Came to Kona for a day of crazy shopping. Thought I’d start with a half pint and pizza slice!
Posts Tagged ‘Kona’
Lunch at the Kona brew pub
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012Settling into the Community
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012
Honoka'a neighborhood hula
I recently sold a home to a retired couple ready to move to our pretty little Waimea town after just a couple visits. Another family who asked me to help them buy a vacation home in Kona a couple of years ago is also getting ready to make the move to live in Hawaii full time. Both families just asked the same question: what tips can I share to help them settle into the community? I immediately began asking lifestyle questions. What activities do you currently enjoy? What volunteer work do you do? What have you always wanted to do? Right now, how do you spend your day?
Kona-Kohala Coast Real Estate Update
Monday, November 28th, 2011November 2011
January through October 2011 Kohala Coast condo sales are up 36.6% and prices are down 7.7% over January through October 2010.
Third quarter 2011 Kohala Coast condo sales are up 25.5% and prices are down 9.1% over third quarter 2010.*
October 2011 Kohala Coast condo sales are down 36.4% and prices are down 29.8% over October 2010.
January through October 2011 Kona condo sales are up 9.4% and prices are down 21.8% over January through October 2010.
Third quarter 2011 Kona condo sales are up 5.5% and prices are down 9.1% over third quarter 2010.*
West Hawaii Home Sales Up and Prices Down
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
On the front page of West Hawaii Today, Tuesday October 18, 2011, the second lead story headline blazed: Home Sales Dip… Hmm, that doesn’t sound right. Using Hawaii Information Services data, my research since late 2010 has found home sales climbing in North Kona and South Kohala while prices continue to slip.
So I expanded my research to include all West Hawaii single family and condo sales from South Kona to North Kohala, January through September 2011 vs 2010. Again, my research still found sales for improved residential higher this year than last: 999 to 859. The 2011 January-September median sales price was $323,000 compared to $344,000 last year.
South Kohala Market Update
Friday, July 22nd, 2011Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtor’s Chief Economist, said last month that homes sales will rise this year. Well, those of us familiar with Kona and Kohala Coast real estate here on the Big Island took this as old news. Real estate isn’t just local, these days it is hyper-local. What’s happening in Puna is completely different than what’s happening in South Kohala. When I talk to mainland residents looking to buy a vacation home, they often incorrectly assume what’s happening in their local market is what’s happening in our market.
Pending Recovery
Friday, September 3rd, 2010Part 4 of 4
Investors are entering deeply discounted real estate markets. According to Dr Yun, Las Vegas is experiencing an influx of investors. Since Las Vegas is the nadir of the US housing market drop, this is good news. Refreshingly deep pink firewood blosooms are first to return to a blackened northern forest after a devastating fire. While investors better resemble civil war carpet baggers more than fireweed, their effect is the same. They are the first to venture in, and they provide foundation for future growth.
Economist Dr Lawrence Yun: the US Vacation Home Market
Saturday, June 19th, 2010Part 1 of 4
I just returned from the National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) Resort and Second Home Symposium, held this year at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. As a certified Resort and Second Home Property Specialist (RSPS), the Resort Symposium is an opportunity to meet with other brokers who specialize in resort and vacation home properties. We gather to share ideas and solutions, and to hear the latest from industry experts. The headline speaker June 13 was Dr Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. For the purpose of this discussion, vacation homes and second homes are defined as distinct from investment properties. The later are not intended for use by the owner, and are purchased specifically for return on investment rather than for enjoyment by the owner.
Maintaining Distance When Selling Your HI Home
Monday, May 10th, 2010Selling a home in Kona or Kohala can be a very personal experience. After all, this is the place you’ve lived for years. Maybe you renovated the interior with your own two hands. Maybe you got married here. Maybe this is even where you raised your kids. No matter what it is that makes your home, well, home, the decision to sell isn’t one that comes lightly to everyone.
The personal attachment we all have to our homes is part of the reason it can be difficult to sell a Hawaii home.
Your Dream Home: Why Neighborhoods and Communities Matter
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010Finding the right home in Kona isn’t always as easy as relying on a checklist of square footage, number of bathrooms, and the upkeep of the yard. Although these types of features are important when determining where you want to live and raise a family, another important consideration is the neighborhood where your dream house is situated.
Kona and Kohala homes for sale are noted for their family-friendly communities and idyllic backdrop, but that doesn’t mean that every home is ideally placed. Before you purchase a home in any Hawaii city, it’s important to research what the rest of the neighborhood has to offer.
Selling a Home: Why You Have to Engage all Five Senses
Saturday, March 13th, 2010If you’re getting ready to sell a home in Kona, you probably have a checklist of ideas for making your home more marketable. HI homes tend to sell better when they have more immediate appeal; for example, well-tended yards, impeccable siding, and a welcoming kitchen can go a long way in enticing homebuyers in the area. There are a number of ways you and your real estate agent can work together to make these things happen, and one of the best ideas is to ensure that you’re engaging all of the senses.
Sight