TripAdvisor.com has released the results of its latest survey of US travelers and pets, rating the best places to stay with your best friends. 61% of pet owners traveled with their pets last year, 33% often took them, and 5% always did.
For amenities in the pet-friendly lodgings, 44% cite designated green space for walking the pets as the most important feature of the hotel, and 16% look for on-site kennels or pet day care.
Read the full article at RISMedia.com. Here are the winners:
Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN
Hotel Monaco, Portland, OR
Affinia Durmont, NYC, NY
Argonaut Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Nine Zero Hotel, Boston, MA
Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO
Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ
Hotel Solamar, San Diego, CA
Sheraton Seattle, Seattle, WA
Loews Coronado Resort, Coronado, CA
While none of these is in Hawaii, where pet entry is complicated by our quarantine rules, realize once your pet does arrive in the Islands, you will find us as pet-friendly as any state in the country.
So, if you travel on the mainland, consider one of these hotels listed above. Better yet, plan ahead and bring your pet to Hawaii. You'll find resources and information on the pet page on my web site.
Barara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
Be sure and check out the senior page on my web site, for resource links and information about what's going on here on Oahu in senior housing.
One new development underway for Seniors is 15 Craigside, in Honolulu, and Hale KaLae will also attract seniors who have been living in single family homes.
Call or email me with your questions on possibly selling your Hawaii Kai home and moving into a more structured environment.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
Fannie Mae’s latest national housing survey finds that Americans are more confident about the stability of home prices than they were at the beginning of 2010, even though they lack confidence in the
strength of the economy, 78% of respondents believe housing prices will hold steady or increase over the next twelve months, up from 73% in January 2010; but almost two-thirds still believe the economy is on the wrong track, virtually unchanged (61%) from the beginning of last year.
Doug Duncan, Vice President and Chief Economist of Fannie Mae, said, “More Americans believe that housing prices will remain stable over the next year. We are also seeing encouraging signs in the positive attitudes toward homeownership among younger Americans, despite the severe impact of the housing crisis on Generation Y. But most respondents to our survey continue to lack confidence in the strength of the economic recovery, and they are less optimistic about their ability to buy a home in the years ahead. This sense of uncertainty is weighing on the housing recovery today and reshaping expectations for housing for the future.”
As reported by RISMedia.com, here are additional highlights of the survey:
"-Younger Americans, Hispanics and African-Americans are generally more positive about owning a home than the general population. 59% of Generation Y (ages 18-34) believes buying a home has a lot of potential as an investment, even though this age group suffered the steepest decline in homeownership during the housing crisis—from nearly 44% when home prices peaked to under 40% in 2009.
-More than 34% of Hispanics and African Americans (35%) say they will buy a home in the next three years, compared to only 23% of all other Americans.
-The percentage of Americans who believe that buying a home is a safe investment declined to 64% over the course of the year, from 70% in January 2010. This is down sharply from a similar survey conducted in December 2003, when 83% of the general population thought buying a home was a safe investment.
-During 2010, survey respondents increasingly expressed a strong belief that it will be harder for future generations to obtain a mortgage. 74% believe it will be harder to get a mortgage in the future, up from just over two-thirds at the beginning of 2010.
-One out of three delinquent borrowers continues to say they have considered defaulting on their mortgage. However, that number fell from 39% at the beginning of the year to 31% in the fourth quarter. The number of delinquent borrowers who say they have seriously considered defaulting has also declined, from 25% in January 2010 to 19%."
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
The Department of Education has approved a plan to redraw Hawaii Kai attendance boundaries to boost enrollment at Koko Head Elementary by about 150 students. The DOE had proposed closing either Koko Head or Kamiloiki. After public opposition to closing either of the high-performing schools, the DOE suggested redrawing the boundaries instead.
The students will be taken from the Aina Haina Elementary district, which is near capacity at 650 students. Students who live in Kuliouou will attend Koko Head, increasing the number enrolled there to about 425.
Kaiser complex Superintendent Calvin Nomiyama made the boundary change official for the 2011-12 school year. Current Aina Haina Elementary students who live in Kuliououm along with their siblings not yet in school, can remain at the school. Kuliouou students will be grandfathered in as long as their older siblings are still enrolled. He said the redistricting plan will save about $450,000.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
I've just finished and posted 2 new guides for your reference.
Read about the Greening of Oahu - the state's efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Read about Retiring on Oahu - is it for You? with good links to the state resources and questions you need to consider.
Visit my page for Guides and Reports to request a complete relocation package, or the 2 ones - and complete February market statistics.
Let me know if there is other information you feel would be helpful I can add to these reports.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
As our busy real estate season approaches, I decided it was time to offer a more comprehensive search engine on my site.
