Alaska land auction sells 81 parcels to 71 residents for $3.28 million

Seventy-one Alaskans won 81 parcels of state land in the state's annual resident-only auction, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources said Monday. The parcels cover 869 acres, and bidders offered $3,280,531 for them.

The department's Division of Mining, Land and Water received 197 bids on about 152 parcels offered statewide, from road-accessible lots near Anchorage and Fairbanks to remote recreational cabin sites. The opening bid on each parcel was its appraised value, and the highest bidder won. Bidding was limited to Alaska residents who had lived in the state for at least a year, and each bidder could win no more than two parcels. The Auction #498 page lists the full results.

Parcels that drew no bids go back on sale Nov. 18 at 10 am through the Over-the-Counter program, which sells land first come, first served at a fixed price and is open to non-residents and businesses as well as residents. Prices start at 30 percent above appraised value, dropping to 15 percent above on Dec. 2 and to appraised value on Dec. 16.

This year's auction drew fewer bids and winners and sold fewer parcels than recent auctions, though it covered more acres than in 2024 or 2025.

In 2024, 106 Alaskans won 121 parcels totaling 729 acres, offering $4,727,588 across 452 bids, according to the department's 2024 release. In 2025, 92 Alaskans won 99 parcels totaling 707 acres, offering $3.8 million across 350 bids, according to its 2025 release.

The state offers its own financing on purchases over $2,000. Buyers put 5 percent down and pay interest at 3 percent plus the prime rate, with terms of up to 20 years on purchases of $20,000 or more, under DNR's contract terms. No development is allowed until the state issues the sale contract or, for a buyer who pays in full, the patent that gives the buyer title to the land.

Parcels are sold as is, and the state keeps the mineral rights on all of them, according to the auction brochure.