The Kailua-Kona market for condo sales saw a 200% in Feb ‘10 and the median price dropped 23% for the month.  On the Kohala Coast, sales are up 175% from same month last and median price is down 68%.  For the Big Island, condo sales are up 200% and the median price is down 39%.

Current Market Conditions as of Mar 5, 2010… There are 603 Single Family Homes on the market for the Kona/Kohala Coast, which is an increase from last month’s 591 active listings, 120 homes in escrow, which is up from last month of 117 and 27 homes sold… 5 less than last month.  At the current buying rate, we have a 22.3 month supply of homes, which is more than last month’s 17.9 month supply.

Of the 603 Single Family Homes on the market, 29 are Foreclosure Listings and 115 are Short Sale Listings.  A slight increase from January.

For Kona/Kohala Coast Condos, there are currently 561 on the market for sale, down from last month of 568.  There are 108 in escrow, up from 91 last month and 35 sales, up from 25 last month.  We have a 16 month supply of inventory, which is a decrease from last month’s 23 month supply.

Information on sales for the Big Island of Hawaii was provided by Kurt & Kirsten Carlson, Big Island real estate experts.

February 2010 Condos number of sales increased 9% and the median sales price increased 7.9%

Information on February 2010 sales on the island of Kauai was provided by Russell Tucker

The Kohala Coast condo sales increased 500% in Jan ‘10, although that number is based upon 6 total sales. The median price dropped 52% for the month.  The condo market in Kailua-Kona saw sales of condos increase 73% for the month and the median price declined 4%.  The condo sales are improving due to more buyers using cash for the purchase and/or using a home equity line of credit.  Many lenders are requiring 30-35% down payment on vacation condos, since they carry more risk of mortgage default.

Current Market Conditions as of Feb 5, 2010… There are 591 Single Family Homes on the market for the Kona/Kohala Coast, which is an increase from last month’s 577 active listings, 117 homes in escrow, which is up from last month of 93 and 33 homes sold… 8 less than last month.  At the current buying rate, we have a 17.9 month supply of homes, which is more than last month’s 12.8 month supply.

Of the 591 Single Family Homes on the market, 23 are Foreclosure Listings and 109 are Short Sale Listings.

For Kona/Kohala Coast Condos, there are currently 568 on the market for sale, down from last month of 577.  There are 91 in escrow, up from 63 last month and 25 sales.  We have a 23 month supply of inventory, which is a decrease from last month’s 18 month supply.

Information on sales for the Big Island of Hawaii was provided by Kurt & Kirsten Carlson, Big Island real estate experts.

Condo sales volume for January 2010  compared to January 2009 increased 100% and decreased in medium sales price by 19%

With a Decline in prices and more inventory sellers are dropping prices and buyers are finding great deal in todays market.

The condo market in Kailua-Kona saw sales of condos increase 75% for the month of Dec ‘09 vs. Dec ‘08 and the Kohala Coast condo sales increased 57% in Dec ‘09.  Kona condo median price declined 16% for the month and Kohala Coast median condo prices slid nearly 33%.  I expect the sales volume to increase during the winter months, as this is usually a busy time for condos.  Mainlanders are arriving on island and are starting to pick well prices condos.

Current Market Conditions as of Jan 5, 2010… There are 577 Single Family Homes on the market for the Kona/Kohala Coast, which is a decrease from last month’s 603 active listings, 93 homes in escrow, which is up from last month of 92 and 45 homes sold… 5 less than last month.  At the current buying rate, we have a 12.8 month supply of homes, which is more than last month’s 11.4 month supply.

Of the 577 Single Family Homes on the market, 28 are Foreclosure Listings and 102 are Short Sale Listings.

For Kona/Kohala Coast Condos, there are currently 577 on the market for sale, 63 in escrow, down from 65 last month and 32 sales.  We have a 18 month supply of inventory, which is a decrease from last month’s 29 month supply.

Keep an eye the market inventory supply shown in months.  A 6 month supply of properties is considered to be a balanced market.  Right now, it’s still a buyer’s, but our local market can change quickly and supply can dry up fast.

Information on sales for the Big Island of Hawaii was provided by Kurt & Kirsten Carlson, Big Island real estate experts.

For condos, we see median sale prices increase for Hilo, but sales dropped about 50%. The Kohala Coast reported a 75% increase in condo sales compared to Nov ‘08, while Kailua-Kona was almost unchanged. The next four months will be a busy season and we’re seeing the first signs of visitors sizing up the market, since the prices are near 2002-2003 levels.

Current Market Conditions as of Dec 11, 2009… There are 603 Single Family Homes on the market for the Kona/Kohala Coast, which is a increase from last month’s 563 active listings, 92 homes in escrow, which is down from last month of 118 and 53 homes sold… 8 more than last month. At the current buying rate, we have a 11.4 month supply of homes, which is less than last month’s 12.5 month supply.

Of the 603 Single Family Homes on the market, 26 are Foreclosure Listings and 118 are Short Sale Listings.

For Kona/Kohala Coast Condos, there are currently 609 on the market for sale, 65 in escrow, up from 58 last month and 21 sales. We have a 29 month supply of inventory, which is an increase from last month’s 25.5 month supply. The financing for vacation condos has stricter guidelines and lenders are requiring larger down payments in the neighborhood of 30%.

Information on sales for the Big Island of Hawaii was provided by Kurt & Kirsten Carlson, Big Island real estate experts.

Here is a little about what the school:

Emmanuel’s Pre-School offers high quality child care to children ages 3 to 5 years old. The school has recently adopted an academic curriculum as well as integrated a weekly “Chapel Day” into the program. Teachers and staff provide a safe and nurturing environment, where children blossom through song, play and discovery. The school is open year round from 6:45 am to 6:00 pm. Spaces are available!! To learn more about the school, visit their website: www.emmanuelkailuapreschool.com

We recommend that anyone considering any school to do their own due diligence and research to make sure it is a fit for their child and family.

