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Honolulu, HI Real Estate News

By David Buck, Realtor-Broker
(Harcourts Island Real Estate)
Did you know that you could buy a 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo in Honolulu for only $250,000?Hale O Kanoa #303 (MLS # 1008879) is Listed for Only $250,000Almost 6 months ago I wrote about some great 2 bedroom bargains under $300,000, which were great opportunities at the time. Now, interest rates are lower and here's something even more competitively priced. A few years ago, this price would only get you a studio unit in a condotel building in Waikiki or a 2 bedroom unit way out in Ewa Beach. Now $250,000 buys you a 2 bed, 1 bath unit in town!More »
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By Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, Esq. (B), REALTOR-Broker, CRS, GRI, ABR CLHMS
(Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers)
WORKING WITH THE SELLERPart One: Know Your LoanPart Two: Don't Sell a Short Sale ShortPart Three: Stay in Touch With Your SellerWORKING WITH THE BUYERPart Four: Prequalify Your Buyers. Part Five:  Show Me The Money. This is another aspect of commitment. When you have a short sale listing, you want buyers that are committed. That won't walk. That love the property. That are not making offers on every other short sale in town. You don't want to have to start over, particularly when the foreclosure clock is ticking. So make sure that your short sale offer or addendum includes a section that requires the prospective purchaser to deposit their earnest money into escrow upon acceptance of the offer from the Seller, NOT upon acceptance by the Bank, when most of the other time frames and the re...
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By Karina Kfuri Leal, ABR®, SRES®, PSA, Sales, Rentals & Prop. Manag. - FALO PORTUGUES!
(Leal USA Realty 561-350-3503 ( FALO PORTUGUES))
MY FIRST JUMP IN HAWAII Amazing day jumping in Hawaii, it was windy, filled with couds as it was a horrible raining day just a few hours before my jump, but by destine or luck, it opened up to a great day and I had an awesome jump. It was my first jump, and also the intructor's first jump in Hawaii. We were the first ones to jump and the last to land. Windy, Windy, Windy, and Awesome! I had no fear and felt very comfortable with the instructor. Thanks for this amazing experience. What a blast!  Palm Beach Flight Training/ Lantana Airport: http://www.pbflight.com/courses.php Fort Lauderdale: http://www.takeflight.us/rates.html
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
A recent article on RISMedia.com about selling Lifestyle to a real estate buyer brought home to me again "how lucky we live Hawaii," and specifically "how lucky we live Hawaii Kai."  The article said the Realtor professed to focus on the lifestyle needs of her clients, when her brokerage actually offered no proof that the buyer's lifestyle needs would be considered.  The author, Scott Petronis, makes the point that "Traces of lifestyle search offerings are slowly appearing on real estate websites, but have yet to put broker and consumer needs up front.  Meanwhile, most real estate sites and mobile apps don't even allow for such searches." What is Lifestyle?  You will have your own answers, but they might include how important are the schools, how long is the commute, what amenities are ...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos - Listing Alerts 8/25/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: *NEWLY ADDED Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings Short Sale Condo Listings Also, please feel free to visit our website, one of the most complete Honolulu Condominium Directories available online at www.HNLCondos.com DAILY BLOG!! Please take a look at our new Honolulu Condos Blog, where posts are written and published several times a week. You may note or click on the Blog website address, http://blog.hnlcondos .com. New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for August 25th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have ...
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
Recently, RealEstate Channel ran a post on the bargains to be found nationwide now in condos.  The author, Alex Finkelstein, states, "If you really want to live in a condominium home and not buy it as an investment to rent out, the entire United States almost is your playing field, according to a recent CNN Money snapshot of the market."According to the most recent tabulations by the National Association of Realtors, the national median home price is down about 23%.  But condo homes are down further, to about 25%, the NAR states.  CNN Money, however, found some condos and even a duplex and a starter home in good neighborhoods down at least 65% or more. While our Hawaii Kai community has not been as hard hit as many in the country with short sales and foreclosures, we have experienced a ...
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
There are several scenic trails in Hawaii Kai, but these two are some of the easiest.  One is a shaded walk through a tropical valley, and the other showcases a panoramic view of the Windward coast.Kuliouou Valley trail runs along Kuliouou stream, and is a 1.4 mile round trip walk.  The trail offers a valley "stroll" and is close and easy to do on an afternoon.  Turn mauka on Kuliouou Road and left on Kala'au Place, where there is a cul-de-sac for parking. (Photo courtesy of Mike Watson's Diary, who makes the note under the photo that this valley is one of the last refuges of the endangered Oahu Elepaio.)     Kaluanui Ridge, or Mariner's Ridge, is 1.5 miles round trip, takes about 45 minutes, and offers just spectacular scenery.  To find the trailhead, turn mauka on Keahold Street, left...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 8/11/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for August 11th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIOLANI NEW CONDO LISTINGS MAKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS WAIKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS To view all Honolulu condo listings please visit the MLS Search page on our Website or set up your own Listing Manager A...
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
Oahu Single Family Sales stayed flat for the month and over the last 2 years. Number of sales for July this year was 268, last year 266, 2008 - 268. Year-to-date, the sales were higher than both of the last 2 years. Number of sales for the year was 1,747, for last year 1,377, and in 2008 - 1,670. Median Sales Price also stayed almost flat for the last 3 years for July. Median price in July this year was $605,000, in 2009 $595,000, and in 2008 $620,000. Year-to-date, median sales price is up from 2009, but not yet back to the levels of 2008. For the year, median price is $585,000, for 2009 $575,000, and for 2008 $625,000. Days on Market show significant improvement, both for the month and year-to-date. For July, average DOM was 39, in 2009 - 45, and 2008 - 53. Year-to-date, average DOM i...
