VA Home Loans: Helping Hawaii Service Members May 31, 2011
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VA Home Loans: Helping Hawaii Service Members
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have fallen while serving our country. The day was originally founded to recognize soldiers in the Civil War, but later expanded to give tribute to all service members. For the bravery and service of our current military members and veterans, the VA offers programs that enhance the quality of life and provide options that aid the military lifestyle. One such program is the VA Home Guaranty Loan program.
What is the VA Home Loan Program?
The VA Home Loan program was established in 1944 to help veterans and active duty service members more easily achieve homeownership. Since service members move more frequent than most, conventional lending programs offer less of an appeal. Through the program, military members are able to obtain a mortgage partially backed by the VA that gives them benefits not commonly found in conventional lending programs.
Why Choose a VA Home Loan?
Traditional home lending programs usually require good to above average credit, a large down payment of close to 20%, and charge Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Due to the mobile nature of military service members, most veterans and active duty service members have little chance to build savings or strong credit.
The VA Home Loan program is specifically designed to cater to military member’s financial situation, and offers benefits not seen in conventional lending programs, like the zero down payment option, which helps military members continue to build their savings in case they are reassigned to a new base and need the money for their Permanent Change of Station (PCS). Other benefits of the program are:
- Competitive interest rates
- Flexible mortgage terms
- Refinancing options
The VA Home Loan program also has high loan limits, which is great for military members interested in purchasing a home in Hawaii, where homes can vary in price. In higher priced real estate markets, VA Home Loans can even be secured up to $1,000,000, without the need of a down payment.
Eligibility Requirements
The first step in determining eligibility is to see if you fall in one of the following categories:
- Served for at least three months on active duty during wartime or 181 days during peacetime
- Served a minimum of six years in the national guard or reserves
The next step is to acquire your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This can be done by contacting a Hawaii VA home loan specialist like VA Mortgage Center or by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs. A VA loan specialist can streamline the process and obtain the certificate in a matter of minutes, whereas the VA can take up to two weeks to process the request.
Although the VA Home Loan Program has no credit or income requirements, most VA-approved lenders will require a mid-range credit score of 620 in order to secure financing. Regardless of their credit history, all interested veterans and active duty service members are still encouraged to apply as even those with a history of bankruptcy and foreclosure have been approved in the past. For more information, contact a VA home loan specialist today!
Newly Listed! Large Acreage with Panoramic Ocean Views February 25, 2011
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Kaiwiki Road, Hilo, HI 96720
Large Acreage with Panoramic Ocean Views
Property Website: www.KellyMoran.com/242451.asp
Virtual Tour: www.tourfactory.com/471543
Large acreage with views overlooking Hilo Bay and Pacific Ocean. Park-like ambiance with old growth Ohia and Koa Trees. Open pastures and tropical forest with several streams and waterfalls running through the property. Located on Kaiwiki Road only 15 minutes from downtown Hilo.
Electric and telephone service poles located approximately 1,000 feet away. Property is in the “Resource Subzone” of the Conservation District, which allows one house to be built with approval from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Just Listed! New 3 Bedroom/3 Bath Oceanside Home on 12 Unit CPR Parcel February 25, 2011
Posted by Kelly in : Featured Listings , add a commentNEW LISTING!
1335 Kalanianaole St, Hilo, HI
New 3 Bedroom/3 Bath Oceanside Home on 12 Unit CPR Parcel
Property Website: www.KellyMoran.com/242566.asp
Virtual Tour: www.tourfactory.com/409538
By the beaches in Hilo is a rare residential development opportunity. “Coco Palms” is located on 1.4 acres and is a planned 12-unit Polynesian-styled residential complex zoned “Hotel and Resort”. If you imagined a little grass shack with every luxury amenity available, this would be it! Cantilevered over an ancient fishpond located in the center of the property, the thatch-roofed 3 bedroom, 3 bath model unit has been completed. The property has a total of 12 Condominium Property Regime (“CPR”) units, with plans included in the sale for the 11 additional units.
