“Interest in travel,” “time available to travel,” and “money available for travel,” variables from which the index is derived, have risen. Unfortunately, the increased cost to travel, and lingering concern about job loss may keep people at home.  However, financial factors that influence near-term leisure travel are mostly positive.  For example, the percentage of U.S. adults citing a “high level of personal credit card debt” fell from 56% in April 2009 to 46% in April 2010.  

The airlines serving Hawaii have recently indicated more seats will be added.  More travelers to Hawaii is good news for real estate sellers.  The West Hawaii Island’s entry level market (to $500,000) had already recovered.  Excess inventory has been mopped up, and prices are creeping up.  If you have been thinking about buying West Hawaii at the market’s low point, now is the time to visit with your checkbook. 

Take a look at Hawaiian Airlines’ reduced fares beginining August 9^th.   Tickets must be purchased by June 11, so now is definitely the time.  While you are here I can put together a short tour of homes for you.

First-Time Homebuyers in Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort: If you’re in the market for the first time, buying a home as an investment is a wonderful opportunity. Not only are there federal funding options available for first-time buyers, but the low average cost of homes right now means that you can get more Hawaii home for your dollar. This is especially true if you’re looking for a home to live in for a few years. By buying a house now, you can have a place to call home and the potential to sell it for profit five, ten, or even twenty years from now.

Kona Home Flipping: “Flipping” a home, or buying a house and fixing it up to increase the resale value, has been made popular by television shows and success stories that boast of tens of thousands of dollars virtually overnight. However, the process of fixing up a house is a much larger task than it at first appears. If you plan to flip a house as a way to earn a living, make sure you know exactly what the construction projects will entail and how you will finance your way through the process for the entire time it might take to resell your investment home.

When Buying HI Real Estate, Timing is Everything: As a financial decision, buying real estate is often best taken advantage of as a long-term investment. After all, it can be difficult even for professionals to predict the Kona real estate market. That’s why one of the best ways to turn a profit on a Hawaii home is to plan on living in the home or renting it out for upwards of 10 years at a time. It’s one of the best ways to guarantee an increase in your investment, and to enjoy yourself – and your family – while doing it.

The most important thing to remember before delving into HI real estate as a way to make money is that there is no quick and easy road to riches. The recent housing bubble burst is perfect evidence of this, and many people learned the hard way that buying a home as an investment, like any financial decision, takes time, planning, and a little homework.

In real estate lingo, this is known as curb appeal.

Most potential homebuyers make a decision about a house within the first 30 seconds. For example, simply driving by a well-kept single family home for sale in the Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas is often enough to cause people to pull over and make an immediate call to their realtor. That’s because an inviting exterior promises an inviting interior.

To get the kind of curb appeal that really gets noticed, you have to be able to detach yourself from your home. You may have lived there for months or years, and have probably learned to overlook the overgrown shrubbery next to the sidewalk or the mailbox in need of repair. However, these are the first things potential homebuyers will see. You have to view your home as objectively as possible in order to begin making the necessary repairs to get noticed.

Look out for:

• Visible mold or mildew on the house, roof, or sidewalks
• Outdated exteriors
• Yard clutter
• Dirty gutters, siding, or windows
• Chipped paint
• How your home appears at dusk or even at night
• Overgrowth in the yard or on the sidewalks
• Dead plants or leaf piles
• Overly personalized doormats

Of course, if you’re really motivated to sell your home in the Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas, you may also want to consider upgrading your landscaping. Like staging your home or making repairs, restorative landscaping can give your house just enough polish to entice a higher level of buyers. In fact, in a recent study, it was determined that good landscaping can actually add 6 to 11 percent to your home’s sale price.

We all know that selling a home can be hard work. Increase your chances of success by making sure your potential buyers are impressed before they even get out of the car.

Buyers are more serious during the holidays. Anyone shopping for a home during the holidays probably has to buy before a certain deadline. Therefore some buyers may be looking to relocate before the new year. Investors may also want to close before the end of the year for tax reasons. If you live near a university, students and staff may be looking for homes between academic sessions, and if you live near a military base, servicemen and women may be moving to the area. Work with me, Diana Woods, your agent to target these motivated buyers. Buyers have more time to house-hunt. Buyers who are looking at this time during the holidays are serious about making a purchase. Some buyers purposely wait until their families are together for holiday vacations to start looking for a home. Homes show better in the winter. Decked out in lights and garland, homes often look their best during the holiday months. Take advantage of the Holidays and spruce up your homes to make them more festive. Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard, just enough to make your prospects feel at home and your home still looking spacious.

