Alaska State land auction bidding starts

Jun 12

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has just announced this year’s Land Auction #496. These parcels are only open to bid by Alaska residents.

This year’s offering includes 207 parcels statewide. You’ll find everything from road-accessible parcels, to remote fly-in backcountry parcels.

Never considered participating in an Alaska State land auction? I didn’t either until I moved to a rural community with no mid-size affordable homes for sale. The options were limited, and we were young and industrious.

What goes into a State land auction?

Actually a fairly intensive process, land sale projects begin with a review of State land use plans that outline preferred uses, such as agriculture, forestry, and settlement. Typically, numerous public meetings are held within each land use planning area.

Once DNR drafts a Final Finding and Decision (FFD), they may proceed with development of the project. This includes design, survey, platting, and appraisal. Once all the details are finalized, the land auction can proceed.

Notable lots up for auction

You will find some phenomenal home sites from Willow, to Wasilla, to the Copper River Valley in Auction #496. Most notable though, are the number of lots up for auction in the Tok area. Given the recent development of the Manh Choh - Kinross Gold Mine located about 10 miles south of Tok, a project spearheaded by the Native village of Tetlin, housing has been hard to come by in Tok.