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Honolulu, HI Real Estate News

By Kimo Stowell, REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
Before western contact mental illness was virtually unheard of in Hawaii. There are several accounting factors for this including: a culture that was very open, accepting, loving, nurturing, and more apt to respect ability and natural talent over discriminating views toward gender or sexual preference. However, the primary reason for the astounding mental stability of the native Hawaiian population is the tradition known as Ho'oponopono; the literal translation of which means "to make right".In ancient Hawaii there were three distinct classes: the Ali'i or chiefly class of nobles and royalty; the Maka'ainana, the commoners; and the Kahuna which was a broad selection of professional specialists that included master crafts-persons, healers, herbalists, hula dancers, agricultural geneticis...
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 25th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101 502 posts and about 375 hours later, here we are today. My odyssey in blogging germinated 20 months ago while I sat at a seminar listening to a talk about the power of the Internet.  It became clear then and that as time goes by the Internet will become more relevant to selling Honolulu real estate and traditional forms of marketing will go the way of the dinosaurs. Like many a Honolulu Realtor, I had a “static” website, just because you were supposed to have one, but there was no effort in addressing Google or the other search engines.  I could see that in addition to my strong client base, I needed a proactive plan to have my site show up on page 1 of Google’s organic search for Honolulu real estate.  As I write this blog post ...
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By Frank Diaz http://www.hawaiihome.biz
(East Oahu Realty)
East Oahu Short Sales Townhomes Condos East Oahu Short Sales Townhomes Condos for September 24 Diamond Head Beach Hotel, Hale Kulanui, Hale Kulanui, Ilikai Marina, Kaioo Terrace, Rosalei, University Court Apartments, Waikiki Imperial Apartments Address Unit # Nbrhd Bldg Name Int SqFt Lanai BR FB HB YB LT List Price $ SqFt DOM 1867 Kaioo Dr 209 209 WAIKIKI Kaioo Terrace 448 0 1 1 0 1978 LH $60,000 $133.93 112 1867 Kaioo Dr 110 110 WAIKIKI Kaioo Terrace 448 0 1 1 0 1970 LH $75,000 $167.41 298 2947 Kalakaua Ave 502 502 DIAMOND HE Diamond Head Bch Hotel 359 43 0 1 0 1969 LH $180,000 $501.39 157 1914 University Ave 208 208 MANOA-LOWE University Court Apts 521 75 1 1 0 1962 FS $205,000 $393.47 21 445 Kaiolu St 402 402 WAIKIKI Rosalei Ltd 477 90 1 1 0 1955 FS $210,000 $440.25 79 445 Kaiolu St ...
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By Frank Diaz http://www.hawaiihome.biz
(East Oahu Realty)
East Oahu Short Sales Townhomes Condos Short Sales for the week of September 20 AINA HAINA, HAHAIONE, KAIMUKI, KALAMA VALLEY, KAMILO NUI, MARINERS R IDGE, PALOLO , PAUOA VALLEY, ST. LOUIS, TRIANGLE, WEST MARINA SINGLE FAMILY Address Nbrhd Lnd SqFt Liv SqFt BR FB HB YB LT List Price $ SqFt DOM 594 Kealahou St KALAMA VAL 6,123 1,938 5 2 1 1974 LH $350,000 $180.60 16 2057B 10th Ave PALOLO 1,776 1,364 3 2 0 1960 FS $399,000 $292.52 366 2333A Palolo Ave PALOLO 5,005 1,446 4 2 0 1957 FS $475,000 $328.49 29 1446 Maloo Pl KALAMA VAL 3,914 1,252 3 2 0 1984 FS $489,000 $390.58 105 7739 Waikapu Lp KALAMA VAL 5,597 1,674 4 2 0 1973 FS $599,000 $357.83 200 803 20th Ave KAIMUKI 2,500 884 3 2 0 1978 FS $625,000 $707.01 36 839A 21st Ave KAIMUKI 6,098 1,334 3 2 0 1950 FS $649,000 $486.51 111 520 Lunali...
