Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers » Erik Hinshaw, R(S)

Just Listed – South Kona Mango & Coffee Farm with Spirit

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:36:29 +0000

The property stops you in your tracks and you forget, for a moment, that the rest of the world is out there.

Some properties have a special feeling about them and this leasehold Big island farm is one of them. I brought a Hawaiian coffee farm consultant to see the property and he couldn’t stop talking about it—and this guy sees a lot of farms.

Location

This farm is set on hillside which slopes down towards the ocean and looks out over one of Hawaii’s most sacred spots, pu’uhonua o honaunau or Place of Refuge (an ancient Hawaiian temple and now a National Park). It is easy to see why the Hawaiians chose this area for a temple. The seller named the farm “Sweet Spirit Farm” and you can learn the story behind the name at her website, www.sweetspiritfarms.com.

The Home

A newer home, built in 2004, with panoramic views sits at the top of the gently sloping property. A spacious lanai surrounded by lawn off the great room and master suite is the perfect place for watching whales, sunsets or star gazing. My favorite touch is a private outdoor lava rock enclosed shower off the master suite.

Coffee Processing

Next to the home is a state of the art coffee wet mill for processing the fresh coffee cherry. No expense was spared; concrete drying deck, stainless machinery and tanks, imported equipment. Nothing but the best for Sweet Spirit Farms.

The Farm

The majority of the 10 plus acres is planted in coffee and a variety of gourmet mangos. Both the coffee and mango trees are all just coming into maturity. The land is fully irrigated and although county water is available a catchment system was installed to save on the water bill and provide irrigation. There are a few remaining acres which could be planted in coffee, mango or another crop that would thrive here such as dragon fruit.

Worker’s Cottage

Near the bottom of the property is a newly built workers’ cottage. This one bedroom cottage is off grid with solar and propane for power. It’s perfect for housing workers or family. The main home is on solar as well but is connected to the grid.

This is a leasehold farm. The majority of the coffee, fruit and flower farms in the Kona Coffee Belt are leasehold. The lease rent is relatively inexpensive and I’d be happy to explain the ins and out of leasehold.

Looking for a modern state of the art coffee farm, in a gorgeous location with a sweet spirit? This is it (MLS# 250053).

Stylish Resort Home in Keauhou Estates Just Listed For Sale

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:22:43 +0000

Looking for a home with a stellar view, stylish interior, and a great indoor/outdoor layout? This Keauhou Estates home (MLS# 246326) should be at the top of your list. It’s the home most of my buyers describe when I ask what they are looking for.

As you walk through the courtyard entry and into the great room, straight ahead is a panoramic view over the lanai edged with an infinity pool. The master suite is to one side with panoramic views and guest suites to the other for great separation of space.

This past year, the majority of the sales activity in Keauhou Estates has been clearing out short sales, REO/bank foreclosures, and older homes in need of updating. Another home, built in 2005, sold for $1.3 million and was the highest priced sale in the past year. It was larger, but had two stories, which is not what most buyers are looking for these days. All of the other homes that sold were older and most were in need of updating.

For turnkey perfect, this home is the answer. It was a surprise. Usually, homes on the mauka (mountain) side of the street feel exposed and less private. This one doesn’t. There’s also something about this home that photos don’t capture. It flows well. I wasn’t the only one pleasantly surprised. Agent after agent walked in on a recent broker’s open house saying, “this is a good one.” It is simply designed well.

Keauhou Estates has always been a great location, just minutes from golf, the ocean, beaches, shopping, and restaurants, and it just got better. Sam Choy, one of Hawaii’s most famous chefs, just opened his namesake restaurant right outside the gates of Keauhou Estates. With one of the best views in Kona, if not the island, Sam Choy’s is already a local and visitor favorite; yet another reason to consider Keauhou Estates for your Hawaii home.

Check out this link for a Gallery of Keauhou Estates Homes.

Great Home in Keauhou Estates For Under a Million Dollars

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:00:31 +0000

There has been a lot of sales activity in Keauhou Estates this year. Many of these were distressed properties, both short sales and foreclosures. With those deals gone, today’s buyer looking for the next deal should consider well priced cosmetic fixers. Kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, and window coverings can all be updated—views and location are forever.

This home that was just listed in Keauhou Estates (MLS# 249082) fits that description. Priced at $945,000, it is also the lowest priced home currently available, and with a Hawaii Life value score of 92, it should be on anybody’s list if they are looking for a bargain in luxury homes here in Kona.

