Best Of Hawaii Real Estate

If it’s the luxury lifestyle that draws you to Hawaii real estate, look no further. Today’s post is the first in Mansions in Hawaii: The Ultimate Indulgence in Hawaii Real Estate, a new Best of Hawaii Real Estate blog series in which we will explore the best luxury options each island has to offer. Throughout the series, we will be linking to our helpful Virtual Tour feature available on our website. We invite you to use this valuable interactive feature to help you envision these luxury Hawaii real estate options.

Kauai’s natural beauty draws those searching for luxury Hawaii real estate. Kauai has it all: the best golf courses, fine dining, luxury resorts and spas, top quality art galleries, designer shopping options, beautiful white sand beaches and an active entertainment scene. Surely you’ve tasted Kauai’s luxury lifestyle before on a Hawaii luxury vacation. Remember that beautiful home you saw on your last trip? The one in Princeville with the perfect view of Hanalei Bay? It’s not as far away as you may think!

Luxury living takes on a new meaning in Princeville, Hawaii on Kauai’s north shore (#’s 12 and 13 on our Kauai Virtual Tour). Hanalei Bay on one side and the world-famous Princeville Golf Course to the other, Princeville is a community at the top of its game.

If owning a Hawaii beach house is more your idea of luxury, your options are many. On the north shore, Ha’ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, and Anini Beach, are full of beach homes for sale on Kauai. There are also beautiful beach homes for sale at luxurious Kalapaki Beach and in sunny Poipu (#’s 32, 33 & 34 on our Kauai Virtual Tour).

We believe using the right Kauai REALTOR is your easy first step toward your dream of owning luxury real estate on Kauai. If owning the best real estate on Kauai is your dream, Best of Hawaii Real Estate will connect you to the best Kauai real estate agent who knows the most about mansions in Hawaii.

It’s no wonder so many people decide to buy a Hawaii home.  When you look at Hawaii’s weather throughout the year, normal in Hawaii means a temperature change of only seven degrees between the height of the summer season and the low of the winter season – thanks to Hawaii’s many microclimates, those special areas where the climate differs from the surrounding area.  If you are looking at buying real estate in Hawaii as a way to escape extreme temperatures, you won’t be disappointed. Did you know that the climate within the state of Hawaii changes depending on which island – and even which part of the island – you live?

Thinking about moving to Kauai? As any Kauai real estate agent knows, Kauai real estate prices change depending on where you are on the island. Home and condo values in Poipu, on Kauai’s south side, vary widely from neighboring Kekaha town. The Poipu microclimate is white sand beaches with lush green backdrops, giving the Garden Island its name. Whereas Kekaha is hotter and dryer, for those looking for a much more arid climate.

If you have been looking at buying Big Island land, have you asked yourself what draws you to the area? The Kona District, famous worldwide for its Kona coffee, rests on the gently sloping western side of the Mauna Loa volcano. Mauna Loa naturally shields the delicate coffee plants because by the time the winds reach west-facing Kona, they have turned in to gentle, misty breezes perfect for growing coffee. These conditions also are greatly appreciated by the humans that make Kona a Hawaii real estate hotspot!

Finding the right Hawaii Realtor is your ticket to your perfect piece of Hawaii real estate. Your Hawaii Real Estate agent can help you assess how the microclimates can affect Hawaii real estate values and how that fits with your Hawaii lifestyle needs. The best real estate agents live and work in Hawaii – they know the impact microclimates have on each area on each island and are waiting to give you the benefits of their local island knowledge.

The other day, I was forwarded a Yahoo! Real Estate article listing the 10 worst mistakes first-time homebuyers have made so far this year. The article paints an all-around gloomy picture of the average American first-time homebuyer – and we think you deserve a little more credit.

Whether you’re new to Hawaii real estate or not, the fact that you’ve found Best of Hawaii Real Estate on the web means you’re researching your decision and, according to Yahoo! Real Estate, are well above the curve when it comes to shopping for the best Hawaii real estate.

