Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers

Taste of Hawaii – Kauai’s Ultimate Sunday Brunch (June 3, 2012)

Ron Margolis, RA, ABR — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:19:21 +0000

Taste of Hawaii is Kauai’s Ultimate Sunday Brunch™ which provides the primary source of fundraising for the Rotary Club of Kapa’a's (RCK) annual operating budget.

RCK started Taste of Hawaii in 1988, as the first event of its kind in Hawaii, and it has grown into the premier culinary event on Kauai and in Hawaii. The finest Chefs from around the state gather to provide our guests with a tasting extravaganza second to none.

Taste of Hawaii is:

40+ chefs from restaurants around Hawaii
15+ beverage vendors – wine, beer, microbrews, Jamba Juice, Starbucks
10+ musical and entertainment groups
A large silent auction
Smith’s™ Tropical Paradise stunning 30 acre private park
Parking and shuttle service to/from Smith’s™

Taste of Hawaii Raises Funds For:

Scholarship programs for college-bound high school students
Scholarships for vocational studies for community college students
Recognition of Outstanding Humanitarian Vocational Contributions

Community projects that give financial support directly other non-profits or community organization that provide or support:

Youth programs (e.g. holiday gifts for children, baby supplies for young mothers)
Programs for the homeless and hungry (e.g. donated funds to Hale Hoomalu, Kauai Food Bank)
Local town refurbishing projects (e.g. refurbish/paint local park facilities, picnic tables, pavilions)

Youth services including:

Kapaa High School Interact Club
Kauai Community College Roteract Club
Sponsorship to Rotary Youth Leadership Association Camp
Recruitment and selection of Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarship Recipients

If you are on Kauai for this years event, Sunday, June 3rd, by all means you’ve got to go. You can purchase tickets online or by them at ticket locations around the island. You can certainly call me if you have any questions at all, 808.346.7095.

Great Price: Fully Furnished Ground Floor Condo at Waikoloa Resort

Dan Fumento, R(S) and Marion Fumento R(S) — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:15 +0000

This 2-bedroom Fairway Villa at the Waikoloa Beach Resort (MLS# 253939) is only $325,000.

Good deals are harder and harder to find with the low inventory in the resorts. We showed this unit the other day. It’s a desirable ground floor unit on the golf course and is in great condition.

The condo is 2 bedrooms with 1,033 square feet. It is not a short sale and is being sold fully furnished, including all linens and kitchenware, so it is move in ready. At $325,000, this is a good buy as prices have been inching up for resort condos.

The Fairway Villas is an easy walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants and the condos here rent well because of the great location in the resort. Only on the market 8 days, this will go quickly.

Where Can You Buy a B&B For $399,000?

Heidi White, R(S) — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:15:27 +0000

In Kona, Hawaii! Well, it’s actually considered South Kona, on Middle Keei Road above – and with expansive ocean views – of the beautiful, historical Kealakekua Bay!

This home (MLS# 252489) is being offered for $399,000

A previously operating B&B named “South Kona Hideaway“, this property is on an acre of land in the prime Kona coffee growing area! So, plant coffee and have your own organic garden. Boy, if you snooze you loose on this one. It’s a short sale, so closing will not happen fast, but it will be worth the wait!

I love to go swimming in Kealakekua Bay, often with dolphins and whales nearby me in the water in season

It is a dreamy location for sure! We are seeing prices at the rock bottom. With the inventory drying up, this property will soon be snapped up. We won’t see home prices get much cheaper.

Kailua Beachfront Luxury Estates Attract President Obama and High Profile Vacationers

Sandra Sagisi Moser, RA — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:30:31 +0000

President Barack Obama's Hawaiian beachfront getaway

President Barack Obama loves Kailua so much that he returns again and again. The rental that the First Family retreats to each Christmas (MLS# 1205217) is back on the market, listed at $9.8 million. The home is a five-bedroom luxury beachfront, with 6.5 baths sitting on a 33,811 sq. ft. lot. The master suite faces sapphire waters, set on a private beach, similar to Blue Lagoon.

Who wants to dine out when you have a kitchen like this?

The only drawback is that you will have Secret Service members swarming the place each December, as long as Barrack Obama is in office, and if he indeed continues to vacation in Kailua.