Number of condos sold on the Island of Oahu for the month of July in 2009 were down by 32.3% compared to the same time in 2008. The average sales price for the month of July in 2009 was down by 7% compared to the same time in 2008.

The Kailua real estate market seems to be moving pretty close to the averages of the over all island. The Leeward side of the island is continuing to get hammered both by drop in prices and number of sales.

The Waikiki real estate condo market seems to be mixed. The number of sales seem be doing better than island wide, but the price drops seem to be more than the island average. That may be good for buyers, but not sellers at this time.

The plaintiffs consist of two separate groups, one of which chose to air their grievances in the state circuit court, and the other of which chose to file suit in Honolulu federal court. Combined, the trial groups include about twenty dissatisfied buyers, representing investors from the mainland, Japan, and Hawaii itself. The claims of both lawsuits are essentially the same – that Irongate incorrectly listed Donald Trump as a “co-developer” in its 2006 promotional brochure, when in reality Trump simply licensed his name to be used with the project. The lawsuit alleges that Trump had the option to terminate the contract at any point in time, since the real estate mogul did not have any material investment in the tower. The plaintiffs claim that their decision to invest in the development was based heavily on the brand name of Trump, which grants an inherent value to the complex. They are concerned that if Trump exercises the option to withdraw his name, the Trump Waikiki will plummet in value.

The suit was filed by former Hawaii Attorney General Warren Price, and seeks to recover the initial deposits of the plaintiffs. Price stated that “Our clients intended to invest in an exclusive, one-of-a-kind Trump project in Waikiki. They were making an investment in a Rolls-Royce. They weren’t told there’s a license and it can be terminated, at which time the Rolls-Royce turns into a GM type of car.” Irongate was quick to respond to the lawsuit, saying that “A small group of individuals filed suit today. We believe that all of the claims are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves. Furthermore, we intend to pursue all of our own claims against these individuals. The vast majority of buyers are moving towards closing and are looking forward to their first visit to Trump Tower Waikiki Beach Walk later this year.”

There were 293 Oahu condo properties that sold in the month of June 2009 compared to 355 Oahu condo properties that sold in the month of June 2008. That was a decrease in the number of sales by 17.5%. That was not great news. Condos do usually lag behind single family homes after having a down market. Hopefully we will see that percentage start to shrink as time goes on.

Fortunately Hawaii properties have not been hit as hard as some mainland areas like California or Florida. Some of those markets have seen prices go down by as much as 60% from there highs. These numbers are not great, but they are somewhat encouraging. Hawaii definitely has been going through a natural market price adjustment. It could not keep going up at the rate we were without a pull back.

I will continue to post numbers each month going forward through the rest of the year.

That is great news for buyers that have been waiting for prices to adjust and get something. Interested rates have come up a little bit from their lows, but are still are very low historically. Jim Cramer recently called the bottom for real estate. That is a pretty bold prediction. Not sure if we are there yet. One thing I do know is there are some great deals out there.

Feel free to contact us if you are interesting in finding out more about what is happening in Hawaii real estate market.

We are seeing the activity pick up here on Oahu as far as offers and properties being put into escrow. These are all signs that the bottom may be near. Inventory has to shrink before prices can stabilize. It appears that is what may be happening.

There is some good news for sellers. It you have your property priced correctly with the recent increase in activity, you have a better chance of getting your home sold. I am hearing the same thing from real estate agents on the Big Island Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. Karen on Maui has informed me that investors are looking at Maui homes and condos again as investments. Russell on Kauai reports that they are looking for Kauai forecloseres or just a really good deal. He says there are plenty of them on Kauai at the moment.Looks like the confidence is definitely picking up and some buyers are starting to feel like this is a great time to get a piece of paradise.

Jim Cramer from Mad Money has been suggesting right now is a great time to start getting into real estate as an investment.

Here are some interesting numbers from April:
April of 2009 had approximately 184 SFR sell compared to 255 sell in April of 2008. The average sells price in 2008 was $731,361 compared to $640,000 in April of 2009. That is about a 13% decrease in price.

On average buyers have been able to pick up properties for 96% of list price for SFR and 95% of list price for condos.

Nobody can predict the exact bottom of the market, but with the decease in both the prices and interest rates it is definitely a good time to consider getting a piece of paradise.

Plan Ahead
Making a plan is important when you’re moving to Hawaii. When do you plan to move? Typically speaking, September or October is prime time to make your move. Travel expenses are normally cheaper around these times of years and you may even get breaks on food when you’re eating out (restaurants often run specials around the slower times).

Maui Weather
Life on Maui will vary according to where you decide to live. Where do you plan to live? There are many communities to choose from which offer their own special benefits. No matter where you choose to live, at least you know the weather is almost always friendly and welcoming. During the winter, the average temperature in Maui is 71 degrees and during the summer it’s usually about 78 degrees. Don’t panic if you hear tsunami sirens sounding off on Mondays. Monday is the day that they test them to ensure they’ll work in the event of the rare storms.

Driving on Maui
If you’re moving to Maui and plan on driving, you should know that honking your horn in traffic is very much frowned upon. Here are a couple of terms that you’ll need to get used to; “mauka” means “toward the mountain” and “makai” means toward the ocean. These words are usually used in place of north or south. If you’re driving down a road that is close to the beach, don’t assume you can swerve around an obstacle by making use of the sand. Although it may appear safe, many unaware drivers end up stuck in the sand!

