Chris Benjamin Retiring; Lance Parker Will Take Over as A&B’s CEO
In a recent interview, Benjamin describes the company’s transition to being entirely focused on Hawai‘i commercial real estate.
Real Estate
Hawaiʻi Realtors Legislative Agenda: Affordable Housing and Cesspools
The statewide association supports a bill that would allow the counties to reclassify up to 100 acres of nonessential agricultural land if at least half of it is for affordable housing.
Region by Region: Most Sales and Biggest Price Gains on O‘ahu
The biggest median price gain in 2022 was on the North Shore; most sales were on the ʻEwa Plain.
Homeownership Can Be One of Many Casualties of a Divorce
Start planning early, because once a divorce decree is issued, it can be too late to arrange necessary financing on the house or save both spouses’ credit scores.
New Leader Says Realtors Have to Pivot with Changing Housing Market
Fran Villarmia-Kahawai, 2023 president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, outlines her three priorities for the year.
What Happens When Private Equity Is Your Landlord in Hawai‘i
The Blackstone Group and other firms have been buying rental properties in West O‘ahu. Tenants say the result can be escalating rents and unexpected fees.
Hawai‘i and U.S. housing markets to slow further in first half of 2023, economists say
After two years of rapid growth, Hawai‘i can expect to see a gradual reduction in interest rates, a slowdown in dropping sales, and a leveling off — or maybe even a decline — in prices.
Home Equity Gains Slow in Hawai‘i, But Owners Are Still Building Wealth
From a first-quarter high of $139,000, equity gains fell to $61,500 in the third quarter, which is still better than every other state except Florida.
$1 Million-Plus Mortgages Go Mainstream Next Month
A federal agency raises the limit on conforming mortgages in Hawai‘i and other high-cost markets.
Condo Flips: We Just Got the Keys, Let's Sell
More than 50 units in one Kaka‘ako tower are up for sale, just weeks after the owners got possession of units in the newly completed high-rise.
Interest Rates are Up, So Number of New Mortgages is Down
The total of home loans issued in Hawai‘i through the end of October dropped 38% from the same period last year.
Condo Sales Dip Only 3% on O‘ahu as Prices Keep Climbing
The median price for condos rose in 20 of 21 real estate regions on the island during the first three quarters of 2022.
Each Part of O‘ahu Has a Unique Real Estate Market
All 21 regions have higher median prices this year for single-family homes, with the two priciest markets seeing the smallest percentage increases, and two rural regions the largest.
Hurricane Ian's Aftereffects May Impact Hawai‘i in a Few Years
Sharilyn Tanaka of Atlas Insurance Agency says tens of billions of dollars in payouts by global reinsurance companies will likely ripple into premium increases here down the road.
Got $20 Million or More to Spare? Sorry, Hawai‘i Has Only a Few Homes for You
After a flurry of ultra-high-end sales over the past few years, just seven homes in that rarified price range are up for sale now.
Another Endangered Species in Hawai‘i: Starter Homes
Young people used to be able to buy a small single-family home or townhome as the first step on their homeownership ladder, but today they are priced out of that market.
How to Succeed in Real Estate Development When You’re Not a Man
5 women developers share advice about making it in a male-dominated field.
These 5 Women Are Changing the Face of Real Estate Development
Christine Camp, Laura Kodama, Cayenne Pe‘a, Karen Seddon and Michelle Swartman are proving that it’s not a man’s world anymore.
Fewer Mortgage Delinquencies Now than a Year Ago
Lenders have been stricter on loans since the Great Recession, which would likely limit the number of delinquencies in any new recession, one local expert says.
Rents up 8% on O‘ahu This Year, Study Says
The report from Ricky Cassiday covers rents for condominiums, townhouses and apartments.
Rising Interest Rates Sideline First-Time Homebuyers
Bidding wars are now rare, but the highest mortgage rates since 2008 put homeownership out of reach for many who thought it was possible at the start of the year.
Could a Local Building Collapse Like the One in Florida?
Experts say what happened at the Surfside condo is unlikely to happen here. But they warn condo boards: put off maintenance projects and you’ll end up paying far more.
Homeowners’ Omissions Provide More than $30 Million to Honolulu Treasury
More than a third of all owner-occupied homes on O‘ahu are not covered by property tax exemptions because owners did not submit the paperwork. You have until Sept. 30, 2022 to fix that oversight.
AIA Design Awards 2022
Shaping communities through design excellence — All of the awardees exemplified a vision to meet or exceed safety requirements, utilize sustainable and efficient methods, and fulfill our cultural and emotional needs.
25 People for the Next 25 Years
Thirty-year-old developer Adam Wong has an intoxicating vision for a vibrant — and affordable — Honolulu. Thirty-three-year-old James Koshiba dreams of a new generation of socially-conscious businesses that do as much for the community as they do their bottom lines.…
Internet Transforms Home Sales, but Realtors Survive
Some say real estate professionals might be more important than ever Less than 20 years ago, prospective homebuyers could look at newspapers and drive around to find yard signs. However, most would call a Realtor because they alone had access…
Ask SmallBiz: Dividing Family Stock
Q. What should the owners of a family business consider when dividing shares of stock among their children? I have been told never to give two children equal shares. -Monica Toguchi, VP, Administration and Planning, Highway Inn Inc. A. You’re right,…
