HAWAI'I LIFE
Katie Minkus, BIC is President-Elect of the Kona Board of Realtors!
State
South Swell hits Hawaii in October!
Mother Nature blessed Hawaii with a pretty solid south swell last week. On Maui, waves were breaking everywhere from Laparouse to Mala Warf. I got a call from little super star Carissa Moore the night before the swell’s arrival. She had heard that Maalaea might wake up from a long slumber. Unfortunately, Maalaea wasn’t quite [...]
Maui REOs and Foreclosures
Your complete and up-to-date gallery of all available Maui Foreclosure properties Whether you are looking to retire in Hawaii, buy your first home or pick up another income producing property now is the time to get a deal! There are in credible foreclosure properties available right now. Interest rates are still at historical lows and [...]
Honolulu Now Middle of the Pack for Nation’s Foreclosures
Honolulu has been mostly resilient as far as foreclosures go compared to the rest of the mainland U.S. The numbers have been rising lately however. Today’s article in the Star Bulletin shows how we are now in the middle of the pack with nationwide foreclosures. Although nowhere near Las Vegas, etc. the trend is we [...]
Top 10 Most Popular Hawaii Real Estate Listings
The Top 10 List is like a cross between a fantasy wish list and a forecast of the next properties to sell. Last June, our article about the Top 10 Listings generated a lot of traffic, and feedback. Everywhere from Youtube to iTunes, we all want to know what everyone else is looking at, what [...]
Oahu Short Sale Inventory Far Outweighs REO Inventory
On Oahu, inventory of short sale single family homes is nearly 10 TIMES that over REO inventory and condo short sales are almost 8 TIMES that of REO condo inventory. As of today, there are 18 available single family home REO listings on the market. There are an additional 40 in escrow right now! Meanwhile [...]
Foreclosures and Short Sales at Hualalai Resort, Big Island of Hawaii
As I mentioned in my last blog Sales at Hualalai Resort, home of the Big Island’s luxurious Four Seasons Resort continue to soar. The sales story this month also include foreclosures and short sales. A few months ago Katie Minkus, Hawaii Life’s Big Island Broker-in-Charge blogged about a foreclosure auction at Hualalai. One of the [...]
Fun at Kukio Resort, Big Island of Hawaii
Kukio is the Big Island’s most gracious and private residential club community, located approximately 10 minutes north of Kona International Airport. It is 1,100 acres of oceanfront property that embodies an elegant Hawaiian luxury lifestyle unmatched anywhere. The magnificent community and luxurious amenities found at Kukio, coupled with the near-perfect South Kohala climate, makes Kukio [...]
An Honest Real Estate T.V. Ad
I saw the Best Real Estate Ad Ever posted at one of my favorite blogs, Future of Real Estate Marketing, and I had to share it with our readers! I have to give credit to our Principal Broker, Matt Beall, for finding this. It’s not the way Hawaii Life Real Estate does business, but it’s [...]
ADU Extension Bill passes Kauai County Council
Kauai’s County Council voted in favor of Bill 2322, which extends the deadline to construct an Additional Dwelling Unit to 2014. Similar to the previous extension passed in 2006, this bill also will only allow for owners who have obtained their Facilities Clearance Form (and other requirements) to construct an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU). In [...]
Why Do I Need A Title Company To Purchase Real Estate?
If you’re going to buy a home in Hawaii then you will need to determine whether any person other than the seller has any right, lien, claim or encumbrance on that property so that you can be sure you are buying the home free and clear. This is where a Title Company comes in. A [...]
How to Buy a Bank-Owned Home (REO) in Hawaii
The onslaught of REO (bank-owned) listings in Hawaii comes with some challenges. If Realtors aren’t properly prepared to package their buyers’ offer, and aware of banks require, then what should be a relatively straight-forward process can be really challenging. Fortunately REO Agents and Certified Distressed Property Consultants at Hawaii Life are available and well-versed in [...]
Talking Story with Lucy Clark, RB, about North Kohala, Big Island
When I first moved to the Big Island from Oahu I truly thought things would be the same with the exception of lava – lava everywhere. But I was wrong. Life on the Big Island happens a little slower than on Oahu (although to outsiders, even Oahu moves slow)… for which I am grateful. When [...]
Kona Coffee Farms Make Great Vacation Homes
I am working with a couple from California who wanted a vacation getaway. The congested resorts and condos are not for them. I suggested a small Kona coffee farm. Coffee farms here in Kona can often sell for the price of a condo or small home elsewhere. For this couple a small coffee farm sounded [...]
Kauai Beach Resort turning from Hilton to Aqua
Looks like more change is afoot at one of Kauai’s east side luxury resorts and condo-tel properties, the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort. Aqua Hotels and Resorts took over management of the property a couple of months ago and was negotiating with the Hilton franchise for the continuation of using the Hilton moniker. According to the [...]