Building a Home on Your Own Land in Alaska
Updated: Sep 3
Finding the perfect piece of land is one of the best reasons to build rather than buy. Whether you're after a secluded spot with genuine privacy or something closer to town and community, Alaska has no shortage of options.
Here's what to know about buying land and building on it.
Undeveloped vs. Vacant Land
Undeveloped land — sometimes called raw land — is in its natural state. No cleared access, no building pad, no utilities. A blank canvas, which is genuinely appealing, but bringing in the infrastructure takes time and money you'll want to plan for.
Vacant land isn't currently in use but may have various site improvements already there, often from a project that stalled out. Setup can be less involved, though existing improvements can limit what you're able to design. And you want to watch out for poorly build roads for example, or even things that have been buried onsite many years ago by Uncle Dan!
Finding the Right Lot.
The right property depends on more than the views. A few things worth considering:
Wind... some areas get a LOT of it!
Sunlight.. some areas get very little of it :)
Zoning and subdivision covenants
Privacy and neighbors
Commute
School districts, if that applies
Future developments in the area
Traffic during rush hour
Well depths, gravel and/or ground water in the area
Whether you're working with a realtor, a builder, or finding it yourself, having these items in mind ahead of time makes the search more informative.
Bring in a Builder Early.
This is a step people sometimes skip, as they may not know a builder yet. But this can save many headaches.
A builder can tell you before you buy whether a lot will actually work — whether the soil supports what you want, what access and utilities will really cost, and whether the home you're picturing fits the site. This conversation is a lot cheaper before closing on a lot than after.
At Falcon you'd be working with our in-house architectural design team, project managers, and construction team from that first conversation forward.
Design: Bridging the lot selection, the house needs and budget:
This is where it starts to feel real. A master plan, a site plan, then floor plans, exterior 3D models, and the back-and-forth that turns an idea into something real!
If you already have plans, that's absolutely fine too — our team can work from existing house plans or design from scratch, whichever fits your needs.
Budget.
The predictable costs are the ones everyone knows about: Lot clearing, foundation, framing, interior finishes like drywall, flooring, cabinetry, and exterior finishes like roofing and siding.
Costs that might catch people off guard are:
Site Specific Costs, such as a mainline utility extension, high ground water, deep wells, bedrock, DOT road approach requirements onto a state road, specific subdivision covenants, and the like.
Upgrades, which might be anything from a soapstone fireplace to a dog wash or dog run, to a concrete gun vault or handicap accessible rooms and doors.
Window coverings
Furniture
Landscaping
Unlike many builders, Falcon clarifies all of this once the design is finalized — so you know where you stand BEFORE construction begins, not partway through.
Preparation.
Once the contract is signed, "pre-construction" begins: permitting, appraisals and lot line surveys, pre-ordering materials to get ahead of price increases and long lead times, getting schedule commitments from subs and vendors, setting a realistic timeline, construction drawings, and final selections.
Great planning here is what keeps a build on schedule and on budget later.
Construction.
3rd party inspections throughout the build give assurance and peace of mind, and regular contact and site visits with your dedicated project manager means you're never guessing about progress. After the final punch list and inspection, you get to move into your dream home!
Building With Falcon Alaska.
We've served Alaskans for over 30 years, and we've built a wide range of custom homes here — lakeside places, modern mountain homes, remote ranch properties, handicap or age-in-place homes, hangers, shops, barns - projects in a wide range of locations and site conditions.
If you own land or are considering purchasing a lot, feel free to give us a call. We'd be glad to lend our experience and expertise to help you on your journey.