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 24th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101, Rants & Riffs It is always fun to work with a family moving from the mainland to Honolulu.  An inevitable part of a home purchase is helping orient my client to the cultural nuances of living in Hawaii.  One of the local practices I always recommend that a new homeowner plan on doing is the “blessing of the home”. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST.
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By Kimo Stowell, REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
A Day of Feng Shui - without the furniture being rearranged! Feng Shui, to many Westerners, is as unknown as the place of it's origin; China if you didn't know. More importantly it is an aspect of a philosophy on living a happy fulfilling existence regardless of circumstance. You may understand Feng Shui to be something akin to Home Staging or interior decorating but it is much much more than just that. In China, Feng Shui is a component of a major religion Taoism but you need not be religious to appreciate and or practice it's tenants but it is a spiritual path, none the less. In fact it's principles can be successfully incorporated into all religions that believe a universal energy or spirit is in and apart of all things. Taoism or the Tao means "The Path" and it's adherents recognize...
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 23rd, 2009 categories: Rants & Riffs Pacific Business News is reporting the following. “With the increase, the state’s median income ranked 5th in the nation in 2008, the same ranking it had in 2007.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE PACIFIC BUSINESS ARTICLE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST
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By Douglas Fischer
(East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos)
Even though we have undoubtedly gone through one of the worst recessions and price adjustment cycles (translation: burst bubble) in history, and many doubt the value of their real estate today, especially those who are upside down, owing more than their home is worth, I still find this statement about real estate to be of value.  I have had it posted on my websites for over ten years.  It's good food for thought. I am Real Estate What is Real Estate?  I am the basis of all wealth, the heritage of the wise, the thrifty and the prudent.  I am the poor man's joy and comfort, the rich man's prize, the right hand of capital, the silent partner of many thousands of successful men. I am the silent solace of the widow, the comfort of old age, the cornerstone of security against misfortune and w...
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By Kimo Stowell, REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
  Whether designing a property for sale or for personal purposes, the essential design process is the same.  Understanding the architectural interplay with decor will help create a room that leaves a positive impression on the potential buyer or design client instead of leaving them befuddled or worse, disappointed. In this this virtual bedroom design we were merchandising the property to function as a second home and or rental. With that in mind the room was to be used by the teenage daughter of our clients when used as a second home and a second bedroom in case of a rental. We were designing for both personal taste and general merchandising at the same time which means finding the intersecting elements of what might otherwise be a contradictory trajectory, or in other words a project ...
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September 17th, 2009 categories: Honolulu House For Sale Perfect for extended family living!  3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms upstairs and a separate 1 bedroom 1 bathroom downstairs (it cannot be rented). This home is listed for sale by another real estate firm.  Here are the details. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST
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September 16th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101, Rants & Riffs Pacific Business News reported that Honolulu has the 20th strongest performing economy in the United States. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST.
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 15th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Condominiums, Honolulu House For Sale As a Honolulu Realtor, I have almost immediate access to the most recently listed homes and condos.  For clarity, these listings are offered by other real estate firms and I have not yet seen them (they are too new), but on paper they look like good opportunities. If any of them catch your eye just click on it and a PDF of the MLS fact sheet will be available. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST
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By Kimo Stowell, REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i
(HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 )
  Celebrating Hawaii's Famous Chiefs from ancient times: Hawaii has many myths and legends surrounding it's ancient rulers or Ali'i. One such famous Chief was Umi the peasant King of Hawai'i. Born to the unwed union of a commoner of exceptional beauty and the legendary King Liloa of the big island, Umi rose from obscurity to become one of the most renowned kings in Hawaiian history. Great of stature and skilled in the martial arts Umi was said to have introduced himself to his Royal father, Liloa by jumping over the palace walls, tossing aside the spears of the palace guards and landing in his fathers lap anouncing that he was his fathers long lost child. Such breach of protocol would have placed Umi in mortal danger had not the King recognized the Malo(loin cloth) and ivory and shell n...
