Above is a photo I shot a few days ago before the SuperMoon in Hawaii, just as the sun settled into the sky in Kailua-Kona. That ubiquitous "they" say you are either a sunset person or a sunrise person. I like both, actually, but if I had to choose just one, let's just say I'm glad my back yard faces West, and I get this view from my kitchen. Which is pretty much where I've been relegated to work in Hawaii (in the kitchen), as the home improvement projects go on and I continue to balance my real estate clients in Sacramento with the demands of finishing up projects. You can read more in my personal blog today and see the photo of a sandpiper at this link: Clients Win by Listening to Their Sacramento Agent. 12/13/2016

Because at some point my tenants (who are living elsewhere while I am here) will either buy a new house or go back to Canada, I have to find us a gardener. Fortunately, the HOA tends to the front yard, but my side and back yard don't take care of themselves. Everything grows like crazy.I had a guy come over yesterday to give me a bid. He asked how much I wanted to pay. Well, I dunno, the guy next door hired a gardener for $40 a month, I pointed out. He said, "I'll do it for $60." What? What? You can read more in my personal blog today and see the photographs of my garden at this link: Poinsettias and Pineapple Love Tropical Gardens in Hawaii. 12/12/2016

I am not a person who enjoys getting a manicure, much less in Hawaii, but I do appreciate pretty nails. Which means wherever I travel, I need to find nail salons. I've been to so many all over the world that I've become an expert at picking out a salon among the hundreds offered in any given location.You can read reviews online like, oh, say, Yelp, but you need to know how to decipher those reviews. You know, did somebody post a nasty review, like saying the salon cuts your cuticles so they bleed -- which probably means they once dated the owner and got dumped or they were trying to text in the middle of the manicure. There are lots of idiots and spiteful people. You can read more in my personal blog today at this link: Hot Nails Salon is the Place for a Manicure in Kailua-Kona. 12/11/2016

My neighbors at our house in Hawaii and friends in California all seem to hold the same view of contractors in Hawaii, and that view is typically unfavorable. They've been warning me to expect "Hawaii time" and lax attitudes, and that has not been my experience. In fact, I believe you can say the same thing about contractors in general. It is not specific to Hawaii.You know the joke, right? What 3 things do you want in a contractor? A good price, good work and punctuality, pick any two. Like with any business, Sacramento real estate included, there are great professionals and losers. The trick is not to hire the losers. You can read more and see all of the photographs in my personal blog today at this link: Take a Peek at My Hawaii Home Improvement Projects. 12/10/2016

For years, I have taken my laptop with me during my wor-cations. OK, I did not take it to Cuba but that was one destination where I had to buy internet minutes, about $10 for an hour, and the WiFi did not always work, so I used my cellphone instead. And only for 2 hours during the 2 weeks we were there. It was a terrible connection, and you had to stand in one spot at the hotel.Plus I figured I was more likely to have my laptop confiscated than to actually use it, so I left it at home. But a laptop is essential for my wor-cations. I can't type on an iPad. Breaking my laptop would result in the Apocalypse. You can read more in my personal blog today at this link: What Happens When You Drop a Laptop? 12/08/2016

My Hawaii house was built in 1991 and because of that has had much stuff replaced. I'm doing even more improvements as we speak. My husband would just unpack and not change a thing. But houses don't speak to him like they do to me. I develop likes and dislikes easily of certain home features, and my kitchen faucet was a big dislike from the moment I laid eyes on it last week. My old faucet is pictured here. Look at how it hangs its sorry face into the sink and does not latch onto its connection. It's discolored. Past its prime.It's gotta go. Besides, wait until you see what I replaced it with. I recommend this type of kitchen faucet to my clients, too. It's the one thing you can do to a kitchen without spending a lot of money that really makes an impression afterward. You can see all th... 12/07/2016

One of the perks at my house in Hawaii is the fact I get to use my tenant's Netflix. Although, I have probably changed their profile in such a way that they will be offered shows they deem highly offensive. They do some kind of missionary work, converting people to Christianity. I've been watching their Amazon stream, too, and binge-watched a bunch of episodes of Good Girls Revolt. It's certainly no Mad Men quality, and there are many things that annoy me about the show,  but it's still entertaining. A thing that stands out from that show is that 20-year-olds should not play 20-year-olds because they aren't old enough yet. You can read more about my adventures in Hawaii in my personal blog at this link: Two Syllables I Thought I Would Never Say is Costco. 12/04/2016