Be sure and try out the new MLS Search functions, where you can now save searches, set up various searches by filters, receive email notifications of new listings, and more. Here's the Search Page link.
I'd like your feedback, so I can make any changes necessary so the search works for you, the user.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
The real estate market on Oahu posted very positive numbers for the month of February.
Closed Sales, all properties, increased 13.1%
Closed Sales, single family homes, increased 2.3%
Closed Sales, condos, increased 20.9%
Single Family Market Overview, February 2010 to February, 2011
Closed Sales rose 2.3%, from 177 to 181
Days on Market increased 52.6%, from 38 to 58
Median Sales Price decreased 1%, from $575,500 to $570,000
Average Sales Price increased 2%, from $685,249 to $699,034
Housing Affordability Index rose 4.6%, from 65 to 67
Inventory of Homes decreased 9.7%, from 1545 to 1,395
Months Supply of Homes for Sale decreased 16.9%, from 6.5 months to 5.4
Single Family Market Overview, Year-to-Date 2010 to 2011
Closed Sales rose 7.0%, from 356 to 381
Days on Market increased 13.6%, from 41 to 46
Median Sales Price decreased 1.7%, from $580,000 to $570,000
Average Sales Price increased 2.3%, from $683,211 to $699,026
Housing Affordability Index rose 4.6%, from 65 to 67
Condo Market Overview, February 2010 to February, 2011
Closed Sales rose 20.9%, from 244 to 295
Days on Market increased 13.7%, from 51 to 58
Median Sales Price increased 7%, from $299,000 to $320,000
Average Sales Price increased 10.2%, from $356,520 to $392,714
Housing Affordability Index fell 2.5%, from 118 to 115
Inventory of Condos decreased 4.1%, from 2,014 to 1,931
Months Supply of Condos for Sale decreased 10.3%, from 6.3 months to 5.7
Condo Market Overview, Year-to-Date 2010 to 2011
Closed Sales rose 16.0%, from 486 to 564
Days on Market increased 33.8%, from 40 to 54
Median Sales Price increased 2.8%, from $299,000 to $307,500
Average Sales Price increased 1.9%, from $349,407 to $356,210
Housing Affordability Index fell 2.5%, from 118 to 15
A graph provided by the Honolulu Board of Realtors shows a steady increase in sales for the past 3 years, both in February and year-to-date, and for both single family homes and condos. Let me know if you would like a complete copy of the thorough statistical analysis of our Oahu real estate market. I can email you a .pdf file with charts and graphs.
For local knowledge, and sales in specific communities, call or email me. Oahu's real estate market is quite varied, from the water-centric homes of Hawaii Kai, to old Hawaiian historic homes in Manoa, to the new 2nd city of Kapolei. I'll be happy to do a market analysis of any area on Oahu for you.
Barbara Abe, Realtor
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
Both Single Family and Condo sales in Hawaii Kai were slow in February, with 7 home sales and 14 condos closed. This compares to 2010 with 7 home sales and 6 condo closings.
Single Family
The 7 sales ranged from $684,000 for a 3/1.5 in Koko Head Terrace to $1,600,000 for a 4/3.5 on a 10,613 SF lot in Kamehame Ridge.
There were 2 sales in Koko Head Terrace, and three of more than $1,000,000. These million-dollar sales were in NaPali Haweo, Spinnaker, and Kamehame Ridge.
Condos
The low sale was a FA unit in Mawaena Kai for $448,000, 3/2 with boat slip, main level. The high sale was $785,000 for a waterfront home in Koko Isle.
Of the 14 sales, 3 complexes had the highest number. Colony at the Peninsula, Kuapa Isle, and Lalea each had 2 sales.
Call or email me for information on any condo complex or neighborhood in Hawaii Kai. Each area is different and has its own sales history and amenities, so you need local expertise.
Barbara Abe
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
808-226-2537
A survey just released by
HomeGain.com, of 1,000 homeowners, which asked if they used a realtor or sold by owner (FSBO), showed 83% used a realtor. Of those, 59% were successful, vs only 39% of FSBOs, which is a 50% higher closing rate for sellers who used a professional realtor.
81% of those who did use a Realtor to try and sell said they would again in the future, and 88% who actually sold their homes using a Realtor said they would use a professional next time.
Of the FSBOs, 71% who were able to sell said they would do it again, instead of hiring a professional. But 24% of the FSBOs did eventually use a Realtor.
Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain, said It was striking that homeowners represented by Realtors fared so much better. Obviously, "The level of satisfaction in the home selling process is also higher for home sellers utilizing the services of a REALTOR® than those who try to sell their homes on their own," he stated.