In addition to the wonderful view, it also boasts a great layout. It is all on one level, which is something more and more buyers are asking for these days. But it all comes back to the view, set nearly at the top of the subdivision, it has panoramic views from the great room and the bedrooms, all of which open to the lanai and pool area.

When this home was built, bleached wood, white appliances, white carpet, and white leather furniture were the height of style and the owner at that time spared no expense. Although a bit dated, it is in great shape and the new buyer may keep it just as it is.

I must admit, I like having an alternative to darker woods, granite, and stainless steel for a change and wouldn’t be surprised if this style came back in the next year or two, but for the buyer who wants something more up-to-date, all of that can be changed.

Overall, the home is light and bright, and that never gets old. Its indoor and outdoor layout, with most rooms opening to the pool and lanai, is also timeless. A nice touch, and unusual for homes of this age, is the over-sized master bathroom and closet area. It is a nice surprise and one which most of the buyers I have shown this house to find very attractive. Another good design feature is the great separation of space with the master suite on one end of the home with the guest suites at the other, which is another feature very popular with today’s buyer.

The average sales price this past year in Keauhou Estates was $950,000. The homes that sold around that price both had updated kitchens and bathrooms as well as good views and pools. One of the two was one of my past “Best Buys”.

Whether a buyer will step up for this home remains to be seen, but I definitely feel it is worth a look and have it on my list of homes I recommend buyers consider due to its view, layout, and location.

Kona’s Newest Luxury Best Buy is in Keauhou Estates

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:45:56 +0000

Will this beautiful home just listed in Keauhou Estates (MLS# 248815) break the $2 million dollar sales mark? I think it just might.

A little background first, no homes have sold in Keauhou Estates for more than $2 million since the financial crisis began in Fall of 2008. In the prior 5 year period, one in five homes sold in this gated community went for $2 million or more.

All of the other homes currently on the market in Keauhou Estates and priced over $2 million have been listed for a year or more. One has been listed for over 4 years. That’s a pretty tough market and I think there will definitely be some negotiating for any of these to sell. Full price offers and multiple offers are unlikely.

This lack of luxury sales is not limited to Keauhou Estates either. This has been a very slow selling price point for Kona. In all of 2010, only one home in Kona sold for between $2 and $3 million. We have had a lot more activity at higher and lower price points. This middle range has been extremely quiet.

But as time passes, the mid-range luxury market is finally starting to pick up. Three homes priced between $2 and $3 million here in Kona have sold so far this year. By the number of calls and inquiries I’ve been getting, and offers I’ve been writing, I predict a few more in this price range will sell before year end.

It is a tough price range for both buyers and sellers. Sellers are less likely to be distressed and therefore more willing to hold firm on price. Buyers have a lot of good choices and no buyer wants to overpay in what is still very much a buyer’s market. It’s all about negotiations and knowing the market in this price range.

So, back to the question at hand, will this home be the one? I think it just might.

Just listed, this fresh home has a lot to offer: amazing views, stylish architecture, a stunning kitchen, and a smart floor plan. Unlike the other homes currently on the market in the neighborhood, it was also just recently built in 2006. Most of the others were built during the Clinton years.

I have a few other homes on my short list of next to sell in this price range, but this one is definitely near the top.

Kona Lisa Coffee Farm Just Listed For Sale in Kona

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:30:11 +0000

One of Kona’s finest boutique coffee farms has come up for sale. This 9 acre leasehold coffee farm and ocean view home (MLS# 248268) is located on Painted Church Road and overlooks Kealakekua Bay. This farm is turn key and ready to go.

The current sellers knew nothing about coffee when they bought, yet have increased the yield and sales every year since. There is a wonderful community of coffee farmers here in Kona only too happy to help newcomers.

Monthly meetings of the Coffee Farmers Association spotlight whatever needs to be done, whether it is pruning, picking, planting, or roasting. If you like coffee and aren’t afraid of some hard work, you can certainly handle coffee farming. It’s not a get-rich-quick business, but more of a lifestyle—and not a bad one at that.

The home has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as well as a bonus room, which the current owner uses for an office and TV room; connecting the two is an over-sized ocean view lanai. After you spend your morning tending the coffee crop, this is where you’ll spend your evening watching the sun sink into the ocean.

