By: David J. Kucic, RA CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO First Sergeant, USA (Ret) Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii
Selling your home is a big decision just like it was when you ventured off to purchase a home. Now it is time for you to sell one of the biggest investments of your life.
As a full time, full service Hawaii real estate agent, I communicate with fellow real estate professionals daily. For the most part, these fellow agents are the best in the business and I enjoy working with them. They are honest, ethical and professional.
However, lately, I have run across some agents that didn't quite fit the bill of being a "professional Hawaii real estate agent".
Here is an additional list of questions for you to ask your real estate agent when you are thinking about hiring them to sell your home for you. Add these questions onto the standard questions that you would normally ask like "How will you market my home? Will you hold open houses? What commission rate does your brokerage charge? Etc...:
•· Do you answer your telephone? If you can't answer it because you are in a meeting, with another client or pumping gas, how soon will you check your voicemail and respond to that call?
•· If someone calls to set up a showing for my house, how soon will you call me and how soon will you call that showing agent back to confirm their appointment?
•· If I requrire you to be present to show my home, will you ever tell a showing agent that you "can't make it at their requested showing time because you have another full time job besides real estate?"
•· If a showing agent calls and requests a showing for 10-11 am, will you tell them "no" because you are having an open house from 2-5 and they should come at that time instead?
•· Will you make it inconvenient for showing agents to make an appointment to see my home by having them call 1-800 numbers or register on outside websites in order to schedule a showing thus causing them to shy away from showing my home?
Why these questions? Because these are some of the answers that I get when I call to make appointments to show homes. Unbelieveable!
By: David Kucic, RA CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, AHWD First Sergeant, USA (Ret) Tropic Lightning Real Estate Oahu, Hawaii
My wonderful wife of 21 years and great Hawaii Real Estate agent, has joined RE/MAX Honolulu in Kapolei, Hawaii while I remain at Tropic Lightning Real Estatein Aiea, HI at least for the foreseeable future.
Why the move? As a military dependent (her dad was a career Soldier for 22 years) and then as my spouse for the rest of my military career, Tonya is very accustomed to moving.
With each move that she made throughout her life, it always brought the potential for newer, bigger and better things along with unique and tough challenges.
Time to move on. Best wishes at RE/MAX Honolulu Tonya!
From January 1, 2008 to Sep 12, 2008, we have had the pleasure to work with some great real estate agents from Oahu, Hawaii. With the assistance, persistence and dedication of these real estate professionals, these great agents got the job done. I am proud to say that I am associated with them.
THANKS FOR BRINGING WELL QUALIFIED BUYERS TO OUR LISTINGS AND THANKS FOR WORKING WITH YOUR SELLERS TO GET OUR OFFERS ACCEPTED. TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE MANY HAPPY HOMEOWNERS IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS.
If you are currently working with one of these agents then you are in good hands!
Kai Lani at Ko'olina Resort $765,000...............................Rachel Dowell Tuscany II by Gentry Homes $486,000............................Donna Azuma Sonoma by Gentry Homes $560,000...............................Kai McDurmin Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $482,000.................Donna Azuma Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $485,000.................................Tonya Kucic Palm Court by Gentry Homes $275,000...........................Rustan Tongg Cypress Point by Gentry Homes $1,103,000.....................Sandy Delaunay Sonoma by Gentry Homes $620,000...............................Lisa Cadiz Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $472,000.................Donna Azuma Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000....................Edit McDonald Pacific Palisades $596,000.............................................Sharon Hayashida The Arbors by Gentry Homes $392,000............................Todd Lang Lombard Way by Gentry Homes $345,000.......................Jennifer Melchor Sison Ewa Beach Condo by Gentry Homes ................................Agent not worthy of being mentioned Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $480,000.................Seiko Ono Launani Valley in Mililani $300,000..................................Heather Chung Fairways at Ko'olina Resort $460,000...............................Sharon Denis Palehua Hale at Makakilo $328,000.................................Michael Hege Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000.......................Sheryl Chong Trovare by Gentry Homes $390,000.................................Belinda Barnes Aliamanu $595,000........................................................Gary Masuda Condo in Aiea ...............................................................Agent not worthy of being mentioned
NEWLY ADDED AS OF AUGUST 28TH Koolina Resort Hillside Villas $435,000.............................Frank Leslie Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $476,000.................................Connie Rodrigues Las Brisas by Gentry Homes $350,000.............................Sherry Goode
*******UPDATED AGENTS BELOW AS OF SEP 12, 2008*********** Kailua by The Beach $630,000....................Darryl Lambert (FSBO!!!!!!) He was better than some licensed agents I have worked with. Darryl was great! Wahiawa Homes $430,000.............................................Bob Allen
From January 1, 2008 to August 12, 2008, we have had the pleasure to work with some great real estate agents from Oahu, Hawaii. With the assistance, persistence and dedication of these real estate professionals, these great agents got the job done. I am proud to say that I am associated with them.
