Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in South Lakes, Alaska
A $368,000 home here costs
$3,015per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $129,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,006. The real number is $1,009 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Matanuska-Susitna Borough with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
South Lakes against Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,700 | $319,200 |
| Median property tax | $4,384 | $3,512 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.192% | 1.100% |
| Median gross rent | $1,191 | $1,258 |
| Population | 6,132 | 110,677 |
The weather behind that power bill
South Lakes sits in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which averages a high of 68.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.4°F in its coldest, with 26.51" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 17 cooling and 10,592 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Matanuska-Susitna Borough , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Full Matanuska-Susitna Borough cost breakdown · Every county in Alaska
Talk to someone who works this market
These are South Lakes averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works South Lakes every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in South Lakes I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in South Lakes?
A $368,000 home in South Lakes, Alaska costs approximately $3,015 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,006 principal and interest, $366 property tax, $98 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $307 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in South Lakes?
South Lakes has an effective property tax rate of 1.192%, based on a median home value of $367,700 and median real estate taxes of $4,384. That is higher than the Matanuska-Susitna Borough average of 1.100%.
What is the average home price in South Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home value in South Lakes, Alaska is $367,700, against $319,200 across Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Lakes?
Median gross rent in South Lakes is $1,191 a month, against $3,015 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in South Lakes?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Lakes, Alaska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $129,000 a year. That covers the full $3,015 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Lakes, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Alaska.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.