Now that we’ve reddened your cheeks with compliments, let us introduce you to Best of Hawaii Real Estate’s official 10 Best Reasons to Buy Hawaii Real Estate 2010:

1. You Can Afford More. As we’ve all learned in the past couple of years, a weak housing market means lower prices on much of the best Hawaii real estate. If you’ve been in the Hawaii real estate market for any length of time, you’ve witnessed the decline of price tags  for the best Hawaii homes across the board. Hawaii homebuyers today have the advantage on their side, and experts agree that this won’t last long.

2. Lowest Mortgage Rates. So you think these low rates mean you can put your hands on some of the best Hawaii homes with even less stress on the bank account? We do too. Have you been hearing that shorter term loans might just be within your grasp? We don’t see why not. The time to lock in a low fixed and/or a shorter term  rate on a mortgage is right now.

3. Expenses That Pay You Back. If the expenses associated with home ownership have been holding back your dreams of buying Hawaii real estate, keep in mind that each dollar you spend maintaining your new Hawaii home is an investment in your future.

4. It Pays To Be Picky. Buying Hawaii real estate isn’t like going to the supermarket to pick up some eggs. With so much on the line for so many years to come, you deserve to take your time with this decision. And it just so happens that waiting is paying off; the variety of homes on the Hawaii real estate market today, compared to two years ago, is amazingly high and prices are at record lows.

Congratulations. You’ve arrived at the best possible buyers market.

5. The View. In a quiet moment, as you sit on the balcony of your new Hawaii home, on a perfectly 70-something degree evening in mid-January, sipping a Mai Tai and watching the sun set over the blue Pacific waters, your doubts about the strangely colored wallpaper in your bathroom fade away forever.

6. Being Swept Away. It’s a phrase that fits in well with your new Hawaii lifestyle. It also seems to happen a lot here. Let’s review all the different times Hawaii has swept you away: 1) you were swept away with Hawaii’s natural beauty on your first vacation; 2) you were swept away with the possibility of actually living here; 3) you were swept away with the home you decided to buy; 4) you were swept away by the 1000-foot waterfall you saw from the air on a helicopter tour of the island last weekend; and now, 5) you’re dressing up to be swept away by an amazing night of food, music and dancing.

Being swept away has never felt so good!

7. Compromise No Longer Needed. Life in Hawaii is about pure pleasure and bliss, and compromising on your Hawaii real estate purchase is no longer necessary. With Hawaii property prices so low, and mortgage rates continuing to sink, affordable Hawaii real estate is the name of the game now, but act fast – these prices won’t last long!

8. Did We Mention The Weather? In Hawaii the average temperature is 72 and only rises to 79 in August!  Need we say more?

9. The Best Real Estate Agents. Name one person you know who doesn’t occasionally dream about living in Hawaii. Drawing a blank? Whether you daydream of a luxurious beachfront mansion, a Hawaii condo, or a jungle retreat completely off the grid, Hawaii has something for everyone. With such a range of properties available, it’s only fitting that Hawaii Realtors are among the very best in the world.  When you use Best of Hawaii Real Estate, you can be sure that finding the best Hawaii Realtor to help you has never been easier.

10. Because The Future is Now. Instant gratification and smart future investment aren’t phrases you normally see next to each other. Times have changed. When you buy Hawaii real estate now, you’re getting the best of both worlds. Take advantage of today’s ideal combination of low home prices and super low mortgage rates to get the winning combination of  instant gratification and a smart future investment of the best Hawaii home ownership.

When you think of caring for the land – being environmentally friendly, in politically correct terms – you don’t think of taking off your shoes before going into a friend’s house… do you?

Nope – we didn’t think so. You might be surprised to learn that in Hawaii, even little things like removing your shoes can be traced back to the ancient Hawaiian idea of Malama ‘Aina – to care for the land. That’s why the next section we will be adding to the Best of Hawaii Real Estate website is all about Malama ‘Aina and its cultural importance in Hawaii.