THANKS FOR BRINGING WELL QUALIFIED BUYERS TO OUR LISTINGS AND THANKS FOR WORKING WITH YOUR SELLERS TO GET OUR OFFERS ACCEPTED. TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE MANY HAPPY HOMEOWNERS IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS.
If you are currently working with one of these agents then you are in good hands!
Kai Lani at Ko'olina Resort $765,000...............................Rachel Dowell Tuscany II by Gentry Homes $486,000............................Donna Azuma Sonoma by Gentry Homes $560,000...............................Kai McDurmin Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $482,000.................Donna Azuma Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $485,000.................................Tonya Kucic Palm Court by Gentry Homes $275,000...........................Rustan Tongg Cypress Point by Gentry Homes $1,103,000.....................Sandy Delaunay Sonoma by Gentry Homes $620,000...............................Lisa Cadiz Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $472,000.................Donna Azuma Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000....................Edit McDonald Pacific Palisades $596,000.............................................Sharon Hayashida The Arbors by Gentry Homes $392,000............................Todd Lang Lombard Way by Gentry Homes $345,000.......................Jennifer Melchor Sison Ewa Beach Condo by Gentry Homes ...............................Agent not worthy of being mentioned Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $480,000.................Seiko Ono Launani Valley in Mililani $300,000..................................Heather Chung Fairways at Ko'olina Resort $460,000...............................Sharon Denis Palehua Hale at Makakilo $328,000.................................Michael Hege Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000.......................Sheryl Chong Trovare by Gentry Homes $390,000.................................Belinda Barnes Aliamanu $595,000........................................................Gary Masuda Condo in Aiea ..............................................................Agent not worthy of being mentioned
NEWLY ADDED AS OF AUGUST 28TH Koolina Resort Hillside Villas $435,000.............................Frank Leslie Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $476,000.................................Connie Rodrigues Las Brisas by Gentry Homes $350,000.............................Sherry Goode
Coming soon (currently in escrow).......
Kailua by The Beach................ Sonoma by Gentry Homes.............. Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes (at Hoakalei Country Club).......... ANOTHER ONE.....Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes (at Hoakalei Country Club)......... Wahiawa Homes.................
By: David Kucic, RA CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, AHWD First Sergeant, USA (Ret) Tropcic Lightning Real Estate Oahu, Hawaii
MLS# 2814013
Priced to sell at $428,000. Are you looking for that great piece of Hawaii real estate without the large price tag? Well then....... Welcome home to the ever growing community of Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Locate on the south shore of Oahu on the Leeward side of the island where it is dry, hot and sunny.....thats why you want to live in Hawaii right??? Ewa Beach is a very popular place for buyers to purchase their homes due to the large inventory, great amenities, low prices and newer construction of homes. This is a military friendly community and is the same city that David and Tonya Kucic live in. We beleive in our community and the tremendous opportunity of owning a home here.
This particular home is a "Tuscany" model and has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,299 interior square feet of living space and is located in a CPR community. Some of the amenites of the home are:
Central air conditioning
Stainless steel appliances
Ceiling fans
All appliances include
Solar hot water system
Security alarm
Excellent condition inside and out
Built in 2006
Maintenance fee includes water, sewer and hazard insurance!
Community swimming pool and pavilions approximately 100 paces from your front door
Call David or Tonya Kucic at (808) 218-9338 or (808) 221-3638 for your private showing.
