Any fellow Veterans use the 25% discount offered for recreational land in Alaska? Seems to good to be true. : Veterans

That is one huge discount! If I buy a piece of land worth $100,000 I only have to pay $75,000 and since I own land I could become a resident and get the $1,600 annual resident stipend. I tried to buy a House in Hawaii but I could only afford houses in the Volcano zone so the VA would not certify or help with the loan. This was on Kona. I love to hunt so it would be awesome to summer in Alaska and winter in Thailand. I’ve read that the hunting and fishing in Alaska is the best in the United States. Seems to good to be true.

Five States for Veterans to Live:

1.      Alaska

According to government statistics in relation to our metrics, we are naming Alaska as the most veteran-friendly place to live. More than one in every ten residents in Alaska are military veterans, and the unemployment rate among these veterans was two points below the state’s non-veteran unemployment rate at the time of this data. Additionally, the average income among veterans after housing expenses is the highest in the nation.

• Percent of population who are veterans: 12.5%

• Veteran unemployment rate: 4.30%; State unemployment rate: 6.5%

• Veteran income after housing: 36,831

• VA facilities per 10,000 veterans: 2.8

In addition to these favorable statistics, Alaska also offers many state-specific veteran benefits for its residents:

Housing and Tax Benefits

The Veterans Land Sale Preference gives veterans the exclusive opportunity to purchase any unoccupied residential land at a restricted sale and at fair appraised market value before it is offered at auction. Also offered by the state of Alaska is the Veterans Land Discount, which can allow qualified veterans a one-time 25% discount on the purchase price of state recreational or residential land.

Financing, lower interest rates, and a reduced down payment on home loans under the Veterans Mortgage Program are something qualified veterans can also take advantage of in Alaska. These veterans may also receive a one percent interest rate reduction on the first $50,000 of their home loan amount. Finally, disabled veterans with a military disability rating of at least 50% are exempt from property taxes on the first $150,000 of their home’s assessed value.

Employment Benefits

The state of Alaska offers three main employment benefits to veterans living there. First, employees of the state can buy in up to five years of military time toward their State Public Employees’ Retirement System credit to increase monthly benefits. Next, veterans and National Guard members who meet all other job qualifications can be entitled to a 5%-point preference when applying for state jobs. Finally, the Alaska DMV may waive the commercial licensing test for those with recent military commercial motor vehicle experience.

Education Benefits

Surviving spouses or dependents of servicemembers who died in the line of duty or were listed as a prisoner of war (POW) may be entitled to a waiver of undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Alaska.

Recreational Benefits

• The Alaska Railroad allows military retirees, active duty, and dependents a 20% discount.

• Reduced fare on the Alaska Marine Highway System

• Free hunting and fishing licenses to veterans with a disability rating of at least 50%

• Disabled veterans can get a two-year Alaska State Park Camping Pass free of charge