Kona Kohala Blog

WEST HAWAII REAL ESTATE:

Before we get into Gibbon let's talk about real estate.  Here in West Hawaii, the Kona Coast especially, we're seeing great opportunity in the housing market.  Our prices have slowed their downward spiral but continue to drop.  Our market activity is steadily climbing despite the expiration of the tax credit, much of the buying coming from "boomer" who have retired or will retire in the next few years.

Each month, as prices continue to erode, we find new buyers come into play with the reduced price points.  The large number of short sales and foreclosures are setting the market price with non-distressed sellers having to match the new prices in order to sell.  Competition is a thing of the past as each new sale generates a new listing as the banks slowly release their "shadow inventory", their backlog of foreclosed properties being held in abeyance so as not to flood the market place.

The best is not being saved for last.  Many of the very best deals are gone and we're seeing a large inventory consisting of the dregs.  Do not be discouraged, there are still plenty of good deals out there but it takes some digging to find them

Regardless of price range there are well priced properties.  Whether you're looking in Kona town, South Kohala, Waikoloa, Waimea (Kamuela), Holualoa or Keauhou, now is a great time to get started.  Hawaii Island in general is being seen as the last great place to find a home.  Even people from other Hawaiian islands are looking to Hawaii's west coast as a place to find reasonably priced property.

If you're considering a purchase here, don't wait.  Contact me today and we can begin the search.  There's no cost and no obligation on your part.  Preparing yourself well ahead of time will get you closer to your goal than waiting until the last minute.  Call me or email me today and let's get started.

POLITICS:

Edward Gibbon wrote the classic, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" in 1776.  This thorough examination of Rome and it's existence over hundreds of years as the economic and military strong hold and leader of the world has withstood the test of time.  His assertions were well documented and his reasoning sound.

There was no single cause of the downfall of Rome but rather a series of events and wrong decisions by the government that lead to the eventual fall of what was the traditional empire although some consider Constantine to be the real final ruler of the Roman Empire in the 1400's rather than in 476AD as is put forth by others.

Some of the causes of the fall as described by Gibbon, were the public overt corruption of the ruling body, the legislature.  It was well know and tolerated by the public that politicians were bought openly but as long as the people had, " . . . their circus and their wine . . .", they did not complain too loudly.  Today we could look at that as the people having their big screen TV's and plenty of food.

The Roman army had been fighting in Persia, today's Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan, for nearly 300 years.  This action had depleted not only the supplies of young fighting men but also the treasury of Rome.

Just those two example alone reflect the parallels of today in our country and only an idiot could not see the future if we stay this same course.  The United States was a republic but no longer.  We have let our politicians establish a monarchy.  We have a king and a queen and a legislature full of pampered and spoiled dukes and duchesses, prince's and princesses, all living a life of privilege at the expense of the tax payer.

We are not learning the lessons of history because history is no longer taught.  Our children are reared believing they are the future of the world and should be treated with kid gloves and given special consideration.  Our children have done nothing to earn any of this.  They have no experience and have not contributed to our society.  They deserve the basic respect of life and limb accorded all sentient beings but no more.

Our elected officials do not deserve the care and feeding we give them.  As representatives of we the people they should assume their rightful position just below that of those who support and pay them not live the life of royalty while we suffer through crises caused by them.

Our country is in free fall and Michelle obama takes a $375,000 tax payer funded vacation to Spain where the beaches are closed to the citizens so she can walk to the water with her entourage.  Oil boils into the gulf and barrack play golf and is entertained by musicians and actors.  Our young men and women are dying in the sands of the middle east just as they did 2,000 years ago and out politicians debate taxes to fund these futile efforts, just like they did 2,000 years ago.

When will we the people learn?  When will we vote the bums out and start over?  Do you really believe that a whole new crop of politicians could mess things up anymore than the meatheads we've had in office forever have?  If we don't express our discontent now, we may not be able to in a very few years.  Our liberties are being stripped away bit by bit everyday as government intrudes more and more into our lives.  It's time to stand up and be heard while we can.  It's time to talk to your neighbors.  It's time to speak out against that which you can no longer tolerate.  It's time we all banded together to make out own, we the people, statement, one that will not be overridden by federal judges.  It's time to vote enmasse, not sit on our butts and wring our hands and moan about the situation we find ourselves in.

We can have our country back again.  In order to do that, we have to step outside our comfort zones for a time.  We have to get involved, we have to vote with our knowledge of the candidates not just for a familiar name.  Take the time to get involved or you may find that when you finally decide to, you no longer can.