Remember all the talk about 100% financing on a home mortgage? Do you hear that anymore? Probably not unless you are a VETERAN WITH VA LOAN ELIGIBILITY.
Over the past few years, the maximum amount of entitlement was $625,500 in Hawaii for VA Eligibile Buyers for 100% financing. There were options to do a VA Jumbo Loan above that amount but it requires a 25% down payment of the difference between the guaranty amount of $625,500 and the loan amount. That is not the purpose of this post though.
What I want to do is to make you aware that the new Hawaii VA Loan Amount effective August 13, 2008 is $793,750.00. That is correct - you can obtain 100% financing up to this amount and have no dowm payment.
A few things to think about......
You will still have to financially qualify for this (credit score, debt to income ratio) Call my "right hand man" and VA APPROVED LOAN OFFICER LOCATED IN HAWAII, JAY OKU at (808) 393-0707 or email him at jay@mortgage808.com. Jay will take care of a no-hassle, pre-approval for you and will also be able to obtain your VA CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY for you.
A mortgage payment on $793,750 will be approximately $4,972.07 for a 30 year fixed rate loan at 6.5% interest rate (principal and interest only). Dont forget to add in property taxes, insurance, maintenance and association fees as appropriate.
There is still a mandatory VA FUNDING FEE of 2.15% of the loan amount for active duty military with 100% financing and no down payment. Other categories (Reservists, National Guard and those with money for a down payment will differ slightly on the funding fee.
Veterans with at least a 10% disability will have the VA FUNDING FEE WAIVED. That is a huge savings that you deserve for serving OUR COUNTRY to the point of becoming partially disabled.
Coming soon to Ewa Beach, Hawaii...... The first new golf course is being built in over 10 years. It is designed by professional golfer Ernie Els and is called Hoakalei Country Club which is part of Club Corp, The World Leader in Private Clubs. It is due to open in November 2008. The course will feature over 7,500 yards from the tips, water hazards, elevation changes, undulating greens and breezy tradewinds.
There will also be a new marina, hotel, restaurants and more. For further information, call or email Hoakalei Founding Member David Kucic at the same number and email seen above.
From January 1, 2008 to August 12, 2008, we have had the pleasure to work with some great real estate agents from Oahu, Hawaii. With the assistance, persistence and dedication of these real estate professionals, these great agents got the job done. I am proud to say that I am associated with them.
THANKS FOR BRINGING WELL QUALIFIED BUYERS TO OUR LISTINGS AND THANKS FOR WORKING WITH YOUR SELLERS TO GET OUR OFFERS ACCEPTED. TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE MANY HAPPY HOMEOWNERS IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS.
If you are currently working with one of these agents then you are in good hands!
Kai Lani at Ko'olina Resort $765,000...............................Rachel Dowell Tuscany II by Gentry Homes $486,000............................Donna Azuma Sonoma by Gentry Homes $560,000...............................Kai McDurmin Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $482,000.................Donna Azuma Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $485,000.................................Tonya Kucic Palm Court by Gentry Homes $275,000...........................Rustan Tongg Cypress Point by Gentry Homes $1,103,000.....................Sandy Delaunay Sonoma by Gentry Homes $620,000...............................Lisa Cadiz Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $472,000.................Donna Azuma Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000....................Edit McDonald Pacific Palisades $596,000.............................................Sharon Hayashida The Arbors by Gentry Homes $392,000............................Todd Lang Lombard Way by Gentry Homes $345,000.......................Jennifer Melchor Sison Ewa Beach Condo by Gentry Homes ...............................Agent not worthy of being mentioned Montecito/Tuscany by Gentry Homes $480,000.................Seiko Ono Launani Valley in Mililani $300,000..................................Heather Chung Fairways at Ko'olina Resort $460,000...............................Sharon Denis Palehua Hale at Makakilo $328,000.................................Michael Hege Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes $405,000.......................Sheryl Chong Trovare by Gentry Homes $390,000.................................Belinda Barnes Aliamanu $595,000........................................................Gary Masuda Condo in Aiea ..............................................................Agent not worthy of being mentioned
NEWLY ADDED AS OF AUGUST 28TH Koolina Resort Hillside Villas $435,000.............................Frank Leslie Ocean Ridge at Makakilo $476,000.................................Connie Rodrigues Las Brisas by Gentry Homes $350,000.............................Sherry Goode
Coming soon (currently in escrow).......
