Honolulu

Newsmax.com is reporting that Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf is optimistic that we may be nearing a bottom in the housing market. “We’re not at the end,” Stumpf said. “My suspicion is there is some more to go. But we’re starting to see some early signs that maybe we’ve reached the bottom in housing or

RealtyTrac just released the Hawaii foreclosure number for November.  I found the headlines in our local newspapers at odds with each other.  Even though the stories were based on the same information, each headline made me feel differently about the condition of the Honolulu real estate market. The Honolulu Advertiser led with the headline “Hawaii foreclosures

This is a classic example of a Kama’aina Honolulu porch.  Again, this home is located in Kaimuki.

I am starting to see signs that the Honolulu real estate market may be picking up.  Its resilience could be seen in relatively strong interest before the financial woes of August, September, October and November.  In fact, it is reasonable to believe that we have not seen the last of the bad news from the

If you like vintage homes, then Kaimuki is a good place to snoop around.  This home is located on 15th Avenue.  Pay special attention to the rooflines, siding and the mitered corner finishes. It has the original windows (thank goodness they didn’t change to jalousies in the 70’s) and stone work leading up to the

My last post suggested that, in Honolulu, it is not good to spend a great deal of money remodeling a residence to prepare it for sale.  There are five things that are worth doing when getting ready to sell. 1.  De-cluttering. Go through your home and be brutal!  If something does not add to the overall

Shooting Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955, originally uploaded by Romair.Regarding the quality of this image, y' gotta cut me some slack here. I shot this scene using a hand-held Nikon-S, loaded with Kodachrome film, and the shutter speed, even at f1.4, couldn't have been any faster than 1/4 second, if that. The image was somewhat blurry to begin with, so I Ortonized it and then removed the Orton e

Here is another vintage beauty that can be found in Manoa.  Enjoy!

Great news!  The government has set up the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and this will allow Koreans to vacation in Honolulu and the rest of the U.S. with having to obtain a VISA.  This will create a wider pipeline for tourists to from Korea to come to Hawaii and this means addition pressure on

Malama Place in Manoa has some of the best examples of vintage homes on the island.  It is a street with no outlet and there are many homes that are worth seeing.  Today’s picture is of one of them.  The home was on the market in 2001, for $695,000, and it was offered in very

After 25 years of valuing real estate, it is clear that there are a number of factors that are not an issue in the value of a piece of property or condo.  They apply universally to Honolulu or any other location in the world.  Here are the factors that DO NOT bear on the sales

Here is the good news, properties are selling and they will sell relatively close to the correct list price.  Here is the bad news, if you are off on the proper price be even a little bit you will sit on the market and not sell!  There is an old saying and I’m not sure

Now that the smoke has settled from our recent Presidential election, it is time to start considering its impact Honolulu real estate sales.  Our new President has a strong party majority in both houses of Congress and, therefore, it is reasonable to believe that he will initially have the ability to pass legislation that is

The Honolulu Board of Realtors released the October Monthly Statistical Report (CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE COPY) earlier this week.  In general, I would like to see more positive numbers, but in no way should anyone be overly negative. There are three sets of numbers that can be encouraging depending on the market segment you

On Monday of this week, a buyer client of mine closed one of the better deals I have seen in sometime. The unit is 2 bedroom 2 bathroom high floor apartment at the Mauna Luan Condominium in Hawaii Kai.  It listed for $560,000 and closed at $509,000 (a 9.1% reduction in price!). In my

This 3 bedroom 1.5 bathroom condominium is offered at $350,000 and it is in a Honolulu condominium called Terrace Towers. At 918 square feet it comes with one open parking stall. The kitchen and bathroom cabinets were changed in 2006 and the unit would make an excellent home for a first time buyer

Guess what this blog is about? Yes, you’re right, I have just listed a very special Nuuanu Parkside three bedroom unit for sale. The last three bedroom to sell closed in July of 2006, and it sold at $5950,000. This apartment is listed for $600,000! Because there are just four units per floor, each of

Since the election is only 8 days away, this week I'm going to tell you how I'm voting and why I'm voting that way. Feel free to disagree with me, but please tell me why. If I'm wrong, I want to figure it out before I vote.I voted for George W. Bush in 2000. What has happened is partially my fault. I don't want to screw up like that again.So here goes.I live in Honolulu, Hawaii. I am a first time

Since the late 1980’s Japanese investors have been significant players in the Honolulu real estate market.  A recent article at Bloomberg.com shows that the yen is at a 13 year high against the dollar. “The yen climbed to a 13-year high against the dollar as a worldwide drop in stocks encouraged investors to dump higher-yielding assets

I had a chance to visit a fabulous nearly 30,000 square foot ocean front lot in the Portlock area.  This picture was taken on the ocean side of the lot looking back at Honolulu.

