Ask Cora
Hey Cora, I’m hoping to buy a house in 2026. What should I do now to get prepared? I know I’ll need to prequalify with a lender—what steps should I take? Signed, Prepping Tom!
Dear Tom: Congratulations! You’re about to embark on the wild, twisty, occasionally confounding, but ultimately rewarding rollercoaster known as “Buying a House.” Buckle up, keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, and let’s make sure you’re not flung off at the first loop.
First stop: Education Station. Before you start measuring doorways for your couch or naming your neighborhood moose, sign up for a homebuyer class. Think of it as Hogwarts for grownups—except your magic wand is a credit report, and instead of learning spells, you’ll master the interesting arts of mortgage rates and down payments. Alaska Housing will sort you into the right group (no promises about butterbeer, but you might get free coffee).
Next, let’s talk about credit scores. This threedigit number is like your ticket to the home-buying express. If your score is below 620, don’t panic or start building a cardboard mansion just yet. Sometimes, a mischievous financial gremlin (or a forgotten library fine) is to blame. Grab your credit report, put on your detective hat, and hunt for errors. If you find a clue you can’t decipher, call me—I’m basically the Sherlock Holmes of credit scores, minus the pipe and goofy hat, and with more spreadsheets.
Now, let’s talk about your savings. Don’t have a savings account yet? Set one up faster than you can say “dream kitchen.” Even if you’re eyeing a zero-down loan, banks love to see you can hang onto your cash. Plus, you’ll need some dough for closing costs, think of it as the admission fee to your new castle (usually about 2.5% of the price tag). Start squirreling away money now and remember: every skipped latte brings you closer to that walk-in closet.
Once your credit score is higher than Mount McKinley (620 and above) and your savings look plump, it’s time to find a lender. But not just any lender! You want someone who knows Alaska better than a moose who knows where to find berries and the best cabbage in your garden. Avoid those mysterious online lenders from far-off lands; stick with a local pro who understands our snowy tundra and the unique quirks of Alaskan real estate (like, “Will this house survive the next earthquake?”).
Applying for a loan is easier than ever. You can do it online, in your pajamas, while eating ice cream straight from the tub (no judgment here). Pick an in-state lender and prepare for lightning speed: you’ll often hear back within 24
hours! You’ll also get a shiny online portal to upload all your paperwork—think of it as the magical wardrobe to mortgage approval.
Now for the fun part: house hunting! Scroll through listings, but resist falling in love with homes that cost more than a small island. Give each contender a drive-by—sometimes those “charming fixer-uppers” look less like future mansions and more like haunted sheds with a lean-to in person. Bring a checklist, a flashlight, and maybe a friend with a good sense of humor.
Once you’ve found “the one,” here’s your closing checklist:
1. Deliver documents to your lender ASAP— no carrier pigeons required.
2. Freeze your credit usage—put your card in a block of ice (just kidding… unless you really love dramatic gestures).
3. Hands off your savings! Treat it like the last slice of cake at a party: guard it fiercely until closing day.
4. Don’t make any big purchases (no new cars, boats, or expensive husky-doodles) until the keys are in your hand.
Boom—do these things and you’ll be well on your way to swapping rental keys for homeowner bragging rights. Questions? Call or email any time. The journey might be long and full of plot twists, but hey, every epic adventure ends with a happy hero—and a brand-new front door! Now go forth, future homeowner, and may mortgage be with you!
SHOPPING WORD SEARCH
Find the hidden words in the puzzle
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards CASHIER CHECKOUT CLEARANCE COUPON DELIVERY DISCOUNT
AISLE BAG BARCODE BOUTIQUE BUDGET CART
INVENTORY MALL MERCHANDISE ONLINE PRICE PURCHASE
RECEIPT REFUND RETAIL SALE SHOPPER STOREFRONT
SUDOKU
(Level - Easy)
The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9 only one time each.
CROSSWORD
WORD SEARCH ANSWER
SUDOKU ANSWER
ACROSS
1. Spiritual leaders
7. A type of solution
13. Fortified wine
14. Edible mollusk
16. They precede C
17. A way to compare
19. Government lawyer
20. “Game of Thrones” actor Ciaran
22. The eighth month (abbr.)
23. Very willing
25. __ ex Machina
26. Makes happy
28. Type of berry
29. A doctrine
30. Popular Dodge truck model
31. Dekagram
33. Naturally occurring solid
34. Company officer
36. Villains
38. Cricket frogs
40. Influential German psychologist
CROSSWORD ANSWER
41. Endured
43. A female domestic
44. You can get stuck in one
45. Cigarette (slang)
47. Fiber optics network
48. Group of blood disorders (abbr.)
51. Employee stock ownership plan
53. Belonging to the bottom layer
55. Sound
56. MLB legend Hank
58. Very attractive person
59. Late beloved sportscaster Craig
60. South Dakota
61. Mocking
64. Symbol for gold
65. Longtime Braves pitcher Julio
67. Humor
69. Shawl
70. Preliminary patient assessment
DOWN
1. Animal disease
2. Commercial
3. Necklace material
4. Containers
5. A way to save for your future
6. Colorado Heisman winner Rashaan
7. Dipped down
8. Head injury (abbr.)
9. Lay about
10. Intestinal
11. Opposite of yes
12. Caused to be loved
13. Spiritual leader of Islam
15. Businesslike
18. Not in
21. Number above the line in a fraction
24. An animal with its own day
26. Pouch
27. Swedish krona
30. Start over 32. Field flowers 35. Fourteen
37. A visual way to interact with a computer
38. Up-to-date
39. Campaigns
42. Touch lightly
43. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Gretchen
46. Violent seizure of property
47. Supporter of the Pope
49. Anxiety
50. Body fluid
52. One who’s faking it
54. Title of respect
55. Chilean city 57. City in central Japan
59. Silk garment 62. A form of dance 63. Automobile 66. The man
68. Justice Dept. head honcho