Here are three examples of Malama ‘Aina in action, introducing you to its relevance to everyday life in the islands:

1. Mahalo For Removing Your Shoes. If you’ve ever been to a Hawaiian home, you’ve more than likely encountered a huge pile of shoes outside the front door. We’ve already explained that this is a tradition of respect in the islands, but Malama ‘Aina is about respecting the land! How does this fit in?Ancient Hawaiians thought of human life as an extension of the land – a gift sustained only by the natural bounty of the islands themselves. These ancient peoples lived a life much closer to the land, so it’s easy to see how this belief formed. When you enter a home barefoot, you’re respecting your host, and in turn, the land itself.

2. I can’t drive 55. So you’re spending the day exploring the back inland roads on Kauai, and you encounter a one-lane bridge and signs require both directions of traffic to yield to the other. As you approach the bridge, you see that another car is also about to enter the only lane coming from the other direction. What would a local do?The gracious act of stopping and waving a stranger through a one-lane bridge respects the life on the other side of that bridge, and is an example of living Malama ‘Aina. With so many one-lane bridges in Hawaii, this is an act you’ll want to follow!

3. Clean-up has never been so fun. How do Hawaii’s beaches stay so clean and sparkly? No, there’s no secret task force that combs the sands for trash while nobody is looking. Beach cleanups are a popular activity among many Hawaii residents – children on field trips, local environmental groups, ocean sport enthusiasts and even the group of post-party-goers just breaking down their beach campsite.Spending your day cleaning takes on a new meaning when it’s on a pristine Hawaii beach. Beach cleanups often pop up at random locations and times, and for any old reason – a testament to just how precious these natural resources are to Hawaii and its people.

Malama ‘Aina is the Hawaiian concept of respect that forms the basis of these traditions. Respecting the land and its people – your neighbors – is as much a part of Hawaiian culture as the Hula and the Lu`au.

Head over to the Best of Hawaii Real Estate site and check out this and more helpful tips for new and potential Hawaii residents.

Quick – first thing that comes to mind…

So, what is your answer? One word or two? Lowercase or capitalized? All caps or just the first letters? If you’re still not sure, type it into your favorite search engine and see how your fingers naturally arrange the letters.

Question 1: Which of the following phrases is worded correctly?

1. Hawaii real estate
2. Hawaii realestate
3. Hawaii Real Estate

Believe it or not, these silly questions actually have a purpose. Check this out – if you’re serious about buying or selling Hawaii real estate, the way you spell your search will change your results. In other words, spell Hawaii real estate as two words and you’ll get one set of results; spell Hawaii realestate as one word and you’ll get another. Go ahead – try it for yourself.

At Best of Hawaii Real Estate, we think that spelling should be the least of your worries. Whether you type in best Hawaii real estate or best Hawaii realestate – or any other creative way you choose to word it – all you’re interested in finding is the Hawaii home of your dreams. Your choice of spelling shouldn’t affect your success.

Don’t let your perfect Hawaii home slip through the cracks of search engine filters. Come to Best of Hawaii Real Estate first and get instantly matched to the best Hawaii Realtors using RE-Direct® Realtor Matching Technology. Everyday more people choose Best of Hawaii Real Estate as their one-stop Hawaii real estate (and realestate) destination. Get matched today, and you’re on your way.

Rates on long- and short-term Hawaii home loans have never been more affordable. Last week, the national average for 30-year fixed rate mortgages sank from 4.75 to 4.69 percent to reach its lowest recorded level in history.

Rates on 15-year fixed-rate, as well as five- and one-year adjustable-rate mortgages also hit new lows.

Many experts are saying that the European debt crisis has helped drive down rates as investors flee European investment which is regarded as volatile right now. Investors have transferred major amounts of wealth into U.S. Treasury bonds, causing Treasury yields to fall. This in turn is driving down borrowing rates.

