In July of this year President Bush signed a bill that Congress created to provde incentive for first-time homebuyers. Following are some of the basics. See if you qualify!

1. A maximum credit of $7,500 may be eligible to "first-time homebuyers",  which is defined as someone who has not had an ownership interest in a principal residence in the previous three years. The 3-year period is measured as the date of the purchase of the eligible principal residence.
2. There is an income restriction to qualify. If your Form 1040 filing status is Single, you are eligible for the credit if your income does not exceed $75,000. Joint returns may have income of no more than $150,000.
3.  Also, the credit is tied to the price of the home. It is for 10% of the cost of the home. The maximum allowed is $7,500, but if a home cost $65,000 then your credit would be $6,500.
4. The property must be located in the United States.
5. This tax incentive must be paid back, unlike other tax credits. If you are eligible and claim this credit on your tax return, then you must pay it back over the next 15 years. Payment amount will be 6.67% of the credit amount each year. For example, for the $7,500 credit you will repay $502.50 each year. There are no interest charges on outstanding balances.
6. If you sell your home before the 15-year repayment is complete, then it will be due in the year of the sale.
7. If there is no gain on the sale of the home, then the liability will be forgiven.
8. Go to Government Affairs Update for more information about this wonderful tax credit.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

Beach and Sunset Lovers, here is a great chance to own two fully rented duplexes in the excellent location of Maili - with mountain views! What’s more is that these duplexes are within walking distance to the beautiful Maili Beach Park. Listed at $685,000, 87622 Farrington Highway has eight bedrooms and four bathrooms totalling 3,722 square feet on 0.34 acres, which makes this a 15,000 square foot lot.

This single family’s property features include eight bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms and three open parking spaces. It comes partially furnished and is complete with fence. Located in the Leeward Area these single story duplexes were built in 1957 and have 3,722 square feet. They are single wall and have a slab foundation with a wood frame. The lot totals 15,000 square feet (0.34 acres) and has wonderful mountain views and gorgeous sunsets. Your elementary school is Maili, your Junior High School is Waianae and your High School is Waianae.

For more information about this Maili listing please contact John Riggins.

Honolulu’s Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International that utilizes local resources, comprised of volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of materials and money. The intent is to build quality houses for low-income families right here in Hawaii who would not have the opportunity to own a home without this help. Habitat Homes are sold to partnering families for around $85,000 with zero profit. The families pay them off with small monthly payments that cover insurance, taxes and the mortgage over a twenty-year period. This money is put into a revolving fund which is used to start construction for more homes. HHH has built 61 homes for families in need since the organization’s inception in 1998.

Many of HHH volunteers have found the experience so rewarding that they come back to help year after year. Families that have been chosen to receive a home are required to add a little bit of "sweat equity" of their own. They must spend at least 250 hours working to help build other Habitat Homes prior to working at least 250 hours on the construction of their own house. On August 23rd, Honolulu’s Habitat for Humanity is hosting a "Build-A-Thon", where volunteers will gather pledges to sponsor their work at a home-building site.

For more information about Kapolei Area Real Estate please contact John Riggins.

Come and view this three bedroom, one bathroom Single Family Property located at 84-643 Manuku Street in Waianae.

This Single Family Property is located in the Leeward area, Makaha neighborhood and has approximately 0.06 acres with a lot that boasts 2,600 square feet. Built in 1979 this Three Bedroom, One Bathroom Home has a hill/mountain view. It is single story with a carport and one open parking space. The interior features include ceiling fan, chandelier, dishwasher, disposal, microwave oven, range and oven, wall or window air conditioning, window treatments and will be sold partially furnished. It is part of the Makaha Elementary School District and the Junior High School and High School is Waianae. Exterior features include landscaping, wall/fence, while cable TV is available. The exterior construction is Single Wall, Wood Frame.  

For more information about this listing or other area properties please contact John Riggins.

It is unbelievable that this marvelously refurbished four bedroom and two and a half bathroom home is available in pre-foreclosure.  Located at 911011A Kanehoalani Street in Kapolei, it has a crisp, new paint job with 1,679 square feet on 0.07 acres. What is so special about this two-story house other than its large, fenced in backyard is that it is located within walking distance to the recreation center, parks and all Kapolei schools. Great gas savings; something to think about!!!! Please take note that there is also VA/FHA Financing Available. 

 This property has the following features:

• Located in Ewaplain neighborhood of Kapolei-Kekuilani
• House built in 1994
• Has a Family Room
• Garage
• 2 open parking spaces
• Ceramic tile floors
• Ceiling Fans
• Clothes dryer and Clothes washer
• Dishwasher and Microwave
• Range and Oven
• Split Air Conditioning
• Window Treatments
• Partially Furnished
• Lovely landscaping (see picture)
• Patio and Fence
• Cable TV available
• Concrete construction with Double wall and Slab Foundation with a Wood Frame 
• Hill/Mountain View

For more information on this listing please contact John Riggins.

