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Oceanfront parcel One Puako bay

Oceanfront parcel at One Puako Bay (MLS 215500) is 6.76 acres of quiet black sand

A year ago I wrote a primer on the topic of what someone buying oceanfront property in Hawai’i needs to know.  In it I explained that “conservation” is the land use designation generally applied to coastal lands. Now, for the first time in 16 years, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is reviewing the rules pertaining to areas zoned conservation. The most significant proposal would specify the shoreline building setback to be 40 feet from the certified shoreline PLUS 70 times the average annual coastal erosion rate. (The public comment period lasts until September 7th if you have an interest and want to register your opinion).

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unit is second floor

Price reduction on this awesome Kona Oceanfront

It’s been over 7 years since one of the 6, end units, came up for sale at the Casa De Emdeko here in Kona. It is awesome! All you hear is the lulling sounds of the ocean. Peace…far away from road noise, yet close to everything. Seeing is believing.

This 2 bed / 2 bath unit (MLS# 236598) has ocean views from bedrooms, living room, and kitchen. Wrap around lanai gives lots of outdoor living area. Nearly 1,300 sq ft of relaxed living!

Original List Price: $519,000
Current Asking Price: $469,000 (-$50,000)

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Sunset along the North Kohala coast

These North Kohala coastal luxury “best buys” share sun-setting-into-ocean views (MLS# 235911)

What makes a $2.2 million home a “best buy”? Last night at dusk I was standing on a near-oceanfront lot with the developer of Ranch at Puakea who is about to break ground on his own home there. Referring to a listing I have at Puakea Ranch (MLS #235911) across the road, we mused that right now in North Kohala you can buy a luxury home on acreage for less than it will cost him to build, not even factoring in the cost of his 20-acre lot. Of course he’s besotted with his special spot and so building is the right choice for him. But looking at the four homes currently listed between Kohala Ranch and Hawi at around the $2.2 million price point, there is something to be said for being able to move right in!

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The Wealthy are Winning!

Posted by Glenn Forman, RA on August 17th, 2010 | Tags:

How great is to to be really wealthy? Definitely, the right team to be on. The wealthy are winning. Not again, but still winning. Read entire post →

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For those of you who aren’t familiar with house and cottage it’s a common term for buying two houses together in Hawaii.

I have sold allot of house and cottages. The reason I have sold so many is that the numbers work. Once you start adding up your mortgage, taxes, utilities, and other expenses, the added rental income makes a huge difference.

Let’s look at a simple math equation. If you pay $600k for a property and Read entire post →

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Realtors Flock to Hawaii Life on Maui

Posted by Matt Beall, PB on August 10th, 2010 | Tags: ,

Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point (among other books), says that “…word of mouth is something created by three very rare and special psychological types… Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen”. I think Malcolm would see a very familiar pattern playing out with Hawaii Life on Maui. In the last few months, more than 10 Realtors have sought out Hawaii Life and joined our team on Maui, bringing years of experience and a wide variety of professional designations with them. What makes more interesting is that we haven’t been recruiting. Everyone on our team has come to us because they’re just the type of ‘Mavens’ that Gladwell talks about:

Kathleen Wilson, R(S)

Kathleen Wilson, R(S) brings her dynamic spirit and powerful focus with her. She’s an REO Specialist, which gives her a keen insight into the facts about the current market from a very analytical point of view. Consistent with being an REO Listing Agent, she works harder than anyone we know… and is incredibly responsive. E-mails, texts, instant message chats, phone calls… they’re all utilized to the fullest degree. She brings with her a full-time assistant, who also happens to be a licensed commercial broker. If you want the inside scoop on upcoming foreclosures on Maui, call Kathleen. She always has REOs in the pre-marketing pipeline. In her few short months with Hawaii Life, Kathleen has already closed several transactions and continues to bring on priced-to-sell inventory.

Kevin Spaise, R(S)

Kevin Spaise, R(S) is the author and publisher of the 400-page Maui Condo Book. There isn’t a condo complex on Maui that he doesn’t know about. He’s a walking encyclopedia. Publishing and selling such an extensive resource for condominium information on Maui has also provided Kevin with powerful relationships throughout the real estate industry. Real Estate brokers and agents, title and escrow companies, appraisers and lenders have all utilized Kevin’s knowledge-base. Kevin has called Maui home for over 10 years, and has intimate knowledge of South Maui, as Kihei is home for he and his wife Sherry. He’s done an excellent job at sharing Hawaii Life’s value proposition with Sellers in South Maui, as he brings new listings to market regularly.