News sources are quick to point out that, despite these record-setting lows, the demand for housing has never been weaker. This may be the good news you’ve been waiting for. A low demand for new loans means lenders will jump at the chance to give qualified borrowers access to these record low rates.

These historically low rates are combining with low asking prices to make this one of the best times to buy in history. Locking in these low fixed rates means, regardless of the future market, you’ll never have to worry about your rates going up. Act now because these rates could change without notice. This is your opportunity to realize your dream of owning property in Hawaii.

Team up with Hawaii’s top agents using RE-Direct at Best of Hawaii Real Estate on your journey to Hawaii residential or commercial ownership. We are your no-cost connection to Hawaii’s best and most qualified real estate professionals.

Updates are rolling in once again. Best of Hawaii Real Estate is bringing you inside information straight from the source, this time answering all your questions about bringing your pets, cars and even plants to your little piece of paradise. We got ourselves chest-deep in information so you don’t have to, emerging with clear directions toward the path of least resistance. Read on!

First up, we’ve uncovered some welcome changes to the Hawaii animal quarantine laws that practically do away with the traumatic and troublesome practice all together. If you have pets and have been thinking about bringing them to Hawaii, you’ve probably heard horror stories about Hawaii’s quarantine system. Worry not – with a little planning and action on your part before you move, you could have your furry friend in your new Hawaii home without any trouble at all.

While Hawaii looks small on a map, you’re still going to need a way to get around. We’ve produced a new section detailing the pros and cons of shipping your car to Hawaii from anywhere in the world. The process is possible and even quite common, but its cost effectiveness depends on a variety of factors. Before you decide to ship or sell, read this section; it could end up saving you thousands.

Finally, we’ve included a short section outlining Hawaii’s strict regulations on plant transport in and out of the state. While plants don’t seem like a big deal, unwittingly transporting the wrong kind of plant during your move would make for a rough way to start your new life. Give this section a few seconds of your time, and who knows – it could help you avoid a ton of problems at the port.

Answering burning questions like these are our forté and, as always, the answers come from real people who have been in your shoes first hand. You won’t want to miss this, so bookmark the Best of Hawaii Real Estate website and keep checking back.

Well, another week and more additions to the Best of Hawaii Real Estate site.  Our “Information Center” has been renamed to “Moving to Hawaii”. We believe it better reflects the information and facts we have, and will continue to gather. We also streamlined the look of the whole site. We hope you like it.

We are constantly adding new information so be sure to check us out on a regular basis so you don’t miss out on anything!!

Next up, will be ways to move your belongings and critter companions both large and small to Hawaii!

Do you have any questions about moving to, or living in Hawaii that you would like us to answer for you? Your comments and questions about the website, blog and the RE-Direct system are important to us. Leave us a comment and we will do our very best to answer it right away.

Remember, whether it is a primary residence, vacation home, commercial property or even mixed use – we have agents ready to assist you.

Aloha!

It seems like every time we release new content on the Best of Hawaii Real Estate site, we uncover more and more reasons why moving to Hawaii is truly paradise found.

This week, the site’s latest addition – Healthcare in Hawaii – spotlights Hawaii’s healthcare system as a national standout.  We’ve compiled a bunch of useful information and data from a wide range of sources to create a page that’s comprehensive, easy to read and interesting all at once.  You will find lots of information in small bites, with the resources to find more if you want more information about a particular topic.

Did you know that Hawaii has had near universal healthcare coverage for more than 35 years?  Did you know the state’s largest private hospital has its roots in Hawaii’s original monarchy?  We’ve expanded on this and a whole lot more, all on the site.

We are just as curious as you are about these topics, and we aren’t satisfied until all of our questions are answered.  By putting ourselves in your shoes, we know that your questions are being answered as well.

Whether you’re moving to Hawaii, relocating to a different island within the state, or simply looking for information about healthcare in Hawaii, head over to the site and check out our latest website addition.  It is just one more step toward our goal to become your comprehensive Hawaii resource.