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During November 2009, Oahu's median home prices declined slightly to $590,000, down .7% from $594,500 in November 2008. Median condo and townhome prices INCREASED 1.2%, to $320,000 versus $316,200 in November 2008. Oahu Home Sales Volume Oahu had 249 single family home sales in November 2009, UP 46.5% from November 2008's 170 homes sold. The increase was more dramatic for Oahu's condos and townhomes. There were 407 sales in November 2009 versus 201 a year earlier - a 102.5% increase! Here's h... Read Full Post

Note the title to this blog is not "First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit." That's because the new credit allows for current homeowners to get in on this deal too. Current homeowners can get up to a $6,500 tax credit. Current homeowners must have lived in their current or former home for five out of the last eight years. The five years must have been consecutive (all in a row, not two years, move somewhere else for a year and then move back for three years). Basics and Details of the Homebuyer Tax... Read Full Post

12th Avenue Grill is located on a side street in the shopping area bordered by Koko Head Avenue, 12th Avenue, Waialae and Harding Avenues. Some common landmarks leading you to the spot are First Hawaiian Bank at the corner of Waialae and 12th Avenue and Verbano on Koko Head Avenue. Parking is primarily in the metered lot near the 12th Ave Grill. This restaurant opened in 2004 and features mostly american food with some Hawaiian style. Chef and owner Kevin Hanney has created a delicious menu. ... Read Full Post

During October 2009, Oahu's median home prices declined to $605,000, down 3.2% from October 2008's median of $632,000. Median condo and townhome prices fell 9.2%, to $295,000 versus $325,000 in October 2008. Oahu Home Sales Volume In October 2009 Oahu had 281 single family home sales, UP 15.6% from October 2008's 243 homes sold. For condos and townhomes, there were 381 sales in October 2009 versus 316 a year earlier. That's a healthy 20.5% increase in condos and townhomes sold. Here's how Oah... Read Full Post

Oahu's median home prices declined to $566,000, down 10.9% from August 2008's median of $635,000. Median condo and townhome prices fell too. The August 2009 median sale price was $290,000 versus $328,000 in August 2008, an 11.6% decline . Home Sales Volume on Oahu August 2009 had 247 single family home sales, down 3.1% from August 2008's 255 homes sold. For condos and townhomes, there were 351 sales in August 2009 versus 345 in August 2008. That's a 1.7% increase in properties sold. Here's ho... Read Full Post

We call it "Admissions Day" - on August 21, 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state! Over the course of this week, local newspapers have included special sections about statehood and there are some TV specials being aired. Today started like most any other day, except it's a state holiday. State offices were closed and most state workers got to spend time in the sun or at home relaxing. I was lucky enough to get a phone call, saying "surf's up" at Ala Moana and we headed to the beach for some waves... Read Full Post

Felicia was a tropical storm a week ago and became a category 3 hurricane on Wednesday the 5th of August. The following day Felicia got stronger and became a category 4 hurricane. By Saturday August 8th Felicia weakened to category 1. Today Felicia is downgraded to a tropical depression, which is good news because it's making its way through the Hawaiian islands! Local TV news shows the weather on the Big Island, with increased waves on the east side, rain and some wind. Forecasts are for mor... Read Full Post

We've been wondering what will happen to that partially finished condo in Honolulu. On July 3rd the developer made its announcement. KC Rainbow Development plans to sell the tower to an affiliate of San Diego-based OliverMcMillan, a California Development company. If everything goes well, construction on the 46-story building should resume by the end of 2009 and the project will be completed in 2011. KC Rainbow Development stopped work on the building at the end of 2008 as problems with obtai... Read Full Post

We all know someone who wants a fixer upper right? How about a fixer upper in Honolulu? I can't even recall the number of people who've told me they want a fixer upper in Honolulu. Well, here it is! This is a two story home on the hillside in Kalihi Valley. Total living area is approximately 1,670 square feet. The house has three bedrooms, one bath upstairs and two bedrooms, one bath downstairs. Upstairs there's a full kitchen and the downstairs has a kitchenette. Three lanais extend from the... Read Full Post

I met with a homeowner in Honolulu today, he's ready to sell and move somewhere else. As we walked around the house I saw this chameleon, colors going full blast on a sunny day. He stayed still long enough for me to get this closeup shot. Hawaii is a tropical place and you can find chameleons, geckos and all sorts of other critters. Most of them are not harmful. We don't have snakes and other life-threatening creatures to worry about. Just keep an eye out for centipedes and scorpions. We don'... Read Full Post