Home sellers can’t always take a holiday from keeping their house on the market. Instead, they should consider ways to turn the holidays to their advantage. By holding a holiday-themed open house – maybe instead of the traditional Sunday afternoon open house; your home could be open in the evening to take advantage of a festive holiday light display. Keep in mind to not block or cover up important selling features such as fireplace mantels, stairs, stained-glass windows. Tone down the size of tree. In place of a 10-foot tree, try decorating a table-top, four-foot version. Set a plate of cookies on the counter, next to festive paper napkins for guests. Giving house hunters a place to escape from the cold is another excellent way to get them inside your home.

The holidays are stressful enough without having to think about staging and open houses, so if you’re not truly motivated to sell, it’s probably best to wait a few months. But if you absolutely have to sell, don’t be discouraged. A good agent like myself can take the burden off of your shoulders, giving you more time to enjoy the season.

With these tips in mind, it is possible to enjoy the holidays and still successfully feature a home for sale on the real estate market. Now is still a good time as ever in the Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas.

Get rid of those items that have been sitting around for years without being used or even handled. This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Buyers and real estate agents should see your house in its best condition from the very first day it’s on the market.

Here are a few approaches to take to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”

Another way to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell is to make those minor repairs and best of all, make the house sparkle! Only do one room, or even one small area, at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Your best friend is the trash bag; when in doubt, throw it out. Many find it easier to use boxes to sort items, so you don’t have to find a home for everything as you unclutter. Most important, be quick and decisive when sorting. Tell yourself:
• If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

If you are getting your house ready to sell in the Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas, then take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas where you can unclutter your home and let myself, Diana Woods, your agent help you to get your house ready to sell.
]]> http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/unclutter-your-home-and-get-it-ready-to-sell/feed/ 0 http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/the-value-of-homeownership/ http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/the-value-of-homeownership/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:14:18 +0000 Diana Woods http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/?p=8 Homeownership may be the most important asset-building strategy for individuals. The value of homeownership gives homeowners a feeling of control, a greater sense of security and stability.

Homeownership is typically given a lot of importance and homeowners are generally allowed to do whatever they wish in their homes. Homeowners have the right to make choices and decisions regarding changes to their homes that renters may not be able to make.

Homeownership is a financial goal most families share. There are significant community benefits to homeownership as well. Owning a home gives residents a stake in the community and a sense of “rootedness” in their neighborhoods. Enjoying the privacy that a home brings, making long lasting friendships with neighbors and best of all taking pride in your home. The pride you’ll feel in owning and improving your home is an emotional value that cannot be expressed in dollars and cents. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

Homeownership is thought to be an important element in achieving personal fulfillment. When asked to define the good life, polls have shown that many Americans value owning a home over such factors as an automobile, a happy marriage, an interesting or high-paying job, and good health. The value of homeownership is credited with increasing self-esteem, life satisfaction, and an overall feeling of worth. Owning a home embodies the promise of individual independence but there are also many responsibilities that come with owning a home. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

If you are looking to buy your own home in Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas, these are some points to consider when seeing the value of homeownership. Allow me, your Real Estate agent, Diana Woods to help you see the value of homeownership.
]]> http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/the-value-of-homeownership/feed/ 0 http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/going-green-in-hawaii/ http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/going-green-in-hawaii/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:21:08 +0000 Diana Woods http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/?p=7 Have you heard the news! Green real estate is getting lots of buzz. More and more homebuyers are looking for ways to increase their green footprint. They are looking for that perfect home and yard that will give them eco-luxury. Going Green in Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii is happening as we know it.

Not only are we worried about our cleaning supplies being green, but now we want our homes to be green also. Homes with amenities like Gammpar floors, LEED-certified building materials, double-paned windows and even docking stations for electric cars! Also, homes that boast features like rainwater harvesting, passive air ventilation, reclaimed fixtures and recycled content tile and flooring.

This may all seem very over-whelming, but there are a lot of sites on the web that will help you fully understand just what finding a “green” home entails. It will be worth the research and will make your life more comfortable in the long run. Just “Google” the words “green real estate”, for starters. Enjoy the search and learn what makes a “green” home; a home that you want to be a part of. We all want to do our part and so let’s enjoy all of the eco-luxury that we can.