Island Fever
While moving to Maui may be exciting and a step into your new life, some people find it difficult to adapt. Have you heard of island fever? Not jungle fever, but island fever? There is such a thing, and it’s something that sometimes happen to newcomers. If you’re used to living on the mainland then you you’re used to having pretty much everything you could want within reach. You can jump in your car and drive to the next town or state to visit family or get something that isn’t immediately available in your area. When you live in Maui that isn’t possible, though. Island fever is basically that feeling of being isolated on an island creeping up inside you. Some people go through this and some don’t, so it’s something to be aware of.

If you decide to relocate to Maui you may want to get several moving quotes to make sure you are getting the best possible price. It is also a good thing to check out references as well. Maui is truly a great place to call home.

Hawai’I Kai Condominiums
Hawaii Kai is found at the very southeastern end of Oahu is one of the most highly priced areas for condominiums on the island. You can save a great deal by buying one now, though. The median price of a condominium in Hawai’I Kai is almost $100,000 less than you would have paid for one in 2007. There are also more condo’s to choose from. There are over 100 listed as available, while just a year ago there were less than 90.

Single Family Homes in Honolulu
If you want to own housing in Hawaii that sits in the heart of the oldest residential areas found on Oahu, then look to Honolulu. Here, too, you can find some amazing deals on a new home. Single family homes in Oahu have been running about $690,000. While that may sound high, it’s more than 11 percent less than what it would have cost you before. If you want to buy a home here, you may want to act as quickly as possible for your situation. The availability for Honolulu single family homes has been decreasing.

As you can see, there are opportunities jumping at you from all over Hawaii. If you’re waiting to see how much lower the prices may go, you may end up with even a better deal. On the other hand, you may end up missing the deal of a lifetime because you waited too long. That’s a play of the cards, and something only you can decide. But housing in Hawaii is sure to make a strong rebound; wouldn’t it be nice to own a piece of paradise?

On Oahu there were 126 SFR properties sold for an average of 91 days on the market. They sold on average 96% of list price. Average list price was $666,772 and the average sales price was $632,262. The average house size was 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath with 1,674 living SqFt and a lot size of 6,754.

For the same month the year before there were 142 SFR properties sold for an average of 77 days on the market. They sold on average 97% of list price as well. Island wide the average sales price was $770,535.

It appears that the average SFR sales price island wide for the same month has declined approximately 18%. Number of sales was down approximately 12% from 2008.

Search all Honolulu real estate on Jeff Manson’s Hawaii real estate search.

Island wide there were 116 SFR properties sold for an average of 95 days on the market. They sold on average 96% of list price. Average list price was $801,845 and the average sales price was $747,120. The average house size was 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath with 1,796 living SqFt and a lot size of 8,081.

The same month the year before there were 223 SFR properties sold for an average of 80 days on the market. They sold on average 96% of list price as well. Island wide the average sales price was $952,277.

It appears that the average SFR sales price island wide for the same month has declined approximately 22%. Number of sales was down approximately 48% from 2008.

The condo sales were down approximately 60% and the amount of Hawaii foreclosures continue to increase. With the interest rates at all time low there should be plenty of great buys for the bargain hunters.

December 2008 Residential Resale Statistics for Oahu

Single Family Home Resale

December 2008 194 $ 626,500
November 2008 $ 594,500 up 5.4%
December 2007 240 dn 19.2% $ 610,000 up 2.7%

Condominium Resales

December 2008 243 $ 305,000
November 2008 $ 316,200 dn 3.5%
December 2007 353 dn 31.2% $ 320,000 dn 4.7%

December number of sales: 194 single-family homes – 294 condominiums was a decrease of 19.2 percent for single family homes and 31.2 percent for condominiums, compared to 2007 same month. 2008 total for single-family home sales were 2,741 and 3,933 for condominium sales was a decrease of 24.4 percent and 28.5 percent compared to 2007. Oahu median sales price in 2008 were $624,000 for single family homes and $325,000 for condos with a decrease of 3.0 percent for single family and no change in price for condominiums.

Oahu’s annual resale figures for 2008.
They are:
Annual 2008 Residential Resale Statistics for Oahu

Single Family Home Resales
Year / # Sales / Price
2008 2,741 $ 624,000
2007 3,627 dn 26.1% $ 643,500 dn 3.0%

Condominium Resales
Year / # Sales / Price
2008 3,933 $ 325,000
2007 5,499 $ 325,000

*Median price means half the prices were above and half below the given price.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA / SINGLE FAMILY HOME / CONDOMINIUMS
Honolulu real estate (Town) $ 722,500 $ 320,000
Diamond Head real estate $ 936,000 $ 437,500
Hawaii Kai real estate $ 850,000 $ 539,000
Kailua real estate $ 774,500 $ 415,000
Kaneohe real estate $ 663,800 $ 400,000
North Shore real estate $ 797,500 $ 360,500
Central Oahu real estate $ 580,000 $ 307,500
Leeward Coast real estate $ 380,000 $ 154,000
Ewa Plain real estate $ 465,000 $ 299,000
Makakilo real estate $ 560,000 $ 299,000
Waipahu real estate $ 550,000 $ 280,000
Pearl City real estate $ 627,300 $ 302,900

Obama greeting crowd

Obama knows how to work a crowd, that is for sure. Pretty nice guy

Todays Photos:

Justin gets a second hand shake with President Obama

Justins first Hand shake on Christmas Eve

Justin mentioned by local paper

Obama enjoying all the aloha

Grandma Ann got to shake his hand this time and also took the photos

Obama Approaching Gallery at Mid Pacific Country Club

On Christmas Eve our nanny Nina was bringing our kids home from the park and was overwhelmed by a motor cade transporting President elect Obama to nearby Mid Pacific Country Club.

