Kona Kohala Blog

There's been much talk about the lower priced properties resulting from foreclosures and short sales but what about the other end of the price spectrum?  Today is the broker's weekly caravan to preview new properties on the market and today's is our annual Christmas caravan.  We get to see beautifully decorated homes in prime condition since all of them are over, some well over, the one million dollar mark.

Today I was looking at oceanfront properties that are listed at about half what they would have sold for just 4 years ago.  Moving up to some of the estate properties, in excess of one acre, there too, are homes that are drastically below their 2006 prices.

For those looking for a home in the million dollar range now is the time.  There is a great deal of competition at this level as newer subdivision come on line at Kukio and Hualalai and surrounding properties.  For those not wanting to be in a community like that there are magnificent homes available all around North Kona at just about every elevation meaning you can name your ambient temperature.

I had a short, very short, discussion with a liberal minded person this morning concerning the various forms of the health bill trying to make it through congress.  The point was made that it's just not fair that HMO's and others won't take you with a pre-existing condition, like buying auto insurance after the accident.

I suggested that pre-existing conditions might be the place where the government could step in and help out.  Since a pre-existing condition doesn't require insurance, rather it requires financial assistance in dealing with it.

Insurance is all about actuary and risks.  If they already know something's wrong, why offer to cover those expenses, how can you stay in business doing that?  Could it be a place for government intervention, coverage for pre-existing conditions where we know roughly what long term care for such a condition could cost?

Maybe there could be a tax credit of sorts available to HMO's, PPO's and all the rest of them that step up and tend to those needing such care.  The rest of your coverage could still be complete with the exception of that particular pre-existing condition.

It seems that there is really little discussion going on, more just yelling and accusing each other of this and that.  In talking to those of us working for a living and without the massive brain power found on capital hill, I find lots of good ideas, ideas that could be moulded into viable options to provide for those unable to provide for themselves.  Maybe if people like Chuck Schummer would spend more time talking with flight attendents rather than swearing at them some good ideas might surface.