Real Estate News You Can Use


2nd Quarter Kauai Real Estate Update - 7/08
2008 is half over and there is no better place to spend your summer than on the Garden Island. Those of us who call Kauai home know that we may be living in the most beautiful place in the world... continue »


Sell Faster When You Understand the Buyer’s Mindset - 7/08
When most sellers list their home for sale, the first thing they think about is how much will I get and that is usually followed by how soon will I get the money. It's certainly understandable that those two concerns are, most often, top of mind... continue »


Maximizing Your Home's Curb Appeal - 7/08
Curb appeal is the equivalent of charisma in a home. It's that quality that makes you say "wow" when you first see it. You feel good when you pull into the driveway... continue »


Direction of Housing Market Taking Shape - 6/08
Paying attention to mainstream media regarding the perils of the real estate market is certainly entertaining these days. There is a lot of doom and gloom being reported, some well founded and some not... continue »


The Housing Crisis is Over - 5/08
The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now... continue »


Second-Home Sales Accounted For One-Third of Transactions in 2007 - 5/08
The combined total of vacation- and investment-home sales declined with the overall market in 2007, but still accounted for 33 percent of all existing- and new-home sales, which is close to historic norms, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)... continue »


Don't Overpay Property Taxes - 5/08
Over the last eight years, property taxes have actually outpaced even inflation. Those rising taxes combined with the recent plateau in home values in some areas mean you may be paying more than your fair share... continue »


1st Quarter Kauai Real Estate Update - 4/08
Spring is finally here which for many of you couldn’t be more encouraging. All is well here on the Garden Island. As the 1st quarter comes to a close, I want to update you on several things I think you will find interesting and useful... continue »


What Affects Your Credit Score - 4/08
It is common to assume that paying bills on time automatically means having a high credit score. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. There are many misperceptions about how scores are calculated -- and yours could be lower than you might expect... continue »


How to Stop Identity Theft - 4/08
ID theft can cost you time and money (averaging $691, according to the report) to correct the misdeed and it can ruin your credit enough to prevent you from making major purchases including buying a home... continue »


6 Signs It's Time To Buy a House - 3/08
If you're waiting for signs of a housing bottom, join the club. Nobody blows a whistle and say, "It's time to buy!" That's why market timing is an art, not a science, but you can improve your odds of buying wisely... continue »


Condos Pay Off as Second Homes - 3/08
Make a condo, townhome or other community association property your second home and, chances are, you'll be pretty happy with your choice. In Hawaii, condos provide a practical and easy to manage solution to owning a second home... continue »


Kauai's Buyer's Market Continues - 3/08
According to Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kauai’s visitor count was up 7% in 2007 while all the other islands were down compared to 2006. Kauai’s visitor count continues to increase over the other 4 major islands... continue »


Mortgage Tax Deductions - 2/08
If you refinanced your home recently, you're not alone. According to Plunkett Research, approximately $1.1 trillion dollars in mortgage loans was refinanced in the United States in 2006. But did you remember to take an increased mortgage interest deduction on your tax return if you were entitled to one?... continue »


Kauai leads the state in 2007 visitor arrivals - 1/08
Kaua'i bucked the state trend in visitor arrivals for 2007, recording an increase in all four major markets. The Garden Isle was the only island with increased visitor traffic... continue »


2007 Kauai Real Estate in review - 1/08
2007 continued to be a buyer's market island wide. Large project additions to inventory ranged from improved and unimproved parcels at Kukui Ula in Poipu Beach, to upscale ocean front condos at Waipouli Beach Resort in Kapaa... continue »


Mortgage Applications Rising - 1/08
Mortgage application volume during the second week of January posted a huge increase as interest rates continued to decline, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported today... continue »


U.S. Economic Outlook - 1/08