Helping real estate professionals help their clients in Hawaii - 04/27/09 09:09 PM
Last year the legislature here in Hawaii passed the now-infamous "Act 137" in a well-intentioned move to protect consumers from predatory wolves wearing the sheep's clothing of a distressed property consultant.  Unfortunately, the language in the Act was so broad that in the course of trying to assist clients in a short sale transaction...or even in a sale in which the seller was behind on homeowner association dues...an agent would fall under the definition and suddenly be faced with an entirely different set of contracts.  Of course the advice from our attorneys was to steer clear of such transactions, but the … (0 comments)

A New Library for North Kohala - 04/24/09 06:45 PM

 
Did you know that if you are a part-time resident of Hawai'i, you can take advantage of the Non-Resident Library Card which only differs from a resident's card in that it costs $25,?  If you are here for regular or extended visits, considerr a Visitors Card (good for three months) for $10. Once you have your card it is simple to use the on-line catalog to request books from anywhere in the Hawaii system--or just go to the local library to browse the wonderful collection of Hawaiian cultural resources. Maybe rent a DVD of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival … (0 comments)

Talking Trash in Hawi Hawaii - 04/22/09 12:14 PM
Earth Day has grown into Earth month here on the Big Island.  When you live on an island thousands of miles away from the nearest continent, the impact of human decisions on the environment is perhaps more obvious than someplace where land is plentiful.
In the district of North Kohala on the thumb tip of Hawaii Island, we feel perhaps even more isolated and more conscious of the impacts.  Perhaps that is why the annual Trash Bash has grown over the past three years into a major community and tourist event.
On Saturday last week, members of the Merchants Association (essentially … (2 comments)

Ocean Views above Hawi - 04/21/09 06:43 PM
Previewed this new listing last week, and it is scheduled for an open house tomorrow, April 22nd, from 9 am - 11am.  The listing agent probably heard that we had a sunny weekend for the Earth Day/Trash Bash events, and is gnashing his teeth at the rain that moved in last night.

You see, this house is oriented around stunning unobstructed views of the ocean, which I notice have yet to be captured for the MLS listing.
My favorite features of this home (besides the view!)
Master Bedroom on the opposite side of the house from guest bedrooms. Large deck … (0 comments)

Where to find North Kohala News and Events - 04/21/09 04:22 PM
We've been blessed to have a volunteer create and maintain an email list for the past few years so that notices of community events, volunteer opportunities, educational offerings, legislative updates and other news of interest to residents of North Kohala (Hawi area).  Now they've passed the baton and the new version of the Kohala News has a website and a link so that you too can subscribe to the e-newsletter.

We also are fortunate to have a monthly newspaper with in-depth coverage of community events and issues, as well as features on Kohala history and personalities.  The Kohala Mountain News … (0 comments)

First Foreclosure at Beachfront Kolea Condominiums - 04/10/09 04:42 PM
There are few condos on the Kohala Coast with their own private path to the beach.  Most of that prime real estate is taken by luxury single family homes with multi-million dollar price tags.  Kolea at the Waikoloa Beach Resort is unique in that the front row of this gated community has 17 single family home sites (about half with homes on them in the $7 million range) and beautifully constructed condominiums behind them.  The best priced condos don't have views of the beach, but who needs the view when you can enjoy it all day from the beach, pool and … (0 comments)

Another huge price reduction at Mauna Kea Resort - 04/08/09 03:50 PM
A 6-bedroom ocean view home at Mauna Kea Fairways South, originally listed for $4.7 million, has just been reduced to $2.5 million.  Put this in the category of "best buy" on a luxury property in a rarely-available neighborhood within the Mauna Kea resort. This is not my listing, but our office sold a similar property a year ago for $4.2 million, so this price reduction caught my eye.  The property has some deferred maintenance, but the price includes all furnishings.  The bones of the house are great, designed by architect George Heneghan to take advantage oflocation and views.