Obama Wishing Local Lanikai Crowd a Merry Christmas

When we returned from the store we let the family know that we had seen him tee off on the 10th hole. We figured he would be returning to the 18th soon. So Dale, Nina, 5 of the seven kids and I decided to walk up the street and wait for him to return. April my wife would of loved to come, but is on bed rest pregnant with twins

Word around the neighborhood had spread he was golfing at Mid Pac and there was a small gallery gathering around the 18th in anticipation of catching a look at Obama.

The secret service was very friendly and did not make us leave. They let us all know to stay where we were and not approach the green as he arrived or they would have to tackle us. Everybody chuckled at the comment. We were all very excited when we saw his golf cart coming up towards the 18th green. There was a little disappointment when the crowd realized he was not actually going to be finishing the 18th hole.

We were all watching form a distance as he unloaded the golf clubs and shook hands with other golfers that accompanied him. He surprised everybody and started walking towards us all. He came right up to us, wished us a Merry Christmas and shook everybody’s hands. My kids were very excited to be shaking hands with him and a few of them said they were not going to wash their hands.

Obama shaking my son Justin's hand

Justin Manson’s quote in the Star Bulletin

He was a great sport when my neighbor Jan asked him how his game was. He said “it was terrible, but it didn’t matter and that his basket ball game was a lot better”.

This once in a life time experience made my kids Christmas a little more memorable.

**News Flash: Obamas Second Coming – More Photos 12/29/08

Obama waving good bye to us.

More photos of Obama:

Obama leaving golf course

Thank you for taking the photos Nina

I know a few agents that work the East Bay real estate market in Berkeley, Pleasanton, Livermore and other surrounding areas. They pretty much reported the same thing. Agents in both areas did let me know that the amount of sales rose last month. Which is great news, if the amount of sales continue to rise that will reduce the supply of homes and hopefully stabilize the home prices.

Even though Hawaii is a different market than the mainland. It is good to watch the markets on the mainland to see what the over all real estate market and economy is doing.

I guess the economists from Bank of Hawaii and the presidents from the larger real estate firms here on the island of Oahu were wrong again. They were saying 2 years ago that the Hawaii real estate market would not be affected and would just level off. They were even saying that just a few months ago as well. Lets be real, the Hawaii real estate market is going to adjust downward just like any other market and has been doing so for the past 2 years.

Hawaii real estate is a lot more affordable compared to two years ago. If you are buying for long term it may not be a bad time to buy because you can not predict the exact bottom of the market. If you are buying and planning on selling in the next three years, I would suggest holding off a bit to see what the market is going to do. Now with all that said, there are some great deals if you are patient and you do your home. The rise in Hawaii foreclosures creates prices to soften and great buying opportunities. Not just foreclosures either, it forces the really motivated sellers to compete and lower their prices as well.

Feel free to contact me and myself or one of my partners can help you locate a property that makes sense for you.

Here is a quick update about the launch.

My new hawaii real estate search is up and seems to be working well. Most of the feed back has been great. The search is much faster than the old site. Users can do more detailed advanced searches. They can sign up to get email alerts of their saved searches and even choose the frequency of the alerts (daily, Weekly of Never). Plus they can save multiple searches and could not on the old site. They even can manage there account in their profile area.

Here are some features that are not yet live that will be coming soon:

Save favorites
Interactive Map
Map it function.
Much more!!

We would love to here more feed back so we can keep improving the user experience.

Here are top 5 reasons why:

1. Cybersunshine was not completely honest with us on several occasions.

2. Their customer service was horrible – Response time to problems was very slow and Cybersunshine very often would tell us there was not a problem when there was.

3. They deleted our property data with no back up and the site had no property search or properties to view for a week.

4. I requested 3 times by email and left several messages on the owners voice mail that I needed my user data from my data base and they didn’t get back to me for 10 days.

5. Paid for VIP search they never integrated on change Request #10173 plus paid extra for rushes they never delivered on.

Here is the main reason and the final straw:

Back at the beginning of 2006 Cybersunshine convinced me that I needed to upgrade to the VOW / Hi-Central MLS RETS solution because it would make my site more stable and reliable because they were having problems with the IDX files (other vendors were not). They also said it has more data than the IDX data which the Honolulu Board of Realtors confirmed. So I agreed, paid $1398 and signed change request form #10173. By doing this I also incurred a cost of 75 a month by the Honolulu Board of Realtors for this feed.

The second week of August the search on my site stopped working and there were no property results for the Honolulu Board of Realtors. I contacted Cybersunshine to let them know. They informed me that the boards server was not responding. I contacted the board and they informed me that their server was having problems and they were going to have to change servers. It was up and working later that day. I informed Cybersunshine that it was working and they said it was still not responding. This went on for a week with no data on my site because Cybersunshine did not have a back up of the data and deleted it. I was basically out of business for a week because Cybersunshine deleted the property data and had no back ups. This is not a good thing when you have over 10,000 users on the site trying to search for properties. I wonder how many went over to a competitor’s site?

The Honolulu Board of Realtors informed me that Cybersunshine was requesting the IDX passwords because they were not using the RETS server.

Cybersunshine quickly responded that they were using both to cover themselves. They stated that the IDX had information that the RETS did not which is just the opposite and the board confirmed that.

I also got a message from a friend and a good source confirming that Cybersunshine never implemented RETS and the owner knew for almost 3 years

Note: I do have emails, correspondences and documentation to support all of what is posted here. Feel free to contact me about anything in this post at 808-792-7040. I also want to let you know that my 1st year with them was not that bad, but their services declined quickly after that.

I would love to hear how you would handle this and what actions you would pursue if any.

This was my experience with Cybersunshine and others may have had a great experience. So it is very important to ask for references if you are considering any company that is going to have control of your businesses website.

-Advanced Search Functions
-User Profile Functions
-Saving Searches and Favorites
-Map Search

I will keep you updated on the progression of the site plus let you know when my personal site ADRHI.com is ready to be launched as well. I will be happy when I can dump Cybersunshine get away from them and their horrible service.

