Posted by Jeremy Stice, R(S) on March 12th, 2010 |
Tags: Condos, For Sale, Foreclosures, Hawaii, Homes, Kahului, Kihei, Makawao, Maui, News, Pukalani, REO, Wailuku
The last 3 months have seen some serious bidding wars on properties across Maui, especially in starter homes in Kahului, Kihei, Wailuku, Makawao and Pukalani.
Maui starter home under $500K → | new Maui development projects under $600K →
As bank owned REO homes (foreclosures) come on the market, there can be immediate multiple offers. Many of these properties end up closing as much as 10% over the original asking price.
Our personal experience attests to this trend as we’ve successfully closed 4 of the 5 transactions where we represented a buyer competing against 5-20 other buyers on each respective property. Read entire post →
Posted by Ken Molina, RS on March 12th, 2010 |
Tags: Hawaii, Luxury, Maui, News, Wailea
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) lists Maui as #1 on the list of top 10 locations to purchase a second home.
WSJ singled out the South coast of Maui anchored by the resort area known as Wailea. Wailea, as it turns out, was one of the first master planned resort communities in the nation. WSJ says of Wailea, “(i)t’s a balanced blend of understated gated communities, luxury resort hotels, 3 excellent golf courses, a tennis center and of course, several crescent sandy beaches.”
For such a small island, we are ahead of the curve in so may ways. Read entire post →
CFL’s use approximately 1/4 the amount of energy needed to power an equivalent incandescent lamp.
CFL’s (compact fluorescent light) produce light differently than a normal light bulb (incandescent). If you had a lightbulb that was 100 watts, your replacement CFL would be approx. 25 watts.
That is where you will save money on your electric bill. The CFL lamp is more expensive than an incandescent to purchase, but is less expensive to use and maintain. It does have some heat as output but nothing near as much as an incandescent. CFL’s have become more popular with the availability of bulbs for different tasks; dimmable, 3 way, flood, spot and chandelier style. They are also more “easy on the eyes” with the availability of incandescent style light; cool white, brite white, daylight, etc.
There are even more energy efficient fluorescent tubes to replace the standard T12 (common ordinary tube lights). Those replacements are called T8 which emit 35% more light and are more energy efficient. (The T12 & T8 denote the diameter of the lamp T12 = 12/8 of an inch and T8 = 8/8 of an inch. Lamps are measured in terms of its diameter and I will leave it at that.) Read entire post →
The latest, newest, and hottest Maui Luxury Resort on the West Side.
Honua Kai—Maui’s premiere resort living.
I just recently closed on a studio unit at the Honua Kai, Hokulani Tower, unit 523 (MLS# 341243). The first night my wife and I stayed in it, we woke up to whales breaching right from our bed.
This beautiful unit not only has amazing ocean views, but is equipped with brand new, state of the art appliances and furniture including a big flat screen at the foot of the bed.
The views are amazing! I watched three different pods of whales playing while sitting on my lanai. The whales and a fresh cup of coffee; that’s a perfect way to start the morning. Read entire post →
3.875% loan with as little as 0%, 3.5%, or 20% down depending on what you qualify for.
This is a brand new 4 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,063 sf Maui home (MLS# 338214) in Na Hoku at Maui Lani. The property is located in a cul-de-sac with a fully landscaped yard, garden wall and fence. Upgraded appliances and solar are also included. Read entire post →
Posted by Tracy Stice, R, Broker In Charge, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, GREEN on March 10th, 2010 |
Tags: Agents, Big Island, Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, News, Oahu
Senate Bill SB2602, HD1 (PDF), has passed through final committee review in the Hawaii State legislature and will go to Governor Lingle for her signature. In a previous conversation between Governor Lingle and the Hawaii Association of REALTORS (HAR), Governor Lingle indicated that she would support the bill. This is a proactive bill supported and lobbied for by HAR Government Affairs Committee with the support of the Hawaii Real Estate Commission. Read entire post →
Honua Kai Resort is a beautiful place to stay because it is one of the newest condos on Maui, luxuriously appointed, and on a beautiful beach.
Even though this is a new complex it is not immune from our economic troubles and there are some distressed properties here with more to follow. Its only minor disadvantage is that it is over a mile walk from the main Kaanapali Beach hotel-condo resort area.
Special Values
- (MLS# 336670) Ocean views | furnished | 2 bed, 2 bath | Great location within complex – $1,729,000
- (MLS# 340246) Mountain views | 2 bed, 2 bath | Listed below developer price – $799,000
About
Honua Kai has two 10-story buildings with a total of 628 condo units, built in 2009. This is a modern luxury condominium with Read entire post →
Posted by Tracy Stice, R, Broker In Charge, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, GREEN on March 8th, 2010 |
Tags: Big Island, Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, News, Oahu
From your farmer, the president.
My fish pond is suffering, the taro is wilting and tangerines are not getting picked. It has been a busy, but very fast first two months. My term officially started Jan. 1 and I actually got 4 days off before we had our first executive board meeting. Since then, I have traveled to Hilo, Lihue, Palm Springs, Washington DC, and to Honolulu 8 times. Additional, I opened a new real estate office on Maui as BIC. In my spare time, my son Jeremy and I closed 6 escrows and took 8 new listings. Now you know why my chickens don’t get fed unless my wife Laura or my daughters Chloe and Brianna do it. Read entire post →
Posted by Kevin Spaise, RS on March 5th, 2010 |
Tags: Hawaii, Hoolei, Kihei, Maui, Sales Stats, Short Sales, South Kihei, Wailea, Wailea Point
I always look at market statistics with a skeptical eye, and as a potential buyer so should you.
South Maui’s upper end surged in February. One of the 14 closings was a 3-bedroom at Wailea Point, at $2.9M.
For example, last year about this time, in the depths of our market correction, a front page story on the Maui News trumpeted a blockbuster month of condo sales. Technically, the story was accurate. But buried beneath the headline was the caveat: of the 109 closings in January 2009, 65 of them were new project sales units, Kaanapali’s Honua Kai. The real picture was a bit more bleak, with 44 resales sold for the month.
Fast forward to 2010, and we show a 30% year to date drop in condo sales for January. But the real picture is a 39% increase when you filter out the Honua Kai sales for both years. Read entire post →
OMG!! You would think people never saw food before.
Maui’s “healthiest’” real estate offerings →
Last week the national health food store chain Whole Foods Market opened in Central Maui, luckily right around the corner from our new Hawaii Life Real Estate Maui Office. I had the pleasure of visiting it the second day it opened and had to circle the parking lot 6 times before stalking someone for a space.
I’ve been to a Whole Foods before so I knew what to expect but for some local residents this was their first time experiencing this gourmet shopping venue. The prepared foods section was jammed packed and people were wandering around star struck at the vast selections of everything from organic wines to the Shrimp Thai Basil Noodle Bowl that is prepared fresh and hot before your eyes. It was exciting to see people eating things that were good for them and making a conscious effort to be kind to their bodies. I grabbed a quick Kale salad and tried to bolt but ran into about 15 friends as I was making my way to the door. Not only good food but apparently Maui’s new social gathering place as well. Read entire post →
