Kona Kohala Blog

It would seem that with all the inventory there is available in this buyer's market that finding just what you're looking for would be easy.  In many searches that is the case but every once in a while nothing seems to be just right.  Because it's a strong buyer's market, buyers don't want to settle, they want the perfect property and sometimes it's just not on the market.

Because our number of sales has been so low, many sellers have had properties on the market for as long as a year, some even more, then decided enough of that and pulled it off the market.  They may still want to sell but just got tired of the showings or not having showings and decided to wait it out.

One advantage of working with Ferrari Pacific Realty is that we know the market, we know what property is out there because we attend our board caravans, an opportunity to preview property as it comes on the market.  Because we've been doing this for 13 years now, we've seen most properties out there and every once in while a buyer will ask for one that we've seen but isn't currently listed.

Today is one of those days.  I just started working with a couple looking for a home and they have specific needs.  We looked at a few homes that came close but nothing was just right.  After sitting down and talking more about their likes and dislikes I remembered a property that had been on the market a couple years ago in an area they are interested in but currently has no property for sale.

I have a call into the owner to see if they are still interested in selling and if so, would they like me to contact their last Realtor.  One of the reasons we get along with other agents working here is that we do not steal clients or try to go around other professionals.  We're all experiencing difficult times right now so a little bit of trust goes a long ways.  I believe the pie is infinite, not finite.  There's plenty to go around and being greedy has never paid off, ask all the bankers and loan brokers who are out of business now, because they got greedy.

Speaking of greedy, what's up with the states, counties, citys, etc.?  There's talk about new "fees".  Nobody is talking raising taxes but they are talking about raising fees, how is that different?

Wouldn't it be nice if you and I could raise our "fees" when we run short or spend over our budget?  Problem is, we can't and I don't think it's right that government considers such increases either.

Government needs to look at what they have and figure out a way to live within those means, just like you and me.  In times like these, sacred cows should no longer be considered sacred.  A huge percentage of most government budgets include entitlements; that's pay and perks for those who no longer produce and in most cases, very generous pay and perks.

When we as individuals run low on money, we don't really have any sacred cows, all the funds get tapped if necessary.  Why should our bloated government be any different?  Why should they be able to come to us and say, "We're a little short this year so you have to pay us more in the form of fees."?

It's time for our public servants to live like those they serve.  The problem is that they seem to have forgotten the servant part, they believe they are the new aristocracy and just like everyone from Saddam Hussein to Kim Jong Il they live well while us commoners suffer.  It's going to get worse before it gets better, we're told.  I wonder just who it's going to get worse for?