According to HGTV, these are 10 things that make buyers hungry for a certain property. Following are some special things that attract buyers to properties in Hawaii.
A Nice Entryway
Hardwood Floors
Fab Fixtures
Beautiful Bath
Counter Intelligence
Steel This Idea
Pre-Organized Closets
Light Up
Build in Bonuses
Grass is Greener
Bonus Tip!
Read the HGTV article here to get ideas: Click Here to Read The Entire Article:
Morgage loans don’t go through as smoothly as they do on television. If you’re turned down, don’t give up hope.
When a lender denies your application for a mortgage loan, they have to give the reasons in writing. The most common reasons are a poor credit report, you don’t make enough income, or you have too much debt. They may also deny the application because the house you are looking at doesn’t meet the criteria for the loan.
The most important thing to remember is a denied loan application doesn’t mean that you can’t buy a house. You just have to do something differently and work things out. Don’t get discouraged.
If your application was denied because of poor credit, you can get a free copy of your credit report from the credit agency or agencies that were used in the decision. Make sure that the things on the report are accurate. If they are not, dispute them. Take care of legitimate items on your credit report to improve the credit score. Cleaning up your credit may take some time, but your credit can improve to the lender’s acceptable level.
Income can be improved by changing jobs or getting a second job; however, the lender will require proof of stable income. In may take at least six months on a new a job to improve your status. Also, choosing a less expensive house or making a larger down payment may get you approved at your current income.
If you have too much debt, paying it down is your best option. If you have credit cards with a zero balance, the limit on them is considered since it is potential debt. Canceling the cards can improve your status quickly.
If all else fails, consider another lender. Different lenders have different criteria for lending money. Contacting the HUD office to find out about programs and resources can be beneficial as well.
Bamboo is a wonderful addition to any yard or garden, and for Hawaii residents, a favorite way to add some Asian flair to a property. Bamboo is actually part of the grass family, but it is definitely unique. It can be planted in pots, or in the ground, to add class to your landscaping. It is easy to plant bamboo and it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, making it a choice plant for many landscapers and homeowners.
Planting and Maintenance
To plant bamboo, all you need is a bamboo plant and soil that is enriched with compost and fertilizer. Bark chips and leaves are recommended for composting the soil, along with some nitrogen rich fertilizer in the spring or summer.
In the autumn, it will require fertilizer that isn’t rich in nitrogen and fertilization is not necessary in the winter. For spring and summer, a fertilizer that is rated 24-8-16 is recommended. In the fall, a rating of 3-10-10 is adequate.
When the plant is getting established, it may require watering twice per week, but after that watering it once a week is sufficient. However, if the leaves of the plant tend to curl, that’s a sign that it is dehydrated and it needs water.
Things to Watch Out For
Growing bamboo is not very challenging; however, you may run into problems that are easily solved. The main problems include dehydration and root rot. If the plant looks sick, it probably is.
Curling leaves are due to dehydration. In such a case, it isn’t getting enough water or the soil isn’t holding water. Adjusting you watering schedule may be sufficient, but you may need to add more mulch to make it easier for the roots to absorb the water.
Root rot will cause the bamboo to look sick and most likely, it will kill it. The best way to deal with root rot is to avoid it. The plant does require a lot of water, but watering too much can cause root rot. When they are planted in pots, the pot needs to be well-draining. The soil should be kept moist, but you don’t want it to be soaked. If the plant outgrows the pot, it needs to be replanted.
The utmost problem with bamboo is that it can be invasive and it is hard to get rid of if you decide you don’t want it. The roots and new shoots will have to be dug up and they usually have deep root system. Depriving them of water, if possible, is a good way to take care of invasive problems.
Over the past year, you have probably heard of Zillow and their magical Zestimator home valuation tool. It seems like these type of automated valuation tools are popping up all over the web these days, and while you may be tempted to rely on Zillow valuations when shopping for real estate in Hawaii, here are a few reasons you may want to work with a qualified real estate agent on Hawaii home valuations, and not expect Zillow to work like a magic bullet on Hawaii real estate.
