Alaska Real Estate Podcast

Joining the conversation is Mike James, a 25-year Senior Vice President of the Commercial Real Estate Division at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty, and a lifelong Alaskan. This episode is a deep dive, not a highlight reel, and it covers more ground than the title lets on. I sat down with Daniel Mckenna-Foster from the Municipality's Planning Department to talk through the update to th...

A few weeks ago, Lottie let me ask the questions about her story. This time, she turned it around on me. This episode is mine, in my own words. We covered where I come from, how a trained poet ended up building homes in Alaska, and why, at 81, I'm still not ready to stop. Episode Breakdown: Growing Up as an Outsider Shaped How I Built My Career I'm 81 years old, born in 1945, and I come from a Jap...

Listeners have been asking to know more about who we are and how we got here, so this episode is Lottie's story, in her own words. We covered how a Lebanese immigrant family shaped her path into real estate. The deal that accidentally turned her into a commercial broker. Her decades-long habit of buying Berkshire Hathaway stock before we ever became a Berkshire Hathaway office. Then we talked abou...

This episode is a little different. No guest, just Lottie and me, going back and forth on everything we're seeing in the market right now, commercial and residential, in Alaska. We covered a lot of ground: why Sea Street is busier than either of us has ever seen it, what's really driving home prices, a rebate program most buyers don't know exists, and an idea I have that might ruffle a few feather...

Should you wait until you can afford your dream home? Is a $60,000 remodel really worth it before you sell? And does landscaping actually increase the value of your property? In this episode, I answer some of the most common real estate questions I hear from buyers and homeowners across Alaska. From first-time buyers trying to get into the market to homeowners wondering whether to renovate before...

Strong communities don't happen by chance. They take thoughtful planning, difficult decisions, and leaders willing to balance today's needs with tomorrow's growth. In this episode of Insider Real Estate , host Connie Oshimura sits down with Anna Brawley , Chair of the Anchorage Assembly, to discuss the biggest issues facing Alaska's largest city. As a trained city planner, Brawley brings a thought...

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Want to learn about the million-dollar market in Alaska? I’m excited to share this conversation with two experts on this topic. Teresa Thomas, a top mortgage producer with Global Credit Union, and Daniel George of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty joined me to break down insights on Alaska’s million-dollar real estate market. Meet Teresa Thomas and Daniel George Teresa Thomas brings ov...

Sight-unseen transactions can be some of the most challenging deals for agents to navigate. These types of deals often need the right protections in place from the very beginning because the financial stakes are so high. I’m joined by Berkshire Hathaway Services realtor Tamara Garner, who works closely with military buyers and sellers. She breaks down how to successfully navigate the challenges th...

Alaska's construction and real estate markets are always changing, creating a need for new ideas and innovative solutions. Joining me today are Seth Kroenke and Kevin Clark, President and Vice President of Alaska Precast Solutions. They're here to share how their company's first semi-automated precast concrete manufacturing facility in Alaska is helping reshape the industry and create new opportun...

Mike James is back on the podcast, and this time he joined Lottie to discuss some of the biggest economic issues affecting Alaska right now. From interest rates to resource development, they explore how decisions being made at both the state and federal levels could impact Alaska's future. What New Leadership at the Fed Could Mean One of the topics Lottie and Mike discuss is the potential impact o...

Lottie is back from Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, often called the “Woodstock for Capitalists,” and I wanted to hear everything she learned. We sat down to talk about leadership lessons, business philosophy, Berkshire Hathaway’s company structure, and what real estate professionals can take away from one of the world’s largest organizations. Leadership and Long-Term Th...

How is Anchorage balancing housing affordability with future growth and development? I invited Bob Doehl, Director of Community and Economic Development for the Municipality of Anchorage, to join me for a conversation. We discuss Title 21, home ownership incentives, and how the city is approaching future development. Meet Bob Doehl Bob Doehl serves as the Director of Community and Economic Develop...

Mortgage rates, AI, competition, housing shortages, and growth in the Mat-Su Valley are all changing the way lenders operate in Alaska. That’s why I invited Tara Karcz, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Nuvision Federal Credit Union, to share how lending is evolving and what she’s seeing across Anchorage and the Valley. Meet Tara Karcz Tara Karcz is the Senior Vice President of Mortgage...

What are you really signing up for when you buy into an HOA in Alaska? And how do you know if it’s protecting your investment or setting you up for unexpected challenges? I sat down with Steve Bergin and Thomas Moore to walk through what homeowners associations actually do and what you need to pay attention to before you buy. What HOAs Really Do for a Community When most people think about HOAs, t...

Lottie and I wanted to re-share this episode featuring Mark Begich, an Alaskan politician and former U.S. senator. In this conversation, Mark shares his vision for improving downtown Anchorage, along with insights into what’s impacting the housing market and the challenges facing homeownership in Alaska today. Meet Mark Begich Born in Anchorage, Mark Begich is the first U.S. senator native to the...

What does it take to be a successful realtor and build a lasting career in real estate? Lottie and I have been doing this for years, and we both agree it comes down to discipline, consistency, and grit. We’re sharing our perspective on what it really takes to stay in this industry. The Traits of a Successful Realtor If you’re thinking about getting into real estate, it’s not just about knowledge....

I just did something way out of my league. I signed a commercial lease, and stepping into this side of real estate opened up a lot of questions. Lottie Michael is here to walk through what comes next and what every agent should understand after signing one. Leases 101: Common Terms and Key Components When you step into new territory as a realtor, there are details that don’t always get explained u...

While at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Annual Convention in Nashville, I had the chance to connect with Gina Pelaia, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices realtor in Homer, Alaska. She shares what draws buyers to this unique market and why so many are attracted to the cosmic hamlet by the sea. A Place That Stays With You What makes people fall in love with Homer? It’s more than the views. It’s t...

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Annual Convention in Nashville, and I wanted to share part of that conversation with you. We get into why Alaska continues to struggle with land development and what that means for the market. Why Land Development Starts with Identity What makes a neighborhood memorable? It’s not the builder. It’s the name, the entranc...

It’s been a while since Lottie Michael and I have sat down together, and this time we’re tackling a topic we get asked about often. How do you evaluate, purchase, and invest in raw land in Alaska? We’re breaking down what you need to know to navigate this unique market with more clarity and confidence. Why Land Is Limited in Alaska Alaska may look massive on a map, but very little of it is actuall...

Who better to tell you about the Mat-Su Valley than the one who is in charge of everything. Joining me and Mike James is the Mat-Su Borough Manager, Mike Brown in this influential conversation. He shares how the borough is structured, why its limited government approach works for the Valley, and how local communities get to choose the services that fit them best. Why the Valley Keeps Growing One o...

Why does having a long-term relationship with a bank matter when getting financing? It’s something many business owners don’t think about until they’re sitting across the desk from a lender asking for a loan. Lottie Michael sits down with Mike James to talk about why lender relationships matter and how they can affect the process of putting a deal together. Conventional Financing Basics Many comme...

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