Adventuring to Alaska Housing

Patrick’s journey to Alaska Housing Finance Corporation started thousands of miles away when he had a simple question posed at a campsite in Idaho: “How long is the drive to Alaska?”

The question started Patrick on a lifechanging journey and, eventually to AHFC, where he works to expand Alaskans’ access to safe, quality, affordable housing.

An Appetite for Adventure

Long before he hopped in a campervan to drive to Alaska, Patrick has had an appetite for adventure. In 2005, he moved from South Korea to Houston, Texas to study abroad in college – an education that he followed with six years in the United States Army as a linguist.

Always on the move, he kept up the momentum after completing his service. He and his wife converted a cargo van into a mobile home.

“We built the van into a camper van that had a little shower, a little kitchen, a bed, and traveled to all 50 states for about two years,” says Patrick.

Together with their three dogs, the couple set out on a trek, documenting their adventures on YouTube. In the middle of this journey, at a campground in Idaho, Patrick had the thought that would result in eventually joining AHFC.

How far is Alaska?

“We’re only about 3,700 miles away,” Patrick replied to his wife. The distance felt like nothing, having logged over 70,000 miles on their odometer.

In the summer of 2022, Patrick and his wife made a plan to explore Alaska and turn south before the first snowfall. “We drove a lot but set foot in Alaska and it was love from day one.”

Then, the van broke.

Patrick and his wife took it as a sign for a different adventure. While their van was being repaired, they started to make a home in Alaska – a process that included finding careers.

From New Home to Alaska Housing

After working in the state’s real estate industry. Patrick was hired at Alaska Housing as a Mortgage Outreach Specialist in 2024, and he currently works as an Energy Specialist in the agency’s Research and Rural Development department.

He brought with him experience from a title company where he learned how much he enjoyed educating homebuyers.

"You go into a closing with a first-time homebuyer ... They're now new to adulting, getting into their first house. What are all these 160–200-page documents that they're signing? Being able to educate them, being able to let them know about the process ... the education part of it is what I enjoy the most."

When it comes to real estate, Patrick says there is always more to learn.

With what he describes as his ever-present search for more, he is always looking for new information and ways to continue the important work of promoting Alaska Housing’s mission of providing Alaskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing.

“Applying to AHFC was a great decision. I’ve made a lot of friends and had opportunities to get involved in the community. I’d recommend it to anyone thinking about applying.”

Take it From Patrick…

From making the long trek to Alaska, to putting roots down to applying to and moving through Alaska Housing Finance Corporation—Patrick’s story is a testament that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the decision to begin.

Patrick says that his next adventure is about investing in his family’s future.  In 2023, Patrick and his wife moved into their new Eagle River home with their two dogs.

"I know homebuying is definitely related to generational wealth, and being able to make those decisions of buying a home was huge help because I could have sat on the sidelines and paid all that rent but instead we're like, let's do it."

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Know someone looking for their next career adventure? Share Patrick’s story with them. AHFC is hiring several essential positions throughout the state of Alaska.