Just a side note – there’s no denying that the mortgage meltdown has meant tragedy for many home owners. But take a look around. You’ll see there’s very positive activity in many vibrant markets throughout the US especially in Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas. By focusing on the good news and passing the message around, we can help speed up the market recovery. Don’t panic, let’s all do our part!
]]> http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/going-green-in-hawaii/feed/ 0 http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/ http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:31:12 +0000 Diana Woods http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/?p=6 The oldest use of the term “Real Estate” that has been preserved in historical records was in 1666. In other words, real estate has been around for a very long time. However, it is not going away! It will be around until the end of time. What a comfort that is. With the slump that is happening, it is a reassurance to know that even if the economy gets bad, real estate is here to stay.

Real Estate is a legal term, according to Wikipedia, that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, specifically property that is stationary, or fixed in location. The word “fixed” is the keyword here, meaning unmovable. Real Estate is here to stay!

Wikipedia also states that it has been argued that the word Real is derived from “royal”. For hundreds of years the Royal family and/or King owned the land, and the peasants paid rent or property taxes to be on the Royal’s land. Today, just like hundreds of years in the past, we pay property taxes, or rent to be on the government’s land or the Royal Estate. Isn’t it great to know that even though we do have to pay property taxes our homes are owned by us and not a king or government or royal family!

This article has been a little bit about the history of Real Estate, but thankfully there is a great future for real estate. Make your own future and invest in “Real” estate.

If you are looking for a home or selling real estate in the Kona, Kohala, Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii areas then we can help!
]]> http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/feed/ 0 http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/kona-kohala-coast-mauna-kea-resort-hawaii-real-estate-market/ http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/kona-kohala-coast-mauna-kea-resort-hawaii-real-estate-market/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:33:59 +0000 Diana Woods http://www.bigislandhawaiiluxury.com/?p=3 Welcome to BigIslandHawaiiLuxury.com. I hope you’re enjoying the spring-like weather. It’s time to “spring clean” your homes and get them ready to sell. I’m Diana Woods and am here to help you jump start your way into that new “dream home” you’ve been waiting for.

Economic forecasts show that our economy is “springing” back! Take advantage of it and don’t miss the incredible deals that will be starting to happen within the next few weeks.

BigIslandHawaiiLuxury.com is all about great deals and getting updates about the over-all state of Real Estate here in Kona. In reality, real estate can only get better. It’s time to carefully monitor shifts in thinking, evaluate innovation and track existing real estate trends.

It seems that every decade or so, a year comes by that really defines our industry. As we stand at the beginning of 2008, we are in a period of time destined to be landmark years.

So go to BigIslandOceanfront.com and let me – Diana Woods – help you achieve your goal and be the perfect stepping stone along your path!

As you consider buying a home in the state of Hawaii, in areas such as Kona, Kohala Coast, and Mauna Kea Resort, look at criteria such as location, design, size, and pricing. We are all different and have our own special needs.

You will also have many questions such as:

• Can I afford my “dream home“?
• Where will I get my mortgage?
• What is my credit like right now?

I will be happy to answer each of these questions, and more. My experience has given me the knowledge of the market and the experience to answer all your questions more efficiently.

Now, if you are in need to sell your home in the Kona HI, Kohala Coast, or Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii area, it is obvious that you will want the best possible deal. I can help you decide what needs to be done to your home to get it in the best possible shape for it to sell and sell quickly.

Is it a buyers or sellers market in the Kona HI area? The market conditions will play a crucial role in determining the asking price. Because market conditions change constantly, it is important that you get solid advice from an agent or REALTOR® familiar with Kona and surrounding areas in the Real Estate market.

Knowledge and experience are the keys to look for in a successful real estate agents business. So, in order to provide you with the best, over-all experience, find someone who is committed 100% to your cause.

Choose a reliable real estate agent to help you with your Real Estate needs in Kona, Kohala Coast, or Mauna Kea Resort Hawaii area and make your home buying or selling a fulfilling experience. Take the stress out of the total real estate experience and let experience work for you.

If you would like to learn more about Diana Woods and Kona Hawaii real estate simply visit BigIslandOceanfront.com.