David's Blog

Luxury Kailua Estate Attracting a lot of Attention on Oahu

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:19:17 -0600

Last week, the latest and most expensive to date Kerr Michaels project was listed in Kailua Beach. 210 Kalaheo Ave. has it all. This exclusive beach-side estate is nearly 1.5 acres on the ocean and has 8 bedrooms and 8 + bathrooms and was recently completed in 2009. If they achieve their goal in selling near the price of asking of $36 million, it would be a record setting sale for Windward Oahu.

Two homes sold over the last few years at $22 and $24 million on Oahu, however they were older homes whereas this is new construction...

It will be interesting to monitor the traffic this home receives. At $36m, this estate is now the 2nd highest-priced residential offering the State of Hawaii. The top spot belongs to the Tara Plantation at Papaa Bay on Kauai, which is rumored to be in negotiations.

Honolulu Now Middle of the Pack for Nation’s Foreclosures

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:16:11 -0600

Honolulu has been mostly resilient as far as foreclosures go compared to the rest of the mainland U.S. The numbers have been rising lately however. Today's article in the Star Bulletin shows how we are now in the middle of the pack with nationwide foreclosures. Although nowhere near Las Vegas, etc. the trend is we will have many more foreclosure occurring based on the number of short sales on Oahu.

If you're looking for a great buy, here are some listings I put together of REO or "lender owned" properties available on Oahu:

Oahu short sale inventory far outweighs REO inventory

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:14:29 -0600

On Oahu, inventory of short sale single family homes is nearly 10 TIMES that over REO inventory and condo short sales are almost 8 TIMES that of REO condo inventory. As of today, there are 18 available single family home REO listings on the market. There are an additional 40 in escrow right now! Meanwhile there are 207 available short sale homes on the market and an additional 97 homes in escrow. For condos, there are 33 available condo REO listings available and 19 units in escrow. Meanwhile, there are 234 available short sale condos with 106 in escrow. What does this mean? Many more REO listings will be coming on market on Oahu as short sales don't go through & you'll see that they sell much faster than short sales. If you're looking for a great buy, it's important to line yourself up with a good buyer's agent!

Oahu REO Agent creates a bidding war for bank assets

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:11:05 -0600

On a recent Friday, I loaded a new REO listing in MLS & by mid Saturday, we had 3 calls for showings! Since then, we've had multiple offers, several above asking price! REO or lender owned property can be a great source for purchasing a home. We at Hawaii Life represent lenders to help them sell their assets when they get them back from a foreclosure. In addition, we can help buyers looking for a great deal. Here's a gallery I've put together of some Oahu REO homes for sale. Stay tuned... we'll have more to come!

Where to Find Oceanfront Condos in Ko Olina

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:05:54 -0600

In our 3rd part in a series of Where to Find Oceanfront Condos on Oahu, we leave Waikiki and head clockwise all the way to Ko Olina before we run into more oceanfront condos. A number of harbors take up a good portion of prime real estate along the way... Ko Olina is a resort along Oahu's leeward or west shore. The climate is very similar to the resorts on the western shores of outer islands like Maui's Kaanapali and the Kona side of the Big Island. It is also a relatively new resort and kind of reminds me of what Kaanapali was like when I was a kid there in the early '80's... There's a number of newer construction condo projects there, however only 2 oceanfront complexes: Kai Lani (built by Armstrong builders in 2003) and The Beach Villas at Ko Olina (Recently built by Centex). Although both on the ocean, they are quite different. Kai Lani is more of a low rise, townhome style & The Beach Villas are in a high rise on one of the man made lagoons. Some of the other properties that front the ocean in Ko Olina are the Ihilani by JW Marriott, a timeshare project by Marriott and Hawaii's soon to be built Disney themed hotel.

Ko Olina real estate has been hit harder than other areas of Oahu because the majority of the people that bought were speculators and second home owners. There are a number of short sales & foreclosures on the market there. This in my opinion is a good time to buy within the next year. In addition to the Disney hotel going in, there are now going to be retail shops and a convenience store so you won't have to drive all the way to Kapolei to pick up some necessities. Once these projects are built, there won't be a whole lot left there, especially when it comes to oceanfront!

