Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers » David E. Buck, R, BIC

Ossipoff Home For Sale with Expansive Kahala Views

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:50:20 +0000

There’s a new Ossipoff listing that hit the market today on Koloa St. in Kahala. Built in 1959, it is pretty well preserved for those that are mid-century modern fans. Like many Ossipoff homes on Oahu, this one was built on a prime location.

Front entry of Ossipoff home (MLS# 1201140) with expansive views of Kahala out the back yard…

Koloa Street is a sleeper of a street in Kahala. It’s one of the few where you can get views as some of the homes are perched up on a knoll. In addition, it is seldom these days you find an Ossipoff available for sale in Kahala. There are certain neighborhoods such as Waialae Nui Ridge, Diamond Head, and Puu Panini where you can find concentrations of these homes. So much of Kahala, on the other hand, has had places knocked down to rebuild.

Well preserved mid century modern kitchen

I think this is a great opportunity. However, if this doesn’t fit your budget or location, here’s a gallery of mid-century modern homes I’ve put together you may find interesting.

Diamond Head Home For Sale with Pool and Built in Alarm Clock

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:00:38 +0000

Roosters in Diamond Head?

Like so many people looking to get in on New Year’s resolutions, I’ve been waking up early to squeeze in an early morning jog. One thing I don’t recall hearing in 2011 were roosters in Diamond Head…

The first time I heard them a week or two ago, I thought I was hearing something. It must have been coming from the Honolulu Zoo? Today was the 3rd of 4th time I’ve heard them now on my morning jog (when it is still dark outside). Now that I’ve honed in on the noise, it appears to be coming from the City and County’s nursery area just on the mauka (mountain) side of Kapiolani Park.

City and County of Honolulu’s Nursery View Larger Map

There’s actually a home for sale that is adjacent to the area. It’s been on the market for awhile, however, I feel it is a great value and now it appears to have its own “alarm clock” nearby…

Diamond Head home for sale (MLS# 1109847) with morning roosters nearby…

Now, how many other Realtors do you know that wake up in Diamond Head and hear roosters? This is one of many reasons to work with a local Realtor to know what’s going on in your community…

Tomorrow’s Marketing and the Mobile Agent Today with Nobu Hata

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:03:12 +0000

Nobu Hata Speaks to Honolulu Realtors

I had the pleasure yesterday of attending a seminar hosted by the local chapter of YPN, which is the Hawaii Association of Realtors’ Young Professional Network. The title sponsor was Old Republic and the featured speaker was Nobu Hata of Edina Realty in Minnesota. Nobu is a nationally acclaimed speaker and contributing author for the National Association of Realtors’ blog.

Nobu Hata demonstrating Google’s new social aspect to search…Hawaii Life in #1 Spot

The Key Points

The topic was “Tomorrow’s Marketing and the Mobile Agent Today.” He packed in a lot of good content within the 3 hours:

Google is now factoring social into their search through Google+. A thumbnail of our own Katie Minkus’ face showed up under HawaiiLife.com as we appeared in the #1 Spot when he Googled “Hawaii Real Estate”
How much more empowered consumers are by the tools at their fingertips.
How mobile devices are making up a larger market share every day – 7 Million new cell phones were activated on Christmas Day!
The power of Google, tracking analytics and how to identify what works and what doesn’t.

What I’m pretty impressed to say, is our company is already aware of these trends and we will continue to keep up on them to stay ahead of the curve. What was exciting to see was the number of Realtors in the room with perhaps over 150 in attendance. Those that showed up see the power of internet marketing, the power of search and the power mobile devices. I saw a lot of people taking notes, which is encouraging. The question becomes, how many Realtors will actually implement some of the things he covered?

The Challenges

Not to discourage anyone, however here are some of the challenges:

He showed how it was possible to copy the HTML code off a site to copy what is working for another company. The challenge with this is Google recognizes “unique content” and that if you copy someone else’s site, you won’t get the credit. In addition, Google is always changing their algorithms, so what works today may not work tomorrow.
He recommended going to start a WordPress blog. This is a great recommendation, however unless anyone does blogging full time for a living, it will be very difficult to get the page ranking of a more established site. For instance, if I were to go write a blog post today on Diamond Head Real Estate on my own (new) site or were to write the same exact article on Hawaiilife.com, the article on our blog would actually show up. Why? because Hawaii Life has an established track record of authority with the search engines.

You know the saying that goes “if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them?” In order to overcome the hurdles above, I followed a similar path and philosophy of Neal Norman, Kauai’s top producing Realtor, Dano Sayles, Maui’s former Top Producing Coldwell Banker agent and so many other Realtors throughout Hawaii have decided to do. We joined Hawaii Life!

What other real estate firm in Hawaii do you know that has been nominated for national awards in the last few years and has cracked Pacific Business News’ Top 10 Real Estate Firms within a few short years of opening its doors? Feel free to contact me if you’re a Realtor here on Oahu and ready to take your internet marketing and presence to the next level.

Oahu Home and Condo Sales Took a Holiday in December

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:20:21 +0000

Resales of single family homes were down 14.5% and condo sales down 6.5% in December.

