Blogging the same content on multiple blogs February 28, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue , 5commentsQ. How do you feel about the same exact blog entry being posted on all of the blog sites a Kauai real estate agent uses? I am currently blogging on Aloha Living and Active Rain, so do you look at both of my blogs, and would you continue to look at both of the same content was in both places?
A. The answer is up for public opinion. Please comment on this blog post with your input, suggestions, and ideas. Mahalo.
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
JJ’s Blog spots: blogs.alohaliving.com/lihue-home-sales and activerain.com/blogs/jjleininger
Evidence of Lihue Kauai Homes becoming more affordable, Ulu Ko neighborhood pending sale February 22, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue , 3commentsHere is a pending sale that gives encouragement to those who are waiting for prices to come down in order to buy a home, possibly even their first home.
I showed this home and my clients did not grab it as it was not right for them. Here is the info on this pending home sale in Ulu Ko Subdivision in Lihue, Hawaii. Located at 3929 Hunakai Street, this house features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a 2 car garage, air conditioning, vaulted ceilings, fenced yard, 1,319 sq ft of living area, and 7,600 sq ft of land area. The list price is $495,000, and I will update you on the sales price when the sale records(closes). Click here for MLS details on this home.
With the historically low mortgage interest rates and government programs which will include funding programs that help first time homebuyers, now is a good time to get ready to buy your first home. This can be a scary and confusing process, so if you know someone who needs an experienced professional to help them navigate this process, then call me or feel free to ask questions publicly by commenting on this blog post. Other people likely have the same questions, so do not hesitate to ask. If you are including private information, then please call or email me, rather than post your questions here. I will be blogging more in the future about credit scores, down payments, tax advantages of owning versus renting, and the current trends in the real estate market.
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
First Kauai Closed Sale in 2009 for TMK 4-3-3, Puhi Rd to Nawiliwili Rd Lihue, Pikake Lot February 22, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue , add a commentThere are some bargains out there, for those who are in the financial position to invest in real estate right now.
The sale of Lot #1690 on Kauila Street in Pikake Subdivision Phase I recorded on 02/11/2009 at a sales price of $209,000. The list price was $219,000, and this particular lot is 10,851 square feet. Click here to view property details. The Kauai County tax assessed value of this lot is $326,800. The new assessor values are due out in March 2009, and many island property owners will see a lower tax assessor value when they receive their notices in the mail.
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
Lihue Kauai Golf Info, Puakea and Kauai Lagoons Golf Courses February 19, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue , add a commentBook your tee time, see a video tour of Lihue, Hawaii’s Puakea Golf Course, popular with Kauai Island’s resident golfers and visitors, click here: PuakeaGolf.com
More Lihue Golf with some awesome ocean views at Kauai Lagoons, and also access to Kauai Marriot Resort & Beach Club info at this link.
kauailagoonsgolf.com
To further inspire you, here is an aerial photo of the Kauai Lagoons Golf Course. The course is green, but there are some changes occurring, so that is why you see a section that is not so green in the foreground. With the Ritz Carlton and Marriot Kauai Lagoons Resorts started, then construction put on hold, this photo would look different today. This aerial was taken approximately 1 year ago. 
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
Puako Homeowner’s Annual Meeting Lihue, Kauai February 19, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue , add a commentI am looking forward to the annual meeting for Puako homeowners on March 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM. We are having it at the Puakea Grill again this year. This year we have a first! Homeowner’s we actually have an election where every vote is important because so far, we have seven homeowners willing to serve on the Puako Board of Directors, and four available seats. Two of the seven are current board members up for re-election, and five are fresh volunteers. I love living in our neighborhood.
How Will the Stimulus Package Affect The Housing Market—and You? February 19, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Kauai Real Estate News , 1 comment so farThis is a monumental piece of legislation that will directly affect the housing market. I want to share my insights on how I believe it will affect the market so that you can make informed buying and selling decisions.
Homebuyers: Part of the stimulus package gives first-time homebuyers who purchase in 2009 an $8,000 tax credit. “First-time homebuyer” is defined as someone who has not owned a home for the past three years. Combined with the fact that foreclosure filings during January decreased 10% from December 2008 and that some sales in December of 2008 rose 6.5%, we will see prices at the lower end of the price spectrum stabilize. All the really great deals will be snapped up in the next month or two and we should see a price increase in December of 2009 as those who wait will rush to buy before the $8,000 credit is gone. This will also help clean up some of the problem loans, short sales and foreclosures that have been a drag on home prices. Three to six months from now we will see this start to move up to a little higher price range and by the end of the year, prices will stabilize in large mid-priced homes. High-end homes will be the last to stabilize sometime in 2010. If you are thinking about buying, now is the time. Don’t wait and end up wishing you had taken advantage of this opportunity.
Home sellers: If you are selling in the lower price ranges, you can expect to see increased activity and, if your home is reasonably priced, you will get it sold very close to that price. If you are not at the low end of the market, and do not have to sell, my advice is to wait twelve to eighteen months, you will get a better price. If you have to sell now, price it right and get it sold now as we could still see a drop in value in the mid and high-end price ranges over the next 3 to 6 months. If you want to talk further about the impact of this stimulus package, give me a call or drop me an email about your situation and I will give you my recommendation. Also check back here on a regular basis for updates on what is happening in our real estate market.
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
Resident Friendly development lives, as tourist resort development dies February 18, 2009
Posted by JJ Leininger in : Life in Lihue, Lihue Development , 2commentsCheck out this cool aerial photo. Do you recognize what it is?
You’re right! It’s Kalapaki Beach. You can see Kalapaki Bay, the Lihue Marriot, the Kauai Lagoons Golf Course and construction site.
Kauai Lagoons halts new construction, tourism is down 25-30% with rental revenues down close to 40% with less visitors and discounts on accomodations being given. News has been gloomy in regards to our local economy, yet new housing geared towards island residents appears to be moving forward. Still in the planning stages, Safeway grocery store complex with retail shops and a gas station, and the large housing development across the highway from Kukui Grove and Lihue Burger King, neighboring the Aloha Church.
Some owners at Halelani Village are telling me that they have lost tenants to the newly available affordable rental housing Kalepa Village in Hanamaulu. With unemployment rising, and housing prices declining, do we need more development?Affordable housing? Shopping? Resorts? Subdivisions? Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. One person I spoke with told me that in his opinion, “the county and state made a mistake not doing some of the affordable housing projects in the works 15 years ago, because it was cheaper to acquire the land then, and building costs were lower. Then it real estate boomed and more affordable housing was needed and we did not have it.”
I opened two new escrows yesterday. One is a single family house on the Makai side of Kalaheo, listed at $490,000. The other is a Princeville condo listed at $475,000 which is a Fannie Mae REO. REO stands for real estate owned by a lending institution. I have seen an increase in sales activity the past couple of weeks, as hope the Fed’s plan will help the housing market, combined with lower prices and low mortgage interest rates which make it a good time to buy.
JJ Leininger
Website: KauaiFineHomes.com