HOORAY FOR HONOLULU!  This article from Forbes talks about the hardest and easiest places to sell homes in the US. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Comedian Dennis Miller is the funniest man on the radio during Honolulu’s 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. drive time.  He mixes politics and entertainment with wit and a vocabulary that is staggering.  He can be found on your AM dial at 690. CLICK HERE TO GO DENNIS MILLER’S SITE.

Makalei Place is one on Honolulu’s little known but exclusive streets.  It is a dead end street that starts at Diamond Head Road and climbs up the side of the Diamond Head Crater.  Most of the homes have ocean views and the lots are generally on the larger size for the area.  One of Makalei’s

Believe it or not, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) maximum loan for houses and condos in Honolulu real estate is $793,750 (source: Tim O’Leary, Home Loans Direct). What does this mean?  If you have served in the armed services (thank you if you have!), the VA has one of the best “no down” programs around.  Traditionally (prior

Depends on when you purchased. Let’s take a look at Honolulu real estate median prices for single-family homes over the last five (5) years (source: Honolulu Board of Realtors) January 2004-$400,000 January 2005-$505,000 January 2006-$615,000 January 2007-$600,000 August 2008-$635,000 I am going to make a generality (I hate generalities); based on these numbers if you purchased your home pri

Before you build a home in Honolulu be sure to have your architect check the zoning rules for the particular piece of land you are using.  In Honolulu real estate these rules matter!  They place limits on height, parking, set backs, amount of square feet you can build and much more.  Believe it or not,

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The key to Honolulu real estate has been ongoing demand for a very limited supply of homes and condominiums.  Besides local buyers, over the years we have seen Californians, Canadians, Japanese and others add additional demand that has ultimately fueled increases in our Honolulu real estate values. In past posts, I have been tracking the

I know you must find it shocking for me to discuss multiple offers on Honolulu real estate, as many people assume the market is slow.  Believe it or not, I have been having multiple offers on a number of my listings. So how can one handle more than one offer on a property?  To make this

Most days I scan various news sources for insight into the Honolulu real estate market.  Many times, I find that the headlines differ from what can be found in the body of the articles (could it be they are trying to get us to read their work?).  Below are samples of three articles that appeared

I am reading James Clavell’s book Taipan (not yet done though).  On page 209, Dirk Struan, the Taipan, says, “I am committing The Noble House to Chinese Time.”  This struck me as a wise move that we should all heed.  Let me explain. The majority of our culture is committed to short-term reactionary herd thinking.  If

North Carolina Realtor, Sandy Sibley, has 8 great suggestions for increasing the value of your home. She says the following. “Enrich with color. Paint’s cheap, but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral. Just don’t let sellers get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges, and purples. Recommend soft colors that say “welcome,”

Read Pacific Business New’s Article.

Sara MacLennan and Sheldon Johnston, real estate agents in Edmonton, recently wrote a great article regarding the problems created by Buyers making offers on their new home before their old home is sold. They say the following. “In order to get this condition accepted, every other part of your offer needs to be very strong.

LUXURY BEACH RESORT • 556 ROOMS & SUITES Situated along the apex of Waikiki’s graceful arc, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel offers guests an unlimited choice of water and beach activities. From parasailing to catamaran cruises to surfing and snorkeling, the beach always beckons. And just steps from the sand, a thrilling variety of world-class shopping, restaurants, [...]

Find your courage. If you are a long-term investor, now may be one of the best times to buy real estate. A recent Wall Street Journal article talked about an investment bank in San Diego that sees opportunity amidst the town’s slow real estate market. “Mr. East, a managing principal of Silver Portal Capital

Hip-hip-hooray! The Honolulu Board of Realtors has finally adopted a lockbox system that is consistent with the technological age in which we find ourselves. The new lockbox allows me to maintain detailed information concerning who and when your home is shown. It also gives me a much stronger ability to control overall

Consider using your room and board to buy a condo, instead of sending to the college! Why not use that money to invest in real estate? The FHA has created a loan program for this very purpose. Wells Fargo Home Loan calls it the “Kiddy Condo” loan. Here is an overview. •Down payment-2.25% ($2,250 for

Maybe it’s just me, but Matson’s cranes at Honolulu Harbor remind me of something one might have seen in a “Star Wars” movie. Perhaps my son has built too many of the “Star Wars” Lego kits! Think about this…just about every product to come to Oahu has had to be lifted by these mammoths.