Another Lanikai Beachfront Estate

And just down the street, take a stroll through Beachside and Lanikai and you will find other beachfront estates. Endless views of the vast Pacific ocean with both sapphire and emerald waters. This exotic Lanikai wonder below is located at 1600 Mokulua Dr. and continues to be a draw.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than I am speechless!

Pre-approved buyers who are ready to offer on any of these and other Windward luxury oceanfront estates, call me.

Best Buy in Kukio Real Estate

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:41:56 +0000

Since I’m writing about what I consider the current best buy in real estate at the exclusive Kuki’o resort, you may think I’m going to talk about the home that is to be auctioned May 24, 2012. You might especially think so if you’ve found your way to this site via my guest blog post on the Concierge Auctions website.

That 5-bedroom, 5,456 sq. ft. home on Lot 57 may well end up being a great deal for someone. Pre-auction price of $9,750,000…bids on this Kuki’o home (MLS# 245643) begin at $3,995,000 and if it is any indication, the “buy it now price” (meaning, that’s what it is listed for in the MLS) is $8,195,000.

This home at Kuki’o Phase 1 Lot 57 is set to be auctioned on May 24, 2012…bids start at under $4 million

Is the Kuki’o Real Estate Auction a Best Buy Opportunity?

Now that we have a number of real estate auctions completed on the Big Island (and elsewhere in Hawai’i), I’ve reached some conclusions about how to judge the success of an auction. For you as a prospective buyer, the key is to know the comps, just as it is in any real estate purchase.

The starting price for the auction on the Kukio home is $3,995,000…and the vacant lot next door is listed for $3,250,000. One way for a prospective buyer to calculate how much they’d be willing to pay for this home would be to think in terms of replacement cost. If you are buying at this level you probably have a good idea of cost/sq. ft. to build in your neighborhood, but keep in mind that construction costs are higher in Hawai’i.

Then add something because the residence comes furnished…and one should think in terms of $100/sq. ft. just for interior design. Of course, as with all properties conveyed at Kukio, the sale of the property does not include the cost of membership in the private equity club (the fabulous amenities are, after all, the reason to buy at Kukio!), and the terms of an auction include a buyer’s premium whereas the seller pays commissions in a regular sale.

Best Buy Pick: Kukio Residence Phase 3 South Lot 6

The “wow” factor on this Kuki’o residence begins with the stunning waterfalls at the entrance

Another way to decide what would make this home a “best buy” would be to look at other homes for sale at Kukio. A few days after my partner, Pam Deery, R(B), and I viewed the home at the sunset Broker Preview sponsored by Concierge Auctions, a few of us from Hawaii Life jumped in with the Kukio Properties sales team to do just that (remember, they represent the sellers, and you as a prospective buyer do have the right to your own representation).

Since the “buy it now” price (doesn’t that sound a little like eBay?) on the auction property is $8,950,000, we looked at another home for sale at $8,900,000. That second property, the Kukio home in Phase 3 South Lot 6 (MLS# 248987), won hands down.

What did we love about this 4-bedroom, 7,669 sq. ft. home that made us prefer it to the property up for auction, at least at that price?

How brilliant is this design? Home theater below main home has waterfall on one side, underwater view of pool on the other

Sheer “wow” factor. We see a lot of properties with exquisite finishes, panoramic views, big pocket doors opening up to the pool area for indoor/outdoor living, multiple private guest suites. This home stood out from the moment we walked across the entrance bridge flanked by waterfalls cascading down to a lower level. In contrast, the entrance to the property being auctioned seems like wasted space (although it was a great place to sit and make private phone calls in the midst of a broker event because no one was hanging out there!)
Distinctive floor plan. Among our favorite features of the layout were the indoor/outdoor family room next to the pool (perfect for those of us with fair skin) and the home theater on the lower level flanked by the “waterfall lounge” on one side and the “pool lounge” on the other. Yep, if you are bored with the film, you can watch the waterfall…or an aquarium-style view of who ever is swimming in the pool!

Clearly, the photos do not do this property justice, as the money shots of the two homes taken from the pool looking back at the interior look virtually identical.

Of course, all of this bling means a lot more home and a lot more maintenance. If what you are looking for is a good solid property that has all the basics right, a nearly blank canvas to personalize with your artwork and taste, the auction property could be your key to membership at Kuki’o.