One of my favorite features of this charming cottage is the tropical outdoor shower. Just off the lanai, it’s perfect to rinse off after working in the orchard, coming home from a swim at the beach, or well, just day-to-day.

If you have ever visited the Keauhou Farmer’s Market, then you have probably sampled the coffee of Kona Lisa Farm. They do an amazing job. They have even won the award for “Best Tasting Coffee” at the market. It really is one of Kona’s best—and that is saying something.

There are a lot of fans of their coffee and the sale includes a list of customers, many of whom are “Kona Lisa Coffee Club” members who have 2 pounds of fresh roasted coffee delivered to their door monthly.

If you are looking for a sweet home in an amazing location overlooking Kealakekua Bay, and think tending a coffee orchard and selling coffee might be fun, then this is it.

Price Reduction on a Sleek Ocean View Home at Keauhou Estates

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:45:25 +0000

The price on this sleek ocean view Keauhou Estates home (MLS# 246145) was just reduced $280,000 to $1,295,000.

That’s a great price for this size and quality of home in this premier neighborhood. With its styling and panoramic view, it is my guess that this will be the next Keauhou Estates home to sell. Quite a few luxury homes have been selling in Kona lately, especially in Keauhou Estates and its neighbor luxury subdivision of Bayview Estates. In the past year, in this neighborhood alone, 6 homes have sold and two are currently in contract.

With eight homes currently on the market, it is still a buyers’ market in Keauhou Estates, although less and less so as time goes by. It’s harder to find a great house at any price with inventories shrinking and few new listings coming on the market.

Keauhou Estates is right above historic Keauhou Bay and just minutes from shopping, beaches, and restaurants. For security, the community is gated. The landscaping is lush and tropical, no mistaking that you are in Hawaii here. The neighborhood is set among the links of the Kona Country Club’s Mountain Course.

The Kona Country Club is open to the public and has two courses, the Ocean Course down on the Bay and the Mountain Course in and around Keauhou Estates. If the ocean is more your thing, Keauhou Bay is home to the largest, and many say friendliest, Outrigger Paddling Club on the island, the Keauhou Canoe Club.

Here is a link to a gallery of Keauhou Estates homes currently listed for sale.

Two Great Kona Coast Bed & Breakfasts For Sale on the Big Island

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:45:18 +0000

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries from mainlanders looking to relocate to Hawaii who want to buy a bed and breakfast. Despite what many think, there aren’t many on the market. Right now, there are two in the Captain Cook area. Both are well established businesses although they have very different feels.

Aloha Guest House (MLS# 245446), pictured above, is high on the slopes with panoramic views of Honaunau and the South Kona Coast. It is a fully licensed B&B with 5 guest suites on the main floor and a common living, dinning, and kitchen area upstairs. This is where breakfast is served.

Also upstairs is a large owners apartment where you can get away from it all. Up a rough road and surrounded by coffee farms, and with 5 acres of citrus, flowers, and room for coffee, this is an amazing rural retreat, ideal for the adventurer traveler. The homes and grounds are in top condition and the property comes turnkey, so the buyer will have an income on day one.

The other B&B is Rainbow Plantation (MLS# 245157). This tropical hideaway is more centrally located with easy access. Set on 3 acres of dense tropical jungle, this is a bit more wild than Aloha Guest House. Popular with the budget crowd, this B&B needs a little TLC, but it is fee simple. You could purchase this one outright and it is priced right.

The third option is buying a home and applying for a special use permit for a B&B. The process isn’t too difficult; it takes about 6 months. You can hire a permit expediter, or do it yourself. You must meet a list of requirements, which I would be happy to discuss. I have my eyes on a few properties that would make great B&Bs, which I will save for another blog.

Holualoa Real Estate – Architect Lucky Bennett’s Personal Home Back on the Market

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:45:50 +0000

Architect Lucky Bennett’s homes go a long way in defining Kona style. Since the 60′s, he has been designing and building many of the Kona Coast’s most iconic and livable homes. His own home (MLS# 215277) was put on the market a while back and was in escrow. It just fell out and is back on the market.

In the last few years, I have received more inquiries about this house than any other. There is something about it that appeals to a large variety of folks. I love the property. It’s hard to describe as it’s so idiosyncratic. It’s more of a work study of an artist than one consistent vision. It rambles down the hillside, with each section a reflection of a different decade in this architect’s life.

