Kona Kohala Blog

While Foreclosures and Short Sales may be slowing on the mainland, here in west Hawaii the number keeps rising.  We typically follow them by 6 months to a year in real estate trends so we may be coming close.  In the mean time, Short Sales are still popping up regularly.

I have a one bedroom condo in Kona Mansions for just $120,000.  There's also a foreclosure in there for even less.  We're seeing some well priced condos coming on the market today and if it weren't for the ridiculously high maintenance fees they would actually make money for investors.  These fees are being called "the second mortgage that doesn't go away."  Still, as prices come down they are worth looking into.

In South Kohala there are 51 Single Family Residences (SFR's) for sale under $400K.  North Kona has 44 more for sale along with 270 condos.  There are 81 more condos for sale in South Kohala under $400K also.

The trend in declining numbers of sales and median price is beginning to level off.  W won't know we've hit the bottom, usually, until about 2 months later when we look back and see a steady uptick in numbers.  Take a look at our company listings for some very well priced properties.  Also, remember, I can work with you on any property for sale in Hawaii as a Buyer's Representative.  Being an Accredited Buyer's Representative and a Certified Residential Specialist gives me a host of tools to assist you in a home or investment property search.

I'm working with a couple now who in the past had always worked with the listing agent to keep things simple, they thought.  After just one transaction, they said they had no idea how much better prepared they were and how much smoother the transaction was with someone working just for them.  They were used to doing most of the work and following the transaction through escrow but have realized that having your own agent working for you not only simplifys matters but gives you better representation.  For instance, they know nothing about checking building permit status; in this case, we had to have a pool inspection because it had never been finaled by the contractor and there were a couple small things that needed to be completed.  Buyer's reps are normally no cost to you so don't look for a home without one.

I must admit that Obama did something right for a change.  By telling the military, the Navy, to do whatever they needed to do to free the captain of the Maersk Alabama, he took a big step in reestablising American autonomy and authority on the high seas.  This should not have been allowed to go on as long as it did.  The first time the captain jumped in the water and attempted to escape, those same snipers that killed the pirates should have been authorized "deadly force" to allow the captain to swim to the Navy ship, but they weren't.  So better late than never Mr. Pres.  Let's not hog tie our military the way we have since the Korean War. 

Wars are terrible things and as long as we pretend they are civilized they will continue to proliferate.  The Geneva Convention is one of the biggest and cruelest jokes ever played on the people of the world.  Adopted in 1949 after the horrendous mistreatment of prisoners during WWII it sought to make those who had never been in a war actually believe there was something civilized about armed battle.

There is nothing civilized about people actively trying to kill each other.  We have always had wars and will always have more wars, they are a part of humanity.  As long as we have leaders who are empowered by power, who are driven by greed and interested in only their own comfort and authority there will be war.

Until every man and woman who seeks power is first required to serve in the military and actually fight a battle there will be no real deterent to war.  Until each leader's children are on the front lines along with those not eligible for deferrments and preferential treatment, there will be war.  We the people are expendible in the eyes of our leaders.

Until our leaders have walked in our shoes they will not know or care about us.  They may address our problems, seek our votes by telling us how they will make our lives better but bottom line is nothing will change until they've been where we are.  As long as they have their pay guaranteed, their health benefits provided for life and all the other perks they've set up for themselves in place they can not know how the rest of us live, the things we worry about, the fears we have for our families or the stress we live with everyday.