Hawaii Real Estate Blog 
$75 million for Hawaii Schools
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 1:15pm. 44 Views, 0 Comments.
Via Star : Hawaii will get $75 million from the President Obama's "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Hawaii made big improvements in its Race to the Top application from round one and has shown its commitment to education by ending teacher furloughs.
"Despite the furlough days, Hawaii has a real chance to take student achievement to a different level," he said. "Hawaii absolutely put its best foot forward."
In a statement, Hawaii schools superintendent said, "Race to the Top has served as a rallying call to boldly transform public education and schools across our nation. Today, the federal government invested $75 million in Hawaii over the next four years and secured its investment with the unwavering…
In Escrow - $1.2 million House in Hahaione Valley
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 12:45am. 48 Views, 0 Comments.
Incredible ocean and mountain view, 6 bedrooms, over 4000sqft, this $1.2mil house in Hawaii Kai has everything. The detached studio is larger than most condos, and has a nice private lanai. Speaking of which, the main house has 2 massive wrap around lanais with ocean views.
The seller had 3 offers in just a few days on the market, and my lucky clients are now in escrow to close next month.
This picture from the living room shows just a bit of the great view out the front of the house.
With a huge lot set up in the back of Hahaione Valley, this house has privacy, cool breezes, and usually, an evening rain.
Congrats to my clients on this great purchase!
In Escrow - 2400sqft Makiki Condo, $875k
Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 11:44am. 79 Views, 0 Comments.
This may be the best deal I have seen all year. Listed at $875,000, this 2400 sqft in Honolulu has the kind of size that will usually cost well over $1 million, sometimes as much as $2-3 million just a few blocks away.
My lucky young clients are now in escrow for this beautiful 10yr old condo, which is larger than most homes in the area. Check out this massive living room with city and ocean views! 
With a 2 car attached garage, this massive newish condo right in the heart of town feels more like a house than many houses do, and even has over 600sqft of open lanai space, bringing the total square footage to over 3000!
If the size were not enough, it even has this great kitchen with stone counters and beautiful tile floors.
This condo…
Change coming to the shoreline setbacks for ocean front properties
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 1:54pm. 60 Views, 0 Comments.
Via the Star Bulletin (and thanks to Keahi Pelayo)
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is hosting public meetings to change the State Land use rules. The revisions have some environmental organizations concerned. Others, like me, are concerned because whenever the government makes changes, they usually do so to someone else's harm.
The shoreline setback, a line past which no structures or coastal alterations are allowed, would be increased to 40 feet from the certified shoreline, plus 70 times the average annual coastal erosion rate. The city and University of Hawaii is working on establishing that rate.
Hopefully the rules won't become more restrictive and difficult for owners to…
Hawaii hotel occupancy tops 80 percent (Via PBN)
Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 12:19pm. 59 Views, 1 Comments.
80% of Hawaii hotel rooms were full last week as tourism continued to grow stronger.
The room occupancy rate was 5.3 percent higher than a year ago. Oahu had the highest occupancy rate at 87.8 percent.
Hotel room rates have rebounded slightly, increasing by 3 percent compared to last year to an average of $191.97 per night. Oahu saw room rates climb an average of 4 percent to $161.53.
Good news for our local economy and for job seekers. Strong tourism in Hawaii = strong Hawaii real estate market.
FHA to Revise Mortgage Insurance Premiums
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 8:03pm. 95 Views, 0 Comments.
Congress just passed H.R. 5981, giving FHA (Federal Housing Administration) the authority to adjust its annual mortgage insurance premium. All FHA loan borrowers pay a monthly insurance premium on top of their mortgage payment, as a way to insure these low down payment loans. Currently an FHA loan allows you to buy a house with 3.5% down.
A recent bulletin issued by David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing/Federal Housing Commissioner, said that FHA would lower its upfront mortgage insurance premium from 2.25% down to 1% AND increase the annual premium from .55% by an additional .85-.90%.
So while the up front cost is low, this is a HUGE INCREASE in monthly payment and severely decreases a borrowers purchasing power. Getting your FHA…
Hawaii Kai Farmer's Market
Thursday, August 5th, 2010 at 4:32pm. 104 Views, 0 Comments.
Recently it seems that there have been new farmer's markets popping up around Oahu every few months. Just a couple years ago, the only one I knew about was a small one in Hawaii Kai of just a few fruit stands.
Kailua has one on Thursdays, Diamond Head has one at Kapiolani Comm College on Saturdays, and there is even a small one at Kalani high school now. I'm sure there are a dozen others around Oahu.
Last week we visited the new and improved Hawaii Kai farmer's market that now meets at Kaiser high school on Saturday mornings. I was surprised to find that even though it's not huge, it has everything we wanted. Fresh vegetables at majorly discounted prices, plenty of good fruit, made to order food from several great vendors, plus a bunch of other…
There are only 24 homes for sale in Hawaii Kai under $950k
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 8:13pm. 172 Views, 0 Comments.
This is not a normal blog post. This is a rant.
I just did a simple search of all available homes in Hawaii Kai under $950,000 with no other criteria. There are only 24. Most are in need of a total renovation. This is insane. If you are reading this and you own a home in Hawaii Kai, please SELL IT NOW!
I have a buyer for you if it's under $1.1 million. I'm serious. PLEASE!
I just need a nice condition home over 1600ft anywhere in Hawaii Kai. Anyone!?
10 Mind Boggling Ultra Luxury Hawaii Homes
Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 10:33pm. 674 Views, 1 Comments.
#10 – $18 Million Mountain Top Estate
Our first mind boggling luxury Hawaii Home is this 2.35 acre mountaintop estate on Oahu with a total roofed area of over 17,000 sq ft. This is like owning your own five star resort with 360 degree ocean and mountain views. Sweeping views of Diamond Head and the ocean beyond, this property sits at an elevation of approximately 1,350 feet above sea level.
It’s the highest residentially-zoned point of land in southeastern Oahu - with panoramic views to Molokai, Lanai, and Maui. On a clear day you can even see the snow-capped summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island from this room, which feels kind of like the bridge of a ship. Amenities include two swimming pools…
$989k Kamehame Ridge home - in escrow
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 1:10pm. 148 Views, 0 Comments.
This beautiful house at the top of Kamehame ridge (just below Na Pali Haweo) is now under contract, after just a few days on the market. There wer 2 offers immediately, both well above the original asking price of $949k, so the seller decided to raise the price to $989k after just 2 days on market. 
This house has a great ocean view from the master bedroom and from the massive grassy back yard. With over 2300sqft and 4 bedrooms, it's got plenty of space, and room for a pool in the future.
The kitchen has granite and new appliances, and the house has just recently been renovated with over $50k of upgrades.
Just take a look at the amount of grass behind this house. If you could turn it around, you would see the Ocean over looking…
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