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Much of the growth in core Honolulu housing stock could occur in the General Growth Management’s Victoria Ward area. In the last few months General Growth revealed a proposed master plan. Now they are seeking your comments. “General Growth Properties plans a major redevelopment of the 60 acres it owns at Ward, with more

Honolulu has been a favorite destination for travelers for many years now. There’s a huge variety of Honolulu hotels to take care of every traveler’s need, including luxury hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, budget hotels, boutique places, inns and suites and beach resorts. Src: sheratonprincesskaiulani.honolulu.hawaii.us.mymotels.com Some of the luxury Honolulu hotels include The Shera

Here is more information on the recent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac help to slow down foreclosures. “The two U.S.-government-sponsored guarantors of home loans last week said they will increase fees they pay loan-servicing companies for “workouts” that prevent foreclosures. (Servicing companies collect loan payments and handle other administrative tasks.) Freddie also said it will

This past weekend I visited a friend on Molokai and the entire experience reminded me of days gone by in Hawaii. There was no traffic, friendly people and a simplicity and freedom that were very refreshing. There was one thing that really struck a chord in my heart and that was the existence of coconuts!

Guess what this blog is about? Yes, you’re right, I have just listed a very special Nuuanu Parkside three bedroom unit for sale. The last three bedroom to sell closed in July of 2006, and it sold at $650,000. This apartment is listed for $600,000! Because there are just four units per floor,

One of the major knocks about living in Hawaii is the greater cost living. Hawaii will probably always be more expensive since almost every single thing here has had to be shipped here. What follows are five reasons the cost might not be as great as you think. 1. One Set

Almost every day I speak with buyers from mainland markets that are experiencing significant downturns and a great deal of gloom and doom. Because their markets are hurting they believe there may be opportunities to buy properties in Honolulu at discounts comparable to their home markets. Our market is down some, but it is not

If you are planning on owning real estate past 2013, now maybe a good time to buy. A recent Honolulu Star Bulletin article regarding a visit to Honolulu by the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist stated the following. “In fact, by 2013, Honolulu homeowners are likely to have seen their investment grow another 30

Blogtherockies.com had a recent post that does a terrific job outlining many issues that may make your REO purchasing process easier. They say… “Make sure if you are buying a bank owned home you are working with a Realtor who has experience selling bank owned properties. I would recommend having a buyer’s agent represent

Honolulu as a type of apartment, which is a throwback to by gone days. Before condominiums, the only way to own an apartment was through the purchase of a cooperative (Co-op). I am told that cooperatives are legally real estate (if leasehold, the lease must be greater than 30 years). Even though they are considered

98719 Iho Place, Unit 5/1402, in the Colonnade on Greens, is now available.Visit my Open House Sunday, July 20, 2 - 5 PM.You won't find a home with the amenities and view at this price anywhere else on the island.Contact me for a private showing or more details.Barbara Abe, REALTORbarbara@barbarashawaii.comwww.movetohawaiikai.com808-226-2537

A new green project called the Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning (HSWAC) proposes to cool down buildings with seawater, rather than using fossil fuel-based air conditioning units, and it is getting some serious green to back it. Private investors have put up nearly $11 Million,completing the funding effort for the $152 Million project, with about half of the final funding coming from investors fr

The Waikiki Aquarium is one of the premier marine science institutions in the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii. Founded on March 19, 1904, this marine aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States. Since 1919, the Waikiki Aquarium has been an institution of the University of Hawaii [...]

While speaking with a potential client in California, I was surprised to discover that she was making plans to move to Honolulu. Apparently, Californians are being taxed at such a level that many are looking for states with a more bearable overall tax structure. I found it interesting that she would consider Hawaii a more

Even though this blog came from a Cleveland Ohio real estate company, most of the reasons not to own a home in Honolulu are applicable. None of these reasons may apply to you, however, read the entire list for a great laugh. ” # Your time line for living in your new home is the same

Generalities. In general they can be right and in specific they can be wrong. A prime example is the general condition of most real estate markets in the U.S. Most news reports and people espouse the idea that the housing market is not doing well. In general they may be right

The Honolulu City Council is moving towards tightening up beach camping laws, creating another blow for homeless people on Oahu.Officials say this will reduce the number of homeless people living in beach parks.Under current camping laws, authorities are finding enforcement difficult.The definitions of who and how long they can stay right now leaves many shades of gray.