Every year, we typically see a dip in volume over the Holidays. However, this year was more significant compared with December of 2010.

This Waimanalo home (MLS # 1112647) is priced at December’s median price of $605,000

Meanwhile, the median price of a single family home on Oahu was up 3.4% to $605,000, which was the highest month in 2011! The median condo price was down 5% to $300,000. We’re also noticing a similar trend to November in that both inventory and listings are down significantly on Oahu, when compared to 2010. Once again, a great reason to consider listing your property…

This Ala Moana Hotel Condo (MLS # 1110106) is listed for December’s median price of $300,000

As always, all real estate is local. To find out what is happening in your neighborhood, contact one of our great Realtors on Oahu to see what is going on in your market, and if now is the time to buy or sell.

Neighborhoods “Hot” for Sellers

Home sales on the North Shore were up 60%
Home prices in Makaha-Nanakuli were up 41.2%
Condo sales in Makaha-Nanakuli were up 111.1%
Condo prices on the North Shore were up 87.1%

Neighborhoods “Hot” for Buyers

Home sales in Kaneohe were down 50%
Home prices in Aina Haina-Kuliouou were down 52.4%
Condo sales inMakakilo were down 77.8%
Condo prices in Ala Moana-Kakaako were down 44.7%

Real Estate For Sale Near the 2012 PGA Sony Open (Oahu)

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:40:43 +0000

Now that the PGA tour rapped up their Kapalua tournament last week on Maui, all eyes are on Oahu this week, as the Sony Open has returned to Waialae Golf Course here in Honolulu.

This home (MLS# 1112552) sits on the 12th Fairway of Waialae Golf Course

Waialae Golf Course is a private course and has been known for its challenges of playing in the wind. Fortunately, the wind has died off this week and the players should enjoy some great rounds. We’ve also experienced some phenomenal weather here lately on Oahu.

For those looking to own a piece of real estate here on Oahu to watch the Sony Open, there is only one golf course frontage home available for sale (above) this year. What’s bizarre is how low inventory is here now. There was a $3M sale in November and there were 3 available as recent as September.

View from Waialae home for sale (MLS# 1113017) that is available for $1,599,000

If you don’t have $3 Million for a home on Waialae Golf Course, there is one available (above) that has a great view for a fraction of the cost. Waialae Golf Course homes typically fetch the highest prices not just because of the Sony Open’s prestige, but because it happens to be adjacent to Oahu’s luxury neighborhood of Kahala.

If you’re a golfer and have a desire to live on a golf course on Oahu, there are several out there at much more affordable costs in other parts of the island on other courses. Here’s a sample of Oahu golf course homes I put together for you.

Oahu’s Million Dollar Home and Condo Sales For 2011

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:35:19 +0000

Oahu home sales above $1 Million were up slightly in 2011. There were 393 this past year, which was up over 2010′s sales of 379 homes sold.

This Portlock home (MLS# 1112517) can be yours for $14,888,000

Home Sales

The highest sale on Oahu in 2011 was an oceanfront estate in the Kailua neighborhood of Beachside that sold for $14,000,000. When you break down sales above $5 Million on Oahu, there were 9 sales above $5 Million, which was down from 10 in 2010. Today, there are 42 active listings above $5 million, so if you have the cash, there is lots to choose from…Here are some of the better homes available I gathered for you in my Oahu Luxury Home Gallery.

Condo Sales

The highest condo sale on Oahu in 2010 was 2 units combined at the Diamond Head Apartments on the Gold Coast that went for $4,673,300. Meanwhile, the close runners up were a tie with Hokua 36K and Hokua 34B/C each selling for $4,550,000.

I know there were several on the neighbor islands that fetched higher sales prices this past year, however, don’t count Oahu out of the picture yet. We’ve had many sales here in the past above $20 Million, some above $30 Million and there was also one above $40 Million. Stay tuned to see what the Oahu luxury real estate market has in store for 2012…

Canadian Buyers Happy with Oahu Condo Purchase

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:45:45 +0000

I recently had some clients from Canada come back to town to enjoy their condo I helped them purchase earlier this year for the first time. I am pleased to say, they are very happy. While just above freezing temperatures this time of year is considered “a good day” in Canada, our sunny skies, trade winds, and temperatures between 21-27 degrees Celsius are truly paradise.

We’ve seen a trend over the past few years with the weaker U.S. dollar, Canada’s wealth of natural resources such as oil and gas and have led Canadian investment in Hawaii to surpass Japanese investment. This is a trend I don’t see changing anytime soon…

Here’s what my happy clients allowed me to share:

“Our business dealings with Hawaii Life Real Estate was a pleasant experience. Their showings of the Diamond Head area were very informative and realistic to our price range. David Buck went above and beyond as far as returning our phone calls and relieving our confusions and concerns during the process. We highly recommend Hawaii Life Real Estate to any interested parties looking for their own foothold in paradise. They made our dreams a reality.”

Darren Wilson and Stacey Clayton
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Ossipoff Homes For Sale on Oahu – Mauka and Makai

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:45:12 +0000

It’s been awhile since my last article on Ossipoff homes for sale on Oahu. There are several that have come on market recently that are worth bringing to attention.

