Category: Housing

If you’re thinking about or in the process of building, renovating, or remodeling a home in Hawaii, there are three home-and-garden shows happening this summer that might interest you. At these expos, you can learn about a variety of home- and garden-related products and services that are offered by local businesses and contractors. Home, Garden & Remodeling Show: June 10-12, 2011, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in Honolulu, Oahu Maui Contractors Association

A couple days ago, I published a post about Hawaii Business magazine’s Top 100 Realtors list. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home on Oahu, here are two more resources for finding a top-quality real estate agent to work with. Aloha Aina Realtor Awards Each December since 1998, the Aloha Aina Realtor Awards have been given to 10 Realtors who are nominated by the public for their outstanding

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Hawaii and haven’t found a real estate agent to work with yet, make sure you check out this month’s issue of Hawaii Business magazine, which contains their annual Top 100 Realtors list. This is the fifth year that Hawaii Business magazine has published the annual list. The following 24 Realtors have earned the special distinction of having appeared on the

If you’re planning to buy a home in Hawaii, or already own a home in Hawaii but are having trouble paying your mortgage, the Hawaii HomeOwnership Center can help. This federally funded nonprofit currently serves prospective and current homeowners on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island (with plans to serve Maui in the future). The center’s mission is to help individuals and families buy or build their own home in

Buying a home in Hawaii can be a challenge, due to the high cost of real estate. But there are two state government programs that can help make the purchase of a home a little more affordable for low- to moderate-income homebuyers. (Please note that these programs cannot be used in conjunction with each other, so you may participate in only one program at the same time.) Hula Mae Program

If you’re shopping around for a home in Hawaii, there are two real estate terms you’ll constantly encounter that you might never have heard of before: fee simple and leasehold. Fee Simple Fee simple (also known as freehold) ownership is a concept most people are already familiar with, because in most U.S. states it’s the only type of real estate ownership available. When you buy a fee simple property, you

(Note: If this article looks familiar, it’s because it was originally published in my newsletter. I have since changed the format of my newsletter and have moved all articles previously published under the old format to my blog, where they can be more easily found.) Once you’ve figured out how much you can afford to spend on monthly rent and have an idea of where you want to live in

(Note: If this article looks familiar, it’s because it was originally published in my newsletter. I have since changed the format of my newsletter and have moved all articles previously published under the old format to my blog, where they can be more easily found.) When you’re ready to buy a home in Hawaii, there are so many real estate websites to choose from to start your search for the

If you’re thinking about building a green home in Hawaii — or would just like to tour one — you should check out the “New Hawaiian Home,” which is open to the public for two more Sundays this month. Newly constructed on a lot in the Kaimuki district of Honolulu, this 4-bedroom 2-bathroom house was built by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Hawaii and more than 80 contractors as

Last week, I wrote about why Hawaii is a good place to be a senior citizen, citing subsidized housing for seniors as one of the reasons. If you’re a senior who’s interested in affordable housing on Oahu, there’s a brand-new apartment complex that you should know about. Just last week was the grand opening of Franciscan Vistas Ewa, a newly constructed subsidized housing complex for seniors located in Ewa Beach

A newly constructed 5-bedroom house in Kaneohe on Oahu will be open to the public tomorrow, Sat. July 30, 2011, 10am-3pm at 45-610 Huinawai Place. The home was certified “green” at the “gold level” by the National Association of Home Builders. The house’s eco-friendly features include: A 15-panel, 4.8-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system (installed by RevoluSun) LED-recessed lighting EnergyStar appliances Pre-engineered structural beams and trusses, which minimize the number of lumber

I just discovered this free special feature in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser called “Growing Hawaii,” which should interest those of you who are planning to move to Oahu or who already live there. It’s a roundup of all the newest housing developments, retail centers, and hotels that are currently being planned or built around the island. New housing development projects on Oahu include: Koa Ridge: 3,500 homes near Mililani (Central Oahu)

If you’re planning to build a home in Hawaii or have been thinking about renovating your existing home, here’s an upcoming annual event that you won’t want to miss, where you can talk to all kinds of local licensed contractors and vendors under one roof: What: 2012 BIA Home Building & Remodeling Show (also known as “The Big Show”) Who: Sponsored by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Hawaii (an