Aloha
Jeff

I have personally been helping them come up with a list of features that are a must for both the user surfing the sites for properties and the real estate agent to help the client with there house hunting. Some of the features that they will have for the users are:

1. Easy to use real estate search.
2. Interactive map search.
3. Variety of detailed search options.
3. User profile to save favorites, create and save searches to receive daily email alerts.

Some of the features for the real estate agents are:

1. Back-end lead management system.
2. Easy to use content editor.
3. Built in Blogging function.

The whole goal is to help agents with their online marketing efforts. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Almost anything is better than what Cybersunshine created for me.

We are also working on a few other exciting things that will be beneficial to our users as well. As soon as those are ready to roll out, we will be notifying everyone. We look forward to continue to be a leader online and in the real estate industry.

The median single family home sale price was $628,000 a decease of 2.4%. The median condo sales price was $329,300, an increase of 2.4%. The actual sales prices do not seem to being affected as the number of home sale so far.

1. Integrity – Following up and doing what they promise.
2. Honesty – Telling the client the truth even if it means not getting a sale.
3. Knowledge – Knowing their market and what direction it is heading.
4. Education – Informing their client of different areas and neighborhoods.
5. Resources – Knowing where to direct their clients to do the proper research to make an informed decision.
6. Team – Having a team of professionals like Home Inspectors, Mortgage Brokers, Title Insurance Company and Escrow Officers that put the clients interests first and not their own.

Our team strives everyday to live up to these standards. Any Realtor that takes their business seriously wants to be the greatest real estate agent in the world. We also know some of the greatest agents in the world that do the same. If you are relocating to Hawaii, we can help you locate a Realtor in your neighborhood to sell your existing home. Please do not hesitate to contact us before you come to Hawaii. We are here to help.

All real estate webmasters need to make sure they are providing a good service for their users.

Big Island MLS Sales Statistics – Sales Volume
LOCATION PROPERTY TYPE 2006 2007 % INCREASE/

ENTIRE Residential $1,133,249,353 $958,910,123 <15.38%>
PUNA Residential $188,820,314 $148,329,901 <21.44%>
SOUTH HILO Residential $138,404,155 $93,513,499 <32.43%>
NORTH HILO Residential $6,911,888 $7,621,601 10.27%
HAMAKUA Residential $20,445,739 $16,318,740 <20.19%>
NORTH KOHALA Residential $40,845,000 $33,255,990 <18.58%>
SOUTH KOHALA Residential $263,634,942 $249,687,574 <5.29%>
NORTH KONA Residential $389,642,415 $346,580,401 <11.05%>
SOUTH KONA Residential $45,673,450 $35,393,014 <22.51%>

If you are interested in Big Island real estate in Hawaii you can contact American Dream Realty for all your buying needs.

New Home Developments/Subdivisions in Hawaii Kai

Moana Kai - Choose from seven different types of home-styles, ranging from 1,237 sq.ft. to 1,729 sq.ft. of living area. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

New Home Developments/Subdivisions in Honolulu

Capitol Place – Offers a blend of the modern and traditional. Apartments ranging from approximately 638 sq.ft. (1 Bed/1 Bath)to 1,500 sq.ft. (3 Bed/2 Bath) of living area plus parking. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

The Hokua building offers all the convenience you would expect of an exclusive residential condominium, the amenities you’d expect to find in a fine resort. Available residences are 3 Bedrooms with approx living area of 2,220 sq ft to 4,315 sq ft. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Ko’olani’s – offer only the finest in elegant designer appointments and haute custom upgrades. Residences are 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms with approx living area of 1,113 sq ft to 2,633 sq ft. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Moana Pacific – This prime 6-acre site provides views, convenience, and an in-town lifestyle. Residences are from 1 Bedroom/1 Bath to 3 Bedroom/3Bath with approx. living area from 704 sq ft to 2,310 sq ft.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Keola La’i - “the calm, peaceful, contented life” – 350 luxurious one to three bedroom, fee simple residences with spectacular views. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

The LOFT@WAIKIKI offers designer details including: 12, 15, and 19-foot high ceilings; select units can be combined for 2399 SF custom unit. Standards include 4′ x 8′ deco entry doors, two 11-foot arched, cathedral windows, creative vertical storage spaces, jet-spa bathtub. The open gourmet kitchen boasts SUB-ZERO®, WOLFâ„¢, and BOSCH® stainless steel kitchen/gas appliances. Oversized parking stalls, and designer options available. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

The Watermark Waikiki – Neighborhood bridging Waikiki and Ala Moana, overlooking the beach park, yacht harbor and ocean, The Watermark blends the aesthetics of contemporary design with a tropical sense of place. The Watermark is the new mark of distinction in Waikiki’s architectural and cultural renaissance. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Kaiolu Sunrise - Kaiolu means cool, calm water From the lobby tropical decor to the outdoor entertainment pavilion beside the swimming pool, a contemporary Hawaiian atmosphere welcomes residents and visitors.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Palms at Waikiki – Conveniently located across from Hilton Hawaiian Village, Palms at Waikiki is steps away from Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana Shopping Center, the Hawaii Convention Center, and just a short drive from downtown Honolulu. all Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

New Home Development/Subdivision in Koolina

Beach Villas at Ko’Olina by Centex Destination Properties
Beachfront resort condominium on the sandy beaches of Ko Olina Resort & Marina, where lagoons reflect the moon, exotic flowers scent the sky, and the ocean laps at your feet. Come home to paradise and live your dream. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

New Home Developments/Subdivisions in Makakilo

Ho’olu Landing at Makakilo
Ho’olu Landing at Makakilo offers five distinguished three bedroom home styles consisting of up to 1,848 square feet of living area. A unique, personalized options program will allow you to customize your home’s interior. Convenient dining, shopping and entertainment are just minutes away. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Ocean Ridge at Makakilo by D. R. Horton (Schuler Homes Hawaii)
Ocean Ridge features 68 town homes with approx. living area of 1,424 sq ft to 1,529 sq ft.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

Anuhea at Makakilo. Anuhea offers 4 model styles ranging from 1,291 to 1,808 square feet.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040.

