Honolulu & Oahu Real Estate

Popular Posts
Condo Remodel - See how George took a tired unit at Ilikai, gutted it and completed remodeled it.  
Guide to Waikiki Condotels - Learn about all condos in Honolulu that allow for short-term vacation rentals and reasons why.
Real Estate Tax Benefit Guide - Covers in depth 4 categories: Tax deductions, tax credits, tax exemptions and tax deferrals.
Honolulu County Property Taxes - Review of real estate tax rates, assessed value, when taxes are due and ways to pay property taxes.

Most Recent Posts
10/17/2017: 5 Awesome Less Known Neighborhoods in Kailua - Marcel reviews 5 great neighborhoods in Kailua that are somewhat under the rader and unknown to most.
10/17/2017: Lanikia vs Kailua Beachside - Marcel gives an overview of the differences between these 2 luxurious beachfront neighborhoods in Kailua
10/4/2017: Guide to Honolulu Schools - comprehensive overview of all private & public elementary, middle and high schools in Honolulu.

9/11/2017: Puuwai Place in Waipahu is now taking applications through Sept 27, 2017 for those who want to participate in the lottery.
8/16/2017: FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties tend to sell for substantially less than properties sold by real estate agents, via the MLS, according to this detailed study by Collateral Analytics, analyzing 1.35M properties sold year 2016 and 2017. 
8/16/2017: Honolulu named the most livable city in the US and number 17 globally in the Economist Intelligence Unit's ranking, which reviews factors such as stability, healthcare, education, culture, infrastructure and environment.
8/1/2017: Koa Ridge, a master planned community in central Oahu, is expected to commence sales early 2019 and first homes to be delivered late 2019.
7/31/2017: During the 1st half of 2017 11.7% of Japanese visitors to Hawaii stayed in condos, which is a 1.9% increase from last year. Visitors from the US west coast had 11.3% stay in a house during the same period, which is a 0.9% increase from last year.
7/21/2017: Well built unpermitted areas are no longer a concern for VA loans.
7/21/2017: The Major of Honolulu has proposed a bill, requiring condos taller than 75ft and built prior to 1975 to install sprinklers. The proposal comes in the wake of the major fire at Marco Polo Apts 1 week ago, which left 3 people dead and caused damaged to 200 units. 
7/19/2017: April 2016 through March 2017 foreign buyers and recent immigrants purchased 284,455 residential properties in the US, paying a total of $153BL. Chinese buyers spend $31.7BL and was the biggest group of foreign buyers for the 4th year in a row. Canadians came in 2nd at $19BL. 
7/18/2017: Developer of Puuwai Place in Waipahu is still awaiting approval for condo docs and expected completion is now Q2 2018.
6/20/2017: Hawaii property tax rates for fiscal 2017 are released and big changes to Oahu Residential A rate.
6/3/2017: We are expecting Aalii, a new condo project in Kakaako, will commence sales in the near future.
5/9/2017: The $2BL Atlantis Ko Olina Resort is expected to break ground next month and will include ~800 hotel rooms and more than 500 residences.
4/28/2017: 1617 Fern St - a 1/2 acre lot on the corner of Fern St & Kalakaua Ave - is under contract. Lot has possibility to be developed in to a high-rise condo.
4/28/2017: Hawaii Senate lawmakers have agreed to increases the TAT (hotel tax) from its current rate of 9.25% to 12%, starting January 2018, in an effort to raise funds for the rail project. House and Senate members are set to discuss and vote on in near future.
4/14/2017: A developer is planning to turn the former Niketown building in Waikiki in to a 7 story hotel with 230 units. Construction may begin 2018 with an expected completion 2020.