Pete's Maui Blog

Spreckelsville Homes for Sale

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:59:14 -0500

We have two new listings in the beautiful Spreckelsville area of Maui's North Shore. Sprecks is desired by island residents and second home owners for its access to good beaches, world class water sports, the Maui Country Club and its proximity to Paia town and the shopping and medical facilities of Central Maui. These listings are in the newer Sprecks V neighborhood.

The first listing is a beautiful executive home. This home features amenities such as hardwood floors, granite counters, a large master bath and detached two car garage with two offices. This home has been meticulously maintained. The conscientious sellers have prepared this home for the market with a fresh coat of paint and a thorough home inspection.

This home is listed for $1,499,000. Contact us for additional information or to arrange a showing. Click here for the MLS listing with additional photos and property information.

Our other listing is a rare opportunity to own in Sprecks for under $1,000,000. This charming four bed/three bath home has a lot to offer. Amenities include a tranquil front court yard, a monier tile roof, copper gutters, central a/c, home audio system, sumptuous master bath, hickory kitchen cabinets and more.

This home is offered for $995,000. The seller has an inactive Hawaii Real Estate license. This is a short sale. Offers are subject to lender approval. Contact us for additional information or to arrange a showing.

These are two great homes for sale. When you are buying a home in Spreckelsville, you are buying more than just a structure. You are buying a lifestyle. Come and enjoy all that Sprecks has to offer today!

Exterior of the Anue'nue Estate, Maunaolu Plantation, Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:44:51 -0500

We have a new listing up in the Maunaolu Plantation Neighborhood between Makawao and Paia. The beautiful Anue'nue (Hawaiian for Rainbow) estate resembles a private resort with its numerous amenities. Here is a quick tour of the exterior of the structures and the grounds of the property.

Anue'nue features over two acres of well landscaped grounds. Plantings include a variety of palms, mangoes, avocado, papaya, bananas, citrus, pineapple and ornamentals. A private catchment system is used for irrigation. Low voltage lighting illuminates many of the palms and other trees at night creating a magical effect.

Anue'nue has a beautiful pool area. The faux rock lined 30,000 gallon pool has a beach style entry. On one end of a pool is a cave grotto with free form spa. Turn on the waterfall and enjoy the sounds and sights of the water streaming in front of you as it cascades into the pool.

The pool is a great entertaining area. There is a barbecue area for you and your guests to enjoy. There is a small fridge so there is no need to run into the house for an ice cold beverage. Four pool side speakers are tied into the home's central media system.

For golfers, you can practice your chipping and putting in the back yard on the putting green with sand trap. These are just some of the many exterior amenities at the Anue'nue Estate. Look for a future blog post that features the various attributes and comforts of the main house and its associated cottage. This property is listed for $2,375,000. Check out the property website for additional information. Contact us today to arrange an exclusive showing of this beautiful property.

Burly Maui Realtor's Feat of Endurance Cut Short by Mini Shark

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:34:33 -0500

The Maui News had a front page article on Maui Realtor Mike Spalding this morning. Spalding is an elite distance swimmer who was trying to join the very select ranks of swimmers who have crossed the wild and woolly Alenuihaha channel between the Big Island and Maui. The channel crossing is almost 30 miles in length! To date only two other swimmers have made this crossing successfully. Mike was trying to do it at the ripe old age of 61. Pretty impressive to say the least. According to the Maui News, Spalding was 11 miles into the swim when he felt a sharp pain in his sternum followed by a sharp pain in his calf. A support kayak came to his aid when they heard Spalding cry out in pain. Inspection of the wounds when he was on the support kayak revealed two small bites. The wounds were not life threatening, but more than enough to put an end to his crossing attempt. Spalding suspects that the perpetrator was a cookie cutter shark.

Cookie Cutter sharks are a species that usually targets open ocean pelagic fish like Tuna. They stay in the depths of the ocean during the day rising to the surface to hunt at night. When I looked the fish up on Wikipedia, to date the only documented negative human interaction with cookie cutters has been when the shark has damaged American military underwater sonar equipment. There was no mention of any attacks on humans.

Judging by the article in the paper, Mike wasn't phased at all by the shark bites. Instead, he was dissapointed that he had to abort what to that point had been a very good swim. I have had the opportunity to show some of Mike's listings before. He is quite a character. I wish him a speedy recovery. I have no doubt he will be back in the water soon training to cross the channel.