High Pointe by Schuler Homes Hawaii
Choose from 12 model styles that vary in size from 1,359 to 2,757 sq. ft. of living space.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040.

Kai Nani at Makakilo by Schuler Homes Hawaii
This condominium town home community of 96 units will offer 12 floor plans ranging from approximately 1,010 to 1,766 square feet. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

New Home Developments/Subdivisions in Ewa Beach

Ocean Pointe by Haseko Homes, Inc.
Comprised of 1,100 acres, Ocean Pointe with its proposed world-class marina, is destined to become a commercial center, a water-oriented retreat and a residential haven. 17 Models to choose from. Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040.

Prescott by Gentry offers a classic design in their Prescott II Development, with 3 floor plans to choose from and approximate living areas of 1,466 to 1,803 sq. ft
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

New Home Developments/Subdivisions in Maili

Kaimalino at Sea Country will offer beautiful views of the Waianae mountain range from some of it’s 86 homes. This new community will feature single family & “duet” homes with six model styles from which to choose.
Call Jeff Manson of American Dream Realty at (808) 792-7040

There is a 0.6% decrease in Single Family Homes Median Sales Price from last year, while a 1.4% increase in Condominium Median Sales Price in December 2007 compared to the same month last year.

There is a 30.6% decrease in Single Family Homes Sales Volume from last year, and a 22.9% decrease in Condominium Sales Volume in December 2007 compared to the same month last year.
“Even though the number of sales have declined in the last few months of 2007, we are coming off of such record highs that we are still at the levels we attained during the last peak cycle between 1988 and 1991,” said Berton Hamamoto, President of the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “The Honolulu real estate market has faired well this year in comparison to many Mainland cities. We showed modest gains of 2.1 percent and 4.8 percent for single-family and condo sale prices, as opposed to negative numbers for several U.S. cities.”

“Housing resales during December were low but this was not unexpected,” added Harvey Shapiro, Research Economist at the Board of REALTORS®. “The economy in Hawaii has been maintaining its strength although there are some indications of a coming slowdown.” cityneighborhoodinfo.com has relocation and property information accross the united states. Source: The Honolulu Board of REALTORS®

The third quarter of 2007 for condo re-sales compared to the third quarter of 2006 for the number of condos sold is down by 12.4%. The same time period median condo sales prices we are down 4.8%.

The total dollar volume of sales was $1.311 billion in the third quarter, a decrease of $136 million, or 9.5%, from the $1.447 billion in sales achieved in the same quarter last year.

Here are the median single home sales prices for the following areas:
Metro Oahu (Honolulu Town) – $705,500
Diamond Head – $1,080,000
Hawaii Kai – $853,800
Kailua – $785,000
Kaneohe – $707,000
North Shore – $587,500
Central Oahu (Mililani) - $648,300
Leeward Coast – $387,500 
Ewa Plain – $519,500
Makakilo – $574,900
Waipahu – $582,500
Pearl City – $642,500

Median Sales Price means the midpoint of sales prices.

Some of the best private schools in the nation are on Oahu. Iolani school is known for its academic excellence. It wins awards every year for its students achievements. Punahou is another great private school and known nationally by many of the great colleges and its students are recruited heavily as well.

These are definately the top two private schools on Oahu and in the state of Hawaii.

Nationally, the rates continue to rise. Nevada has the highest percentage with one foreclosure filing for every 61 households. The amount of Las Vegas foreclosures is incredible. The Las Vegas real estate market was one of the strongest a few years ago with some of the largest appreciation the nation saw. No it looks like it is making a major correction.

California and Florida were the other two top states with the amount of filings. While San Diego foreclosures did not lead California, it was among the top big cities to get hammered with the amount of filings. Other top California cities that have allot of foreclosure filings are Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Chula Vista, Anaheim and Riverside. There is a Florida foreclosure filing for every 95 households. Big cities like Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville continue to increase monthly.

It looks like there will be some great buying opportunities in the future across the country. The big questions is when to jump in the market and take advantage of some of the great deals that are gong to be out there.

According to Elad Bushari of Gibson Sotheby International Realty in Boston, the strong Boston real estate market has partly to do with Boston booming financial industries. We are seeing a lot more people searching for lofts near the financial district. In fact, prices there have jumped 17 percent in the 3Q 2007 as compared to last year.

The Boston Real Estate Blog is another great source of information about Boston real estate, Boston Apartments and Boston Lofts.

“Spring and summer were really strong here in the better neighborhoods”, Larry Hotz. ” Of course, we have our foreclosure neighborhoods too where prices have gone down. But, my firm The Kentwood Company sells mainly luxury homes and our sales volume is up as well as average prices year-to-date.”

Larry said showings and sales of his listings have slowed down since Labor Day. But, there are no reliable statistics to show exactly how much yet.He believes sales will be softer but prices will be about flat though the rest of 2007. The Denver economy and employment continue to be strong supporting home prices. Over the summer Boeing and several other companies moved employees into Denver. Boeing moved over 600 employees from Huntington Beach, California to Littleton, a Denver suburb. If the Denver real estate trend continues, Larry believes the city might escape the lower prices of homes in other markets.

So, California looses 600 jobs to Denver. California prices are lower. Denver, at least so far, is about stable.

