Networking is a wonderful thing. On Saturday, I was out on an early morning paddle with the Kihei Canoe Club and a fellow paddler asked me if I were going to the sand sculpture competition. I had no idea that there was a competition like that here. When I lived in Los Angeles, I went to the sidewalk chalk art festival a few times, but never a sand castle competition. I thought it would be a great way to spend a little time before I went to my open house at a new listing of mine (Maui Kamaole, Unit A101, MLS# 34440). Read entire post →
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 →
The Kamaole Sands: a blue chip rental property across the street from Kamaole III Beach. Perimeter units with partial ocean views begin in the low $300K’s.
Many of my clients plan to live on Maui for extended periods when they retire, and I always encourage them to think about how the prospective condo will fit once they make that move. I’m currently working with a couple who is shopping for a vacation rental condo, loves the conveniences and beaches of South Kihei, and cannot envision themselves living on Maui without at least a peek of the ocean from their lanai or living room. They have a ceiling of around $300,000. Read entire post →
This APPROVED Short Sale at Keonekai Heights is a tremendous value at $520K
This 4 bedroom / 3 bath Kihei home sits on a large lot
Looking for an amazing value in Maui real estate? How about a home that sold for $735K in 2004 and is now listed for sale at $520K? That’s $215K off this Kihei short sale (MLS# 339677).
Keonekai Heights is a highly desirable Kihei neighborhood, popular among residents and investors. Boasting 2,641 spacious feet of living space, this 4 bedroom / 3 bathroom home sits on large 10,062 square feet lot.
For many potential buyers, the lure of offering on a short sale property is lost when taking into account the lengthy and complex process. However, this is an APPROVED Short Sale, as the lender has accepted the listing price and the property can be sold relatively quickly, provided that pertinent contingencies are met. Read entire post →
I just saw this sweet listing (MLS# 343714) today on Broker’s caravan.
96 Alena Place offers 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a pool!
The property is located in the Waiohuli Estates area of Kihei, very close to Kalama Beach Park, shopping, movie theaters and restaurants. And, it’s not even a short sale! List price is $544,500. One of the best features of the home is the recently re-tiled backyard pool. The covered back lanai is perfect for outside dining.
There are many more things to do, see, and experience other than driving to Hana, going snorkeling at Molokini, or visiting Hilo Hattie’s (not that these are not fun things to do). Here are my top 6…in no particular order:
1. Obon Festival
Obon, or just “Bon,” is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. The custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday in which families visit and clean their ancestral graves. It has been celebrated in Japan for over 500 years. With the influx of Japanese immigrants in the early 1900’s, the Obon custom was quickly adapted to the Hawaiian lifestyle. Each of the Buddhist temples will hold their own festival consisting of a service and lots of food, and culminating with the Bod Odori (dancing). In this clip, women dressed in colorful yukatas (light cotton kimonos) and men in happi coats dance around a yagura (bandstand) to singers and drummers. Colorful lanterns light up the night and transport you to a neighborhood festival in Japan. Obon season begins in June and ends in late August. If you are visiting on a weekend during those months, you may want to check out one of the festivals. You won’t be disappointed.
One sign that construction may be picking up again is that Towne Island Homes (one of the island’s bigger developers) announced this week it is resuming work on two Maui projects.
As recently as February, Towne Development asked the Maui Planning Commission for an extension on the completion deadline for its Ke Ali’i Ocean Villas in Kihei. It has built 111 units of an eventual 144 condominiums, and now it has started another 11, according to Vice Chairman Christopher Lau.
“We are seeing the market move in a positive direction, at a steady pace,” he said. “We anticipate making additional announcements regarding our plans to resume construction at other locations in Maui and throughout the islands before the end of this year.” Read entire post →
It seems that we are at the start of a slow but permanent rise of the south Maui real estate market, but only time will tell for certain.
It is easy to become overly emotional and biased when discussing the current state of the Maui real estate market, but numbers go well beyond sentiments to reveal more than meets the eye. The Realtors Association of Maui released its official sales statistics for the month of May. Below is the breakdown for sales in South Maui:
South Maui Single Residence Sales in May
There were 23 single family residences sold in May in South Maui, compared to 24 in April, and only 13 in May 2009. Average Days on Market (DOM) remains at approximately 132 days, but keep in mind that that figure includes the usual 30-60 days for escrow. There were 15 properties sold in Kihei with a median price of $501,000, compared to 20 last month and 10 a year ago. Maui Meadows saw 3 sales with a median price of $ 775,000, compared to 2 last month, and no sales a year ago. The Wailea/Makena district saw 5 single family residences close at a median price of $1,265,000, compared to 2 last month, and 3 sales a year ago. However, of key note is the volume of the Wailea/Makena sales totaling a sales volume of $22,043,000. Read entire post →
A newly listed Villas at Kenolio corner unit condo (MLS# 343577) offers a tremendous value for Maui home buyers.
Villas at Kenolio in Kihei
Price of $253,689 is $96,311 and $61,311 below 2 similar REO’s sold in this complex in the past 6 months!
To put the potential value in perspective, in the past six months there have been two sales of units the same size in this complex: In May an REO (bank-owned) unit sold for $350K and in March another REO (bank-owned) sold for $315K. And currently, there are two other 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom units available for $ 449K and $ 359K, respectively. Remember, this unit is a traditional sale, NOT a Short Sale or REO/Foreclosure!
Yes, this Maui Meadows home (MLS# 343537) listed for $549,900 sold in 2007 for $950,000 with a current county assessed value of $1,007,000.
Listed at $457,100 below county assessed value!
Price: $549,900 County Assessed Value: $1,007,000 2007 Sales Price: $950,000
As with most bank owned properties, it does need some work. 3149 Akala Drive (MLS# 343537) is 3 bedrooms, 3 baths on 2 levels. It’s gated and the house sits on the upper edge of the lot with a long driveway leading to the house. There are numerous fruit trees on the lot, and with some trimming I’m certain you can see ocean. There is a storage room at the back of the property that would make a perfect play house! Read entire post →