Here's a gallery I put together of Ko Olina oceanfront condos. Enjoy

Where to find Oceanfront Waikiki Condos

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:02:51 -0600

Following up on a series of Where to Find Oceanfront Condos on Oahu, we work our way clockwise on Oahu from Diamond Head to Waikiki. Believe it or not, there is only 1 true oceanfront condo building in Waikiki, which is the Waikiki Shore. When you think about it, the reason why is all the prime real estate in Waikiki is taken up by the hotels. Waikiki Shore is adjacent to the newly renovated Outrigger Reef and fronts a beautiful white sandy beach. One of the great things about the building is the maintenance fees are relatively low because the commercial spaces on the bottom floors offset some of the operating costs of the association. In addition, the 2 most recent sales sold at $1,062 and $1,598/square foot and active listings average $1,580/square foot. This is a great price for prime oceanfront property, given the new Trump Waikiki isn't even on the ocean & is selling for $2,000/square foot... If you're looking for an oceanfront condo in Waikiki within walking distance of great shops, restaurants and the only 5 star hotel on Oahu, this is it! Here's a gallery I've put together of available listings. Enjoy!

Where to Find Oceanfront Condos on Oahu

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:58:01 -0600

Unlike some of the neighbor islands that have lots of oceanfront condos, Oahu's oceanfront condo inventory is somewhat limited given the population of the island. The purpose of this blog post is to lay out where you can find oceanfront condos on Oahu. We'll start at Diamond Head on Oahu's southeastern shore (Diamond Head is where the original land surveys on Oahu used for reference) & work our way around the island clockwise.

Diamond Head- The oceanfront condos are found at the end of Kalakaua in an area we refer to as the Gold Coast
Waikiki- There is only 1 true oceanfront condo in Waikiki called the Waikiki Shore
Ko Olina- There are 2 projects as of now Kai Lani and the Beach Villas at Ko Olina
Leeward Coast- There's a few buildings on this leeward Oahu strip on your way out to Yokohama Bay
North Shore- The majority of these are in Waialua, with other projects in Mokuleia, Haleiwa & 1 in Turtle Bay
Windward Coast- There's a few projects between the long stretch of Punaluu to Kaneohe
Hawaii Kai- There's only 1 oceanfront condo project here as well, however tons of units on the marina
Kuliouou- There's only 1 project here on the ocean, however not a sandy beach and fronts a marine sanctuary
Kahala- There's only 1 project here called the Kahala Beach Apartments, which is Leasehold

As you can see, a number of the areas mentioned above have either just one or two projects in the entire area. In the near future, I'll be posting more information on each of the specific areas. In the meantime, if there's anything specific I can help you find in regards to oceanfront condos on Oahu, give me a call at 808-371-3509.

Diamond Head Estate Sells for $8,750,000 Cash

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:50:31 -0600

Diamond Head claimed another large sale recently. This is following a trend of the high end buyers realizing some great buys in this exclusive neighborhood. 3239 Noela St. closed for $8,750,000. The 10,544 square foot home that sits on over an acre was the former home of Jack Myers a local developer that moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. He sold this back in 2000 for $9 million. I'd say close to 99% of the homes on Oahu are worth more today than they were in 2000. Someone got a good buy here!

Ewa Beach Foreclosures up over 300% from 2008

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:46:54 -0600

Realty Trac came out with their latest Hawaii foreclosure stats that were published this week in the Star Bulletin. Lihue on Kauai led the state with the highest rate, however this was skewed due to Kauai Beach Resorts foreclosure, which accounted for 145 units.

Although, Oahu accounts for the majority of the population in the Hawaii, 65% of the foreclosure activity was on the neighbor islands. Ewa Beach led Oahu with the most foreclosures on the island with 65 in the month of August. Honolulu ranked 150th in the nation out of 203 metro areas tracked, which isn't too bad.

If you're looking for a great buy, Ewa Beach could be the place. In general, the construction is newer, the infrastructure is newer & Ewa Beach hardly lacks any sunshine The catch is the commute to Honolulu. Ewa residents that "fight traffic" stare into the sun driving to work in the morning & stare in to the sun in traffic in the afternoon... If you don't work the typical 40 hour work week in Honolulu, Ewa Beach has some great housing options. You can get a nice single family home built in the last 5 years for the same price of a 2 bedroom condo in Honolulu built in the 1970's. The wave of foreclosures hitting Ewa Beach is creating some great opportunities for buyers entering the market place!

