A guide for new and future residents
Today I want to take a quick break from my job-hunting series so I can take advantage of a “teachable moment” related to something that happened to me recently. Last Thursday, I left for a trip to the mainland to attend my nephew’s wedding. When I arrived home Monday evening, I noticed that a small … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
(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 … Read more
Because of its distinctive island geography and its method of dividing land dating back to ali’i rule, Hawaii has some unique real estate terms. Before you start looking for a home on the islands, take some time to become familiar with these words that are commonly used in Hawaii’s real estate industry. ahupua’a (AH-hoo-poo-AH-ah) – … Read more
(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 … Read more
Updated Aug 2019 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, here’s an apartment complex that you should know about. Just last week (note: this article … Read more
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. … Read more
The Waianae Coast on leeward Oahu has a bad reputation, and it isn’t entirely undeserved. Waianae High School has the highest student dropout rate in the state. Drive through certain neighborhoods and you’ll see unkempt properties, shuttered businesses, and a proliferation of convenience and liquor stores. News reports of drunken brawls and “tent cities” on … Read more
Looking for a brand-new condo, townhouse, or single family home in Hawaii? Here’s a roundup of all the current new-home construction on the island of Oahu. (In my next post, I’ll cover new-home construction on the neighbor islands.) All properties listed in this article are fee-simple. I did not include time shares (also known as … Read more
I just found out about a brand-new condo building — Holomua — that is scheduled to open in early 2013. More than half of the condo units are being sold at reduced prices to qualified buyers under the state’s affordable housing program! Holomua is being built in the Makiki area of Honolulu — the location … Read more
If you’re looking for a new-construction condo, townhouse, or single family home on the Big Island, Maui, or Kauai, you’ll find them in all sorts of price ranges — from “affordable” to “the sky is the limit.” Looking for new home construction on Oahu? Read my previous article, New Home Developments In Hawaii: Oahu. Unfortunately, … Read more
