Moving to Juneau?

We know that moving to a new city can be a daunting prospect; we want to help.

Out The Road

If you’re looking to get away from it all, then “Out The Road”, as Juneauites call it, is the spot for you. This area of Juneau, which starts out Glacier Highway beyond the ferry terminal, is an area where you’ll find a mix of high-end waterfront homes and isolated homes in the woods. This beautiful location is ideal for boaters as it’s close to several boat launches and excellent fishing spots. The area has great views of the water and the snow-capped Chilkat Mountain Range. There are many popular camping spots including forest service cabins and several summer camps located in the area.

In terms of real estate Out The Road, what you will find is primarily single-family homes. At the top end of the market there are unique, luxury homes. You can expect expansive views, large lots and custom finishes throughout. You may also occasionally find some mid-priced homes and cabins in this area as well, along with lots, if you are interested in building your own home. Auke Bay Elementary and Dzantik’i Middle School are the assigned schools for this area. Homes for sale in this area benefit from a great access to recreational activities. The area has miles of beaches and many hiking trails. There is a disc golf course near Lena Loop. Farther out the road, Eagle Beach is a recreational area with fire pits and picnic tables for barbecues in the summer. Boat launches in the area include Amalga Harbor, which is close to several great fishing spots; and Echo Cove at the very end of the road.

Auke Bay

This is the area around Auke Bay. This is a more developed area, about 20 minutes from downtown Juneau. You’ll find the University of Alaska Southeast and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal in this part of Juneau. Auke Bay Elementary School serves this area and is located here. Homes for sale in Auke Bay are primarily single-family and many benefit from incredible panoramic views of Auke Bay. Homes with a waterfront location in this area tend to be at the higher end of the Juneau real estate spectrum, but more reasonably priced houses are also available further inland

Buyers of Auke Bay real estate will enjoy the community’s spectacular natural setting. Local recreation facilities include the Auke Bay boat launch as well as Auk Rec past the ferry terminal where there are picnic areas and beaches. The area is also home to popular restaurants such as Chan’s Thai Kitchen, Forbidden Peak Brewery, The Hot Bite, Devil’s Hideaway, and GonZo AK. Elementary school students living in this neighborhood attend the recently updated Auke Bay Elementary School. For local shopping there is Dehart’s convenience store located along Glacier Highway and more extensive shopping and entertainment options can be found nearby in the Valley.

Back Loop

Back Loop real estate is located along the back part of Mendenhall Loop Road, which is how the area got its name. This neighborhood is ideal for people looking for a home with some privacy, but are still looking to be close to shopping, schools, and activities. The homes here are primarily single-family, on good-sized, wooded lots. The neighborhood is about 20 minutes from downtown Juneau and very close to the Glacier, Mendenhall Lake and Auke Lake. If you are looking for a home close to the Juneau’s spectacular natural amenities, then you want to be in Back Loop. Homes for sale in this area generally enjoy forest, lake, river, and/or glacier views. Older homes in this neighborhoods generally benefit from larger lots and tend to be around 2000 square feet, with 3+ bedrooms. Some newer and new construction homes can be found in the Montana Creek subdivision.

Homes for sale in Back Loop are close to a wealth of outdoor recreation options with Mendenhall Lake and the Mendenhall Glacier, nearby. Local shopping is available just 10 minutes away in Mendenhall Valley. Students living in this neighborhood attend the newly-renovated Auke Bay Elementary School and either Floyd Dryden or Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School, depending on the location. They have the choice of attending either Juneau-Douglas or Thunder Mountain High Schools.

Mendenhall Valley

Homes for sale in Mendenhall Valley are located to the north of Downtown Juneau, close to the Mendenhall Glacier. Known locally as “The Valley”, this is the part of Juneau where you’ll find the greatest number of houses for sale. Both the Valley and the Mendenhall Glacier were named for Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, who, as superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, was responsible for defining the exact border between Alaska and Canada. If you’re looking for a home near schools and shopping then you should check out the Valley. Juneau real estate in this neighborhood is primarily single-family homes and you’ll find everything from budget-friendly fixer-uppers to mid-priced homes on spacious lots with views of the Mendenhall River. You’ll also find properties like duplexes with great rental income potential. Some newer construction is also available in this neighborhood as well.

