At Least 10% of U.S. Home Sales Are DIY
The number of homes for-sale-by-owner was up nationwide in 2022. Several local companies offer to list the homes on MLS and handle the closing for a flat fee, but you do most everything else.
Real Estate
Weak Yen Helps Curtail Japanese Investment in Hawai‘i Real Estate
But a local expert expects Japanese investors – and tourists – will eventually return because their passion for the Islands remains strong.
Lawsuits Challenge a Central Part of the Real Estate Business
The actions test the assumption that sellers must pay the commission for a buyer’s agent.
Your Hawaii Home Insurance Rates Have Probably Gone Up. Here’s Why.
The reasons are numerous, including rising construction costs, leaking pipes and Florida’s Hurricane Ian. But there are ways to reduce your premiums.
As House Prices Fall, Condo Prices Are Up in Seven Regions of O‘ahu
But just about everywhere on the island, fewer condos were sold in the first quarter of this year compared to last year – much fewer.
Bill Might Require Training for Volunteers Who Serve on Condo Boards
But it’s already hard to recruit people to the boards, says one critic, and such a requirement would make it even harder.
Update on Real Estate Bills Alive or Stalled at State Legislature
Bills about converting cesspools and reclassifying agricultural land have been sidelined, but other real estate legislation is either still alive or has been sent to the governor.
Maui Is Hawai‘i’s Least Affordable County for Homeownership
A national report and a local index show that affordability has gotten much worse in the past two years.
In the Former Foreclosure Capital of Hawai‘i, Most Owners Are Not Selling This Time
Condo sales are way down in North Kona and South Kohala, but a lot has changed since the 2009 downturn.
Is Your Home Worth a Million or More? Yes, for Over a Third of O‘ahu Homes
That's according to a report from real estate company Redfin, which includes both single-family houses and condos in the assessment.
Private Equity Helps Build Needed Housing in Hawai‘i
Affordable and workforce housing is costly and complicated to build. Developers depend on private investments to bring thousands of units to market.
The Pandemic’s Frenzy is Over, so Buyers Have Time to Study Homes and Bargain
Last month, single family homes typically took 47 days to sell. In February 2022, it was 13 days, and two years ago it was just nine.
Kaua‘i’s Habitat for Humanity Outbuilds Other Habitats in Hawai‘i. Here’s How They Do It.
The nonprofit erects 15 to 20 homes a year in batches, largely using the labor of volunteers and the eventual homeowners.
Decrease in Home Prices Varies by Area on O‘ahu
Kailua-Waimānalo’s median price fell only 3% in January, but Pearl City-ʻAiea’s was down 24%.
Tracking Hawai‘i Homeowners Who are Equity Rich or Seriously Underwater
It appears counterintuitive, but the number of people in each category has grown, according to a new report.
"It’s Not Quite as Doomsday as People Think"
Report from Hawaiʻi Life details the 2022 market for luxury real estate in the Islands and anticipates strong demand for $3 million-plus homes in 2023.
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.
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.
The Other Gender Gap Starts in Kindergarten
As boys fall farther behind in school, it’s time to seriously consider the benefits of “redshirting.”
Chason Ishii Walks the Talk of Bottom-Up Leadership, S2E6
The president of Atlas Insurance Agency has a local leadership style that empowers employees to deliver results and help the community.
