If you want to buy an Oahu foreclosure property it is of the utmost importance to know what you are doing.  No matter how inexpensive the property is, Oahu real estate is still a big investment and a big responsibility, so do your research, be aware of the downsides, and know the procedure of buying foreclosure real estate.

The term “deal” is all relative.  It is easy to hear of people buying property for little to nothing but we all know that nothing that inexpensive comes easy.  Buying a foreclosed property at an auction for $1 or $100,000 sounds good but the property may come with additional fees, maintenance and problems that are not mentioned or advertised.

A couple of real issues that may arise when buying foreclosed property on Oahu include:

• association fees that may have to be paid by state law, in Hawaii up to 36 months in association fees must be paid by the buyer of foreclosed property.
• major issues with the home that are not able to be seen without an inspection, (broken pipes, faulty wiring, termites, etc.).

Buying foreclosed property at an auction can be a great investment but it can also be similar to throwing money into a sinking ship.  The old saying “something too good to be true” should constantly be in your head.

Call me today and I can help you find out what you can about any particular property by looking at it with you, talking with people who know more about the Oahu property in question, checking on the county records and any other resource I can locate.  I have experience with buying and selling distressed property and working with me could help save you quite a bit of trouble.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Oahu real estate appears to be strong when compared with the rest of the country.  News for national real estate sales data has been a bit bleak in the past week, which makes the rather steady data for Oahu real estate look even more positive.  July data was very comparable compared with a year ago, while sales may have dropped a bit in July compared with June, the low mortgage rates are helping to create an ideal buying climate on Oahu.

Recent news for Oahu is definitely more positive as well.  Oahu is seen as leading the recovery for Hawaii’s economy as tourism figures strengthen and employment numbers improve.  For those who have a steady source of income, good credit and enough money saved for a down payment, it is a great time to look at buying a home on Oahu.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Oahu real estate sales data is showing stability.  According to the Honolulu Board of Realtors, July showed a stable housing market for real estate sales.  Single family home sales on Oahu were up just under 1% in volume and up 1.7% in value.  The low mortgage rates appear to be helping real estate sales across the country as the housing market shores up its modest recovery.

In addition to the quantity of homes sold on Oahu and home values, the average days that Oahu properties are on the market has dropped to 39 days for single family homes and 36 days for condominiums.  These are relatively short amounts of time to be on the market.

Oahu real estate has something special going for it, an incredible quality of life that will always be desirable.  If you would like to learn more about Oahu real estate please contact me today.  I pride myself on staying on top of the real estate market and can share my knowledge and experience with you to make your Oahu real estate search both educated and informed.

Click here to read the most recent report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

There is good news for Honolulu business owners, small businesses are selling for more.  According to a recent article in the Pacific Business News small businesses on Oahu are gaining in value.  The recent recession had prices for businesses drop some 20% in price and new data shows that prices are climbing back.

While Oahu real estate continues to improve, the values of small businesses gaining ground is positive news and great for the local economy.  While small steps hardly equate to massive improvements the slow and steady progress seems like a good place to be.  It was the rapid, unrealistic growth in the real estate market that led to a national boom and bust and this time around small steps will do just fine.

Click here to read the article from Pacific Business News.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

It is a great time to look at Oahu luxury real estate, the jumbo loan interest rate has recently dropped.  The current rate for jumbo loan (a loan of more than $729,750) is 5.48%, whereas a year ago the rate for a jumbo loan was over 6.8%.   The interest rate for a jumbo loan is hovering at the same level as a traditional 30 year fixed rate mortgage. High end home buyers on Oahu stand to gain a great deal from these new low rates.

The current state of the economy has made purchasing Oahu luxury real estate much more affordable than in recent years.  The new low interest rates can save a home owner thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a loan, adding to the affordability level.

If you are interested in looking at luxury real estate on Oahu please contact me today.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Oahu real estate is holding its own.  Nationally loan applications appear to be on the increase.  Mortgage applications increased last week by over 7%.  This was a large number in such a shaky global economic climate.  When it comes to acquiring a loan to purchase or refinance or purchase Oahu real estate, mortgage rates have never been more affordable and do not appear to be heading up any time soon.

Mortgage rates for a 30 year fixed rate loan are hovering at just above 4.5%, for those with good credit.  If you are looking for a new home in Kapolei there could not be a better time to buy.  If you plan on staying in your next home you have the most to gain, saving thousands over the life of a loan with rates this low.

Please contact me today to discuss the Oahu real estate market.  I can help educate you on what is going on in Kapolei and find the information that you are searching for.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Honolulu real estate sales continue to be strong.  A press release from the Honolulu Board of Realtors that came out on July 7th shows that there were 285 single family homes on Oahu that were sold in June, up over 8% from June 2009.  There were 396 condominiums sold on Oahu in June, up over 35% from June 2009.  The days that Oahu properties are on the market are also lower than a year ago, indicating that real estate is moving.

While the United States continues on its rocky road to recovery, it is heartening news to see that Oahu real estate is stabilizing and recovering. Sales volume is increasing and will most likely continue to do so while mortgage levels remain at historic lows.

It is a great time to purchase a Kapolei home.  If you are interested in looking at Kapolei real estate, or property anywhere on Oahu, contact me today.

Click here to read the most recent press release from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

If you are looking for a way to finance a remodel for your Kapolei home, look into acquiring a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).  A HELOC is an account set up and borrowed against your Kapolei home and is one of the least expensive ways to borrow money.  With a HELOC you withdraw what you need without having to take out the full amount of the loan that you qualified for.

A HELOC is more affordable than a traditional loan because that the monthly payments are interest only and reflect only the amount spent, not the full amount available to borrow.  The payments are typically anywhere from .75 to 1.5 interest on top of the prime interest rate, which is currently about 3.25%.

If you have equity in your Kapolei real estate and good credit, a HELOC might be your best option for borrowing money for your remodel, education expenses or travel.   A HELOC can come in handy when trying to sell your Oahu property, as it can allow the funds to spruce it up so that it looks its best when it hots the market.  Contact your local bank to find out more about a HELOC and what it can do for you.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

In today’s competitive Oahu real estate market it is more important than ever to be armed with information when selling your home.  There are a few key ingredients to a successful sale and, while it is possible to go it alone, using an experienced Oahu Realtor can help make the process run more smoothly and succeed.

One of the first details in selling an Oahu home is pricing it right.  It is a competitive market out there and pricing a home too high can hinder its sale.  A comparative market analysis (CMA) will examine what price per square foot Oahu property has been selling for, as well as look at specific neighborhoods and similar properties.  A CMA offers the best look at pricing an Oahu property fairly.  Pricing a property too high could turn some real estate professionals away and limit the number of showings.

It is also very important to prepare your Oahu real estate for sale.  The better it looks the more likely it is to attract a prospective buyer.  Making necessary repairs ahead of time can reduce contractual problems that could occur down the line.

Contact me today for a free consultation on how to best sell your home.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

There are short sale opportunities on Oahu.  A short sale is when a home owner sells a home for less than is owed on it.  The transaction gets tricky because the lender has to approve of the sale and the seller has very little say in what the Oahu home ends up selling for.

In a period of economic upheaval short sales have created an opportunity for some Oahu real estate investors to purchase homes at great prices.  The typical Oahu short sale can be a lengthy and complicated process and the entire experience is much easier if a Realtor with short sale experience is used.

A certified distressed property expert (CDPE) can help guide a potential home buyer through the short sale process and make a complicated experience easier.  Give me a call today, as a CDPE I can help you locate the ideal short sale property and see your purchase through to fruition.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.