HAWAI'I LIFELuxury Kauai Auction Sees Property Sell For Millions Under What Original Buyer Paid
The Kauai high-end market was recently part of a relatively new occurrence.
Hawaii Ocean View Homes – Protecting Your House From The Sun
If I had to pick one criteria in looking for a house, what would it be? For me, it would be an Ocean View. Great if it’s a Northern or Eastern view because you don’t generally have to deal with the hot afternoon setting sun, but if the view is towards the South or West, [...]
Undisclosed Short Sale Payments Should Be Illegal
Undisclosed payments in short sale transactions, especially those paid outside of escrow, may violate the law, including RESPA, laws against loan fraud, and licensing laws. Short sale agents have increasingly reported to have had requests for agents and their clients to pay junior lien holders and others, oftentimes outside of escrow. One common scenario is [...]
Hawaiian Legacy – Akaka Bill
Fear seems to be on the internet about the Akaka Bill and what that means to those non-Hawaiians that own land in Hawaii. Being of Hawaiian ancestry, I thought I’d add my 2 cents to the discussion. What are people afraid of? Are they afraid that the land will be taken away from them? Funny how [...]
Hawaii Government Employees Union Proposes “Temporary” 20% Tax Increase
On Tuesday, March 23, the HGEA plans to march on the state capitol to support a proposed tax increase by the state senate that would temporarily increase the general excise tax from 4 to 5% on neighbor islands or 4.5 to 5.5% on Oahu, a 20% increase in the tax. As quoted today by the [...]
Hawaii Life Inherits Maui Land & Pinapple Co. History
I love “Hawaiian Style” architecture so when Tobi & Matt let it be known that our office would be located at the old Maui Land & Pineapple headquarters, I was there…no questions asked.
Storm Brewing Over Hawaii Property Valuations
Whether a property owner is seeking a loan modification, pursuing a short sale, or the property has already been foreclosed on, the determination of value is key to the success of each of those transactions. Now a storm is brewing between appraisers and Broker Price Opinion (BPO) professionals vying for valuation work for short sales [...]
Entry Level Maui Home Buyers Compete For REOs (Foreclosures) & New Home Developments
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 [...]
Wall Street Journal Rates Maui #1 Place To Buy A Second Home
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 [...]
Hawaii Real Estate Continuing Education Going to 20 Hours
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 [...]