Soldotna real estate agent Marti Pepper says after a few years of skyrocketing prices and buyers sometimes paying for homes in cash, agents are seeing a slower pace this winter — more normal for this time in the season.

New arrivals over the last few years have fueled hopes of population growth, but workers increasingly struggle to find housing in a market gone wild.

Investment in long-term housing solutions with patience and a willingness to take bold actions to deliver growth in 2023 and beyond is vital.

If it seems like it’s getting harder and harder to cover the cost of leasing a place to live, there’s now data to prove it: 49% of renters spend 30% of their rent on income, according to the Census Bureau.