My poor fingers are scraped up and a little painful this morning from pulling apart those Alaskan king crab legs last night. When a waiter serves crab at a luxury resort in Hawaii, the legs are already sliced and the prickly parts sanded down. Sometimes, they serve crab legs cut in half so all the diner needs to do is deftly slip the crab out of its shell with a fish fork.But I am definitely roughing it here in Hawaii. For starters, I had to go grocery shopping yesterday, an activity I almost never engage in back in Sacramento. Well, I suspected this trip would be somewhat different than previous December vacations. You can read more in my personal blog today at this link: December in Hawaii Means Fending for Oneself. 12/02/2016

Kamani Trees is one of the best kept secrets in Kona for Homes under $450,000! Ocean views, underground utilities, sidewalks, street lights and trash pick up, low association fees and reasonable CC&Rs. Centrally located above Alii Drive, between Keauhou and Kailua Village area, Kahakai Elementary School is nearby (3,4, & 5th graders can walk to school). Shopping, dining, movies, beaches, surfing, kayaking, diving, swimming, fishing, boat harbor, entertainment, all within a few miles in either directionNow lets talk about one of the nicest remodeled homes in the subdivision, almost everything that was upgraded in this home is either oversized, overdone, overbuilt, over quality, just like you would do it if you were going to keep for years to come. All the windows and sliding glass doors ... 08/14/2016

Closing out our 2nd sale in Malulani Gardens Subdivision this year, February 2016. Malualani Gardens is a gated community in the center of Kailua Kona, HI 96740, Malulani Gardens is one of the few gated communities that allow vacation rental  and are still affordable (low $500s) . If you need an agent to represent you in a sale or purchase, you need us. With our 2 recent closings we have a great understanding of some the of challenges in Malulani Gardens , from the private water system, possible upcoming assessments and the recent flooding issues - Call Lance Owens (RS) or Kimi Nagatoshi (RS) and we will help you navigate through  the process We even have copies of the private water system review by the president of Malulani Gardens.  Malulani Gardens, Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740  02/28/2016

Posted on February 22, 2016 - 06:39 AM by Lance Owens   Actual Prices as of today, West Hawaii   Monday February 22nd, 2016  For Buyers, For Sellers, Pricing​ Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey. First I wanted to show how Median Prices, Kailua Kona  have risen since 2012 - Today Homes: $398,000 - $643,500 Condos: $189,500 - $266,000 Land: $199.000 - $330,000  Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number. The results of their latest survey: ... 02/22/2016

Posted on February 9, 2016 - 07:45 with Lance Owens of LUVA Real Estate  Community Announcement Kailua Kona Senior Visitor's Day is coming up, Wednesday February 10. 2016 Pupu's - Favors - Prizes  Hale Halawai  10:00am - 11:30am  If you are new to Kona, or even long term resident, maybe you have parents, or a parent, that just isn't getting out like they should, you need to take an hour out of your day tomorrow and check this out  My mother has been a snowbird here for 15 years now and she got involved with the seniors club a few years back, and loves it. Members meet up for luncheons, dinners, and weekly card games, they share rides if possible and just have fun - trust me, this isn't some old folks home watching paint dry, this group is about having fun.  Hale Halawai is across from t... 02/09/2016

There are times when Climate Change can be a good thing! Say, like today, its January, you've just "closed" on your new condo in Hawaii,  and you are from Wisconsin (my phone says its a balmy 30 degrees right now)? Go ahead and try and win this argument - lol.  A new Poll (Harrison Poll)  just came out and it rates "climate change" as the biggest reason people move, in fact at 52%, it outranks better jobs, closer to family and even Health reasons.  (see numbers below). Not your typical definition of "climate change" these days, but one of the best uses of the phrase I have seen in years.   With that bit if good news, I want to leave you with 2 condos we have listed, in Kona, Hawaii, both complexes sit on the Kona Country Club Golf Course, ( by the way, they reopen this month)! The top o... 01/15/2016

Hawaii Real Estate and Golf News: Kona Country Club is scheduled to open its Makai Course on February 1, 2016 according to Hawaii Tee Times. I just logged into their Website and was able to book a tee time for 7:04 am 2/1/16 . One thing I was not able to do was get a "kama'aina discount" , so if you find out more about that, please post in my comment section and I will update the information here. And for golf course property in Hawaii, make sure you give us a call. as of right now we have 2 on the golf course and access to more. Lance Owens (RS) 808-936-8383 Kimi Nagatoshi (RS) 808-936-2575Here is a video and a link from Hawaii Tee Times, (click here to book your tee time) 18 holes, par 72, 6613 yards. All prices per person and include golf cart rental. (THE OCEAN COURSE IS CLOSED FOR ... 12/20/2015

