Kona Kohala Blog

Selling the sizzle may not always satisfy the appetite.  A good example are all the new condo complexes in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area.  Most of the developers have made their money on early sales but then were hit with the recession and consequent slow down in sales.

Today, those developers are doing just about anything to dump their remaining inventory and move on.  They are offering to cover closing costs or other monetary incentives and most have cut prices well below actual value which has upset many of those who bought in early thinking their value would remain up.  Undercutting the original owners has not helped the developer's popularity one bit.

When you drive through Waikoloa Beach Resort you notice the uniformity of the area.  While beautiful to look at it looks very much like any strip mall on the mainland in a tourist area complete with franchise restaurants and retail stores flanking both sides of the entrance then densely packed condo complexes tucked into every crevice and cranny surrounding the golf courses, nothing new here, nothing Hawaiian really.

A glaring difference can be seen by seeking out the older condos in the area.  You have to look a little to find them because they tend to be tucked away in more private areas away from the crowds.  One good example is The Shores at Waikoloa Beach Resort across from the Waikoloa Beach Course.

The Shores were built in 1986 when there was little to be found there except what was the Sheraton Waikoloa Resort.  The big draw to the area was and remains Anaeho'omalu Bay, a beautiful long stretch of white sand beach in a protected cove.

Back then the developer took full advantage of the space available.  The complex is laid out so to give each unit a bit of privacy from their neighbors and a bit of a relaxing view of the surrounding area.  The units are larger than the new cookie cutter models averaging around 1,200 square feet of living space.  When you're inside the units you feel secure with the soundness of the construction and the quality of the materials.  It feels good to be in these condos, to have room to move around and not feel trapped in a box that looks like every other box stacked next to each other like so much of the new construction.

Go to the search MLS page by clicking here and type in # 225674 and look at unit 133.  If you're looking for comfort, quiet and protected property value go no further.  We invite you to compare this unit to any of the newer, cheaper condos out there while remembering, you do get what you pay for.  The declining market has effected The Shores like all other complexes so today you can get a whole lot of quality for not a whole lot of money.