Keeping up with mortgage payments can be one of the biggest financial responsibilities you take on, aside from keeping food on the table. In the up, down and rebound of the real estate industry over the past 10 years or so, many people have bought homes in Hawaii. And a portion of those are actually happy they did. Those homeowners who unfortunately bought when the market was high (pre-crash) … [Read more...]
Orchestrating the Sale of Your House
Selling your house can be one of the most difficult transactions you'll ever be a part of. It sure would be nice if selling your house was like selling your car, your couch or your prized baseball card collection. The truth, though, is that selling your house is no easy feat. It requires orchestrating a multitude of moving parts, legal and non-legal in nature, technical and non-technical, … [Read more...]
Can You Help a Homeowner Friend in Need?
You know what can be the hardest thing to do? Ask someone for help. It's human nature that we rarely actually ask people for help, no matter how much we may need it. I think we all feel, at some level, that asking for help means admitting weakness. The truth is that we ALL need help at some point. Every single one of us, even here in beautiful sunny Hawaii. And if we all need help, doesn't that … [Read more...]
Does Hoarding Affect Your Property Value?
Hoarding - the very mention of the word conjures up images of struggling homeowners trapped behind stacks of boxes in their living rooms. At the very least, we envision carports overflowing with age-old trinkets and little breathing space inside. It's important to understand that hoarding in Hawaii or anywhere else is more than just the physical manifestation that we see from the street. It's … [Read more...]
Should You Liquidate an Inherited House?
If you've inherited a house in Hawaii through probate or other means, then you may have a big decision to make. The big question most homeowners in this situation ask is... Should you liquidate an inherited house? There are certainly pros and cons to selling the house versus keeping it for the long haul. Let's look at both... Reasons to Keep an Inherited House There are both financial and … [Read more...]
Are You Committed to Hawaii Real Estate?
Are you committed to Hawaii real estate? I mean really committed? What does that even mean and why would I even ask? Well, the word "commitment" has special meaning for me lately as I just got married last week to the most wonderful woman. To be committed to anything -- or anyone -- means to pursue, devote and persevere toward a worthy goal. Well, that may not be the Webster's definition but it … [Read more...]
Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Own House
It's an interesting time in the real estate market right now. Interest rates have climbed up a notch as we enter into the 2nd half of summer 2013. That means potential downward pressure on prices as homebuyers' purchasing power gets knocked down a bit. Of course, the devil's advocate also says that interest rates remain at super low prices. But -- trends are at least worth keeping an eye on. … [Read more...]
Should You Sell Your House If You’re Moving Off Island?
Aloha, friends. If you're relocating off island or away from Hawaii completely, should you sell your house or keep it? It can be a difficult decision. Case in point: We're buying a single family house in Honolulu at the end of the month from owners who are relocating away from Oahu and have decided they'd rather not keep the house and be landlords. They reached out to us and we agreed to buy … [Read more...]
Creating Wealth with Hawaii Real Estate – Part 2
In the previous post, we talked about why people may not get started yet investing in real estate even with all the amazing opportunities in today's market, especially the Hawaii real estate market. After all, real estate has one heck of a track record, especially when compared to other investment options like risky stocks and bonds. But many people think that jumping into real estate is beyond … [Read more...]
Preparing Your Home for Sale – 5 Key Tips
Thinking of selling your house? Inventory is shrinking in Hawaii and you may do well from the sale, depending on your circumstances and needs. Whether you're listing your house with a licensed agent or attempting to sell your house yourself, there are some things you must do to make the sale as efficient and effective for you as possible. Preparing your home for sale requires both plan and … [Read more...]