My sister says from my blog it looks like I am running all over Big Island with Hella, and I guess we have been. It's quite the rollercoaster with Hella. And when you throw me into the mix, there is no telling what can happen. It's been wild and hilarious. Everything has flowed so smoothly, too, which undoubtedly is due in large part to Hella. That woman answers her phone wherever she is, unless driving with me, I guess.We zipped right through the home inspection and then I wanted to talk to the neighbors. We found the guy next door at home for lunch, so we politely grilled him about everything. He's been on this culdesac for 10 years and ended up going back to work after retirement. He married a woman from work he did not initially care for and was sporting a shiny new wedding band fro... 12/17/2015

Ordinarily, we as Sacramento REALTORS do not get that involved with a home buyer's mortgage process. That's between the lender and the buyer. We absolutely do NOT get involved when the buyer is using our preferred mortgage lender because those guys are always on the ball. Nothing falls through the cracks with them. They are the most dedicated mortgage loan officers I've ever met. Incredible attention to detail and immediate action, which tends to prevent problems, even with TRID.The problems that arise, of course, often originate when the buyer elects another lender such as the credit union or a major lending institution simply because they bank at those institutions. I'm finding out what it is like being on the other end as a buyer, and let's just say it's pretty astonishing what buyer... 12/17/2015

Just another day in paradise with Hella Rothwell in Big Island. In reviewing another document for our purchase contract on the home we are buying in Hawaii, Hella brought it to my attention that it asked if the buyer was a member of NAR. Did I have to disclose that I'm a licensed real estate broker in California, we wondered? It didn't seem to be a requirement and would be odd. For example, when I temporarily moved to Minnesota 20-some years ago and bought a house there, I did not have to disclose that I was licensed to sell real estate in California.But guess what? In Hawaii, a licensed California agent is "supposedly" required to disclose her professional status, even if she is represented by a Hawaii agent. Which meant to keep the listing happy, we had to revise the purchase contract... 12/15/2015

I swear I felt like Hella and I were house hunting just like House Hunters. And I would know since I've been on that show. We looked at some unusual and weird homes in Big Island, across all types. Hella was such a trooper, keeping us on schedule, traipsing through gigantic weeds in the yard of that dome house in Captain Cook, climbing that steep hill to get up to the coffee farm in South Kona, and squeezing into tight parking spots off busy thoroughfares.We spent a day looking at condos and townhouses, too. Most of them felt just like an apartment building, and one condo on Ali'i Drive we could not get into because the lockbox would not work. I had removed my shoe and began beating on it with my heel, too, no such luck. You can read more about our adventures in Hawaii in my personal bl... 12/12/2015

Kailua Kona Condominium Report for September 2015 News for both Buyers and Sellers: October 7, 2015 MLS sales report shows an increase in the number of condos sold by 4.55% , and a slight decrease in condominium prices YTD .If you are considering buying a condominium you can still find deals, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must.  If you price it right, it sells right away, sometimes with multiple offers, but if you overprice it, the market is not there,  where buyers are willing to overpay.  To make sure you don't overpay or overprice it, you'll want an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Kona Condominium Complex, and surrounding area, on which you are making an offer on.Here is a chart of September 2015 and Year To Date numbers: (Big M... 10/07/2015

September 21, 2015 Aloha From Kailua Kona, HI I thought it would be fun to take all the FB photos from friends (with permission) and put them into one photo blog. Just one evening, same sunset, same city, but our different views. I think it came out great, I hope you enjoy.  First one comes from Julie Ziemelis , and her view from the beach. Julie is also an author of the book "How To Move to Kona" and runs the www.facebook.com/365Kona things to do in Kona,I almost forgot her website of the same name 365 Kona Discovering the Big Island of Hawaii Next we are going to take  a look at the sunset through Julies Husband,  Eric Ziemelis This one is Courtesy of another friend,Kim Berney, our very own "Gold"  doTERRA oils specialist!  from her mothers poolside. My wife's view, Kimi Nagatoshi, al... 09/21/2015