Honolulu Named One of Nation’s Best Places to Raise a Family

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:42:59 -0600

Children's Place Magazine recently wrote an article titled The 100 Best (and Worst) Places to Raise a Family and Honolulu ranked #7!

I must say I'm not surprised. I was born and raised here and don't have much to complain about. Clean air, beautiful weather & the Aloha Spirit- what more could you ask for? Although our housing prices have traditionally been higher than national averages, the "price we pay to live in paradise" has been worth it.

Honolulu's Gold Coast has a lot to Offer!

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:57:46 -0500

Just beyond Waikiki at the base of Diamond Head is Honolulu's "Gold Coast". The Gold Coast is the last strip of buildings at the end of Kalakaua Ave. across from Kapiolani Park. Unlike the "hustle & bustle" of Waikiki, the Gold Coast is a little more quiet. The buildings consist of:

A few hotels such as The New Otani, The Diamond Head Beach Hotel (individually owned as condos) and The Lotus at Diamond Head (formerly a "W" hotel)
Private Clubs such as the Elk's Club and the Outrigger Canoe Club
The best oceanfront condos and co-ops on Oahu, the majority of which are now Fee Simple outside of San Souci, The Diamond Head Beach Hotel and a few units in 3003 Kalakaua Ave which are Leasehold.

Right out the front doors of these building offer great swimming, diving and surfing breaks such as Tongg's, Rice Bowls, Old Man's and several others. You've also got Kapiolani Park on the Mauka (mountain side) as I mentioned which is a great spot for outdoor activities and the finish line for the Honolulu Marathon, the Tinman Triathlon, etc. What's also great is the Gold Coast is within walking distance of the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and the Waikiki Shell which offers great concerts and entertainment.

If you think the Honolulu's Gold Coast is something that interests you, listings in MLS fall under the Diamond Head neighborhood and start around $100,000 for a leasehold condo at the Diamond Head Beach Hotel and go up to $4.9 million for a unit (entire 6th floor) at 3019 Kalakaua Ave. My grandmother's old penthouse unit at the Diamond Head Apartments sold for $4.5 million a few years ago, which is the highest sale to date. There have however been some other large sales this summer I previously posted about.

We've currently got a listing at the Diamond Head Ambassador priced at $595,000 Fee Simple, which is a 2 bed, 1 bath and priced $265,000 less than the previous owner paid in 2005, which is a great buy! If this or anything else on the Gold Coast interests you, give me a call to live your Hawaii Life on the slopes of Diamond Head.

If You Think Kakaako is a Happening Place Now, There’s More to Come

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:43:00 -0500

It was less than a week ago that I posted about a development on the west side not going through. Well, the state just approved Kamehameha Schools 29 acre development proposal in Kakaako. Unlike the displacement of farmlands in the Ewa Beach scenario, this is a "re-development" of an area that has traditionally been "industrial" in the corridor between Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu. Kakaako is already the home to several luxury condos such as Hokua, Nauru & Hawaiki Towers, Koolani, Keola Lai and other newer projects like Moana Pacific, 909 Kapiolani, The Vanguard Lofts and Moana Vista (being built). It also boasts the two largest shopping complexes in the state of Hawaii with Ala Moana Shopping Center and Victoria Ward Centers, both owned by General Growth. There's also great outdoor activites available at Ala Moana Beach Park & boating activities at Kewalo Basin. In addition to Kamehameha School's approval to add up to 2,750 more residences in high rises, townhomes & lofts, they plan to add a 25,000 sq. foot plaza on Auahi St. and a 400,000 sq. foot Asia Pacific Research Center for biotech companies. General Growth also got approval earlier this year for a master plan that proposed up to 4,000 more residences.

What does this all mean? More traffic? More congestion? I think, ultimately it will be great place as it is already. Kakaako is vibrant and has a lot to offer. The skyline and traffic will be changing. Maybe not overnight, due to the economy. When you're looking to buy in the area, be sure to work with a good Realtor that's up to date on things. There are several buildings such as 909 Kapiolani & Imperial Plaza that come to mind where this could effect their views for resale values... Other than that, Kakaako ultimately won't simply be a transition from Downtown to Waikiki. It will seamlessly blend in.