Life does not get much better than this…A splendid two bedroom, two bathroom townhome is available for sale at 4919 Pepelani Lp in Princeville. It is listed at $585,000 and has a total of 1,607 square feet.

 Built in 2005, this single story townhome comes complete with two covered parking spaces, garage and central air conditioning. It is a corner unit with garden views. Unit has ceramic tile flooring, ceiling fans, clothes washer, dishwasher, disposal, range, oven, refrigerator, window treatments and cable TV is available.

 This showcase townhome is located in the Hanalei neighborhood and has a pool and recreation center, nearby golf courses, beaches and riding stables. Its Elementary school is Kilauea and Junior High School and High School is Kapaa.

For more information about this listing please contact John Riggins.

Come and see this lovely, shaded Noholoa Hale townhome at our Open House this Sunday, June 22 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. It’s location is 9420740 Noholoa Court, Unit 40.

This choice townhome with sunset view is listed at $400,000. Built in 1973 it has 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms and a total of 1,453 square feet. A ground floor unit in this planned development community is extremely desireable and rarely available.

The immaculate property will delight you with its bountiful shade trees and cool trade wind breezes in your own private fenced gardens.  Includes open upgraded kitchen, baths, slate flooring and attractive berber carpeting. Other property features are storage room, ceramic tile flooring, wall to wall carpeting, ceiling fans, chandeliers, clothes dryer, clothes washer, dishwasher, disposal, microwave, range, oven and refrigerator. It can be purchased partly or fully furnshed.

For more information about this listing please contact John Riggins

For anyone in the Ewa Beach area who owns a dog and loves to take him or her out for a bit of socializing and exercise…good news is on the horizon. Ever since the city gave 32,000 square feet at Ala Wai Neighborhood Park for an off-leash dog area and then borrowed the much-needed footage back to house sewer project equipment, dog owners have been waiting patiently for a solution.

The answer may come in the form of a temporary dog park, until the site the city is using for storage is free. The temporary park’s proposed site will be located behind the community gardens at Ala Wai Park. The Ala Wai K-9 Playground Association is offering to pay for fencing and other upgrades. Until this plan is finalized dogs are allowed to be on leash on the promenade that runs along the Ala Wai canal, which includes six feet of grass separating it from the canal and another grass strip which runs between that
and the community gardens. Even though this hardly qualifies as a "dog park", many people gather here nightly with their dogs.  

For more information about Hawaii Real Estate contact John Riggins.

Priced at $465,000 this home has a wonderful, spacious kitchen with cutting edge appliances - as well as an herb garden. Impress your guests with all of the great meals you will cook for them here! Come and see this property’s tidy, well-cared for tropical landcaping and large fenced in backyard.

Property Features:

• Approximately 1,288 square feet
• Family Room
• 2 Open parking spaces
• Garage
• Central Air Conditioning
• Storage Room
• Ceiling Fans
• Chandelier
• Elementary School is Ewa Beach, Junior High School is Ilima, High School is Campbell
• VA/FHA Financing Available

Built in 2004, this two-story, single-family property with hill/mountain view is located at
911077 Kaihi Street in Ewa Beach. To find out more detailed information and to view more photos
on this listing, click here.

 Contact John Riggins for more information about this listing.

Our featured new gem of a listing at $300,000 is a rare value which is available right away as it is vacant. This condo is a corner unit and has fabulous views of Pearl Harbor Diamond Head; garden, ocean, city and mountain/hill views abound. Living here will afford you the care free lifestyle you need which includes use of tennis court, community pool, sauna and steam room. Also included are two conveniently located, covered parking spaces. Read on to learn more about this listing’s loads of great features…

• Corner unit featuring stunning views

• Unit is Located in the stately Century Park Plaza Building

•  890 Square Foot Condominium built in 1984

•  2 Bedrooms, one of which is a huge master bedroom

•  2 Full Bathrooms

• Wall to Wall Carpeting and Vinyl Flooring Clothes Washer and Dryer

• Nice Kitchen with Security Features, Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Disposal, Range, Oven and Window treatments

• 2 Assigned Covered Parking Spaces, as well as 2 Open/Guest Parking Spaces

• Community Sauna/Steam Room and use of outdoor BBQ/Grill

• Cable TV available

• Pearl City Elementary Highlands Junior High School Pearl City High School

For more information about this listing please contact John Riggins