The foreclosure channel is geo located and has lists of foreclosures in the different counties of a particular state. They are also revamping their rentals section and soon property managers and home owners will be able to list houses for rent for free with pictures and video.

The home inspectors channel now lists them by state along with the services they provide. They even have an insurance channel that has all the different types of insurance you would need when you relocate to a new area such as car, health, homeowners and even term life insurance quotes.

They are also working on getting a new design as well, plus many other services for buyers and sellers relocating. There new real estate section will have a home values tool, plus you will be able to view mortgage rates, links to schools and city neighborhood information plus much more!!

She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and three children biking, fishing and many other family activities.

She has an interactive website that provides buyers and sellers with real estate tips, articles and community iformation. You definately get a competitive edge when you are working with Katrina.

We have relocation specialists in all states and most communities that we can refer to buyers to. Darla Vanderlip is our Santa Clarita real estate specialist and she serves the following areas: Castaic, Valencia, San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley and Stevenson Ranch in California.

Bob Wilson is our San Diego real estate relocation partner and serves the following areas: 4s Ranch, Scripps Ranch, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla in California.

Debbie Ferrari is our San Clemente real estate referral agent that also handles Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano plus other Orange County real estate areas.

Bryan Pearl is an Alabama real estate agent that handles Huntsville real estate clients and has a great mls search on our site.

This new site was created so we can refer clients relocating to and from Hawaii to agents that work at a higher standard than most.

They also list Hawaii houses for rent. I believe they also link to other Hawaii real estate brokers MLS searches as well. This site might gain popularity as the Hawai real estate market continues to tighten up.  Sellers that have bought a home in the last two years do not have very much equity  if any at all.

Time will tell whether or not this is going to be a substitute from a traditional broker.

The real estate agents get a profile page and all their listings interlink.

I would check this out if you are interested in getting free exposure for your real estate investments and resort style homes.

There is a 8.2 decrease in Single Family Homes Sales Volume from last year; and, a 14.7% decrease in Condominium Sales Volume in June 2007 compared to the same month last year.

“The Oahu housing market achieved new records in June with the median price paid for a single-family home at $685,000, exceeding the previous record of $668,300 in May 2006, and condominium prices at $334,000, surpassing the prior peak of $329,000 set last July,” said Berton Hamamoto, President of the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “Although the number of sales has diminished from their peak in 2005, the market is still very active and maintaining a healthy equilibrium with adequate supply and strong demand.”
“Oahu, Hawaii residential markets have been pushing the price envelope in recent years, including this June,” added Harvey Shapiro, Research Economist at the Board of REALTORS®. “Of the seventeen single-family home neighborhoods tracked for research purposes by the Board, home values and sales of over $1 million occurred in ten or more of them every month since last year. Last month, there were even three neighborhoods registering sales of more than $3.8 million. These high-end sales confirm the opinion held by many REALTORS® that there continues to be substantial demand for our properties and that prices most likely will not be adjusting downward anytime soon, if at all.”

*Source: The Honolulu Board of REALTORS®

Fee Simple Ownership: Fee simple ownership is probably the most familiar form of property ownership to buyers of residential property, especially on the US Mainland. Fee simple is sometimes called fee simple absolute because it is the most complete form of ownership. A fee simple buyer acquires ownership of the entire property, including both the land and buildings. The fee simple owner does not pay ground rent, but does pay maintenance fees and real property taxes. The fee simple owner has the right to possess, use the land and dispose of the land as he wishes – sell it, give it away, trade it for other things, lease it to others, or pass it to others upon death.

Finance Charge: The total cost a borrower must pay, direct or indirectly, to obtain credit according to Regulation Z.

Graduated Payment Mortgage: A residential mortgage with monthly payments that start at a low level and increase at a predetermined rate.

Home Inspection Report: A qualified inspector report on a property overall condition. The report usually includes an evaluation of both the structure and mechanical systems.

Home Warranty Plan: Protection against failure of mechanical systems within the property. Usually includes plumbing, electrical, heating systems and installed appliances.

Index: A measure of interest rate changes used to determine changes in an ARM interest rate over the term of the loan.

Joint Tenancy: An equal undivided ownership of property by two or more persons. Upon the death of any owner, the survivors take the decedent interest in the property.

Leasehold Conversion: Conversion of leasehold property to fee simple ownership involves purchasing the landowner’s remaining interest, called the leased fee interest. The lessors of many, if not most, leasehold properties are currently offering to sell their leased fee interests to their lessees or prospective buyers of a leasehold property. There is a State of Hawaii law and a City & County of Honolulu (Oahu) ordinance affecting the mandatory conversion of residential leasehold properties.

Leasehold Ownership: A leasehold interest is created when a fee simple landowner enters into an agreement or contract called a ground lease with a lessee. A lessee buys leasehold rights much as one buys fee simple rights; however, the leasehold interest differs from the fee simple interest in several important respects. First, the buyer of residential leasehold property does not own the land and must pay ground rent. Second, his use of the land is limited to the remaining years covered by the lease. Thereafter, the land returns to the lessor, and is called reversion. Depending on the provisions of any surrender clause in the lease, the buildings and other improvements on the land may also revert to the lessor. Finally, the use, maintenance, and alteration of the leased premises are subject to any restrictions contained in the lease.

Lien: A legal hold or claim on property as security for a debt or charge.

Loan Commitment: A written promise to make a loan for a specified amount on specified terms.

Loan-To-Value Ratio: The relationship between the amount of the mortgage and the appraised value of the property, expressed as a percentage of the appraised value.

Margin: The number of percentage points the lender adds to the index rate to calculate the ARM interest rate at each adjustment.

Mortgage Life Insurance: A type of term life insurance often bought by home buyers. The coverage decreases as the mortgage balance declines. If the borrower dies while the policy is in force, the mortgage debt is automatically covered by insurance proceeds.

