ramblers, split levels with cabin-like lumber exteriors, and spacious new construction. Closer to the lakes, you'll also find waterfront homes with private docks so you can fish, swim or boat whenever the mood strikes. Homes prices here range from $300,000 for a rambler, around $500,000 for a split level or new construction and up to $700,000 for a home on the water. On average, the more land your home has, the pricier your new home might be.<br><br>Students attend schools within the Matunuska-Sisitna School District, including Cottonwood Creek Elementary. The school scored above average for test scores and student progress on Great Schools. Students here can participate in after-school activities like Chess Club, Math Olympiad and Science Olympiad. Teeland Middle School is rated average for test scores on Great Schools and offers students the chance to get homework and test support with the school's study hall program. The school also provides an after-school Art Adventure program, a Guitar Club and a Math Lab. Grades nine through twelve attend Colony High School, which scored above average for test scores and college readiness on Great Schools. The school provides a comprehensive college and career counseling center that schedules college visits, holds SAT prep courses and offers help with financial aid and scholarship opportunities. <br><br>One of the area's perks is your proximity to over a dozen lakes and plenty of outdoor recreation areas. Head to Wasilla Lake or Cottonwood Creek Lake for boating, kayaking and ice fishing. Newcomb Park offers public access to Wasilla Lake, where you can swim, walk along well-maintained trails, have a picnic or take kids to the colorful playground. Cottonwood Creek Park is a favorite for hiking in the area. You can hike along the forested creek, fish, forage and explore. Just make sure you bring plenty of bear spray!<br><br>While you'll find that the neighborhood is primarily forest-tucked residences, swathes of woodland and sparkling lakes, you're still reasonably well-connected to Anchorage and commercial amenities. "The neighborhood is mostly home to residents who work in Anchorage, so it's a popular place for commuters," Killian adds. "You're super close to Parks Highway, and you can use it to get to Anchorage in just over 30 minutes." Parks Highway is also where you'll find most of the area's dining and retail. Head to big box stores like Target, Fred Meyer and Petco for all the daily necessities. There are primarily fast-food restaurants here, but you'll also find local favorites like Hacienda Mexican. This colorful Mexican American restaurant is perfect for grabbing tacos and enchiladas when you don't want to cook. When you want a sweet treat, get a baker's dozen at beloved Holy Moley Donuts. For a little more, you can take Parks Highway into Downtown Wasilla, home to more locally owned restaurants, boutiques and breweries. Have a Saturday tasting at Bearpaw River Brewing Company or catch the big game at Tailgaters Sports Bar. <br><br>With its spacious new construction, convenient commuting and proximity to indoor and outdoor amenities, South Lakes is a Wasilla neighborhood you'll love to call home.

Welcome to Gateway, a Palmer community offering dynamic new construction, scenic mountain views and convenience to Anchorage, Wasilla and Downtown Palmer. "This area is becoming super popular with all the new construction that's popping up. It's a great place to buy if you're looking for land and a turnkey home," says Realtor Richelle Killian with Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group.<br><br>New construction is the name of the game here, with consistent opportunities to buy brand-new builds or lots where you can create your custom dream home. You'll find modern Craftsman-style homes, contemporary new construction with bold, geometric details and modern Victorians that offer charm and convenience. In addition to new construction, you'll find some established traditional homes and ramblers that offer lower prices. Homes here tend to have larger lot sizes, often sitting on half an acre to one and a half acre. In the community, an established home will cost between $300,000 and $450,000, while contemporary new construction can cost from $500,000 to $800,000. <br><br>Families with school-aged children in the area attend the Matanuska-Sisitna School District. "The schools in the area come very highly rated," Killian says. "I tell clients to consider the benefits of their children attending school here when choosing between living in this area and Anchorage." Pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade students attend Pioneer Peak Elementary School, which has an overall score of A on its Niche Report Card. In addition to the school's stellar academics, it offers community activities like its Movie Club and Family Movie Nights. At Colony Middle School, which scored an A-minus on Niche, students can access after-school homework help and tutoring. Students can also participate in extracurricular activities, including Chess and Board Game Club and Cross-Country Ski Club. Colony High School scored a B-plus on Niche and is notable for its comprehensive college readiness counseling. Students can attend college visit trips, get SAT or ACT prep help or access scholarship opportunities. <br><br>Located so close to the Matanuska River and Chugach State Park, your access to the outdoors is nearly limitless here. You're just minutes from whitewater rafting, fishing, hunting and hiking, making this a nature lover's paradise. The community is also close to several lakes, most notably Finger Lake. At the Finger Lake State Recreation Site, you can launch your boat onto the water, camp out, picnic or swim. Finger Lake is a go-to for summertime fun and a great spot to get outdoors during the winter. Lace up your skates and go ice-skating once the lake is fully frozen or bring a chair and pop-up tent to ice fish for arctic char or rainbow trout. <br><br>While this community has a secluded, rural feel, you're close to daily necessities or larger cities. The area is right at the intersection of Glenn Highway and East Parks Highway, making it easy to travel west to the commercial amenities of Wasilla or east to the dining and retail of Palmer. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is also conveniently located along this intersection. Most residents here commute to Anchorage for work at major employers like Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson or the University of Alaska-Anchorage. With the convenience of the Glenn Highway, you're just 30 miles away from the city, so it's a terrific home-buying location for commuters. With your access to Anchorage, you can attend concerts, hockey games and other events or easily get to the Anchorage International Airport. <br><br>You can find all your daily necessities along the East Palmer-Wasilla Highway. At the intersection of the highway and Trunk Road, you can get groceries at Three Bears, grab a coffee at Cozy Cup Espresso or grab a hearty lunch at Burger Jim. To get to Downtown Palmer, head east down Palmer-Wasilla Highway to get to Palmer's more considerable retail and dining area. Have a farm-to-table meal with fresh, Alaskan-caught and grown ingredients at Feather and Flour or listen to live music all summer long at the Palmer Alehouse. <br><br>With its spacious new construction, well-rated schools and proximity to outdoor amenities and city offerings, Gateway is ready for you to come home.