Call or email me for a personalized market analysis of your Hawaii Kai property. Our peak selling season will be here soon, so if you want to sell in 2011, don't wait to start the process now.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com www.barbarashawaii.com www.movetohawaiikai.com
Tuesday, Feb. 22, the formal groundbreaking will begin the long-awaited Honolulu Rail system. projected to cost $5.5 billion. Sen Inoye has said he will do all he can to secure federal funding to help the project. The city's High Capacity Transit Corridor Project was listed under "pending full funding grant agreements" and was budgeted for $250 million of $1.55 billion sought by the city. Honolulu's rail is the second-largest item in Obama's list of pending full-funding agreements.
"It is encouraging that President Obama, a born-and-raised Honolulu man all too familiar with Oahu's traffic woes, is dedicated to helping create jobs and lessen Hawaii's dependence on imported oil by providing an affordable alternative to driving," Inouye said in a statement.
There are 21 stations in communities along the rail line, and city officials are ardently hoping for robust development along the corridor. Open grassy areas, park and ride stations, multi-family housing, Kapakahi Stream restoration, mini parks and retail plazas are all part of the city's vision for transit-oriented development, or TOD, along the rail route. Federal funding programs can be used for capital projects that support such development.
Negotiating with property owners is one of two actions the city was authorized to perform after the Federal Transit Administration issued its record of decision last month. The record of decision ended the environmental review, a process stalled last year by former Gov. Linda Lingle's desire to conduct a financial analysis of the project. The other action was the relocation of utilities, the reason for Tuesday's groundbreaking.
Local economist Paul Brewbaker.Brewbaker said history has shown that development has occurred depending on a community's method of transportation.
"Now you can't get to Waikiki from the freeway," Brewbaker said. "But what was life like a century ago? Most people lived in walking distance from the mill, the cannery, the school and from work. ... Part of the change involves the change in transportation technology itself.
"We're moving into a completely different world from this point forward. Speed matters, and overcoming congestion in order to create conglomerate economic activity is something we need to do to advance Honolulu into that future."
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
The numbers were very positive in January for Oahu real estate sales, compared to January, 2010: +10.2% change in closed sales all properties; +11.2% change in closed sales single family; +9.5% change in closed sales condos.
Single Family (as compared with January, 2010)
Pending sales increased 21.2%
Closed sales increased 11.2% (179 ro 199)
Days on Marked decreased 11.6% (43 to 38)
Average Sales Price increased 2.8% to $700,055
Median Sales Price decreased 4.2% to $570,000
Housing Affordability Index increased 11.2%
Inventory of Homes decreased 3.5%
Months Supply of Homes for Sale decreased 11.9%
While this means buyers had better start looking and get pre-approved now, the statistics are good for sellers who have been trying, or wanted, to sell the last couple of years, and for the overall health of the Oahu real estate market.
Condos (as compared with January, 2010)
Pending sales increased 53.2%
Closed sales incrased 9.5% (242 to 265)
Days on market increased 36.1% (36 to 49)
Average Sales Price decreased 7.4% to $316,802
Median Sales Price decreased 2.7% to $291,000
Housing Affordability Index increased 9.2%
Inventory of Condos for sale increased 1.1%
Months Supply of Condos for Sale decreased 4.3%
The condo numbers are more mixed than those for single family homes. While sales are up, days on market and inventory are also up, so there is no clear trend that supply is yielding yet to demand.
Overall trends for both single-family homes and condos are up.
In 2009, 114 single-family homes closed in January; in 2010, 179; and in 2011, 199.
For condos, in 2009, 145 units closed in January; in 2010, 242; and in 2011, 265.
Median sales prices are not quite as linear.
In 2009, median price for single-family home sales in January was $532,500; in 2010, $595,000; and in 2011, $570,000.
In 2009, median price for condo sales in January was $302,500; in 2010, $299,000; and in 2011, $291,000.
I've already reported on the real estate statistics for Hawaii Kai in January. Please read my earlier blog post. If you have questions on any other specific community or neighborhood on the island, just call or email. I'll be happy to give you a thorough market analysis of any area.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
7 homes sold in January in Hawaii Kai, ranging from $695,000 for a Cottages unit in the Peninsula, to $5,750,000 for a stunning view home on Poipu in Triangle. The Cottages unit was a 3/2 built in 2002, seling in only 5 days on market. The Poipu home was very large, 6500 SF interior with outside living area of an additional 1,537 SF. Built in 2010, it had 6 bedrooms, 5 full/2 half baths, pool, on a land area of almost ½ acre. It sold in 145 days on market. Three sales in January were over $1,000,000, two in Triangle, and one in NaPali Haweo.
These numbers compare to January, 2010 when 10 homes closed, ranging from $704,000 in Mariners Valley to $1,125,000 in Triangle. In that month last year, there were 5 sales over $1,000,000.