The Condo Factor- Zillow is a great tool for evaluation generalized home values in highly homogenized housing markets. If you are looking for a cookie cutter single family house on the surburban mainland, the Zestimator may provide a relatively close home valuation for you.
In Hawaii, the property mix is heavy on the condo and muti-family side. At least 30% of the housing market in Hawaii is currently made up of condos, and at this time Zillow is not very accurate at finding individual condo units, and does not excel in multi-family type property.
Zillow is a GIS Map Based Product- So far, we have not found any of the national GIS map based products on the web to be reliable in plotting property in Hawaii. Often times, the map pin that is supposed to represent the subject property winds up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or maps a completely different property as the one you’re trying to locate.
Zillow is a Website- As e-mail and the Internet become even more constant and natural parts of our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest online trends and tools, and to forget the value of good old fashioned human experience. Zillow is a website, and can perform limited functions based on finite calculations and formulas. No website should be used to replace the years of hands on experience, market know-how, and personal knowledge of a qualified real estate agent.
So, when you’re serious about buying or selling real estate in Hawaii, pick up the phone, and give me a call. I’ll be happy to work with you on home valuations, provide you with comprehensive and accurate CMAs, and help you through every step of the transaction. Plus, if you’re in town, I’ll drive you out to see a few places, and together we’ll buy your dream condo or get top dollar for your existing Hawaii real estate. Who knows. I might even buy you a shaved ice or a hot cup of Kona coffee. Betcha Zillow can’t do that!
If you are a like a lot of visitors to Hawaii, after your first visit to the islands you’re hooked! You may find yourself picking up real estate brochures on your way to the beach, and by the time you make it to your 3rd or 4th day of your Hawaiian vacation, you start calling agents to see property.
Buying a second home or a vacation home in Hawaii is no longer an impossible dream. Follow these steps during your journey to finding the perfect vacation home, and you’ll be sipping mai tais on your new lanai in no time.
Flip Over The Napkin
Before you set your heart on a particular property or area of the island, spend a little time doing the math and figuring out if a second home or vacation home in Hawaii is realistically in your future. While you’re having lunch by the poolside, flip over your napkin and pencil out your finances.
If buying a second piece of real estate in Hawaii is a stretch for your budget then you may want to consider other options such as timeshare or a shared interval ownership. Ask your agent to help you understand these options if you cannot afford a second home outright.
Nothing will kill your vacation home dreams like not being able to afford it!
Be Realistic About Renters
Most second home or vacation home owners in Hawaii rent out their home or condo when they are not there to help offset the cost of the property. While rental occupancies are usually high in Hawaii year round, you should not count on rent paying for 100% of your real estate investment. Always assume a 25% or more vacancy rate, and plan to incur some monthly expenses on your Hawaii real estate each month just to play it safe.
Also, if you are going to rent your home or condo out on a monthly basis, set your rental rate at 10-20% higher than your mortgage in order to cover costs and to create a cushion for unexpected expenses.
Decide on the Type of Property You Can Maintain
If you are looking at buying a house in Hawaii as a second home or vacation home, remember to keep in mind things like lawn maintenance, garbage service, and general upkeep. You will want to make sure someone is looking out for your property while you are not in Hawaii. For this reason, a lot of second home or vacation home buyers choose to purchase condos. Association fees to the condo association usually covers enough of the upkeep on the property that being an absentee owner is easy and relatively worry free.
Find a Good Agent
If you’re reading this blog, then you’re on the right track! I will be happy to help you find your perfect Hawaii vacation home, second home in Hawaii, or your full time Hawaii dream home!
I am committed to keeping my buyers and sellers informed, educated, and providing amazing support. Feel free to ask me anything.
