Honolulu County Real Estate Housing Market Numbers Are Out for JUNE 2009 ! 

In the previous two posts on Year to Date Honolulu County Housing Market Statistics I showed you the reality from 2008 to 2009 where numbers and sales prices showed a decrease. Looking at the following housing market numbers and sales prices from May to June 2009 we now are showing a little increase in activity and sales prices.

Single Family Home Resales Numbers:  The June 2009 sales numbers are starting to climb at 254 Single Family Home sold in the month of June compared to 225 in May of 2009. An increase of 29 sales compared to May 2009 in number of sales for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County)

Single Family Home Average Sales Prices:  Our Honolulu County Resales for Single Family homes showe an increase in sales prices for the past one month time period. A $19,000 increase in Average Sales Price for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County). and a 3.5% increase in a one month period! 

Condo/Townhouse Resale Numbers:  Our Honolulu Real Estate Housing Market sales numbers have increased in the past month from 263 to 293 sold units. An increase of 30 solds in a one month period!

Condo Average Sales Prices:  The Year to Date sales prices shows an increase of 1.6% from $305,000 to $310,000 for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County). 

Could this be a turn around for our market now?  We're hoping so. Business has picked up for all, interest rates are seemingly up and down and inventory slowly going down in all neighborhoods. If your situation and circumstances allow....it just may be your time to buy and also utilize that $8,000 first time home buyer credit this year.

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Honolulu County Real Estate  Numbers Are Out! 

Condo/Townhouse Resale Numbers:  The Year to Date sales numbers for condos/townhouse significantly decreased since 2008 for the same YTD time period. A -778 decrease in number sales for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) or -36.1% drop. 

Condo Average Sales Prices:  The Year to Date sales prices shows a decrease from 2008 sales prices for the same YTD time period. An -11.9% drop in sales prices for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County). 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) inclujding all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com 

Honolulu County Real Estate  Numbers Are Out! 

Single Family Home Resales Numbers:  The Year to Date sales numbers are starting to climb and are just under the 2008 sales numbers for the same YTD time period. A -306 decrease in number sales for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) or -21.7% drop. 

Single Family Home Average Sales Prices:  The Year to Date sales prices shows a decrease from 2008 sales prices for the same YTD time period. A significant -14.9% drop in sales prices for the island of Oahu (Honolulu County). 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) inclujding all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com 

I've seen some talented individuals in my time but these 12 girls (actually thirteen) known as the 12 Girl Band were selected by audition of over 4,000 participants to form the band in 2001. Playing traditional Chinese instruments to play Chinese and Western songs these women were trained (classically) and came from conservatories in the People's Republic of China.

Sharing a big piece of these wonderful artists with you....

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

I'm not talking about free time to goof off. I'm sure we all can make time for that. Though many of us have felt the ripple effect of the current economy and the housing market taking a turn, the ups and downs and all arounds; many of us have found ways to accommodate our living styles or at the very least ways to pay the bills.

I am a survivor.

As always, I believe success is determined by the goals each individual sets for themselves and does not necessarily mean the amount of money, fame, sales, numbers one has over another. It's balancing everything before me and still keeping above water.

It's the quality of my relationships is what this professional is worth.

When times have been slow for me I manage to MAKE SURE I am constantly ‘working' to feel financially secure besides sales as a Realtor Associate® for Century 21 Liberty Homes AND working my part time in our office for the past five ½ years.

Am I too good to do other ‘jobs'?

Heck no!

• I assist another agent in our office with his files (I like paperwork, he doesn't J) even if I'm busy with sales - for the extra money.
• I co- list properties (I do the marketing and paperwork, they do Open Houses) and split it with the other agent.
• I continue to keep up to date with ‘refreshing' my online presence.
• I continue to progress in education, tech skills and anything I can do improve
• Follow up with any and all contacts, emails and referrals.
• Do things I neglected when I was constantly busy.

Flapping the lips means nothing if there is no action.

Too much puffing ain't nothing but a thang.

I'm busy.

All Loan Officers and Real Estate Agents in Hawaii were given a memo (it was released on May 19th) that Hawaii VA Loan Appraisals are taking longer now due to . The memo from the Head of VA Home Loans here on Oahu made sure to stress that on Oahu (Honolulu County) the VA Home Loan Appraisal are taking UP TO Five...yes, 5 weeks to complete.

With Hawaii VA Home Loan Appraisals in Honolulu Country taking much longer than usual (based on the amount of home loans in progress) it is definitely placing a burden on all involved in the Real Estate Home Buying Process for the Veteran:

• Military Personnel who are transferring to Hawaii obviously stay in a hotel until they acquire housing.  An appraisal taking up to five weeks can delay the transaction from 30 days to 60 days or more. 
• Veterans who are utilizing their VA Home Loan Guaranty get discouraged when they see the rest of the transaction is moving swiftly ....but being held up just for the appraisal.
• The loan officer, real estate agent, escrow are put on hold waiting for an appraisal. The rest of the 'team' who are working together to get the transaction done are stuck in limbo.