For condos, 12 units sold, ranging from a LH unit in Mawena Kai at $359,900 to a waterfront end unit in Peninsula, for $800,000. The Mawaena Kai unit (fees are available there) was 2/2, 1,012 SF, on the lower level opening directly to the marina, and included a deeded boat dock. The condo was bank-owned. The townhouse cottage in Peninsula was built in 3/2.5, 1,328 SF, and sold in 64 days on market.
The condo sales compare to 15 in January, 2010, which ranged from $360,000 in the Mauna Luan to $738,000 in the Peninsula.
Call or email me for detailed statistics on your special neighborhood.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
After initially intending to close either Kamiloiki or Koko Head Elementary schools, the School Board has proposed to change the Hawaii Kai attendance areas in order to boost enrollment at the 2 schools. The idea won widespread support at a public meeting of the Board of Education.
The plan would redraw boundaries that determine which school a student attends based on home address. Aina Haina Elementary's enrollment would drop by about 150 students, who would be "redistricted" to one of the Hawaii Kai schools. The potential savings would be $250,000/year, compared to $360,000 for a consolidation.
If you have an interest, the public meeting will be held Feb 16, 6 PM, at Kaiser High, in the cafeteria.
If approved by Kaiser complex-area Superintendent Calvin Nomiyama, the new areas would be effective in the comming school year, and students at all three schools would be grandfathered in their respective schools. Siblings of students not yet enrolled could apply for a geographic exception.
Every elementary school in the Kaiser complex is under capacity, but Aina Haina is just nine students away from reaching its maximum ideal enrollment.
Barbara Abe
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
www.activerain.com/blogs/abeb
www.barbarashawaii.blogspot.com
Trulia.com's latest Buy vs Rent report states that in 72% of the 50 largest US cities, it is more affordable to buy than to rent a 2-bedroom home. In only 4 of the major cities, New York, Seattle, Kansas City, and San Francisco, is it more expensive to buy.
Honolulu ranked #18 on the list, with a rent:::buy atio of 13. According to Jenny Quill, in HonoluluMagazine.com's Real Estate blog, "The ratio is determined by comparing the median list price with the median rent..Trulia determined Honolulu’s list price to be between $400,000 and $500,000 by calculating the median list price for two-bedroom apartments, condos and townhomes that were listed on Trulia.com. Now, that number differs from those released in the Honolulu Board of Realtors’ 2010 resale statistics, which lists the median sales price for condominiums at $305,000. However, keep in mind that this figure includes studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms and up.
"The company then determined the median annualized rent for two-bedroom apartments, condos and townhomes in Honolulu to be between $3,000 and $3,500, based, again, on listings pulled from its site. Now, according to data I received from Prudential Locations, the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment on Oahu in the second quarter of 2010 was $1,495. The most expensive neighborhoods for two-bedroom rentals—Hawaii Kai/Portlock, Kahala and Diamond Head—rented for between $2,150 and $3,150. So, Trulia’s $3,000 to $3,500 range seems high to me.
"Additional factors that were taken into account when determining the buy-to-rent ratio include the unemployment rate (5.4%), foreclosure rate (.07%) and percentage of job growth (.8%). "
My own take on this data is that there probably are many areas on Oahu where it is at least as affordable to buy as to rent, but on the other hand, many where it is not. Our community variations in real estate values on the island are extremely large. The conclusions Trulia reached were based on listings in its own database, which probably are not (at least as much as our own MLS) entirely representative of the island.
So - if you want to know values in your own neighborhood, just call or email me and let's talk about whether or not you can become a homeowner and stop paying rent to your landlord.
Barbara Abe, Realtor
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales rose sharply in December, and sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months.
Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 12.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million in December from an upwardly revised 4.70 million in November, but remain 2.9% below the 5.44 million pace in December 2009.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said sales are on an uptrend. "December was a good finish to 2010, when sales fluctuated more than normal. The pattern over the past six months is clearly showing a recovery," he said. "The December pace is near the volume we're expecting for 2011, so the market is getting much closer to an adequate, sustainable level. The recovery will likely continue as job growth gains momentum and rising rents encourage more renters into ownership while exceptional affordability conditions remain."
Total housing inventory at the end of December fell 4.2 percent to 3.56 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.1-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 9.5-month supply in November.
A survey of Realtors across the country showed 33% of sales were by first-time buyers, 20% by investors, and the balance to resale buyers. All cash sales were 29% of the total, up from 22% a year ago. Both single family and condo sales increased in number over November, 2010.
If you are interested in selling your home in Hawaii Kai, or buying, call or email me now. Our market has started back up.
Barbara Abe, Realtor
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.blogspot.com