The address is 1335 Kalanianaole Avenue. Because of the Hotel and Resort zoning, the future potential uses for this property are myriad. Live in the model home and enjoy the large natural fishpond all by yourself. Float in privacy and serenity while listening to the waves at nearby Onekahakaha Beach Park. Hang a hammock from the coconut trees & sway in the tropical tradewinds. Sip a mai tai on the lanai of the home while enjoying the view of the ocean & fish pond. Or, build a few other units. Plans are included for 11 other homes similar to the model home. Use them for friends, family, vacation rentals, or ??? The possibilities are unlimited. Build them and sell them. You control the density and the build out.
The model home is environmentally conscious and luxuriously appointed. Solar thermal heating system, solar hot water, custom ventilation and bamboo flooring are a few of the eco-friendly features. Obvious attention-to-detail is evident. Spanning the Oceanside length of the main living level is a spacious ten feet deep lanai, complete with ceiling fans and a granite counter outside of a kitchen pass-through… perfect for entertaining! Inside, a great room opens to a gourmet kitchen complete with granite counters, a cooking island and bar, Koa veneer kitchen cabinets, and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. E Komo Mai!
Just Listed! Renovated 3BR Plantation Home in Honomu Village February 24, 2011
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28-1663 Old Mamalohoa Highway, Honomu, Hawaii
NEW LISTING!
Renovated Plantation Home in Honomu Village
Property Website: www.KellyMoran.com/242257.asp
Virtual Tour: www.tourfactory.com/707716
Renovated plantation home in Homomu Village, located next to the road to Akaka Falls. Walk to all the bakeries, restaurants and stores in Honomu. Only 20 minutes from dowtown Hilo.
The interior remodel has created an open-concept design. Updates in the kitchen include granite counters, a granite breakfast bar, new porcelain tile floors, updated cabinets and contemporary hardware. The bathroom is renovated with Travertine floors and ceramic tiled walls. You will love the charming plantation-style details like the original douglas fir wood floors, built-ins and traditional chair rail details. The open design includes spacious bedrooms with ceiling fans.
Relax on the spacious covered front porch overlooking the landscaped yard, including grass lawns, coconut trees, banana trees, blooming orchids and other exotic tropical plants.
Additional features include a dining room, living room, fenced side-yard, nice back yard with privacy, carport, storage shed, cable and county water.
NEW LISTING! Country Privacy in a Spectacular Custom 4BR/3.5BA Home February 15, 2011
Posted by Kelly in : Big Island Hawaii, Featured Listings, Updates , add a comment
NEW LISTING!
Country Privacy and a Spectacular Custom Home
Property Website: www.KellyMoran.com/240592.asp
Virtual Tour: www.tourfactory.com/698915
Enjoy country privacy in a spectacular custom 4 BR, 3.5 BA home with high-end quality details, including granite counters, gourmet kitchen, and a master suite with tiled lanai overlooking natural tropical foliage.
This Hardi-plank sided home has custom trusses, all dual-paned windows, a 10,000 gallon catchment water tank, dual filter UV water system, and a partial ocean view! The living & dining rooms feature gleaming Brazilian laminate flooring. A sliding door opens from the dining room to the ground floor lanai overlooking the peaceful back yard.
The second-floor master suite features a tiled lanai with a “peek-a-boo” ocean view, walk-in closet, master bath with dual sinks, whirlpool tub, and separate glass block enclosed shower with multiple shower heads. Two additional upstairs bedrooms share a “Jack & Jill” bathroom.
The home site was cleared to preserve the large native trees which provide privacy surrounding the property. Tropical fruit trees & vegetables have been planted in the fertile soil, including: avocado, fig, mango, grapefruit, lychee, tapioca, tangerine & more! Ornamentals include: orchids, roses, hibiscus & sunflowers.
Privacy, luxury, and room to breathe! This home has it all.
HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND – After Borders . . . Books, Nooks & Crannies November 17, 2010
Posted by Kelly in : HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND , 1 comment so farHERE ON THE BIG ISLAND
By Kelly Moran
After Borders . . . Books, Nooks & Crannies
One of the saddest days of this past summer was closing day at Borders. The powers-that-be in the huge nationwide chain evidently counted the beans and decided that their Hilo store was not selling enough books (or audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, knickknacks, or coffee drinks) to meet its quota.
The store’s local management and staff were let go – the decision to close was not theirs to make. And those of us on Borders’ email news list got an unpleasant surprise when someone in the chain’s marketing team sent emails urging us to simply take our business to the “nearest” Borders. That, of course, is in Kailua-Kona, over 100 miles away.
Borders was the only full-service new-book bookstore in Hilo: meaning, that’s where you had to go for the latest Harry Potter or Steig Larsen books. The magazine rack there was very comprehensive, if somewhat confusing (they shelved High Times under “entertainment”). The café served snacks and coffee drinks on a par with Starbucks, and likewise provided free wi-fi service.
The Hilo store was, for many local families, an important gathering place where parents and children alike could browse through books and magazines. Okay, maybe they didn’t buy everything they read or handled there; but as a friend with a 10-year-old explained, it was a wholesome place to take kids, that could actually inspire youngsters to appreciate the printed word.
Fortunately, the reading public of East Hawaii will be served. The oldest established bookstore in Hilo is Basically Books, on Kam Avenue, downtown, which specializes in Hawaiiana. (It’s also home to Petroglyph Press, the best-known publishing house on the island for books of local interest.) There is still also The Book Gallery on Keawe St. And used-book stores remain active – one in a downtown storefront on Kilauea Ave. at Mamo St; two in the “industrial” area: one on Leilani St. just off Kanoelehua St., and the other on Maka’ala St. at Kawili St. And there’s a remarkably well stocked used-book store on the main street in Pahoa.
But the big news for local bibliophiles is that a new new-book store has just opened. It’s called Books, Nooks, & Crannies, and it’s in the first block of Waianuenue Ave., just mauka of Kam Ave.
Books, Nooks, & Crannies, located in the first block of Waianuenue Ave., just mauka of Kam Ave.
Independent bookstores, nationwide, are suffering under the twin assaults of chain stores (like Borders) and online retailers (most famously, Amazon). So, opening one these days is clearly a labor of love – in this case, by local attorney Robert Marks, who is pleased to note that, besides carrying new books and best-sellers, his store also has a small café. And FYI, Marks purchased the shelves and display stands for Books, Nooks & Crannies from … you guessed it: the defunct Hilo Borders.
NEW LISTING: Custom Home and Turnkey Orchid Business November 5, 2010
Posted by Kelly in : Featured Listings , add a commentNewly Listed!
Turnkey Orchid Nursery Business and 3 Bedroom Home:
Available Together or Separately
Consider the convenience of owning your own business and being able to take a few steps to work! Seller prefers to sell the orchid business and the home together (a total of 2 acres); however they may be purchased individually.
Each listing has one acre:
Home: TMK 3-1-5-38-130 (MLS 239189)
Business: TMK 3-1-5-38-129 (MLS 239190)
Beautiful 3BR/2.5BA Custom Home with Pool
15-1491 24th St., Keaau, HI
Beautiful custom home built in 2003, includes your own oasis with newly-installed above ground lap pool with privacy screen decking as well as your own covered outdoor lanai with two sides open for tropical breezes (additional 600+ sq. ft.) for dining or just plain relaxing. Perfect for the extended family or to enhance your privacy.
This home has vaulted ceilings to keep the house cool and benefits from the tradewinds flowing throughout the home. You may never need to use the designer ceiling fans installed in every room, complete with remote controls! Beautiful tile work graces the home, which also has a private water well system shared with its nursery next door.
Imagine a Lifestyle of Beautiful Orchids and a Life in Paradise All Year Long
15-1501 24th St., Keaau, HI 96749
Imagine a lifestyle involving beautiful orchids and warm weather all year long. This business offers a great working environment and a life in paradise. Beautiful potted orchids will be yours with this property and business!