The Most Expensive Property Listed at Kukio

The most expensive home for sale at Kuki’o is listed for $29,600,000 (MLS# 250605)

With the heavy traffic we get on our Hawai’i Life website, those of us who respond to elite inquiries get a lot of questions about the most expensive property listed on the Big Island. Currently, that’s the residence listed for $29.6 million on Lot 87 at Kuki’o (just edging out the $28 million front row home at Hualalai Resort next door). For comparison purposes, we ended our tour at Kukio Phase 1 Lot 87, which has been on the market about 4 months and already turned down one offer.

Part of the price point is the view…although not oceanfront or even really that close to the oceanfront, the topography in front of the home and its perfect siting gives the impression of nothing between you and the ocean. Part of it is sheer size: 6 bedrooms, 9,382 sq. ft. interior with a total of 13,798 sq. ft. built on over an acre of land. Bedroom count misses out that there is a room for everything in this luxury residence: in the master suite wing alone there are rooms for working out, getting a massage, and his and her offices.

Who builds or buys a home like this? Remember that one of the features that distinguishes Kuki’o from Hualalai Resort is that there is no hotel, no vacation rentals, and a membership plan that only allows guests accompanied by owners and their direct family to use the amenities. At the risk of violating Fair Housing Act guidelines that make us hesitate to use the word “family” in describing real estate, there is no way to explain the Kuki’o Golf and Beach Club membership without making that distinction.

Interestingly, it is not only baby-boomers buying at Kuki’o these days…increasingly new members are in their 40′s, and yes, their parents are included in the membership benefits.

If Money is No Object…

If you are looking at the Kukio home for $29 million, but like many of today’s buyers want to know what would compare at other Kohala Coast resorts, I would suggest we view a handful of other properties.

This Hualalai Resort residence gets Balinese pod-style right (MLS# 250438) reduced to $16,500,000

My first “must see” is the newly constructed Bali-style home at Hualalai Resort listed by Hawai’i Life. Also on 1.33 acres, this property has the privacy that compares with the Kukio top home, and its dreamy Bali-style design and furnishings give it the “wow” factor. Sellers have already reduced their asking price from $18.5 million to $16.5 million…so let’s talk about offer price!

Oceanfront home for sale at Mauna Lani’s 49 Black Sand Beach (MLS# 249543) has mesmerizing views

This week, Pam and I had a sunset showing for clients at an oceanfront home at Mauna Lani’s 49 Black Sand Beach residential community. Another recently completed and never occupied home, for the buyer who does not need or want to pay for the level of amenities available to members with a real estate purchase at Hualalai or Kukio, this location is stunning.

The lot is extra-wide, allowing for more of the rooms to enjoy the oceanfront views. Offered for $11,900,000 beautifully furnished, Sellers have also turned down offers already…so sharpen your pencil.

A hui hou,

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
Direct: 808.443.4588
Email: Beth@HawaiiLife.com

Protected: Captain’s Blog – 5.13.2012

Matt Beall R(B), Owner, Principal Broker — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:02:50 +0000

No related posts.

Waikoloa Condo Sales Show Slight Drop in April

Pat Strausse, RB — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:52:46 +0000

Condo sales in Waikoloa Village are still on the sluggish side and actually showed a decrease in the number of condos sold, but there was an increase in average sales price.

April closed with a total of 4 condos sold at an average price of $165,775. This compares to March sales of 5 condos at an average price of $132,200 and just 2 condos in January and only 1 in February.

April Condo Sales

Less Distressed Properties

The number of distressed sales also fell to just 25% of sales with one short sale close. There were no REO, bank owned property, sales.

At this time there are 19 condos in escrow working through the sales process—11 of these escrows are either a short sale or REO. Of the 35 condos currently listed for sale, there are just 7 short sales and no REO’. This reflects the slowdown in actual foreclosures that result in bank owned properties.

These numbers are very different from most of last year that often had the Waikoloa condo market at 50 or 65% distressed sales. However the effects of distressed sales are still reflected in the listing price of condos with many now priced below $200,000—16 total at this time.

With an average sales price more in the mid $100,000′s, the gap between what sellers want and what buyers will pay is now a fairly small distance. Looking forward, I would expect many of the units priced below $200,000 will find buyers this year.

I Love the Big Island! Aloha.