A very interesting project is under construction next to Honolulu’s Lexus dealership. The developer is refitting the majority of the old National Cash Register Building at the corner of Cooke and Kapiolani. It is part of the growing “metropolitization” (my word) of Honolulu. The location puts your home within walking distance to

So you want to be central to everything in Honolulu. How about being walking distance to Straub Medical Center, Queens Medical Center, the Municipal Building (Honolulu Hale), Blaisdale Concert Hall, Safeway, the Ward Area and much, much more. The King Manor condominium offers all of this! This is a studio unit that has a

I am a Honolulu Realtor because I have seen how home ownership changes the lives of those who own them. Certainly, the financial aspect of potential long-term appreciation is enticing, but property rights are fundamental to the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. One of our great founders, James Madison, writes about our property rights. “In

We were on our own today and we all split up and went our various ways. Nicki wanted to take back her GAP dungarees, so she headed off on her own to Ala Moana Shopping Mall.Ulrike and I headed off sightseeing on our own. But our first stop was breakfast at Denny's, where we both had a Belgian waffle with strawberries.Iolani PalaceThen we caught a No. 2 bus to Punchbowl Street in downtown Honolulu,

We are our own worst enemy! Believe it or not we drive the economy! If we want it to change, then we need to move our attitude away from pessimism and toward optimism. Maybe I am showing my age, but I lived through recessions in the early 80’s and middle 1990’s and

Anyone is planning to have a sweet and romantic vacation to Honolulu, the capital and most populous place in the state of Hawaii? Irrespective of whether you are or you are not, I suggest you do take... Look 4 Dream Girls

More and more reports are coming out pondering significant economic inflation. As much as I don’t want to see the inflation of the late 70’s and early 80’s, I would be remiss to turn a blind eye to its possibility. Two recent articles at the Wall Street Journal’s website talk about signs that

Great Hawaiian ToursDay 1 Hometown - Honolulu Arrive at the world famous Honolulu-Capital of Hawaii, be met and transferred. Hotel:Waikiki West or similar Day 2 PEARL HARBOR - HONOLULU CITY TOUR Visit the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, where we watch a recorded film of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. We then board the navy launch for a trip to the memorial itself. Tour continues to Iolani Palace,

Great news. Even though Honolulu seems safe, according to the Honolulu Advertiser, the crime rate has been declining over the last four (4) years. “Law enforcement officials and observers credit the declining crime rate to a focus on repeat offenders, especially drug traffickers and car thieves, as well as increased community vigilance.” As I have said

So you sold your house and now you’re a couple of weeks away from the close of escrow. The buyer’s lease has run out and they have to move. You get a call asking that the buyer be allowed to move in prior to the close of escrow. What to do?

Believe it or not, large 2 bedroom 2 bath apartments in Honolulu under $500,000 can be hard to find. Below are 5 that are located centrally to everything Honolulu has to offer. They are all over 1,000 square feet and are available to purchase now! Call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free

The blooming of Honolulu’s shower trees makes this a very colorful time of year. I saw the yellow shower trees in this picture while driving up to the Round Top lookout.

Hip, hip hooray! Monocle Magazine has just named Honolulu the USA’s most livable city. “Honolulu is no longer a far-flung destination for surfers and vacationers,” the London-based publication said at the time. “Bridging the oceanic gap between California and Asia, Honolulu now fits the definition of a global city — a palm-fringed metropolis with a

Flood insurance can increase the cost of owning your Honolulu home, so here is a new website that will allow you to determine your exposure. Be sure to check a property out BEFORE you buy. “A new tool offered by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources offers residents a chance to evaluate

Disclosures Before You Read This Blog. 1. The FHA may not allow the purchase of multiple properties. 2. Lender guidelines regularly change and loan programs may not be available in the future. Specific terms outlined herein could change too. 3. The interest rate of 6% is an example and may not be available when

This 3 bedroom 1.5 bathroom condominium is offered at $350,000 and it is in a Honolulu condominium called Terrace Towers.  At 918 square feet it comes with one open parking stall. The kitchen and bathroom cabinets were changed in 2006 and the unit would make an excellent home for a first time buyer or

* 1 pound mahi-mahi, cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes * 1/4 cup pineapple juice * 1/4 cup oil * 2 tablespoons rum * 1 (1.2-ounce) packet Seasons Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix, Asian Sesame * 1/2 teaspoon [...]

