While the political scene in 2016 has been anything but consistent, the Hawaii real estate scene has been resoundingly solid. Everyone and their mother knows that prices have been going up, up and up. While world events like the tragedies in Nice, Istanbul and elsewhere, along with the shocking presumed exit of Great Britain from the European Union, threaten to destabilize global markets, trade … [Read more...]
Hot Summer Months in the Hawaii Market
Yes, the weather in Hawaii is hot in the summer. And while Labor Day has come and gone, signifying the beginning of autumn, the weather says otherwise as the sweltering continues islandwide. But that's not the only thing that's HOT around here. The market has done what is always does in the summer months... sizzle like a good ribeye on the grill. Let's take a look at some recent … [Read more...]
Why Hawaii Real Estate Makes Sense
I've had a few people reach out to me lately wanting to start investing in real estate but complaining about the high prices in Hawaii. The quick response would be: "That's the cost of living in paradise!", right? But there's more to it than that. Looking historically at the market, Hawaii is buffered by a lot of the swings that categorize the past few decades of many areas on the mainland. Of … [Read more...]
Oahu Real Estate Prices Steadily Climbing
If you haven't been paying attention, the Oahu real estate market continues to climb higher and higher. While most even passive observers may not be surprised at the trend, some feel that an inevitable flattening out or even market downturn may be coming in the not too distant future. Nevertheless, December's monthly report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors showed median sales prices of … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Use Google for Real Estate Searches
It seems like technology is running our lives these days. How many couples do you see at restaurants or Starbucks not conversing with each other, but each on their cellphone instead? How many kids are pacified at dinner tables with their iPads? Too many, in my opinion! However, not all tech is bad - it's certainly enabled us to achieve more in life, from medicine to transportation … [Read more...]
How to Choose a Good Real Estate Agent
With all the glamour and buzz around the Hawaii real estate industry these days, it's no wonder that more people are getting their real estate license. With one of the most expensive markets in the country, many eyes are on our island home. For home buyers and home sellers, having more agents to choose from can either increase competition for your services or lower the standard of the profession … [Read more...]
Oahu Real Estate Market News
Remember the ups and downs that used to characterize the local real estate market not too long ago? Well, those climbs and dips appear headed to distant memory, because the Oahu real estate market continues to rise without any signs of slowing down (albeit to the concern of some). Earlier this month (July 2014), the Honolulu Board of Realtors stated that the median single family house price for … [Read more...]
Does Price Alone Sell Your House?
The Hawaii real estate market continues to sizzle, with estimates of median single family home prices in Honolulu County toppling $700K by the end of the 2014. Low mortgage interest rates and low inventory have combined to create a supply and demand combo that has created a house-buying fever. Of course, we don't know how long this run-up will occur (remember the housing bubble, anyone?), but for … [Read more...]
Oahu Real Estate Market Update – February 2014
The Oahu real estate market is the most closely watched market in Hawaii and one of the top markets in the country. After all, with roughly 90% of the state's population living here, shows like Hawaii Life getting significant TV airplay and the glitz factor that's been embedded into the Hawaii brand over the decades, it's no surprise. I was recently interviewed for a potential house flipping TV … [Read more...]
Intangibles When Selling Your House in Hawaii
Aloha, friends. I just got back home from visiting a few potential homes for purchase here on Oahu and wanted to share some quick thoughts. When analyzing a home to buy (or if you're selling your house), there are some obvious and not-so-obvious factors to consider when trying to figure out its true market value. The normal way to figure out how much your home is worth is by "running comps". … [Read more...]