Mendenhall Valley real estate is located near the glacier and its various hiking trails. Dredge Lake, in the middle of the Valley, is also a popular spot for jogging, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and dog walking. There are local businesses and shopping in the Valley including Mendenhall Mall, Nugget Mall and Safeway. There is also the 5-screen Glacier Cinemas. Students living in the Mendenhall Valley attend Riverbend, Mendenhall River and Glacier Valley Elementary schools and Floyd Dryden Middle School. They are allowed to choose their high school.

Lemon Creek

This is a transitional neighborhood along Glacier Highway between Mendenhall Valley and Downtown Juneau. The homes for sale here are primarily single-family homes and mobile homes. You’ll find a mix of newer and older properties here, along with some attached homes and condos. This area is home to Costco, Fred Meyer, and Home Depot, which makes shopping very convenient and it is also where Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School is located. The area between Vanderbilt Road to the south and Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School to the north, is considered Lemon Creek.

Homes for sale here are mostly in the mid-range price point and enjoy spacious lots with mountain views. You’ll find a complete range of home styles in this neighborhood including ranchers and bungalows to 70’s two-stories and even some contemporary homes. Lemon Creek real estate occupies an area that has seen a mix of commercial and residential development.  Businesses in the area include Costco, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, Breeze-In, Western Auto, Jerry’s Meats, and Southeast Furniture Warehouse. One of the community’s highlight’s is the Alaskan Brewing Company. Opened in 1986, the company is the first brewery operating in Juneau since prohibition. If you live in the area you’ll be able stop by their tasting room and enjoy a sample of their award winning beers! Another stand out local attraction is the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. This is a 50-acre botanical garden nestled in the Tongass National Forest, offering breathtaking views of the Juneau area.

Salmon Creek

With pretty neighborhoods, great views and the amenities of Twin Lakes close at hand, Salmon Creek real estate is ideal for everyone. This area of Juneau is located just north of Downtown, beginning at the hospital and running north along Glacier Highway to Vanderbilt Road. The community is also referred to as Twin Lakes, after the two small lakes that run alongside Gastineau Channel and form the western boundary of the area.

You will find primarily single-family homes and townhomes for sale in Salmon Creek. The residential areas of Salmon Creek can be found along Glacier Highway and in Blackerby, Greenwood Avenue and Mountainside Estates. The homes along the highway enjoy sweeping views of Gastineau Channel and Douglas Island beyond. Inland from the highway, the land begins to rise and the homes in the Blackerby, Greenwood and Mountainside Estate areas are perched on roads winding up the mountainside. These neighborhoods feature spacious, attractive homes on large lots. Blackerby is more wooded and ideal for those looking for a bit of privacy, while Mountainside Estates and Greenwood are more open and thus here you are more likely to find a home with a view out over the water.

Twin Lakes is a popular recreation spot in both the summer and the winter. Families come to swim in the lake and play at the fantastic playground in the summer. When the lake freezes in the winter, people come to skate and play pond hockey. There is also a paved trail along Twin Lakes that’s a popular spot for walking and biking. This neighborhood is also home to Bartlett Regional Hospital, along with many other health facilities and clinics. Students living in Salmon Creek homes attend Harborview Elementary, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School and have their choice of high school.

Downtown Juneau

Reminders of Alaska’s diverse history are everywhere in Juneau’s city center. Alongside the commercial and government offices, you’ll find the state’s oldest Russian Orthodox Church, Totem Poles, the State Capitol Building, and the Governor’s Mansion. So it’s a good bet that if it’s character and history you are looking for, the homes for sale in Downtown Juneau will be ideal for you. In terms of style and age, you’ll primarily find a mix of historic and older single-family houses here, though there are some condos as well. The area running from Old Glacier Highway, north of the Juneau-Douglas High School to the end of South Franklin Street is considered Downtown Juneau.

Homes for sale here tend to be on smaller lots and may be more expensive than the Valley, but what you sacrifice in space, you make up for in charm, character and convenience. Some of the Downtown neighborhoods include the Flats, which is near the Federal Building, the Highlands which is above Juneau-Douglas High School and extends over to the cemetery, Chicken Ridge above the Governor’s Mansion and Starr Hill, which is up from 6th Street. Many homes in this area enjoy sweeping views of the Gastineau Channel and Douglas Island.

