Featuring Local Real Estate
F ind the B enjamin WIN THE BENJAMIN Rules on page 4
January 2026
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4 $4.00 OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE OF $40.00 OR MORE
4
4 CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS OR PROMOTIONS. EXP. EXP. 3-31-26. 6-30-25 5.
TOP FUEL
HEATING OIL Yep, still the same fast friendly service!
Celebrating Our 25th Season Proudly Serving the Matanuska Valley!
746-4985 • M-F 8-5 Sat 9-Noon
Camper Valley RV 3081 Cottle Loop in Wasilla
NEW FIVE BAY SERVICE CENTER CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
• Local Estimates • Full Size Service Bays • No Job Too Big or Too Small
• Renovations • Winterize/De-Winterize • Appliance Repair & Replacement • Water Damage • Toilet Upgrades and Repairs • Structural Repairs • Hitches & Wiring • Brake Controller Installation • Propane System • Insurance & Warranty Claims • Inside and Outside Detail
Huge Selection of Pre-Owned RVs On Sale Now!
SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • 376-8100 • campervalleyrv.com 2
G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026
3251 Palmer-Wasilla Highway
SHOP MULTIPLE MAKES & MODELS IN OUR INDOOR SHOWROOM OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • NEW UNITS IN STOCK! BEST PRICES OF THE YEAR!
Plus DOC & DMV FEES
SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • 376-8100 • campervalleyrv.com January 2026 G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u
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ARCTIC JUNK REMOVAL Junk Removal Service
January 2026 Index
Garage clean out, old furniture, household clutter, yard waste, appliances, construction debris, trash & more...
907-408-4477
arcticjunkremoval@gmail.com
$100 Bill Contest & Monthly Winner..................4
Volume 22 Issue 1 Call, Text, or Email for free quote
GreatLander
Congratulations to our December $100 winner!
Debra Killian of Palmer
publications (a division of Anchorage Printing Inc.)
Phone: (907) 274-0611 Fax: (907) 272-2105 Toll Free: 1-888-746-7452
G reat L ander . com info@greatlander.com
Mail or bring all submissions to: GreatLander Publications 3110 Spenard Road Anchorage, AK 99503 – Please include your email address –
or email to: contest@greatlander.com The winner will be announced in the February 2026 Mat-Su GreatLander!
ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. One winner per month. Must be 18 years or older to play. Submissions must be received by GreatLander Publications no later than January 22, 2026 to be eligible to win. Employees of Anchorage Printing, Inc. are not eligible to play.
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G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026
Arctic Junk Removal.............4 CAC Plastics.........................6
Camper Valley...................2, 3 Coloring Page........................9
Coloring Winners...................8
Legacy Funeral Homes.........5 Top Fuel Heating Oil..............2
Yamaha ATVs, Motorcycles, Side x Sides..................10, 11
Somewhere, hidden in this publication is a picture of a $100 bill.
We will then have a random drawing from your submissions on January 23, 2026 to pick ONE WINNER
Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram............................12
Pizza Company.....................2
Win $100
(If you don’t give us your address and phone number we can’t send you the money!)
All About Herbs.....................2
Dairy Queen...........................9 View online at: matsugreatlander.com Great Alaska
The $100 bill was hidden on Page 10 at the bottom of the Fun and Games page.
All you need to do is find the picture of the $100 Dollar Bill and tell us the ad and page number you found it on, along with your name, address and phone number.
Alaska Motorsports & Equipment..........................5
Real Estate To advertise in this publication please call
(907) 274-0611
Alaska Multiple Listing Service...................................6 Jack White Real Estate
Margaret Billinger...............7
Keller Williams Realty General Manager:
Gerrett Rhodes
gerrett@anchorageprinting.com
Advertising Director:
Leslie Love
leslie@greatlander.com
Cora Carleson....................7
Kustom Kitchen & Design, Inc.........................6 Spinell Homes.......................6 Taylored Restoration..............8
Apollo 1,295
$
Aries
Three Valley Locations to Serve you!