You can leave a question in the comments of this blog, and I’ll be happy to respond here on the blog, as well as contacting you in person to answer any other questions you might have about buying real estate in Hawaii
Following below is a MLS printout of all active condo listings along the Coconut Coast of Kauai.
Kauai’s Coconut Coast
Active Condo Listings
Copyright 4/23/2007 by Hawaii Information Service
MLS # Tnr Price Location Living Area Apt# Bed/Bath
193620 T FS $255,000 Kauai Beach Resort #2417 320 #2417 0/1.0
193060 T FS $299,000 Hilton Beach Resort #2331 320 #2331 0/1.0
193576 T FS $320,000 Kauai Beach Resort #1201 320 #1201 0/1.0
194437 T FS $345,000 Kauai Beach Resort #1116 320 #1116 0/1.0
192699 T FS $347,000 Kauai Beach Resort #1317 320 #1317 0/1.0
192069 T FS $349,950 Kauai Beach Resort #2304 307 #2304 0/1.0
193909 T FS $395,000 Kauai Beach Resort #3314 320 #3314 0/1.0
193622 T FS $415,000 Kauai Beach Resort #2504 320 #2504 0/1.0
180019 T FS $529,000 Kauai Beach Villas #A1 810 #A1 1/2.0
185526 T FS $565,000 Kauai Beach Resort #4213 307 #4213 0/1.0
179275 T FS $599,000 Kauai Beach Villas #E4 684 #E4 1/1.0
185710 T FS $628,000 Kauai Beach Villas #G23 684 #G23 1/1.0
191057 T FS $629,000 Kauai Beach Villas #E7 1,185 #E7 2/2.0
188886 T FS $649,000 Kauai Beach Villas #D11 1,185 #D11 2/2.0
191109 T FS $725,000 Kauai Beach Villas #G3 810 #G3 1/2.0
192819 T FS $699,000 Kaha Lani #210 739 #210 1/1.5
194863 T FS $727,000 Kaha Lani #226 739 #226 1/1.5
188829 T FS $775,000 Kaha Lani #108 961 #108 2/2.0
187044 T FS $695,000 Wailua Bay View #203 686 #203 1/1.0
189080 T FS $699,000 Wailua Bay View #205 686 #205 1/1.0
192948 T FS $700,000 Wailua Bay View #215 686 #215 1/1.0
172018 T FS $1,790,000 Hale Awapuhi #114 1,272 #D-1 2/2.0
184961 T LH $199,000 Plantation Hale #B10 633 #B10 1/1.0
191871 T FS $219,800 Plantation Hale #K9 633 #K9 1/1.0
183396 T FS $235,000 Plantation Hale #B6 633 #B6 1/1.0
159182 T FS $249,000 Plantation Hale #B3 633 #B3 1/1.0
181705 T FS $255,000 Islander On The Beach #114 372 #114 0/1.0
182373 T FS $260,000 Islander On The Beach #266 372 #266 0/1.0
193609 T FS $260,000 Islander On The Beach #366 372 #366 0/1.0
191616 T FS $270,000 Islander On The Beach #237 372 #237 0/1.0
193284 T LH $275,000 Kapaa Shores #207 612 #207 1/1.0
162595 T FS $280,000 Plantation Hale #D1 633 #D1 1/1.0
186890 T FS $282,000 Plantation Hale #D13 633 #D13 1/1.0
193018 T FS $285,000 Plantation Hale #E12 584 #E12 1/1.0
186840 T FS $289,900 Islander On The Beach #272 372 #272 0/1.0
191446 T FS $295,000 Islander On The Beach #112 372 #112 0/1.0
193878 T FS $295,000 Islander On The Beach #170 372 #170 0/1.0
182379 T FS $295,000 Plantation Hale #A12 584 #A12 1/1.0
190392 T FS $299,000 Islander On The Beach #341 372 #341 0/1.0
192713 T FS $299,000 Islander On The Beach #155 372 #155 0/1.0
187571 T FS $299,000 Islander On The Beach #156 372 #156 0/1.0
189232 T FS $299,000 Plantation Hale #K5 633 #K5 1/1.0
177851 T FS $299,900 Plantation Hale #K15 633 #K15 1/1.0
155368 T FS $300,000 Plantation Hale #E3 633 #E3 1/1.0
193501 T FS $320,000 Islander On The Beach #103 372 #103 0/1.0
188374 T FS $320,000 Islander On The Beach #316 372 #316 0/1.0
187763 T FS $321,500 Islander On The Beach #315 372 #315 0/1.0
193052 T FS $329,000 Islander On The Beach #320 372 #320 0/1.0
182358 T FS $329,000 Islander On The Beach #138 372 #138 0/1.0
191023 T FS $329,000 Village Manor #D21 634 #D21 2/1.5