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The Senate has passed H.R. 5872, a bill to increase the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) multifamily commitment authority, and H.R. 5981, which would allow FHA to increase its annual premiums for its single family program.  Both bills passed the Senate last night and will now go to the President for his signature. H.R. 5872, which passed the House last week, increases FHA's commitment authority for its multifamily insurance programs by $5 billion for the remainder of the fiscal year. Without this increase, FHA would have exhausted its current authority sometime in mid-August and would have been forced to stop issuing any commitments to insure the loans in their current pipeline of applications until the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. HR 5891 will permit FHA to increase ...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 8/4/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for August 4th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIOLANI NEW CONDO LISTINGS MAKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS WAIKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS To view all Honolulu condo listings please visit the MLS Search page on our Website or set up your own Listing Manager Ac...
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
It's no secret that prices for Hawaii real estate are higher than most in the country, and our homes - condos and single family - in Hawaii Kai are more expensive than many other parts of Oahu.  Here are some ideas on planning ahead to save for a down payment, so when you find your dream home in Hawaii Kai, you'll be financially ready. 1.  Do some financial planning.  How much home can you afford?  What monthly payments including taxes, insurance, and homeowners fees (in a condo or planned community) are the maximum you want to spend on housing?  Take that monthly amount, convert it to mortgage payment, and then see how much house you can buy based on the amount of down payment you can add to that.  The conservative lending guidelines on FHA loans will limit how much you can spend, and ...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 7/28/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings Short Sale Condo Listings  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for July 7th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter.  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for July 28th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIO...
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
Hawaii has one of the largest senior populations of any state, and no wonder, with its good weather, possibilities for an active lifestyle, and acceptance of multi-generational/supportive housing choices.  Those of us in the real estate field have worked to let seniors "age in place" for years, but the concept is only now becoming mainstream in the rest of the country.  Hawaii Kai, because of the variety of housing offered there, and the proximity of services from the library to Costco, offers a beautiful and comfortable community to age in place.The idea basically means that seniors modify their homes to make them more user-friendly as they age.  There is now a  National Aging in Place Week, Oct. 11-16 this year.  Redesign can mean everything from ramps to replace stairs to the front d...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
More Good News for Metro Honolulu Real Estate Market The July 15, 2010 issue of the "Honolulu Star Advertiser" contained an article stating an overall drop in foreclosure filings statewide in Hawaii from last year.  Even better news was that the Honolulu foreclosure rate was the lowest in the State. The complete article can be read at the "Honolulu Star Advertiser" website, "State foreclosure rate easing". Please feel free to visit our website, www.HNLCondos, where you can view current Honolulu foreclosure and short sale property listings.
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By Barbara Abe
(East Oahu Realty)
The Green Home Market is getting a lot of publicity, and our Hawaii state government is trying hard to make Hawaii a friendly place to build green and live green. We have pockets of Oahu which are offer more new construction that others, but the trend to make your home Green is island-wide. Here's an update from RISMedia, about the current state of the green housing market. "Availability of loans, interest rates, tax credits, home affordability, and general economic conditions all influence housing trends. However, the primary factor affecting growth of green homes in any given area depends on where local government, designers, builders, and consumers are in their green education, adoption, and implementation. These groups all influence each other with some being more advanced in their ...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 7/14/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings Short Sale Condo Listings  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for July 7th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter.  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for July 14th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIO...
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Oahu The sales figures for June show steady growth year-to-year since 2008, which is very encouraging.  Single Family sales have increased from 231 in June, 2008, to 263 in June, 2009, to 285 in June, 2010.  The number of condo sales, while taking a dip in 2009, rose substantially this year.  There were 357 condo sales in June, 2008, 287 in 2009, and 396 in June, 2010. Year-to-date, both single family and condo sales dipped last year, but showed healthy gains over 2009.  Single family sales through the 1st six months of 2009 were 1,110, and 1,471 in 2010 - an increase of 32.5%.  For condos, sales through June in 2009 were 1,375, and in 2010, 2,008 units closed, up 46.0%. Prices have not yet reached 2008 levels, but do show stability during the last 2 years. Single Family median sales pr...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 7/7/10 Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings Short Sale Condo Listings  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for July 7th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS - No New Listings This Week DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIOLANI NEW CONDO LISTINGS MAKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS WAIKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS To view all Honolulu condo listings please visit the MLS Search page ...
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Honolulu Condos Lising Alerts 6/30/10  Please view the links below for this week's Listing Alerts. Don't miss the HOT LINKS at the bottom of this newsletter for such distressed property listings as: Lender Owned Condo Listings Lender Owned Single Family Home Listings* Foreclosure Condo Listings Short Sale Condo Listings  New Honolulu Condo Listings by Neighborhood* for June 30th, 2010 These condo listings are new listings that have come on the market for sale, since last week's newsletter. ALA MOANA NEW CONDO LISTINGS DIAMOND HEAD NEW CONDO LISTINGS DOWNTOWN/CHINATOWN NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAKAAKO NEW CONDO LISTINGS KAPIOLANI NEW CONDO LISTINGS MAKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS WAIKIKI NEW CONDO LISTINGS To view all Honolulu condo listings please visit the MLS Search page on our Website or set up ...
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