Honolulu’s hurricane season is upon us. Sure we need to make sure to have the appropriate supplies on hand, batteries, water, food, radio’s, some cash, etc. The recent article at Fox News talks about the documents we should have on hand too. “All of your materials should be put in a little portable

This Girl Enjoys long vacations in Honolulu and Hard screwing…

How often do you go great distances to find things of beauty and interest? Consider looking in your own yard! These crotons can be found on the walkway up to my home. Here is an example of the “Acres Of Diamonds” that reside around all of our homes.

Given that I have school age children, over the last several years, I have had a chance to experience a wide variety of Honolulu’s youth sports programs. We have played Wai-Kahala flag football and baseball, Police Athletic Leagues, KAC Basketball, club volley ball, club swimming, ILH track and summer school wrestling. By far,

I attended the oldest High School west of the Rocky Mountains, Lahainaluna, on Maui. It was founded in 1831, but this is not the institution of which I write today. Punahou school, in Honolulu, was founded in 1841 and is considered one of the best schools in the country. It’s graduates include

Iolani Palace is situated in the capitol district of downtown Honolulu in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It is the only royal palace used as an official residence by a reigning monarch in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two monarchs governed from Iolani [...]

To be politically correct, I need to say “Twin Sisters of Different Fathers.” I know what you’re thinking, where is Keahi going today. During yesterday’s workout, I began pondering the differences between buyers and sellers of real estate and I came to the conclusion that, though they are on opposite sides of the

Here is another part of your Honolulu contract quiver. Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties uses an Addendum to the Purchase Contract and many firms mirror this document. CLICK HERE TO GET A COPY. For me, one needs to ask whether or not this is necessary and if it brings some additional language that

If you are planning on buying or selling real estate in Honolulu it is good idea to familiarize yourself with the Hawaii Association of Realtors Purchase Contract. Those of us who have been around for a long while, have had the term Deposit Receipt Offer and Acceptance (DROA) steeped into our memory, but the

Here is more on my ongoing series regarding arriving at an offering price for a potential purchase. It is good to consider various aspects of recent sales in the immediate area of the Honolulu home you are going to buy. This helps to build a case for the values in that particular neighborhood

By: Ken Smith Many people dream about leaving their mainland life to move to the tropical paradise of the Hawaiian Islands. With stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, friendly communities and a mild climate all year round, it's easy to understand why Hawaii is so attractive, both as a tourist destination and as a place to call home. One of the most popular locations for vacationers and house hunter

Kauai plan would revise property taxHonolulu Star-Bulletin, HI - 10 minutes agoA bill, sent to the County Council yesterday and based on a 2004 proposal, would not only transfer the tax burden onto resorts, hotels and vacation rentals, … Original post by nathaniel

In my previous post on negotiating the price of a property, I state that one of the important question to ask is “How long has it been on the market?” Ah yes! The old days on market question! Days on market, or DOM, are the number of days a home has been

Paradise. There is perhaps no other city on the planet to which the word "paradise" accurately can be used as a description of the community. In short, Honolulu truly is paradise on earth.One of the most compelling features of Honolulu is its magnificent climate. The year around, the average high temperature in Honolulu is in the mid-80s. Nearly 400,000 people call Honolulu home today.The performi

One of Honolulu’s great landmarks is closing soon. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel will have a seven month $85,000,000 make over. This is great to hear because the last time I was there it still had the feeling of grandeur, but there was the sense that the time had come for a little tender

Wednesday’s news reports regarding the Federal Reserve’s concerns over possible increases in inflation may be another sign that it is a very good time to buy real estate in Honolulu. Vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve, Donald Kohn tries to articulate the Fed’s concern. Let me know if you can make sense of this [...]

HONOLULU: Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to pull themselves up the mountain. The gilt bronze figure is now [...]

Wow! Honolulu was just selected by Best Life Magazine as the best place in the United States to raise a family. Even with the high cost of living, I have always believed this to be true. I have a 14 year old daughter and a 10 year old son, I find a [...]

Oh the value of a view. Over the years, I have noticed that a view brings an “X” factor to the sale of a property. An “X” factor is something that brings additional value to a sale. “X” factors may not be immediately measurable, yet they are real, and people are willing [...]

Color, color, color and more color! Color is in, in Honolulu! This home is full of color and it makes me proud to be an American because it shows our freedoms at work. There are parts of the world where a committee might visit this home for being out of the ordinary [...]

Time to revitalize yourself? Here is a Top 10 of Day Spas in the Honolulu, HI area. This list was compiled and ordered by how frequently the Day Spa's information is kept in people's digital address books. The Day Spas that are used more frequently are stored more frequently. The No.1 Day Spa on this list has been stored the most amount of times by Honolulu residents. Generally, people only store