193867 T FS $329,000 Village Manor #F11 634 #F11 2/1.5
180375 T FS $329,050 Islander On The Beach #271 372 #271 0/1.0
179045 T FS $337,000 Plantation Hale #E10 633 #E10 1/1.0
179440 T FS $340,000 Islander On The Beach #343 372 #343 0/1.0
164584 T FS $345,000 Islander On The Beach #111 342 #111 0/1.0
190003 T FS $349,000 Islander On The Beach #361 372 #361 0/1.0
179444 T FS $350,000 Islander On The Beach #344 372 #344 0/1.0
186348 T FS $350,000 Plantation Hale #F13 584 #F13 1/1.0
188389 T FS $362,000 Islander On The Beach #149 372 #149 0/1.0
192523 T FS $362,000 Islander On The Beach #248 372 #248 0/1.0
180062 T FS $362,000 Islander On The Beach #249 372 #249 0/1.0
186898 T FS $369,000 Islander On The Beach #152 372 #152 0/1.0
189397 T FS $370,000 Islander On The Beach #148 372 #148 0/1.0
178722 T FS $375,000 Islander On The Beach #261 372 #261 0/1.0
192675 T FS $375,000 Islander On The Beach #262 372 #262 0/1.0
189395 T FS $378,000 Islander On The Beach #146 372 #146 0/1.0
185003 T FS $379,000 Islander On The Beach #327 372 #327 0/1.0
184998 T FS $379,000 Islander On The Beach #346 372 #346 0/1.0
189506 T FS $379,000 Islander On The Beach #363 372 #363 0/1.0
2707085 T FS $389,000 Islander On The Beach #352 372 #352 0/1.0
189396 T FS $395,000 Islander On The Beach #147 372 #147 0/1.0
181540 T FS $399,000 Islander On The Beach #245 372 #245 0/1.0
178053 T FS $409,000 Islander On The Beach #348 372 #348 0/1.0
165230 T FS $448,000 Islander On The Beach #259 372 #259 0/1.0
188843 T LH $451,000 Kapaa Shores #308 909 #308 2/2.0
192662 T FS $489,000 Islander On The Beach #364 372 #364 0/1.0
183779 T FS $525,000 Islander On The Beach #154 372 #154 0/1.0
194600 T FS $695,000 Kapaa Sands #21 728 #21 2/1.5
192919 T FS $745,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A205 898 #A205 1/2.0
193672 T FS $745,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G203 898 #G203 1/2.0
192978 T FS $765,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #B303 1,155 #B303 2/3.0
193923 T FS $775,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #F201 1,312 #F201 2/3.0
188598 T FS $779,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A305 823 #A305 1/2.0
181282 T FS $799,000 Lae Nani #215 808 #215 1/1.5
194670 T FS $825,000 Lae Nani #231 808 #231 1/1.5
188614 T FS $825,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G105 1,158 #G105 2/2.5
190931 T FS $829,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A203 1,312 #A203 2/3.0
192370 T FS $829,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #B301 1,312 #B301 2/3.0
173114 T FS $834,900 Lae Nani #414 808 #414 1/1.5
190665 T FS $839,000 Lae Nani #235 808 #235 1/1.5
193430 T FS $845,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A103 1,312 #A103 2/3.0
193973 T FS $845,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #C105 1,158 #C105 2/3.0
190987 T FS $895,000 Lae Nani #431 1,072 #431 2/2.0
175456 T FS $895,000 Lae Nani #514 808 #514 1/1.5
188612 T FS $895,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #C201 1,158 #C201 2/3.0
193589 T FS $895,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G205 1,158 #G205 2/3.0
188842 T FS $899,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #D401 1,158 #D401 2/3.0
193665 T FS $995,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #C205 1,158 #C205 2/3.0
185095 T FS $995,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #C301 1,158 #C301 2/3.0