2,195
$
373-3840
• 5 Colors In Stock • 5 Colors • 20 Guage Steel • Always Open, Call Anytime • Largest casket inventory in Alaska In Stock • Crepe Interior • Call for selection and prices • VISA & Mastercard accepted
• Special packages for our Bush clients • We guarantee the lowest priced caskets in Alaska Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home 1707 S. Bragaw Anchorage, AK 99508 907-277-1682
Kehl’s Legacy Funeral Home 11621 Old Seward Hwy. Anchorage, AK 99515 907-344-1497
• Helping Alaskan families for over 45 years • Serving South Central, Interior North Slope, and Alaska’s Aleutian Chain
Heritage Chapel at Angelus 440 E. Klatt Anchorage, AK 99515 907-336-3338
Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary 209 S. Alaska St. Palmer, AK 99645 907-745-3580
Heritage Wasilla Chapel 1015 S. Check St. Wasilla, AK 99654 907-373-3840
Legacy Affordable Burial & Cremation 13800 Cheri Lake Dr. Wasilla, AK 99654 907-892-5570
Valley 907-373-3840 • www.legacyalaska.com
~ Proudly Sold and Serviced ~ TRACTORS, IMPLEMENTS & ROXORS IN STOCK!
Long lasting 7 and 5 year limited powertrain warranties
Call to arrange your custom tractor package or visit when in Anchorage at 3054 Commercial Drive • 907-272-2412
Mon - Fri 10am-6pm • Closed Sat + Sun • 800.350.5287/text 907.272.2412 • www.amealaska.com January 2026 G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u
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ALASKAREALESTATE.COM The most accurate, complete and trusted source of Alaska Real Estate!
• NEW! DOG SLED RUNNERS “Rex & Matrix Style” Virgin UHMW 13 8” & 2” x 10’ • UHMW Runners - Now available in coils – ¼” & ½” up to 250 feet! Sold by the foot. • Belly Pan & Brush Bow - UHMW Custom Cut Sizes - also rod, tube & angle. • Snowmobile Plastics - UHMW, windshield plastic, cowling repair, welding • Sled Plastics & Sleds - UHMW for building, repairing or runners - custom sleds • Freight Sleds Available • G-flex Epoxy
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Alaska’s Fiberglass & Plastic Source
PLASTICS, LLC.
• Alaska’s source of real estate listings! • The most accurate! • The most complete!
ALASKA ALASKA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC.
• The Real Estate Professional’s resource!
Dogsledding Snowmobiling Sledding Freight Hauling
907-376-7111 Twenty-Six Years of Serving You
CAC Plastics, LLC. 2600 Broadview Ave. Wasilla, AK 99654
www.cacalaska.com
CABINETS for Every Room In Your Home! Great Sale on Medallion Cabinets
FREE sink cabinet with 10 cabinet minimum order (must present ad)
Download AlaskaRealEstate.com’s Mobile Real Estate App to get Access to all local listings from your smartphone or tablet.
Call Us Today for a FREE MEASURE
Kustom Kitchen & Design, Inc. • 357-5880
5817 E. Updraft Rd. Palmer, AK • www.kustomkitchendesigninc.com
BUILT BY OUR FAMILY FOR YOUR FAMILY Giving families the keys to their new home since 1987. We look forward to building your family the perfect place for life’s moments.
Spinell Homes Inc, AK Contractor #220310 Res. #1572
Call a New Construction Specialist Stephanie Gamble (907) 354-0277 Keller Williams Alaska Group
We Make It Easy To Join Our Family...
WASILLA & PALMER
Horizon Estates
Spinell Homes, Inc., AK Contractor #220310, Res. #92 & 1572
(907) 354-0277
Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group
Hidden Ranch
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G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026
PALMER
BIG LAKE
WASILLA
Nice view lot with a good well, septic, and power. Property also features a storage shed, green house and a fifth wheel that sleeps six with a nice large deck for barbecues. Property has been used as an Airbnb with great reviews.
Set on a gated hilltop lot overlooking Big Lake, with dedicated lake access! This large two-story home features 3 BR, 2.5 BA, TONS of storage, two carports, two powered sheds. The perfect place to embrace lake life all year round!
Well-kept ranch on acre lot. Just 10 minutes from Wasilla. Easy access to shopping and schools. Beautifully maintained lawn, lilac trees, and space for gardening. Comfortable and functional layout. Lasting appeal!