The orchid nursery is in its 8th year of operation and has a longstanding reputation for quality products. It has established clientele and a web-based retail store, including a registered domain name. The nursery has around 60,000 orchid plants growing under approx. 24,000sf of covered greenhouse with irrigation at the touch of a button using its own private well water tapped into a delicious pure water aquifer 250 feet deep.
There is an efficiently organized packing area, air-conditioned office with 2 desks and 1 computer and a lounge area.
The current owners will provide training to the new owner.
HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND – A Horse, of Course – Part II October 20, 2010
Posted by Kelly in : HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND, Moving to Hawaii , 2commentsHERE ON THE BIG ISLAND
By Kelly Moran
A Horse, of Course – Part II
Bird McIver is a locally famous saddle-maker and horse-rescuer (see “A Horse, of Course – Part I“). I asked her what it costs to buy a horse on the Big Island.
“There are some very, very good horses here: good looking, with nice attitudes. We have access to good bloodlines here. And right now, it’s a buyer’s market. Prices are down because we’re in a down economy. A good horse can be had for $2,500, although you’ll pay more like $5,000 or $8,000 for a really great one.”
Bird McIver rides Joe: a young horse being trained for polo.
Another source for horses – at a much lower cost – is a horse-rescuing operation. The Hawaii Humane Society has one, and so do Bird and her husband, Colin; they call it CB Horse Rescue.
“With the economy in the tubes,” she explained, “people are neglecting their horses. We see this especially where the owners are on drugs, or drink too much. We see horses that have been frightened, or starved, or not given enough water. I placed six rescued horses last year, and I charge – though it’s funny to put it this way – fifty cents a pound. That works out to about $500-650, which is really a donation to the cause. But you have to remember that, like any other distressed animal, a rescued horse can have ‘issues,’ and the new owner has to be somebody who’s able to handle them. I always say: You have to be ‘married’ to your livestock!”
Suppose someone already has a horse, and wants to bring it here? “That’s pricy, but not much more so than bringing over a car. By sea – that is: by container-ship and inter-island barge – it’ll take a few weeks, and cost about $1,200. As an alternative, and unlike shipping a car, you can actually fly a horse here! FedEx will fly it in, direct from the Mainland, for about $2,200.”
Bird reminds all prospective owners that horses should not be left entirely out of doors. “Ideally, you want to keep a horse in a pasture, but with shelter from the rain and the sun. “If you don’t have a stable, or can’t put one on your land,” she said, “you may be able to rent a stall. The stalls at the Panaewa Equestrian Center, in Hilo, for instance, have traditionally been inexpensive; but costs have been going up for years, so I expect rental fees will also go up, soon.”
Bird McIver riding sidesaddle on Coosa Lani, at the Hawaii Quarter Horse Association's Fun Day Show.
But you don’t actually have to own lot of land to ride a horse around here. “The Panaewa Equestrian Center is like a giant park,” said Bird. “You can ride in the rodeo arena, or the track, there’s a dressage arena in the infield, and a cross-country course. For skill-building, the Hawaii Island Dressage and Eventing Association can help you with dressage, stadium jumping, and cross-country jumping. There’s a very active polo contingent here. And there are plenty of public places to ride, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.”
And so, Bird has one more piece of advice for the prospective owner: “Before you buy a horse, buy a trailer.”
HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND – A Horse, of Course – Part I October 14, 2010
Posted by Kelly in : HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND, Moving to Hawaii , 1 comment so farHERE ON THE BIG ISLAND
By Kelly Moran
A Horse, of Course – Part I
“What’s it like to own a horse here?” The question came from a family that was looking at a house on pastureland. I know a little about horses, but Bird McIver is an expert: she’s famous in local equine circles for making fine custom saddles, and for rescuing horses that have been abused or abandoned.
