Start with your land papers and the nearest community. Gather useful details, compare prices and choose an agent, sell yourself or ask for a direct offer. You don’t need a Borough property tax bill to start. The Borough says it does not keep a property-tax roll or sale list.
Tell us about your land. There’s no obligation to accept an offer.
Start with what you know. These steps will help you get ready and choose the way to sell that fits you.
Find a deed, old survey, purchase papers or land map. Write down the nearest community, acres if known and land description. That description tells one piece from another. It may use a lot and block, survey number or a longer written description.
Keep any land number or map with your notes. Empty land may not have a street address, so don’t make one up. Check that the map and papers point to the same piece.
List every piece and item in the sale. Does a cabin or shed stay? Are you keeping part or removing something shown in a photo? Think about what matters most: price, less work or a sale around a certain date.
The Northwest Arctic Borough Finance page says the Borough does not levy a property tax. It says it does not keep a property-tax roll, assessment list or property sale information. A roll is a list of properties used for taxes. A missing Borough tax bill does not stop you from asking about a sale.
Start with your deed or purchase papers. If those are missing, ask the State Recorder how to find a recorded deed. Keep an old map or land description handy. You don’t have to solve every records question before talking with an agent or buyer.
The Finance page lists 907-442-2500 as the Borough’s main phone number. Use it for general Borough questions. For a charge from your community or another office, start with the office named on your papers rather than assuming it is a Borough property tax.
Keep any loan statement, lease or shared fee with your notes. Having no Borough property tax does not mean there are no other costs to settle. Ask the person named on a charge for the current balance and ask the closing team how it would be paid.
The Alaska Recorder’s Office lists searches by name, document number, book and page, plat and survey. A plat is a drawing that shows lots. Older names or record numbers can help you get started.
The Fairbanks office’s community list places Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik and Shungnak in the Kotzebue recording district. It places Buckland and Deering in the Cape Nome recording district. A recording district is the area used to organize recorded papers. The Borough name is not the district name for every piece.
Use the state’s Find Your District link if you’re unsure. The Fairbanks office page lists 907-452-3521. Have the community, owner names and any record number ready. Ask how to find a deed, get a copy and check its cost. Ask what can be handled from home.
Gather any survey—a measured drawing of boundaries—along with loan details, leases and written access agreements. A lease is an agreement to use land. If your papers describe a lease rather than ownership, ask the people helping with the sale what can be sold. A deed copy alone is not a full check of ownership or other claims.
If you’re handling inherited land or helping settle a loved one’s estate, start with what you have. Ask a title company or real estate attorney who needs to sign and which papers are missing. Our land seller document checklist can help. Keep private family and loan papers out of a public ad.
Give buyers dated photos and directions from the nearest community or arrival point. Say which parts need road, boat, air or foot travel. Explain where a visitor could meet someone and who can give permission to enter.
Describe the route you have used and when. If you only know the winter or summer route, say so. A nearby road, track or map line does not prove a buyer can cross another piece. Keep any written access agreement with your papers.
Show open areas, wet spots, rough ground and any buildings included. Say which power, water or other services work on the piece now. A nearby line is different from a working connection. A river view is different from a way to reach the water.
If you live away, start with photos and papers you have. Ask an agent or buyer what they need before paying for a new trip. Agree on who would arrange a visit. Mark unanswered questions instead of guessing.
Ask a land agent or appraiser familiar with your community for recent completed sales buyers would compare with yours. Ask how the prices were checked and what that help costs.
Compare the community, acres, travel route, working services and included items. A lot near town is a different choice from remote land that needs another trip after arrival. Land in another community may not be a good price match. A sale with a cabin is different from empty land.
Keep the price, date, acres and included items together. If several pieces sold as one deal, check the whole deal before giving one piece a price. Count the deal once even if several websites show it.
An ad is an asking price, not proof of what was paid. A statewide price per acre may not fit your piece. If good matches are scarce, ask for a range and the reasons behind it. Our land value guide explains more price factors.
Use an agent: A land agent can help with pricing, ads, showings and offers. Ask about the fee, listing length and recent work with land like yours.
Sell yourself: You handle the ad, questions, visits and offers. You may still need help with the agreement and closing.
Compare a direct offer: A direct buyer may give you another choice without listing the land. Check the price and terms against your goals. You can say no.
Before arranging a visit, explain how to reach the land and who can give permission to enter. Keep private records out of the listing. Share needed papers with the people helping with the sale.
Get the offer and terms in writing. Check the right pieces of land are included. Ask who pays closing costs, any agent fee and other charges. Ask how a loan or unpaid taxes will be paid.
A higher price may leave you with less money if you pay more costs. For example, $30,000 less $2,000 in costs leaves $28,000 before a loan or tax balance. That is made-up math, not a price for your land.
Read the target date and what lets the buyer cancel or ask for a lower price. Ask who holds the deposit and what happens to it. Use our land offer worksheet to compare offers side by side.
If you’d like a direct offer to compare, tell Reelvest about your land. You decide whether an offer fits.
Ask who will handle closing—the final papers and payment. Have that person explain the land description, owners who must sign, costs and money you would receive.
Ask how any lease, road agreement or rules that came with the lot affect the sale papers. If a name or boundary is unclear, get help before signing. A target date does not mean all the checks are finished.
Confirm payment instructions with the closing office using a phone number you already trust. Keep copies of the signed agreement and final papers. Our Alaska land seller guide gives more general steps.
No. Start with the location and papers you have. Ask for help with missing information while comparing selling choices.
Yes. The Finance page says Northwest Arctic Borough does not levy a property tax or keep a property-tax roll. Start with your deed or purchase papers and ask the state for help if they are missing.
No. The state list puts Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik and Shungnak in the Kotzebue district, and Buckland and Deering in Cape Nome. Use Find Your District if you’re unsure.
Alaska’s Recorder can help. The Fairbanks office lists 907-452-3521. Have your community, owner names and any record number ready. Ask how to find a copy and check its cost.
Describe the route you have used and when. If you only know a winter or summer route, say so. Keep any written access agreement with your papers.
Gather what you have. Ask a title company or real estate attorney who needs to sign and which papers are missing.
No. Use these steps with an agent, your own buyer or a direct offer. You can ask Reelvest for an offer to compare if you want.
Local source links reviewed October 7, 2026.