MLS # 25-11992 • $399,000
MLS # 25-12391• $375,000
MLS # 25-14502 • $165,000
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, E-Pro (907) 841-2188 maggiebillinger@ yahoo.com
WASILLA
WASILLA
Beautiful lakefront home on Wasilla Lake. Private yard with lush landscape is just one of many features of this perfectly situated home in a prime commuter location. This home blends natural beauty with the ease of convenience. The seller is putting the finishing touches on recent home improvements for the new owner to enjoy.
This spacious and versatile home offers options! Plenty of room for a large family or business opportunity. Previously used as a daycare, it provides the perfect foundation for residential care or childcare operations. A converted garage provides extra living area, but could easily be converted back to garage space. Small HOA fee.
MLS # 25-10529• $625,000
MLS # 25-10028 • $449,000
Ask Cora Hey Cora, my friend sold their house and was feeling pretty good about doing it without a Realtor, then, suddenly, the appraiser comes back and says, “We’ve got a tidewater situation.” Now, look around—no ocean, no river, not even a puddle in sight. What gives? What does all this mean? And the entire deal just fell apart! Like it crashed onto a rocky shore! Signed, No Paddle Dear Paddle, First, let’s acknowledge that real estate is a world where words go to get weird. “Escrow” can mean a dozen things, “earnest money” isn’t about a guy name Earnest holding your money, and “letters testamentary” sound like something you’d need to summon a ghost. But “tidewater”? That’s a term that even seasoned agents sometimes have to Google. Here’s the real deal: “Tidewater” is a term used in the context of Veterans Administration (VA) loans. If you’re not using a VA loan, you’ll probably never hear it. But if you are, and the appraiser can’t quite justify the price you’ve set for your house, they’ll call for a “notice of tidewater.” This isn’t a call for sandbags—it’s a request for more evidence. The appraiser is basically saying, “Hey, I need more proof that this house is worth what you say it is. Show me “whatcha gots!” This is where the listing agent gets to play detective. You have 48 hours to round up “comparables”—other homes in the area that have recently sold and are similar to yours. The more, the merrier. Think of it as a real estate bakeoff, and you’re trying to impress the judges with your best lemon crumble cake.
Margaret Billinger
Jack White
Real Estate since 1953
Brought to you by
Experience Matters! Sometimes, the best comparables are hidden from public view. Maybe your neighbor, Polly Pomegranate, sold her house to her daughter, Prudence, in a top-secret, off-market deal. The appraiser’s database? Totally in the dark. But you, being in the neighborhood scuttlebutt, know all about it. When the appraiser calls for a tidewater, you can bring up Polly’s sale as a comparable, even if it never made the headlines Suddenly, your house’s value starts to make a lot more sense. You’re happy, appraiser is happy and the bank is happy. Tidewaters are rare—most realtors only see a handful in their careers. But when they do, it’s all hands on deck so to speak. The reason? The appraiser’s job is to protect the bank, not the buyer, not the seller and definitely not the realtor. They’re the bank’s bodyguard, making sure the loan isn’t bigger than the house is worth. If the numbers don’t add up, they call for backup—hence, the tidewater. How do appraisers figure out what your house is worth? It’s not just a dartboard and a blindfold. They use the “comparable approach,” which is a fancy way of saying they look at similar homes that have sold recently. The big factors are: • Square Footage: It’s adjusted up or down
depending on the size of “subject property” • Age: Newer homes get a boost, older homes get a discount. • Location: It’s all about where you are— close to schools, parks, or that bakery everyone loves and the coffee shop. • Economy: If a new tech company moves to town, prices might go up. If the only new business is a tumbleweed emporium, maybe not so much. If you’re trying to remember all that, just think: SFALE (Square footage, age, location, economy). Okay, it’s not catchy, but it works. If you ever hear someone say, “The appraiser called for a tidewater,” don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your house is about to float away. It means you’ve got 48 hours to gather your best evidence and show the appraiser why your house is worth every penny. As your realtor, I will leap into action, armed with spreadsheets, neighborhood gossip, and maybe a little caffeine (and probably chocolate). And remember: The market sets the price, not the realtor, not the seller, and definitely not the appraiser. It’s all about supply and demand— Economics 101, with a side of drama and a pinch of nutmeg. So, next time you’re knee-deep in real estate jargon, just smile and know your realtor has your back. And if you need someone to help you navigate the wild, wacky world of home sales, you know who to call. I’m always here to help—no boat required!
