The jump is driven by high labor costs, rising costs of construction materials and a land shortage.
She hoped to raise a family there, but realized that prices had gotten too high when she started seeing two bedroom houses in need of repairs selling for more than $500,000.
“When we really had that breaking point of ‘Okay, this is it.
Girdwood resident Ashley Kearns spent the last two years living in a bus outfitted with a wood stove until it burned down last year.
She managed to find a rental recently, but she’s competing not just with locals, but also Anchorage residents who are willing to pay for a rental in order to use it on winter weekends for skiing at the resort.
Just 30% of the houses in Girdwood are owned by people who live there, according to an analysis of property records that Edgington did.
“Over time that has a hollowing effect on our community.
The most attainable is a change to land use codes to allow accessory dwelling units, commonly known as mother-in-law apartments.
He said he’s also working to regulate overnight rentals — Airbnbs or VRBO rentals.
There’s also a shortage of land to build new houses.
Title 21, which governs Anchorage’s land use, calls for things like paved roads, sidewalks, and lighting for new developments.