The property … (0 comments)

The Wisdom of Sustainability - on Maui April 20th - 04/05/09 05:42 PM
Often when I'm visiting another island I like to partake of cultural events.  Not all art exhibitions, lecturers and performers make it to the Big Island during their stay. One of my favorite venues in Hawaii is the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, which is not far from the airport in Kahului.
Here in Hawaii we feel a certain vulnerability due to our isolation, and so sustainability is a hot topic, especially as we look for economic diversification (beyond tourism) in tough economic times.  If you are on Maui this month, here's an event you might want to check out:
The … (5 comments)

Own a House in Pahoa Hawaii for $101 - 04/05/09 05:11 PM
Frustrated with conventional methods of getting homes sold in the current market, the owners of the Castle in Hawaii B&B in the lush Puna district on the Big Island decided to offer their newly built "sweetheart cottage" as the prize in an essay contest.  The entry fee is $101 and each essay must be 101 words or less.  The topics must be either aloha or mahalo:
Aloha: What does Aloha mean to you? How do you share Aloha? How would you share Aloha if you won this home?
Mahalo: What makes you feel thankful? Why would you be thankful to … (7 comments)

Halii Kai Oceanfront Foreclosure Reduced Again - 04/03/09 07:52 PM
Can't believe this Halii Kai direct oceanfront foreclosure hasn't sold yet! 
Reduced about five minutes ago to $867,000, this 2BR/2BA 1300 sq ft condo sold to the original buyers in 2007 for $1,653,250.  The most recent oceanfront condo sale, my listing Halii Kai 15F, sold in November for $2,050,000.  It was a larger, 3-bedroom floorplan...but the comparison of $1,222/sq ft furnished for that one versus $658/sq ft for this foreclosure makes this a true buy.  There are only three buildings directly on the oceanfront at Halii Kai, only six villas of each floorplan. 
I've shown this as recently as last weekend.  … (0 comments)

Kohala Coast Resort Condo Sales - Developers lead by 2:1 - 04/03/09 05:39 PM
As Easter weekend approaches, we enter the home stretch of the winter "high season" for tourism in Hawaii, and consequently for resort real estate sales on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.  The condo market has been far from "dead" -- but the news has also not been good for sellers of properties on the resale market.  Here are the statistics as of today.

In the Waikoloa Beach, Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea resorts, a total of 11 condos have closed so far this year (that's 9 per the MLS and 2 developer sales not reported).  Of those 11, all but … (0 comments)

Future Retirement in Hawaii: Buy or Build - 04/02/09 07:08 PM
I blogged over on AlohaLiving about the recently released NAR survey of second home buyers.  Although nationwide the respondents indicated that 30% of them plan to use the second home as their retirement home, in my experience that is true of an even higher percentage of buyers looking at real estate here on the Big Island of Hawaii today.  I'm surprised how many people for whom retirement is 10 years out are looking for property today. They are savvy enough to know that the real estate market offers them an opportunity that might not be there closer to their anticipated retirement … (0 comments)

Half Price Sale on Homes at Mauna Kea Resort - 04/01/09 07:40 PM
The word went out quietly via a price sheet emailed Friday March 27th. So quietly many of us didn't bother to open the attachment right away.  When I saw six price reductions and six sales flash across the MLS at 7:30 am this morning, at first I wondered if it might be an April Fool's prank.
It wasn't.
My title is a bit misleading, as these brand-new homes weren't quite half priced, but 30-40% off is still jaw-dropping.

Wai'ula'ula  at the Mauna Kea Resort has four-plex condos, duplex homes (my favorite floorplan), and single family residences.  The underlying quality of … (1 comments)

 
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Beth Thoma Robinson R(B) SFR - Hawaii Island Luxury Resort Real Estate

Beth Thoma Robinson R(B)

Hawi, HI

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Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers Big Island

Address: Hawi, Kapaau, North Kohala, Kohala Ranch, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, Waikoloa Beach, Hualalai, Kukio Resorts, Kamuela, HI, 96743

Office Phone: (800) 667-5028

Cell Phone: (808) 443-4588

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Why Hawaii? Why the Big Island? Why turn left from the Kona airport and head north to Kohala? And which community fits your lifestyle or investment strategy? Luxury residence, retirement home, resort second home, oceanview building site or agricultural property, we've got them all! Hawi Realtor Beth Thoma Robinson blogs to help you sort through your choices.

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