The main section is clearly grounded in his classic 70′s California reclaimed redwood and brick meets the tropics with open walls. It’s all about the views and linking the indoors to the outdoors; all common stuff now, but groundbreaking when he first built it.

Also, the man liked to entertain. The home is built for enjoying it with friends. The kitchen opens to the brick patio with the pool, koi ponds, and hot tub all overlooking the mac nut orchard and Kona Coastline below. Sunsets from the patio are amazing.

All of this is set on over 7 acres of mac nut orchard and gardens in Holualoa on the slopes above Keauhou Bay. Surrounded by coffee farms, it has a very rural flavor, yet it is only minutes from the art colony town of Holualoa, and 15 minutes from the shopping, movies, restaurants, and beaches of Keauhou and Kailua Kona.

The price of $595,000 for this estate may seem ridiculously low. This is a leasehold. You are purchasing the right to lease the land, not the land itself. This is common in the Kona Coffee Belt, which this estate is smack in the center of. Currently, it is all but impossible to get financing for a leasehold, so it would need to be a cash offer.

The current lease is about to expire. A new 35 year lease will be offered, but any buyer will need to bring the farm portion of the property up to standard. Leasehold sounds more complicated than it is and I am happy to explain the pros and cons should you be interested.

Lucky Bennett designed several homes currently on the market. They are mixed in my gallery of architecturally distinctive homes on the Kona Coast. Take a look and see if you can guess which one are Lucky’s.

Hualalai Golf Villa Listed For Sale Makes Spectacular Vacation Rental

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:32:14 +0000

If you are looking for a luxury condo that you can rent out as a vacation rental when you are not using it yourself, then you would be hard pressed to find a better candidate than Golf Villa 1101 at Hualalai Resort (MLS# 242576).

This is the closest condominium residence to the Four Season’s Resort at Hualalai. That means walking distance to all the Four Season Hualalai has to offer; restaurants, the beach club, golf, and spa. Better than that to my mind, it also means you can order room service! Now that’s something not many luxury condos can offer here on the Kona and Kohala Coast; Four Seasons room service.

This is the kind of place you would be reluctant to venture out of, even though the resort is next door. With drop dead views of the ocean across the 18th hole, sunsets, and a white sand beach, where better to dine than the privacy of your own lanai? Still, it’s nice to know a car won’t be necessary to enjoy all the resort has to offer.

As you would expect with a property of this caliber, the interiors are furnished in an elegant style, but unlike many other condos on the market, this one has a sense of place; you are on the Big Island of Hawaii. A collection of Hawaiian artwork as well as the lavish use of island grown Koa hardwood throughout are great local touches. Another signature of Kona style is the lava walled outdoor shower off the master bedroom.

Best of all, the decorator knew not to compete with the location. The setting is the star here; the brilliant greens of the palms and golf course, the blues of the sky and ocean, the brilliant white sand of the beach, and the black lava outcroppings. At sunset a whole new set of colors take over and at night more stars than can be imagined.

Here at Hualalai there are larger homes, there are condos with broader views, and residences with more opulent decor, but when considering location, amenities, and style, to my mind, you can do no better.

Here is a link to a gallery of Hualalai Resort Real Estate.

Boutique Kona Coffee Farm Goes Up For Sale on the Big Island

Erik Hinshaw, R(S) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 01:46:28 +0000

A Kona coffee farm (MLS# 245661) has come up for sale. Kona King Coffee Estate is located in the heart of the Kona Coffee Belt in the small town of Captain Cook. This five-acre farm has everything you need to grow, process, and market your own coffee.

The recently built main house is sleek and contemporary with amazing views of the South Kona Coast, the ocean, and Kona’s famous sunsets. Surrounding the home are 5-acres of coffee trees, tropical flowers, a variety of fruit trees, and a collection of young tropical hardwood trees. Unlike most coffee farms in the area, this farm is fee-simple.

The farm has averaged just over 26,000 lbs. of fresh coffee cherry over the last three years. After processing and roasting, that amounts to approximately 3,800 pounds of roasted coffee bean. Currently, farmers are getting $20-$50 a pound retail for Kona coffee. An explanation of costs are available by request.

The property includes a contemporary view main home built in 2008, a small guest or workers cottage, a coffee processing workshop, and 2,500 coffee trees with room for another 1,000.Â The coffee farm is being sold with all equipment and transition assistance is available if desired.