Kailua by The Beach................ Sonoma by Gentry Homes.............. Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes (at Hoakalei Country Club).......... ANOTHER ONE.....Fairways Edge by Haseko Homes (at Hoakalei Country Club)......... Wahiawa Homes.................
Jay and I both live on Oahu and caught flights to the big island of Hawaii to enjoy 2 days of golf at Waikoloa Beach Course and Waikoloa Kings Course.....18 on Friday and 36 more on Saturday. We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club in Waikaloa which was a spectacular setup right on the golf course. Dinner was at Roy's(Chef Roy Yamaguchi) Waikoloa and the food was spectacular as it always is. Roy's has never disappointed us in the past and is one of Tonya and my favorite restaurants. Roy's also has 2 locations on Oahu and 2 on Maui.
The weather for golfing was perfect, scenery is always beautiful and the beer was cold. Both of the courses at Waikoloa are impeccably maintained. The tradewinds make you think about your club selection throughout the course.
So now we are all back on Oahu and back at work but here are a few pictures to share................
Jay still has the phone glued to his ear even on the golf course.
They didn't have any milk so we settled for ice cold beer.
This is the nicest hole on the Beach Course.....slight dogleg left with a green right on the ocean.
Another view of this picturesque hole........
The green from this hole...... An awesome view of green grass, deep blue ocean and black lava rock.
By: David Kucic, RA CRS,GRI,ABR,e-PRO,AHWD First Sergeant, USA (Ret) Tropic Lightning Real Estate Oahu, Hawaii
I had the distinct honor of representing former Active Rain member Bruce Bourgaults widow in the sale of their Hawaii home. The testimonial that followed the sale meant more to me than she could ever imagine.
Testimonial for David and Tonya Kucic:
"David Kucic keeps his promises. Due to very difficult and unforeseen circumstances I found myself unable to pay for the mortgage on my home. I knew I needed help in selling my home and after checking with a couple of Realtors I realized it was going to take someone extraordinary to really help me. That's when I thought of David. I remembered my husband, Bruce, telling me he was a solid, trustworthy Realtor and associate. So, I called David. My house is now sold and it wouldn't have happened without him.
Usually selling a home is a happy time, but for me it's an incredible relief financially. The ordeal of finding a workable solution - known in the industry today as a short sale -with a mortgage company is a very time consuming, frustrating and complicated process. Finding a Realtor willing to take this on isn't easy either unless you have David Kucic. Whenever you find yourself in need of a Realtor that keeps his word, performs professionally, protects your interest and has one of the highest client satisfaction ratings in the Islands - call David. Whether you are a buyer or seller David is with you every step of the way.
Mahalo David for an excellent job and becoming a part of our ohana!"
By: David Kucic, RA CRS, GRI, e-PRO Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) First Sergeant, USA (Ret) Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii
It doesn't take rocket science to figure this one out. This graph that I designed is ultra-easy-to-understand and should be perfect for the following questions that you may be looking for answers to:
Where is the market going?
What will my home be worth in 2 years?
Are we at the bottom of the market yet?
It will also assist you in making your decision to "wait until we get to the bottom and the prices go lower".
With your VA Loan Eligibility in Hawaii, YOU CAN BE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT if you are properly represented.
An insider tip for you: If/when the interest rates go up after the January elections, the amount that the interest rates go up might offset any savings you may have had by "waiting until the prices go down further".
1SG (Ret) David J. Kucic Hawaii Relocation/VA Expert Ewa Beach, HI More about me
Tropic Lightning Real Estate
Office Phone: (808) 218-9338
Cell Phone: (808) 218-9338
Email Me
Blog for military service members interested in purchasing real estate in Hawaii using their VA Loan entitlement. We are a retired military family specializing in serving all members of the armed forces, reserves, national guard and retirees. Check us out at www.davidkucic.com