Could Oahu Use Another 12,000 Homes?

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:57:40 -0500

This past Friday, the State Land Use Commission voted against DR Horton's proposal to build 12,000 new homes on the Ewa plain between Waipahu and Kapolei. The project, named Ho'opili would be the largest project since Mililani in central Oahu by Castle and Cooke, which just completed last year after 40 years of development. It's also said to be similar size in scale to Hawaii Kai in east Oahu. There are two arguments to the development:

Pros: It would be great for the island in that it would tie in to the Mayor's proposed rail project and spur the economy with job creation & keep or lower housing costs
Cons: The proposed area would displace one of Oahu's largest farming areas. This is a section that is zoned Agriculture and is vital to Oahu farmers. There has been a lot of buzz lately about "sustainability" building these 12,000 home would kill that idea, create more traffic & cause property values to plunge even more for current owners...

Both are valid arguments. There is obviously a need for more affordable housing, yet what price do we pay? This saga is not over in that DR Horton can petition again once they get their ducks lined up in how they will go about the development in phases. They argued that over the 20 year span of the development, the farmers will "gradually" be displaced. Only time will tell..

David Joins Hawaii Life Real Estate Services

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:10:37 -0500

I am very excited to have joined Hawaii Life Real Estate Services as their 1st agent on Oahu. They are the premier real estate website for Hawaii Real Estate. 86% of homebuyers now start their home search online. Check out www.hawaiilife.com or www.hawaiihomelistings.com to live your Hawaii Life!

Multi-Million Dollar Diamond Head Home Sales Picking Up

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:07:35 -0500

Although this spring started off slow, the Diamond Head market is pickup up heat this summer! Not only have listings that were sitting for awhile selling, they are commanding several million dollars from buyers from the East Coast, Japan & Europe. Here's some recent sales:

May 27th, 2009 - 3003 Kalakaua Ave. #9B Sold for $3,000,000
June 26th, 2009 - Coral Strand PH2 Sold for $2,625,000
June 30th, 2009 - 3207 Noela St. Sold for $5,375,000
July 15th, 2009 - 3763 Diamond Head Rd. Sold for $3,850,000
July 23rd, 2009 - 3019 Kalakaua Ave. #5 Sold for $3,400,000
In addition, 3239 Noela St. is in escrow with an asking price of $9,400,000!

If you're looking for something special in Diamond Head, there are still a number of great properties for sale. I live and own in Diamond Head. It's a great place to live your Hawaii Life!

50 Year Old Homes no Longer Need Special Attention from State

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:30:26 -0500

Last year, a law was passed that required all buildings 50 years or older to undergo a special procedure (ie. document & submit photos to the State Historic Preservation Division) for any work that was to be done to a structure or demolished. This Act 228 caused a major backlog in the state and they did not have the personnel to handle such volume. Getting building permits in Hawaii have never a simple step & this law just added more red tape... Although the law may have had good intent, there are many, many homes in Hawaii that are over 50 years old. I just looked back at my last 10 single family home transactions & 7 of the 10 were over 50 years old! The Hawaii Association of Realtors spoke out as well as many in the building industry against the law. Recently, Governor Lingle repealed it and now homeowners can get back to fulfilling their goals of remodeling their dream homes :)

Maunawili- The Gateway to Kailua

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:25:34 -0500

For those of you that don't know, Maunawili is the first neighborhood you come to after going over the Pali to Kailua. What's great about it, is you're minutes from the pristine white beaches of Kailua, yet also minutes away from Downtown Honolulu. Many doctors, attorneys & business professionals choose to reside here due to its close proximity to town. It's also just about a 20 minute drive to some of the best private schools in town. Or, if you don't want the commute, Le Jardin Academy is right there. Other attractions are gorgeous Mount Olomana and the lush greenery of the Windward side of Oahu.