Call Cora Today! Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group Of Wasilla 621 S Knik-Goose Bay Rd Wasilla, AK 99654
www.clcandassoc.com
907.982.5700
January 2026 G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u
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FIRE & WATER DAMAGE SERVICES Did you know Taylored Restoration offers 24/7 fire damage and water damage services? • Smoke odor removal • Emergency dry-down to prevent mold • Sewage removal & clean-up • We clean, deodorize and repack contents Fires, burst pipes, black mold, overflowing toilets, slow leaks, we handle it all! Taylored Restoration has trained professionals available 24/7 to help you at any time of the day or night.
Restoring Alaskans Dreams Since 1972
Anchorage Mat-Su Fairbanks 907-344-1239
907-373-1239
907-455-1239
www.TayloredRestoration.com Coloring Page
Ages 4-6
WINNERS
Kinley Laupsenstein Age 6 Winners receive a
from Dairy Queen!
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G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026
December 2025
Ages 7-9
Ages 10-12
Jacelyn Age 9
Brayden Doramus Age 12
Thank you to everyone who entered! Be sure to color your entry for January!
Mail in your coloring entry for a chance to win one of our DQ-licious 8” Round Cakes! 777 E Parks Hwy., Wasilla | 907-373-0098 • 401 W Evergreen Ave., Palmer | 907-746-1999
Kids! Send in your coloring contest entry for a chance to win an 8” cake from Dairy Queen! One winner from each age group 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 will be announced in the February 2026 Greatlander. Name:________________________________________________ Age:______ Phone:_____________________
Parents - Please help your child legibly write their name. Use crayons, pencils or markers. Please NO GLITTER.
Submissions must be received by January 19th, 2026. Mail entries to: GreatLander, 3110 Spenard Road, Anchorage, AK 99503-3699 January 2026 G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u
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2026 MODELS NOW AVAILABLE!
GRIZZLY 110
GRIZZLY EPS
KODIAK 700 EPS XT-R
KODIAK 700 EPS
PW50
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KODIAK 700
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KODIAK 450
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For Pricing Options Contact Your Participating Dealer. ©2026 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Product and specifications subject to change without notice. Professional rider on closed course under controlled conditions. Always wear an approved helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Ride responsibly and always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvering, and respect others around you. Know the conditions. Observe all state and local laws. Don’t drink and ride.
Yamaha Motorcycles, ATVs & Snowmachines Available At These Participating Yamaha Dealers: Kodiak Powersports & Marine Kodiak, Alaska 99615 Phone: 907-486-0333 www.kodiakpowersports.biz
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Northern Power Sports
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 Phone: 907-452-2762 www.NorthernPowersports.com
G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026
Wasilla Performance Yamaha Wasilla, AK 99657 Phone: 907-373-7668 www.AnchorageYamaha.com
River & Sea Marine
Soldotna, Alaska 99669 Phone: 800-770-7700 www.riverandseamarine.com
Sales Mgr: bob.walker@acsalaska.net
2026 SIDE-BY-SIDES
WOLVERINE RMAX2 LE
WOLVERINE RMAX2 R-SPEC
WOLVERINE RMAX2 XT-R
WOLVERINE RMAX4 LE
WOLVERINE RMAX2 SPORT
WOLVERINE RMAX4 R-SPEC
FINAL CHANCE FOR A FINAL EDITION! ©2026 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Product and specifications subject to change without notice. Professional rider on closed course under controlled conditions. Always wear an approved helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Ride responsibly and always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvering, and respect others around you. Know the conditions. Observe all state and local laws. Don’t drink and ride.
Yamaha Motorcycles, ATVs & Snowmachines Available At These Participating Yamaha Dealers: Lower Peninsula Power Sports Homer, Alaska 99603 Phone 907-235-6341 www.lppowersports.com
Alaska Fun Center
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 Phone 800-478-3455 www.alaskafuncenter.com
Alaska House of Yamaha Big Lake, Alaska 99652 Phone: 907-892-1000 www.houseofyamaha.com
Anchorage Yamaha
Anchorage, Alaska 99517 Phone: 907-243-8343 www.AnchorageYamaha.com
January 2026 G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u
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G r e a t L a n d e r M a t - S u January 2026