Negative Amortization: Negative amortization occurs when monthly payments fail to cover the interest cost. The interest that isn covered is added to the unpaid principal balance, which means that even after several payments you could own more than you did at the beginning of the loan. Negative amortization can occur when an ARM has a payment cap that results in monthly payments that aren high enough to cover the interest.

Origination Fee: A fee or charge for work involved in evaluation, preparing, and submitting a proposed mortgage loan. The fee is limited to 1 percent for FHA and VA loans.

PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance.

Planned Unit Development (PUD): A zoning designation for property developed at the same or slightly greater overall density than conventional development, sometimes with improvements clustered between open, common areas. Uses may be residential, commercial or industrial.

Point: An amount equal to 1 percent of the principal amount of the investment or note. The lender assesses loan discount points at closing to increase the yield on the mortgage to a position competitive with other types of investments.

Prepayment Penalty: A fee charged to a borrower who pays a loan before it is due. Not allowed for FHA or VA loans.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Insurance written by a private company protecting the lender against loss if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.Purchase Agreement: A written document in which the purchaser agrees to buy certain real estate and the seller agrees to sell under stated terms and conditions. Also called a sales contract, earnest money contract, or agreement for sale.

R: A REALTOR® is an individual licensed as a BROKER to list and sell real estate, one who is also a member of a local Board of REALTORS®, the State Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. As a member of these three professional trade associations, a REALTOR® is bound by a strict Code of Ethics, the canons of professional behavior that guide daily activities in the real estate business.

To obtain a BROKER’s license, an individual must have a current (active or inactive) Hawaii salesperson’s license, a minimum of 2 years full-time real estate experience in Hawaii and have participated in at least 10 qualifying real estate transactions with a Hawaii broker prior to taking and passing the State-required 46-hour broker’s prelicensing course.

RA: A REALTOR ASSOCIATE® is an individual licensed as a SALESPERSON to list and sell real estate, one who is also a member of a local Board of REALTORS®, the State Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. As a member of these three professional trade associations, a REALTOR ASSOCIATE® is bound by a strict Code of Ethics, the canons of professional behavior that guide daily activities in the real estate business.

To become a licensed real estate professional in Hawaii, an individual must be 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a registered alien by the State exam date, have a reputation for honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing, complete the State-required 40-hour prelicensing course and pass the State exam.

Regulation Z: The set of rules governing consumer lending issued by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.

Tenancy in Common: A type of joint ownership of property by two or more persons with no right of survivor ship.

Title Insurance Company Policy: A policy that protects the purchaser, mortgagee or other party against losses.

VA Loans: A loan, made by a private lender, that is partially guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.

According to our local Board of Realtors, condominium sales in the Grand Strand dropped 41 percent in the first quarter of 2007.

Although this is lower than the same quarter in the past three years, it’s still higher than it was before the condo boom of 2005. Prices of real estate along Myrtle Beach’s sandy coastline nearly doubled at that time, and condo sales reminded one of our twice a year run of “spots”, a local small fish that migrates through and permeates our waters in October and March.

When the spots run, you can throw in an un-baited hook and pull up a fish as fast as you can take it off and throw it back again. Such was the way condo buyers hit the beaches and resorts during the 2005 craze. If you had a preconstruction condo project, and you announced it publicly, you had sales… or at least deposits for them.

Many people made a lot of money in the very early days of the rush. Building was slow and the first developments that sold out were built and skyrocketed in price. The problems began after things continued to boom. Construction companies and builders were unable to handle the business load, and began to double the building costs to get a piece of the action. Eventually their prices made it nearly impossible to finish the projects that sold originally for lower prices.

The doom-sayers started predicting bubbles long before there were any, and after a while the investors grew scared so sales began to slow. Developers who could have afforded the padded building costs became unable to sell the last few units required to obtain the bank funding. Although North and South Carolina never did have a “bubble”, per se, the condo rush slowed to a trickle, and many of the projects never materialized.

Over the past 6 or 7 months, prices have dropped somewhat on Myrtle Beach condos. A 2 bedroom that was originally $70,000, and had jumped to $130-$150,000, has now leveled off to $110-$120 instead.

But for buyers right now, this is a great time to pick up that perfect vacation home for a solid savings…as coastal real estate will continue to increase in price, most say in about 17 months.
There won’t be a better time to buy than right now. Just be prepared to hold on and enjoy it for a couple of years, and you’ll have an investment to take pride in.

Contact the Myrtle Beach Condo Store for your vacation condo needs. We specialize in condos and resorts on the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach Condos For Sale
The Myrtle Beach Condo Store
407 22nd Ave North Suite
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-9527
(843) 222-9800

You can also find more Myrtle Beach real estate information and Real Estate Blogs.

Here at American Dream Realty, we don’t just “sit in the office.” Instead, we listen to you to get a feel for what you need in a property as concerns price, size, and proximity to marinas, beaches, nightlife, parks, schools and healthcare centers. We also ask you what character of neighborhood you are looking for. Lively? Quiet? Central or, perhaps, on the water? Then we get to work, searching every available property, and pounding the pavement to find others.

Honolulu is Hawaii’s capital city, and boasts a population of 1,000,000. Located on the southern part of Oahu, this city is home to many different ethnicities, and is an international business center. There are cultural festivals, events, art shows, and all the dining and shopping an urbanite could wish for, while still being within walking distance to such famed outdoor spots as Waikiki Beach.

Within Honolulu, there are a wealth of different lifestyles available. We can get you into the heart of the financial district, so that your commute time is negligible, or we can help you find a home ideally situated between the urban center and a quiet beach. We have a reputation as the hardest-working realtors in Hawaii, and we can prove to you that it’s well deserved!

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 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.