Maunawili has also been a hot real estate market as of late. Although there's only been 4 sales in the past 6 months (1 of which was $2 million), there are currently 4 under contract with an average of only 25 days on market! There's an additional 4 active listing averaging only 23 days on market, ranging from $1,079,000 to $1,330,000. These are all decent sized lots ranging from 10,000 - 17,000 square feet. One of these listings is my own. You can click here for more information. We had 2 great offers in the first two weeks! We have an accepted offer, however the buyer must sell first. Most of us will be open this Sunday from 2-5 PM, so please stop by :)

Oahu Market Gaining Some Steam

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:49:46 -0500

Almost every indicator for March showed the market much stronger than January & February. Part of this could be seasonal, however on a % basis things were pretty good. The number of single family home sales were up 45% and condo sales were up 55%! Median home prices month over month were up 8% and condos up 2.6%. Days on market for homes were down 30% and 32% for condos. This is twofold: things are selling quicker and things that aren't selling, sellers are pulling off the market to rent. This is also reflected in the inventory with 27 less homes on the market than the previous month. However, condo inventory is up 75 units in the same period.

Could this be a sign of a recovery? Although early to say, there was a recent article in Forbes indicating that the economy could possibly have bottomed out. Given all the bad financial news this past fall, that trickled over to closings & statistics in January & February. March's stats paint a better picture of what's been happening since the beginning of 2009, with most properties that went under contract in mid- January & shortly thereafter equate to closings in March.

I've also noticed buyer activity picking up dramatically. I thought I had a busy open house last Sunday with 30 parties coming through. Another agent in my office had 50 parties (yes Five Zero) come through his! Not too long ago most agents I talked to would be happy with 10 parties...

New 1 Bed Kaneohe Condo Listing in Puu Iki

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:08:35 -0500

Hello everyone! Here's a new listing I got in Kaneohe. These 1 bedroom units seldom become available. I sold one last year for $290,000. This one is $270,000!

Rarely available 1 bed unit Puu Iki! This ground floor unit is turnkey & ready to move right in. Newer refrigerator, range hood & tiled floor throughout, washer/dryer in unit. Low maint. fee & property taxes! On the makai side of Kamehameha Hwy & surrounded lush grounds of Puu Alii, it's peaceful, yet walking distance to shops, restaurants, etc. Won't last long...

Complete Remodel Eco-friendly/Modern Home in Palolo

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:00:08 -0500

I've got a great listing w/ awesome views of Diamond Head ready to move in to. Completely turn-key, this eco-friendly home is situated at the end of a culdesac. There are top of the line kitchen features, such as: stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, custom cabinets, gas stove & wine refer. New electrical work, each room wired for DSL, Cable. Hypoallergenic & eco friendly materials used in finish work. 2 bd, 1 ba up, 1 bd, 1 ba down w/ seperate entrances for rental option? In addition, the sellers have done their own blog to document the work. For more info. on this home & others in Palolo click here !

Waialae-Kahala Market a Bright Spot among low Oahu Volume

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:25:14 -0500

February of 2009 continued right where January left off. We had 129 single family homes and 160 homes close last month. Our year to date volume is down 53% from last year. In order to find similar numbers, we have to go back to around 1995-1996 which many can argue was the bottom of the previous down market. Our median sales price was $555,000 for single family homes and $297,000 for condos. The last time we had these prices were early 2005 for homes and mid 2006 for condos. Our days on market for homes are 69 and 70 for condos, which isn't that bad still compared to most of the mainland US. I'm surprised as to how many buyer inquiries I've had over the past several weeks where the home they're inquiring on is under contract. Even though the numbers of sales are down significantly, well priced homes are selling.

When broken down per region, Waialae-Kahala led the market w/ numbers of sales up 18% from last year and prices up 8% for single family homes year to date* For the biggest buying opportunities, Pearl City-Aiea home prices are down 33% from last year. On the condo front, Kalihi condos were up 33%. Perhaps the best buying opportunity could be Kapahulu-Kuliouou which was down 62% (part of reason was some leasehold sales drug down the prices). Outside of that, Ala Moana to Kakaako was down 43% and could create some opportunity there as well.

On a bright note, amid all the doom & gloom in the news, real estate has held its price well as an asset class. Recently, the S & P 500 index is now worth the same as it was in 1996. If you invested $100,000 then, it would be worth $100,000 today, 13 years later. If you invested $100,000 in Oahu real estate then, you would be far better off! With no financing or leverage involved, you would be up 50% on average. When you add in leverage/financing, tax incentives, etc. you would could have increased your returns exponentially!