This Ossipoff home (MLS# 1113454) sits on over an acre on Makiki Heights

Unlike the majority I’ve written on the past that have been in Diamond Head and Waialae Nui Ridge, there’s a pair of listings up Mauka (in the mountains) in Makiki Heights and one Makai (on the ocean) in Lanikai. The two homes in Makiki Heights for sale are both owned by the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The one above sits on over an acre and is over 6,000 square feet under roof. The one below is on over a half acre and has over 4,000 square feet under roof.

This 2nd Makiki Heights Ossipoff home for sale (MLS# 1113452) has a pool and phenomenal view

Both of these Makiki homes offer a unique peace of history and will be well appreciated by any mid-century modern junkie such as myself. Below, you’ll find the latest Makai Ossipoff home for sale in Lanikai.

Enjoy views of the Mokulua islands from this oceanfront Ossipoff home (MLS# 1114072)

Once in a blue moon, you’ll come across an oceanfront home of his, however, they are much more rare…To get your hands on any of these three listings above, you’ll need anywhere from $3.6 to $6.8 million (asking prices). If this is out of your budget, however, and you can’t wait to own your own mid-century modern home, here’s a gallery I’ve created of other listings on the market. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, or have a mid-century modern home you’re interested in selling, contact me for more information.

Why Photos Matter – Smart Marketing Case Study on Ilikai Condos For Sale

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:51:45 +0000

Today, I decided to update my gallery of Ilikai Condos for Sale. As you’ll see, there aren’t too many there. Why? It is because even though I am a Realtor, I also think like a consumer and want to see more photos of a property. So, I decided to include only the ones where the primary photos showed something unique.

Generic MLS photo of Ilikai building exterior used by over 50% of active listings

So often in marketing you hear about a USP (Unique Selling Proposition). Why is it then that 9 out of 17 active listings (over half) at the Ilikai have the generic MLS photo of the building as their primary photo for all marketing?

Is it because the agents don’t care?
Is it because the agents are lazy?
Is it because the agents don’t know how to upload new photos?

In my opinion, none of these are excuses. If a seller hires you to sell their property and are paying you thousands of dollars in commissions, why wouldn’t you get the best possible photo up there for the primary photo? After working with hundreds of buyers, time and time again they tell me they skip over looking at properties with no photo, 1 photo, or the ones that have generic photos.

For example, if you were online looking for real estate (where over 90% of consumers are) and see the photo above on over half the listings, then see one like this below, which one would you take a closer look at?

This Ilikai listing (MLS# 1112757) is a great example of an agent who “cared”

This one above not only had a better primary photo, the remainder of their photos were done with effort and consideration. Now, this one below is an example of my last listing I had at the Ilikai.

Building exterior shot on my last Ilikai listing

I am not saying an exterior shot is the way to go for a primary photo, however, I do recommend choosing something that is unique and not so “cookie cutter” like over half the listings out there. The idea with a USP is to engage the consumer and convince them why your listing is the best one.

In a competitive building with 17 listings on the market, which one do you think will sell first? Here’s a hint: Of the last 19 sales at the Ilikai, only 3 (16%) of them sold with the generic photo example I used above. The other 84% that sold used a photo that was unique to their listing.

This case study is just one small example of Smart Marketing that Hawaii Life offers. If you are interested in learning more about how we List Property Properly, we are here at your service.

Oahu Needs Listings – November Housing Report

David E. Buck, R, BIC — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:30:54 +0000

When you look at the November Honolulu Board of Realtors statistics at a glance, it appears our market is relatively flat.

This Aiea Heights home (MLS# 1114521) is priced at November’s median sale price of $580,000

Home sales were up 1.2% from last year and condo sales were up 5.4%. The median price of homes was up 1% to $580,000 and the median condo price was down 5.4% to $295,000. That is where most publications stop. If you look closer at the numbers, Oahu is now becoming a seller’s market. If you own a home or condo on Oahu, now may be the time to consider selling.

Here is why:

New Listing Inventory for homes are down 14%
New Listing Inventory for condos are down 10.3%
Pending Home Sales were up 20% in November
Pending Condo Sales were up 18.3% in November
Average Days on Market for Home Sales dropped 12.5% to 35 Days
Average Days on Market for Condo Sales dropped 7.8% to 42 Days

These three factors of decreasing inventory, more sales, and shorter time to sell are all great signs if you’re considering putting your property on the market.

This Honolulu condo (MLS# 1110651) is available for November’s median price of $295,000

What neighborhoods were ‘hot’ for sellers in November?

Home sales in Moanalua-Salt Lake were up 1,200%! (13 sales compared to just 1 last year)
Home prices in Aina Haina-Kuliouou were up 32.3%
Condo sales in Kailua-Waimanalo were up 125%
Condo prices in Waialae-Kahala were up 80.5%

What neighborhoods were ‘hot’ for buyers in November?

Home sales in Kalihi-Palama were down 42.9%
Home prices on the Windward Coast were down 34.4%
Condo sales in Wahiawa were down 100%
Condo prices in Wahiawa were down 100%