Ken Molina, R(S)

Ken Molina, R(S) was born and raised on Maui, and has been licensed to sell real estate for over 20 years. He’s a graduate of Maui High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He’s earned a variety of sales accolades and professional designations along the way. He’s a designated EcoBroker, a Senior Real Estate Specialist, a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR), and also a Certified Energy Surveyor. He’s contributed excellent articles about home energy use, and his appreciation of architecture. He currently lives in Kihei’s Maui Meadows subdivision.

Rustin Singleton, R(S)

Rustin Singleton, R(S) watches Maui’s real estate market like a hawk. “He’s almost like a stock-broker” says our Director of Sales, Tobi Fisher. Rustin knows West Maui and Central Maui extremely well. He’s like a bull-dog once he’s given any assignment. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Rustin excels and sifting through the inventory and finding the perfect property for his clients. His passion for his clients often leads to lifetime friendships. Rustin is married to a full-blooded native Hawaiian, who was born and raised on Maui, and who he credits with teaching him about the real “Aloha Spirit”.

Also among Maui’s new team members are Mariah Dunham, R(S) and Alex Cortez, R(S), who work as a team. Mariah serves on the fund-raising committee for Habitat for Humanity, and Alex puts his experience in the military to use in creating marketing systems for their clients.

We’re also welcoming Sage Spalding and Bob Whitmere. Sage owns a very popular outrigger canoe tour company in Wailea… (so if you ever want to see property from the water, he’s your guy) and Bob has been a Realtor since 2002 and now lives in upcountry Maui with his wife and child.

We’re pretty excited about the new team on Maui. All told, we’ve added decades of experience and numerous designations to our Maui office. And, there’s more to come! Stay tuned…

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Prospective buyers looking in the Hawi and Kapa’au area we call “Kohala” are often puzzled by the jump in prices from the little plantation-era cottages that today sell for $300,000 or less, to the $1 million and up range in communities like Maliu Ridge.  There doesn’t seem to be much listed in the middle.  That’s why I was so excited to see two great deals last week, one a price reduced short sale (MLS  235163) and one a new REO –the technical term for “foreclosure” (MLS 237400) – for under $500,000 !

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Located in Holualoa, down a private road this home or should I say homes is full of possibilities.

This is a fixer, but with a little TLC you could make this once ideal home into your perfect retreat

The main house has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths & a loft, with high cedar ceilings. The guest cottage has 1 bedroom, 1 bath. All for $352,690 (MLS# 236673).

The current assessed value is at $508,700—the asking price is 30% off fo this! Once you have repaired this home, you too will enjoy relaxing by the pool and hot tub, all while taking in the breathtaking Kona sunsets.

The historic village of Holualoa sits on the western side of Mt. Hualalai and is at a cool 1300 foot elevation. In the village you will notice it has many art galleries that show cases the work of many local artists, restaurants, cafes, deli’s, a post office, and Paul’s general store. Be sure not to miss out on your favorite coffee farm and sample the rich taste of Kona coffee.

View my favorite Big Island Foreclosures

Contact Tara Kelly, RS for more information (808) 542-6014

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Hawaii Life is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of our newest location at Puako Beach Drive on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast. We had a wonderful celebration this past Friday, with over 100 people in attendance, and a lot of big aloha from the Big Island.

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108 Kawailani Circle, Kihei (MLS# 344276) is an excellent buy at $389,070. This 4 bed / 3 bath home offers 1780 square feet of living area on two levels, along with a a direct access garage.

The open kitchen is perfect for today’s easy living lifestyle.

But wait… Not only is it a good buy, it is also a home that is energy efficient—for the most part. As I have stated in previous blogs, the biggest culprit in a non-energy efficient home is electric water heating. You are in luck here, however, because this home already has solar water heating.

Nonetheless, take a look with me as I point out a few ways in which this home could become even more energy efficient. Read entire post →

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