*It was also Waialae-Kahala's appreciation that led us out of the last down market.

Looking for Country Living in Town?

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:50:51 -0600

Tired of driving from your nice big parcel on the North Shore to town? Getting to crammed with your neighbors in town? This is your answer:

Panoramic Ocean and Mountain views abound this pristine 3.98 acre parcel on very desirable La'i Road in the very/very back of Palolo Valley. This gated community estate site has unlimited opportunity to build the home of your dreams in area rarely available. This vacant lot is located 10 minutes from downtown, 5 minutes from Kahala, beaches and schools. Zoned P-1 with an allowable 7500 square foot home.

Priced at only $4/sq. ft.- $699,000 - $226,000 off original asking price!

January Stats out for Oahu- Some Strengths among the Weakness...

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:28:41 -0600

The Honolulu Board of Realtors has released the latest stats for January of 2008. The median sales price of a single family home on Oahu is down 10% from the previous year- from $600,000 to $539,500 which puts us back to Feb./March of 2005 levels. The North Shore led the way- down 51.8% from the previous year. East Oahu held strong w/ a median sales price up 2.2% from 2008! Remember- ALL MARKETS ARE LOCAL What may be happening in one neighborhood might not be happening in another... Our median sales price for a condo is also down 5% from $324,000 to $305,000. To show how slow the North Shore is, there was not one condo sale there in January. We are also now at 71 days on market for Single Family homes & 59 days for condos, which isn't too bad compared to the rest of the mainland U.S. Our inventory is actually down slightly from Dec. of 2008 w/ 70 less homes on the market and 140 less condos & these numbers are real close to where we were this time last year. What has really slowed down dramatically is the number of sales on Oahu. There were 122 homes and 159 condos that sold in January, down 46% and 51% from previous year and down 37% and 35% from December of 2008. These were the lowest numbers of sales since the mid-1990's. In hindsight, this was the best time to buy real estate here. Nobody has a "crystal ball", but now could be a good time as well...

Waialae Golf Course Homes- Home of the Sony Open

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:19:17 -0600

With the recent completion of the Sony Open Honolulu was featured as the backdrop on national television this past week. As there were record breaking lows on the mainland, we've enjoyed beautiful sunny weather. In case you were wondering what a home on Waialae Golf Course goes for, here's what's currently on the market:

Single Family

ML#: 2816190	stat Active		Lst: $2,495,000*	FS - Fee Simple
1-3-5-043-021-0000	BR: 4	Baths: 3 / 0
959 Waiholo St	Liv: 3,162	Lanai: 805	Other: 1,265
WAIALAE G/C	Stories: One	Land: 16,250	YrBt: 1959
Views: Golf Course	Pool: In Ground	Assd Imprv: $388,200
Prop Cond: Average	Assd Land: $1,673,400
Frnt: Golf Course	Assd Total: $2,061,600	2008
Prk: 3Car+ , Driveway , Garage	Zoning: 03 - R10 - Residential District	Tax: $565
Topo: Level	Flood: AE	Tot Mon Fee: $0	LD: 10/7/2008
Terms: Cash , Conventional	DOM: 106	S: $	SD:
LO:

Rare opportunity to live in EXTRA LARGE WAIALAE Golf Course frontage property! Fantastic View of 11th fairway with pretty fountains, this private sanctuary sits on large 16,250 sq.ft. of land. Kitchen completely remodeled in 2002 but original bedrooms, newer paint, roof & pool. Separate studio cottage too! Must see! Don't miss out to own one of only sixty some Waialae Country Club frontage homes!