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September 14th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101, Rants & Riffs As a Honolulu Realtor that is in the core Honolulu real estate market everyday, I am sensing that it would like to start moving up!  Because the banking industry has instituted very tight lending and appraising guidelines, the market has been held back from a quick and stronger recovery. Here is why.
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By David Buck, Realtor-Broker
(Harcourts Island Real Estate)
Just beyond Waikiki at the base of Diamond Head is  Honolulu's "Gold Coast". The Gold Coast is the last strip of buildings at the end of Kalakaua Ave. across from Kapiolani Park. Unlike the "hustle & bustle" of Waikiki, the Gold Coast is a little more quiet. The buildings consist of: A few hotels such as The New Otani, The Diamond Head Beach Hotel (individually owned as condos) and The Lotus at Diamond Head (formerly a "W" hotel) Private Clubs such as the Elk's Club and the Outrigger Canoe Club The best oceanfront condos and co-ops on Oahu, the majority of which are now Fee Simple outside of San Souci, The Diamond Head Beach Hotel and a few units in 3003 Kalakaua Ave which are Leasehold. Right out the front doors of these building offer great swimming, diving and surfing breaks such as ...
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 11th, 2009 categories: Honolulu House For Sale It is not often that I walk into a property and wonder to myself, “Why hasn’t this property sold?” That happened this past Wednesday when I visited this well presented Honolulu home.  Located in one of Honolulu’s most desirable neighborhoods, Manoa, you could live in the upstairs and rent out the downstairs.  Or if you have extended family, you could live together with both parts of the family having quite a bit of privacy.  Here are the salient points concerning the house.
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 10th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Condominiums Part of being a successful Honolulu Realtor is staying on top of the available inventory (homes and condos for sale).  This involves seeing properties that are listed for sale in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and, time permitting, homes that are being sold for sale by owner (FSBO).  This week I had the good fortune to see a condo offered by the owner, in a centrally located and well thought of building. The following are the details of the unit.
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 9th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101, Honolulu Vintage Homes The age of Honolulu’s existing housing stock means that it is not unusual to see an older home being torn down to make way for a new one.  Typically, heavy equipment is brought to the site and the old home is literally torn apart piece by piece and placed in a huge trash bin. The waste is then sent to the Waimanalo Gulch dump and our precious available land-fill is decreased by one the size of one trashed house.  Pacific Business News recently featured a cool company called Re-Use Hawaii.  CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE.  
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By David Buck, Realtor-Broker
(Harcourts Island Real Estate)
It was less than a week ago that  I posted about a development on the west side not going through. Well, the state just approved Kamehameha Schools 29 acre development proposal in Kakaako. Unlike the displacement of farmlands in the Ewa Beach scenario, this is a "re-development" of an area that has traditionally been "industrial" in the corridor between Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu. Kakaako is already the home to several luxury condos such as Hokua, Nauru & Hawaiki Towers, Koolani, Keola Lai and other newer projects like Moana Pacific, 909 Kapiolani, The Vanguard Lofts and Moana Vista (being built). It also boasts the two largest shopping complexes in the state of Hawaii with Ala Moana Shopping Center and Victoria Ward Centers, both owned by General Growth. There's also great outdoor a...
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By Keahi Pelayo
(KU Realty)
September 8th, 2009 categories: Honolulu Real Estate 101 A recent Honolulu Advertiser article notes that Hawaii’s life expectancy has been pegged as the longest in the United States. “Yesterday’s report did not list life expectancy by state, but a 2007 report said Hawai’i was No. 1 with a life expectancy of 81.3 years. That report was done by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.”CLICK HERE TO READ THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER ARTICLE Are you thinking, “Keahi, what does that have to do with buying Honolulu real estate?”  Here are a few relationships.
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