You see, our Hawaii Real Estate Transaction Process is quite different than a lot of other states and it also includes the buyer and seller signing all loan and escrow documents at different times. We all don't sit down at the same time to sign documents and we do not hand over keys right then and there.

After signing all loan and escrow documents we still have to wait for up to 3 days for the loan company to fund the monies to escrow. AFTER escrow receives the monies then, and only then, can escrow file the conveyance documents with the Bureau of Conveyances which recorded the morning after.  

Now, we have another damper on our Hawaii Real Estate transactions. Since our Governor 'had to balance our budget' she ordered that State Offices will close three Fridays of every month (no pay but better than 10000 jobs lost).

The Bureau of Conveyances says it's now TWO days for processing documents for recordation.

With all the delays for appraisals and recording documents I'm starting to believe that it's a test to show the seriousness on everyones part.

The buyer who is really wanting to purchase property, the seller who needs to sell to relocate, the real estate industry professionals who are REALLY thinking in their clients best interest.

Talk about cleaning house.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

Watching the National News tonight there were ongoing stories about Michael Jackson. What will happen to the children? A Music Legacy! The Dancing Moves! And then the heart wrenching realization that this talented individual was not really happy.

Some people misinterpret what success is all about. 

Quincy Jones spoke of his professional and personal interactions with Michael Jackson and the most profound part of the interview (to me) was not about the dance moves, the singing, the children and beyond. He spoke about the resistance to success, not being able to handle that success due to not having a serious and grounded approach towards life.

Quincy goes on to say:

You have to be spiritually grounded and you are really a terminal for a higher power,

And if you don't understand that, you know, it can be very complicated.

And.....I've seen a lot of people misinterpret what success is all about.

POWERFUL WORDS and an insight into the true meaning of handling success and being successful. I have written many a story on success starts from the inside out. It seems pretty straighforward to me...now.

I know what it means to have a serious and grounded approach towards life and the meaning of being a terminal for a higher power. I can feel it and it shines from the inside of me to the outside. That success can't be bought and it can only be fulfilled by ......ME.

What is all the outside of me stuff worth...if I feel not me?

Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers | Etiquette for Open Houses

Our Open Houses on Oahu (Honolulu County) are still a great way to preview a property. Maybe your Realtor®  is unable to attend with you (the Home Buyer) due to previous appointments or holding an Open House themselves. It's also a great way for the neighbor to do a ‘quiet observation' of the agent holding the Open House to see if they might possibly ‘hire' that agent and brokerage firm in the sale of their home.

It's all relevant when it comes to Hawaii Open Houses and Honolulu Real Estate Tips.

1. Make sure you've already been prequalified with a lender so you're looking in the correct price range. Be realistic in your home search and price range lest you waste your time.  If you have a Realtor® then you have already been instructed to go through that process.
2. Please don't be rude to the agent holding the Open House. You are there as a guest in someone's home and will be courteous and polite to the one holding the Open House.
3. Please remove your shoes unless otherwise instructed. In Hawaii, we take off our shoes not matter whose home it is. Open Houses are no different. Again, you are a guest in the seller's home and they most likely have already prepared the home with carpet cleaning and so forth.  Wear slip on/off shoes/sandals.
4. Please hold on to your children. Letting your children run rampant around a beautiful home is not how you show respect to the owner of the home and being a good example as a guest. The home is not a playground for all of you to pass the time on a Sunday.
5. Please sign in the guest book. If you have a Realtor® make sure you have your agent's business card on hand (get a bunch from your agent) to give to the agent holding the Open House.  It will also help the Open House Realtor® follow up with your Realtor®.  No matter what, you all are a guest in the home so please do the agent a courtesy and sign in.
6. Make notes of your own observations. This will help you with your home search regardless if you are just going to Open Houses or showing appointments with your Realtor®.  A list of wants and needs before you start your home search is another good tip.
7. If you walk into an Open House and REALLY feel that this is the right home for you. Call your Realtor® immediately and put in that offer! The inventory on Oahu is going down and if you try to be a killer negotiator or sit on the fence that home will be gone!
8. Remember, the seller's agent who is holding the Open House has the Seller's best interests at heart.  A lot of home buyer's "believe" that they are going to "get a better deal" if they deal with the seller's agent directly.  The truth is that you are best represented by having your own agent (buyer's representative or buyer's agent) who know the real estate contract and laws. Your OWN agent is your most valuable negotiating tool and bargaining power for your home buying process.
9. A company sign for an Open House means they have a listing contract in place. It means they have a legal contract in place and you are not going to negotiate terms between seller and brokerage firm to get a better deal.   
10. Please don't touch the items in the home. Again, you are a guest in the seller's home and you are there to preview the property. You are NOT there to try and figure out what the seller does for a living and their personal history nor allowed to touch things that don't belong to you.

These may seem like common sense tips for most although many may benefit from one or more of these tips.

 Please be respectful and courteous while attending an Open House.

YOU ARE A GUEST.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com