San Diego Real Estate Investment
Recently I had contacted San Diego Realtor Bob Wilson about investing in a second home in San Diego. He was very honest, helpful and had great knowledge of the market. He gave me the straight truth of what it was doing. He had explained to me that the market had been making a major correction over the past couple years and it may take a couple more before the market stabilized. He also has an awesome San Diego real estate site with great relocation information. I had explained to him that we had relatives that lived in Rancho Santa Fe and it would be nice to pick up a place by family.
He also had great suggestions on where to stay while house hunting. One of the suggestions was to stay in one of the great San Diego vacation rentals in Mission Beach. Once he found out that we loved the water and would rather be there instead of up in the hills by Rancho Santa Fe by the relatives.
Being a realtor myself, I was really impressed with Bob’s attention to detail and his honesty. I will definitely use him when we buy that second home. I will also recommend him to any one I know that is relocating to San Diego.
Oahu Real Estate Prices
During the first quarter, the number of sales declined from last year and the median prices (home values) were stable. It looks like we are in a more normal market compared to a couple years ago, when it seemed like the wild west. Multiple offers and buyers paying over appraisal. It is kind of nice that things have calmed down a bit and buyers have a little more time to make a sound decision.
Below are the median sales prices broken down by area on the island of Oahu.
Single family homes:
Metro Oahu (Town) $ 689,500, Diamond Head $990,000, Hawaii Kai $838,000,
Kailua $800,000, Kaneohe $672,000, North Shore $800,000, Central Oahu Mililani $550,000, Leeward Coast $375,000, Ewa Plain $525,000, Makakilo $566,500,
Waipahu $577,300 & Pearl City $575,000.
Condominiums:
Metro Oahu (Town) $325,000, Diamond Head $472,500, Hawaii Kai $542,500, Kailua $415,000, Kaneohe $357,500, North Shore $360,000, Central Oahu $300,000, Leeward Coast $173,000, Ewa Plain $285,000, Makakilo $320,000, Waipahu $299,500 & Pearl City $305,000.
Oahu real estate still seems to be a sound long term investment. You can search for Oahu real estate online on Jeff Manson’s website www.adrhi.com for the newest opportunities
Hawaii Vaction Rental Struggles
The vacation rental struggle continues. The city & county of Honolulu cuts fines in an effort to stop illegal rentals. In an effort to stop the rentals, the city raised daily fines from $50 to $1,000 in 2005. The city has found that collecting the money has not been so easy.
Approximately 40 fines of an estimated value of $200,000 issued since January 2006, the city has only been able to collected somewhere around $30,000, according to Michael Friedel, the city’s code compliance chief.
This new strategy seems to be working. There has been several owners that have agreed to stop renting out there illegal rentals and receive much reduced fines, as much as 75% off.
Tourism officials suspect the illegal rentals are popular with repeat visitors who are looking to stay somewhere other than in Waikiki and get away from the rising hotel prices.
There are approximately 1000 homeowners that have a certificate to operate legal vacation rentals to rent rooms less than 30 days. The city has not issued any new permits since 1989.  There are legal vacation rentals on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and big island that can be rented. Allot of times these vacation rentals are much more cost effective for families and groups that a typical hotel.
Vacation homes are a great option when visiting the Hawaiian Islands or house hunting here. If you stay in one you can see how it really feels to live in a neighborhood you may be considering.Â
Oahu House Hunting
Oahu is known as “the gathering placeâ€, home to Honolulu the state capitol. Oahu used to be the county as well. Before being renamed as Honolulu city & county.Â
When house hunting for Oahu real estate. You may soon find out that the island has many different neighborhoods and communities to offer. The main regions are Honolulu, East Oahu, Windward, North Shore, Leeward and Central. Within these regions are various towns, communities and neighborhoods each with their own distinctive characteristics. Read more
Don Ho Dies at 76
The Hawaii lengend Don Ho dies at 76 years of age. He had suffered heart problems a couple years ago and had to have a pace maker inplanted.
Ho entertained some Hollywood’s biggest stars and 1000’s of tourists for four decades.  For Many people a trip to Hawaii was incomplete without seeing his Waikiki show.
Many people will sure miss this great entertainer. Hawaii has lost a great son.
National Relocation
National Relocation.com has relaunched their site on a new PHP platform. They were previously on .net and found it to be not as flexible as they needed it to be.
National Relocation is in the early stages of building out a major real estate relocation portal. It is a one stop shop for all relocation needs. National Relocation features Realtors that can help buyers and sellers locate real estate. The agents will also be able to help consumers with rentals as well. For the buyer who is looking for a great deal, there are foreclosures. There are many other services for the home buying or selling process such as home inspectors, movers and storages.
There are mortgage brokers that can give quotes on home loans. There are also insurance agents to help with homeowners insurance and other insurance needs.
National Relocation is definately on the right track to offer great relocation services to consumers when relocating.
Oahu Real Estate Market Update
During March, sales of 330 single-family homes and 541 condominiums were reported through the Board’s MLS, a decrease in sales of 15.8 percent for single family homes and 22.3 percent for condominiums, compared to the same month last year. The median price paid in March for a single-family home was $643,500, while the condominium price was $321,000. Read more
Kapolei Real Estate
More and more people are turning to American Dream Realty to help them find “their” slice of Kapolei real estate. This is the fastest-growing region in Hawaii, and the amenities are keeping pace. With eight golf courses, excellent and innovative schools, parks aplenty, and a location that is only 30 minutes from downtown Honolulu, Kapolei is a great choice for households of all sizes.
Kapolei real estate includes townhomes, family homes, executive golf-course living, residential resort communities, custom lots, and more. Whether you are a family of one or of six, all of the lifestyle offerings you want are available. There are events throughout the year, such as the Festival of Lights, the Outrigger Canoe Race, and the Ko Olina Triathlon, which offer something for everybody.
The American Public Transportation Association voted Oahu as having one of the best transportation systems in the country. There are buses, express trips to Honolulu, and vanpools available. If you prefer to move under your own locomotion, there are also bike paths and pedestrian walkways that wind along the water.
Here at American Dream Realty, we work with vigor to find our clients the properties they need. We are a team of five dedicated real estate specialists, and we know every nook and cranny in Kapolei and in greater Oahu. The best home for you is the one in which you can be healthy and happy, and have a balance of everything you consider essential, and we can help you find exactly that.
Honolulu Real Estate
Honolulu is both a commercial hub and a historic city, and Honolulu real estate allows you to live in the heart of Hawaii while still being close to businesses, shopping and other urban amenities. Honolulu boasts universities, high-rise business centers, research facilities, a convention center, galleries, and more. If you want to live in Hawaii, but have to stay “connected,” then Honolulu real estate is for you. Read more
Oahu Real Estate
Oahu real estate can be anything you want it to be. Oahu is one of the most “versatile” of all the islands, allowing you to go to work in a high rise, catch the sunset over a secluded beach, and then dance the night away at Waikiki. There are numerous real estate opportunities in this energetic city, and, with the right realtor, you can find the one that is right for you and your family.  Read more