Hali’i Kai Villa 9B Vacation Rental

Kahea Zietz, RA — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:00:22 +0000

Announcing Hali’i Kai oceanfront villa 9B available through Hawaii Life Vacation Rentals

Multi-level pool with ocean views

Book This Rental

Located in a gated community in pristine Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, this two-bedroom, two-bath villa with modern Hawaiian decor comes with access to the Hali’i Kai Ocean Club and it’s multilevel pool, lava rock spa, open-air fitness cabana, and on-campus bar and restaurant. Being situated amidst Waikoloa Beach Resort, within minutes are multiple world-class golf courses, tennis courts, both fine dining restaurants and charming cafes, boutique shopping and protected sandy beaches ideal for a lounging in the sun or shade.

An open-air fitness cabana with wintertime whale sightings

Highlights of this Hali’i Kai Villa

Full Gourmet Kitchen
Private Lanai w/ Gas BBQ and Dining Table
A/C and Ceiling Fans
Washer & Dryer
WiFi
Large Flat Screen TV
Ipod Docking Station

The lanai with dining table, a perfect venue for lunch or dinner

Gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops

The master bedroom with queen bed and modern decor

Book This Rental

Known for its perennial sunshine — hence its Gold Coast moniker — Waikoloa Beach Resort boasts some of the best ocean views on the Big Island, with regular wintertime whale sightings.

Aloha,
Kahea

Lava HOT Land Sales on the Big Island Being Driven By Low Residential Inventory?

Annie Mendoza, RS — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:34:09 +0000

Ask Big Island REALTOR(S) and many will tell you that interest in land is hot, and land sales are picking up!

Best Buys

Communities like Kauna’oa at Mauna Kea, and especially Kohala Waterfront, are very high on my list for “Best Buy” oceanfront and ocean view lots. Some of my other favorites include…

A Sandy Beach in Puako: Land with small cottages, like 32 Puako (MLS 250738) on the makai (oceanfront) side of Puako Beach, get snatched up and built on quickly.

Sunny Kohala: prices this year have been as low as $60K. One of my favorite pieces of land in Waikoloa Village (MLS 249174) sits on a bluff with killer ocean views!

What’s Driving Land Sales?

First of all, you’ll find plenty of variety, choice and amazing values on the Big Island; an island large enough to fit all the other islands inside of it, twice, with room left over.

Another factor affecting interest in land is the depletion of residential inventory in desirable neighborhoods at certain price points. This limits buyer’s choices, and has them considering building rather than buying an already built home. This plays into the buyer’s favor who will get exactly what they want when they build the home themselves.

Right now, it looks like we are on track to exceed the $136M+ volume for Big Island land sales in 2011. The $32M+ currently in escrow will likely bring end of June total land sales to approximately $90M. Which means by mid-year 2012, Big Island land sales should be roughly 16% ahead of last year.

Watch whales breach in season off the coast at Kohala Waterfront oceanfront community.

Once the inventory in this market is gone, will we ever see these prices again in our lifetime? That’s a tough question, but if you’re looking to buy in paradise and haven’t found the perfect home, then check out our amazing land values and let your dreams begin!

Grand Opening of Hawaii Life’s Newest Branch Office in Kailua-Kona

Claire K. Bajo RS — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:27:37 +0000

Come one, Come all! We’re having a Grand Opening Party on Thursday May 17th at our newest Hawaii Life Kona Branch Office, and Everyone is Invited!

Thursday May 17 from 4-8pm

Come join us, and learn more about what we do!

Hawaii Life has been an amazing office to work with! Because they are a marketing company (opposed to just a brokerage) the way they do business has a different perspective than any other Real Estate company that I’ve worked with previously. So much of what they do is to enhance the experience of the Buyer, the Internet Inquiry, the Customer. And because of the highly trafficked website www.HawaiiLife.com, the 100-200+ real estate leads per day feed the Sellers we attract—meaning we tend to sell our listings more quickly.

75-5660 #A2 Kopiko Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Located right in the middle of town, below Longs in Kona at Lanihau Center, we are conveniently located with easy access for our Clients, and are within close proximity to our business and Realtor network affiliates.

Come Party with Us! Hawaii Life has great parties, and we are looking forward to a wonderful celebration! Meet our Owner Matt Beall, and our awesome Brokers-in-Charge, Katie Minkus RB, and Margaret Reynolds RB, along with all of our fun Kona agents! We always have a great time, no matter what we do, and we are looking forward to having a blast with You!

Call 808-756-4874 if you need directions or would like to find out more about Hawaii Life and our Hawaii Life team of agents! Come Celebrate with Us – E Komo Mai!

Blessings & Aloha~ Claire K. Bajo RS SRES | claire@hawaiilife.com