Barbara Abe, Your Hawaii Kai Realtor

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 ...

New, naturally formed beach land above the high-water mark in Hawaii belongs to the public, not adjoining property owners, the Intermediate Court of Appeals has concluded.  The court upheld provisions of a 2003 law that declared that future land formed through accretion belonged to the state. The judges said, however, that oceanfront private ...

With the City Council's passage Tuesday of Bill 09-51, owners of property on O'ahu who don't live on their land — including most residential and commercial landlords — are probably in for some major tax hikes. Those increases, the critics say, will be passed on to everyone. Deputy Budget Director Mark Oto said it's ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today launched a new website (http://makinghomeaffordable.gov) for consumers seeking information about the Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable loan modification and refinancing program. MakingHomeAffordable.gov offers features including ...

We don't have heating bills in Hawaii Kai, but still can save on our energy costs, and some of the newer homes do have air conditioning.  Here are some suggestions to bring green ideas into your home. Toilets, showers, and faucets account for 60% of water usage in the home.  Replace these items with more efficient models and save up ...

A recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser quoted Linda Nakamura of First Hawaiian Bank, who described the Hawaii banks' position toward lending, "We have a relationship with our community and a vested interest in its sustainability." Even though the number and rate of foreclosures has increased in our state, they are still far ...

This advice from a friend of a friend, Virumandi P, can be applied to our real estate lives as well as our personal relationships.  Too often Realtors become involved in "getting the best deal" and "negotiating" and yes, even "winning."  Real estate in Hawaii, and smaller niche communities like Hawaii Kai, ...