186202 T FS $995,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #D411 1,312 #D411 2/3.0
192573 T FS $1,100,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G405 1,158 #G405 2/3.0
192773 T FS $1,200,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #C403 1,158 #C403 2/3.0
193028 T FS $1,200,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #F202 1,158 #F202 2/3.0
188669 T FS $1,250,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #E404 898 #E404 1/2.0
186258 T FS $1,295,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A201 898 #A201 1/2.0
191915 T FS $1,335,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #B104 1,158 #B104 2/3.0
188650 T FS $1,500,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #B304 1,158 #B304 2/3.0
189477 T FS $1,550,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #H106 1,158 #H106 2/3.0
194499 T FS $1,700,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #H104 1,158 #H104 2/3.0
188613 T FS $1,850,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #B402 1,158 #B402 2/3.0
183298 T FS $1,875,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A306 1,158 #A306 2/3.0
185938 T FS $1,895,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A404 1,312 #A404 2/3.0
193073 T FS $1,950,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G306 1,312 #G306 2/3.0
188115 T FS $1,995,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #D406 1,158 #D406 2/3.0
192668 T FS $1,995,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #H406 1,158 #H406 2/3.0
193062 T FS $2,200,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #G404 1,312 #G404 2/3.0
192922 T FS $2,550,000 Waipouli Beach Resort #A207 1,953 #A207 2/3.0
189570 T FS $425,000 Pono Kai #J201 644 #J201 1/1.0
189567 T FS $525,000 Pono Kai #J107 1,036 #J107 2/2.0
185098 T FS $599,000 Pono Kai #G204 644 #G204 1/1.0
192862 T FS $615,000 Pono Kai #C102 644 #C102 1/1.0
190295 T FS $850,000 Pono Kai #D303 1,219 #D303 3/2.0
190766 T FS $369,000 Kawaihau Sports Villa #K201 991 #K201 2/2.0
182746 T FS $379,000 Kawaihau Sports Villa #D102 991 #D102 2/2.0
156741 T FS $379,000 Kawaihau Sports Villa #K101 991 #K101 2/2.0
193513 T FS $415,000 Kawaihau Sports Villa #F101 991 #F101 2/2.0
This information has been supplied by third parties and has not been independently verified by Hawaii Information Service and is, therefore, not guaranteed.
Aloha,
With this site I hope to keep anyone that is interested in Condos on the Coconut Coast updated on real estate activity. Updated as to active or current Listings; Listings in Escrow; and Listings that have recently sold. Unless there are tourist or visitor type questions I’ll probably limit most of this site’s space to these topics.
I would also like to offer to answer any questions about condos that I can. Questions about specific properties and questions about Associations. I am familiar with most condos on the island but would like to reserve this space for Coconut Coast Condos.
Prior to entering real estate sales full time I spent several years managing resort condominiums and served as a board member on a Condo Association on the Coconut Coast.
Let me know anytime you want an MLS update.
Aloha, and mahalo for visiting my new blog, focused on Coconut Coast Condos. As part of the Aloha Living Blog Network, I hope to share with you a professional and personal perspective on buying and selling property along the Coconut Coast, as well as a few thoughts on life in paradise.