One of the great things about Downtown Juneau real estate is the number of amenities that are within walking distance. You’ll find a mix of local businesses and trendy restaurants, along with Foodland IGA grocery store and the Rainbow Foods health food store. For those looking to stay in shape there are fitness clubs, a dog park, numerous hiking trails, and a playground at Cope Park. As for entertainment, you have the Gold Town Nickelodeon, which screens a fascinating selection of movies and documentaries. Downtown is also the starting point in the summer for a number of tours including the Mount Roberts Tramway and hikes like Perseverance Trail, Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts.

Thane

Homes for sale in Thane, Juneau are located south of the downtown area, along Thane Road. Real estate in this area consists primarily of single-family homes and cabins. This is a good area for people looking for privacy, as most of the homes have acreage and your nearest neighbors will be a fair distance away. Buyers here can be sure of peace and quiet on wooded lots, and most homes will have either beach access, if they are on the water side of the road or water views (through the trees), if they are on the uphill side of the road. The Thane residential area begins south of Franklin Street and stretches south, for five miles, to the end of the road. At the upper end, (close to downtown) you will find the area known as the “rock dump”, home to a cruise ship dock, a barge dock and an indoor rock climbing facility called, The Rock Dump. Further south you will find the Thane Campground and a fish hatchery. In terms of Thane, Juneau real estate, this is a forested area, with homes set among the trees. Most of the properties here are older and you will find a mix of small cabins and larger single-family homes.

Nature is the greatest amenity in the area of Thane, Juneau. Homes for sale here benefit from proximity to beautiful isolated beaches. It’s a great area for hiking, camping, bonfires and skipping stones on the beach. There is a beautiful hike at the end of the road called Dupont Trail. Children living in Thane attend Harborview Elementary, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School and have a choice of either Thunder Mountain or Juneau Douglas High School.

Douglas

The Douglas area of Juneau is located on Douglas Island and is linked to downtown Juneau by bridge. You’ll find that a lot homes for sale in Douglas, AK have great views of the Downtown area, Mount Juneau, Mount Roberts and up and down the Gastineau Channel. Douglas began life as a mining community and was once a city on its own, rivaling Juneau. After the mine collapsed, in the early part of the last century, a gradual decline in population began and in the 1970’s, the community decided to merge with the city of Juneau.

Now it is a popular residential area, just 10 minutes from Downtown. Douglas, AK real estate is a mix of single-family homes, waterfront properties, townhomes, and condos. Prices here are primarily in the mid-range price bracket. Single-family homes can include everything from small cabins to good sized family homes at around 2000 Sq. Ft. in size. Most of the homes are older, on spacious lots and many enjoy water views. Condos in Douglas include apartment-style units and townhomes, mostly in the budget-friendly price range.

Although primarily a residential neighborhood, buyers of Douglas homes will enjoy local amenities including a library and the Perseverance Theater, home to the renowned Perseverance theater group, which is now entering its fourth decade. Before taking in a show, residents can enjoy gourmet pizza at the Island Pub or a libation at Louie’s Douglas Inn. Other local facilities include the Treadwell Ice Arena, ball fields and Sandy Beach. Sandy Beach is popular for dog walking and picnics and features a hike around the ruins of the old mine.

North Douglas

The area known as North Douglas spans the northern and northeastern coast of Douglas Island, running from the Juneau-Douglas Bridge to the end of North Douglas Highway. North Douglas real estate is almost entirely residential and mostly single-family homes, though you will find many attached homes in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood. This is a great area if you are looking for a home that has the feel of privacy and seclusion. And if it is a waterfront property you’re after, North Douglas’ sweeping views of the Gastineau Channel and Mendenhall Glacier can’t be beat. Because of the waterfront location and larger lot sizes, the homes for sale in North Douglas may be more expensive than other parts of Juneau. You’ll find many unique, custom homes for sale here, with everything from small two bedroom cottages to large family homes over 2,500 Sq. Ft. in size.

If you are looking to build your own home, North Douglas is a good place to look for lots, as there are a variety of properties available here including waterfront land. This is an area where every home is unique. Residents choose North Douglas real estate for the privacy and the views, rather than the amenities. Of course, the pristine natural surroundings make it all worthwhile. For recreation, North Douglas’s prime attraction is Eaglecrest Ski Area. There is also a boat launch out North Douglas Highway and in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood there is a children’s playground with swings and slides. There are a number of trails and campgrounds to be discovered and enjoyed in this area known for its scenery. Students from this area attend Gastineau Elementary in Douglas, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School in Juneau and, like all other Juneau students, get to choose their preferred high school.