Bird McIver with her horse Bunny
“Keeping a horse is certainly a lot of fun,” said Bird. “There are plenty of horses and horse-people here, and we have some very active clubs. But it’s also more expensive to keep a horse, here, than on the Mainland.”
Take feed, for instance. “A bale of hay that costs maybe six to ten dollars on the Mainland,” she said, “costs forty dollars here, because it has to come over on a barge. And you may have to buy hay, because not every field or pasture on the island has vegetation that can sustain a horse. The soil here is volcanic, so it’s typically deficient. Cows will eat what’s known locally as ‘Wainaku grass,’ but horses won’t touch it. There’s a lot of moisture in that grass, but not a lot of the nutritional components that a horse requires. So, horses here need to be fed and supplemented.”
Bird estimates that it costs the average owner about $225 per horse per month. That includes feed, vaccinations, and “equine dentistry.” (Huh?) “You absolutely should ‘look a gift horse in the mouth’,” she said with a grin. “It’s the first thing to do – check the teeth. Horses’ teeth grow all their lives; they get sharp, and have to be ground down. You also have to ‘worm’ horses every six weeks, here, because we have a year-round growing season and no killing frost. You have to deal with other pests, too. I encourage people to keep chickens near their horses, to eat fly larvae.”
Surprisingly, you may not have to ‘shoe’ your horse. “Horses evolved near timberline,” Bird explained. “If you toughen up their feet, they can go barefoot. But check their feet often, and watch out for foot problems wherever the ground is wet, as it can be, especially in East Hawaii.”
Most horses do, however, get shod. “Horseshoes themselves are not expensive, and they can be shipped here fairly cheaply, in flat-rate boxes from the Post Office. But to do the work – to actually shoe the horse,” declared Bird, “pick a good farrier. Around here, we have certified farriers and we have ‘cowboy shoe-ers.’ Go with a farrier.”
Bird will tell us about buying a horse on the Big Island, in my next blog.
HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND – On Stage, “The Sound of Music” Is More Than Just Music October 4, 2010
Posted by Kelly in : HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND, Upcoming Events , 1 comment so far HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND
By Kelly Moran
On Stage, “The Sound of Music” Is More Than Just Music
“The Sound of Music” could be the most popular movie-musical ever made. It would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t seen it. Far fewer people have seen the stage version; but to see it on stage is to realize that there is much more to this famous musical than some memorable songs.
Fortunately, the opportunity to see it on stage is coming right up: it’s this year’s Fall Musical at Hilo’s Palace Theater: playing at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights October 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons October 17 and 24. For more information and tickets, phone The Palace box office at 934-7010.
I asked my friend Hal Glatzer, a local playwright and musician who’s in the cast, to explain what makes the stage musical so different from the movie. Here’s what he told me:
“I think most people know that the underlying story is true,” he said. “In Austria, in 1938, a young woman named Maria forsakes becoming a nun to be the governess to a widower’s seven children. Musically gifted, she encourages them to form a family singing group with their father, Georg von Trapp. He’s a Navy captain, an Austrian patriot who hates what is happening in Germany under Hitler; so, just as World War II begins, he and his family escape over the Alps into Switzerland. ”
“For all its merits,” said Hal, “the movie glosses over the danger that these people faced in Europe in 1938, and the hard choices that they had to make. Watch, especially, two characters who were not prominent in the movie but are key elements of the drama on stage. Elsa Schraeder is a rich widow who everyone expects will marry Captain von Trapp. And Max Detweiller [whom Hal portrays] is the producer of an annual Austrian music festival. Both characters confront the Captain with the fundamental dilemma of the late 1930s: do you work with the Nazis, so your family can live in comfort? or do you defy the Nazis, risking prison and death?”
“Thus,” Hal explained, “the stage version is literally more dramatic than the movie.”
But that said, what most people will come away with is the great pleasure of hearing Oscar Hammerstein’s poignant lyrics sung to Richard Rodgers’ beautiful music. The hills (and now the Palace Theater, too) are alive with “The Sound of Music.”
