Hey Jamie,
What are the rents today? Well, that is a very ambiguous question haha. Rents vary pretty drastically all throughout Anchorage. Even block to block you can see some some major difference. Places like Mt. View, fairview you are seeing anywhere from 800 for a 2 bed ( a very run down roach infested 2 bed) to 1250 at the higher end for nice clean places. We even have a couple in the 1400-1450 range, but those are generally townhouse style or have better amenities like garages, etc... Rent has definitely increased though even in these areas and places I was getting 1100 for 2 years ago are now in the 1250-1400 range.
Rents in the UMED area are always pretty stable, with the averages around 1400-1450 for a 2 bed, but ranging all the way to 2000 range for some very high end ones.
South Anchorage generally has higher rents as well, and is generally an easier area to rent compared to Fairview, Mt. View, etc.... due to the stigma against these areas. This is not to say that Mt. View and Fairview are necessarily bad areas, you can buy a decent property there and make good cashflow, but you wont get the appreciation you see in other parts of town.
My recommendations would vary depending on what you are looking for, if you want to self manage/hire a pm, and what your end game goal is. I got started in Mt. View and while it was rough at the start, I know have multiple buildings that cashflow quite nicely with great tenants in them. This let me branch off to start purchasing in Eagle River where I can basically buy a place and forget about it unless there is a maintenance request.
If anyone reading this wants me to delve into more details feel free to hit me up. I am not as active here lately as I have been in the past since our company has been expanding and I have been busy but I will do my best to answer any questions anyone has.