Single Family

ML#: 2802831	stat Active		Lst: $2,575,000*	FS - Fee Simple
1-3-5-042-004-0000	BR: 5	Baths: 3 / 0
1161 Waiholo St	Liv: 2,492	Lanai:	Other: 612
WAIALAE G/C	Stories: One	Land: 12,777	YrBt: 1962
Views: Coastline , Diamond Head	Pool: In Ground , Plaster	Assd Imprv: $188,500
Prop Cond: Needs Major Repair	Assd Land: $2,064,200
Frnt: Golf Course , Other	Assd Total: $2,252,700	2007
Prk: 3Car+ , Boat , Carport , Driveway , Street	Zoning: 03 - R10 - Residential District	Tax: $618
Topo: Level	Flood: AE	Tot Mon Fee: $0	LD: 2/14/2008
Terms: Cash , Conventional	DOM: 342	S: $	SD:
LO:

Waialae Golf Course prime direct ocean view/fairway property. Over 139 feet of frontage. Restore to excellence or build new. Classic open floor plan to pool, fairway and ocean beyond. Watch the waves break or enjoy the lush fairways. AS IS ready for a renaissance.

Single Family

ML#: 2813862	stat Active		Lst: $3,795,000*	FS - Fee Simple
1-3-5-044-030-0000	BR: 4	Baths: 3 / 1
1142 Waikui Pl	Liv: 4,043	Lanai:	Other:
WAIALAE G/C	Stories: One	Land: 17,566	YrBt: 1960
Views: Golf Course	Pool: Heated , In Ground	Assd Imprv: $854,300
Prop Cond: Excellent	Assd Land: $1,788,300
Frnt: Golf Course	Assd Total: $2,642,600	2008
Prk: 2Car	Zoning: 03 - R10 - Residential District	Tax: $806
Topo: Level	Flood: X	Tot Mon Fee: $0	LD: 8/21/2008
Terms: Cash , Conventional	DOM: 153	S: $	SD:
LO:

Beautiful renovated single level home on world famous Waialae Country Club golf course. Located at the 13th hole and 14th tee. Perfect for poolside entertaining, and featuring a custom designed separate cabana with barbecue, beer on tap and more. Designer furnishings available separately.

----- Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. -----
Copyright: 2009 by HiCentral MLS, Ltd. Tue, Jan 20, 2009 11:23 AM

Single Family

ML#: 2803681	stat Active		Lst: $4,700,000*	FS - Fee Simple
1-3-5-058-012-0000	BR: 6	Baths: 6 / 1
1014 Kaimoku Pl	Liv: 7,067	Lanai:	Other: 1,276
KAI NANI	Stories: Two	Land: 13,311	YrBt: 1969
Views: Golf Course , Ocean	Pool: In Ground	Assd Imprv: $1,689,700
Prop Cond: Excellent	Assd Land: $2,259,900
Frnt: Golf Course	Assd Total: $3,949,600	2008
Prk: 3Car+ , Garage	Zoning: 04 - R-7.5 Residential District	Tax: $1083
Topo: Level	Flood: X	Tot Mon Fee: $0	LD: 3/1/2008
Terms: Cash	DOM: 326	S: $	SD:
LO:

Golf course frontage 7th Fairway famous Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, home of SONY OPEN plus ocean views on cul-de-sac street. Ronovated 2 story home-spacious rooms w/amazing views. Steps to ocean & Kahala Hotel & Resort. Location is everything. Shown to Pre-Registered & Pre-Qualified Clients only.

----- Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. -----
Copyright: 2009 by HiCentral MLS, Ltd. Tue, Jan 20, 2009 11:23 AM

If these homes aren't in the budget, you can get a home on one of the nearby ridges with an ocean & golf course view for around $1 million and up.

Looking to Buy? Looking to Refi? Now is the Time!

David Buck (Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:12:14 -0600

I recall in the spring of 2008, we were able to refianance our current residence at $4.875 on a 30 year fixed. We got totally lucky. We were able to lock during a day of high market volatility. Since then, nobody would believe me on the rate I got. They'd ask "for a 15 year mortgage"? I'd smile and reply, "actually a 30 year". Rates then started to go up to above 6%. Several of my buyer clients proceeded to purchase last year in the high 5 to low 6% rates. I almost felt guilty because my interest rate was so low...

Guess what? Rates are even lower today! I've had a lender friend of mine tell me she's refinancing her current residence for 4.5% for 30 years! Another lender friend of mine is doing so many deals they don't know what to do... Another agent in my office is locking in at 4.375% I can't believe it! I've never seen rates so low! If you're on the sidelines & capable of qualifying for a new loan or refi, now is the time!