Upside Property in Haiku, Maui

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:07:20 -0500

We just had a big price reduction on one of our listings in beautiful Haiku. This is a good opportunity for someone who isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves and do a little work. The property consists of two separate parcels. One is just under 1.5 acres and the other is 4.25 acres. The 4.25 acres has a funky cottage that is livable but needs some work to restore its previous charms. A new well was recently installed in the property, but a buyer will need to connect the well to the existing structure. The buyer will also be responsible for any additional outstanding utility work to be completed. That being said, the property is pretty unique. It offers a lot of privacy and a great sense of seclusion within 15 minutes of Paia town. There is tremendous variety of fruit trees, palms, tropical ornamental plants and native plants.

The seller has slashed the price from $799,000 to $599,000. This property is being sold "as-is". Contact us for more information on this great Haiku opportunity.

Land in Haiku, Maui with Water

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:48:49 -0600

The lure of Maui's countryside is strong. Clean air, beautiful views and low density made this area very popular during Maui's Real Estate boom. The demand for parcels led to significant price increases in both homes and land. This put the cost of owning out of reach for many land buyers. As the global real estate market adjusts, we are seeing price adjustments in Maui's Country. These adjustments mean that there are some values out there for savvy buyers. One of those opportunities may be our agriculturally zoned parcel of vacant land in Haiku.

This 1.49 acre parcel is set in a pretty unusual micro climate in Haiku. Haiku's geography consists of gently sloping fields and forests intersected by a series of watersheds coming off the side of Haleakala. Typically these watersheds or gulches have dense almost jungle like foliage. This listing is located at the side of a gulch in one of the drier locations of Haiku. The lot is mostly open and gently sloping grassland with a handful of palms and old mango trees.The gulch in general is drier than almost all other Haiku gulches. Connections to the island's water infrastructure prevents waterflow in all but the heaviest rains. The gently sloped lot has plenty of building sites. Electric is available to the site and it is serviced by a new well that will also provide water to an adjoining parcel.

This quiet secluded locale is close to town, but feels much father away. You are five minutes or less to Haiku school and Haiku Town Center. Ho'okipa beach park is less than ten minutes away and the shops of Paia aren't much further. Up until know, it has been hard to find lots with water for less than $400,000 on Maui. This opportunity is listed at $315,000. It may be purchased with an adjoing 4.2 acre parcel with a fixer cottage for $799,000. Contact us today for additional information or to arrange a showing.

Two Bedroom Condo in Wailea for Under $500,000

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:33:53 -0600

The Wailea Resort in South Maui is one of the premier destination resorts of the world. The combination of world class beaches, championship golf, high end shopping and five star dining has attracted visitors from throughout the globe. High demand and the real estate boom that lasted the better part of the decade led to a considerable increase in the price of real estate around Wailea Resort. For those that were priced out by the boom, price adjustments have brought new opportunities for buyers. Our listing at Grand Champions is one of those opportunities.

This very well maintained condo has had one loving owner. The condo may need some updating, but it is in move in ready condition. The condo is well located as a second floor end unit above the rental office. It has a large private lanai, is just across the parking lot from the swimming pool and has ocean views from both bedrooms. The lock off feature is a nice option. You can rent the whole condo, rent it as a separate one bedroom/one bath and a studio, or rent one half while living in the other. All of this is located within the heart of Wailea. Grand Champions is nestled between the Wailea Blue Golf Course Course and the Wailea Tennis Club. Fine dining is just a short walk away at Joe's Bar and Grill. Wailea's Beaches and shops are less than five minutes drive.

This condo is listed well below recent sales at $499,000. This is a great opportunity to own in one of Hawaii's premier resorts for under $500,000. Contact us today for additional information or to set up a showing.

180 Pilikino Place "The See Forever Estate", Keokea, Kula, Maui, Hawaii

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:55:45 -0600

I often find myself using the words "one of a kind" when describing some of our listings. It is the nature of Maui Real Estate. There are a lot of unique homes on this island. Our newest listing might be the most unique that I have seen to date. Perhaps, it has something to do with the owner's background. This New York film producer draws from his east coast roots to bring a couple of architectural styles that you seldom if ever see on Maui. The exterior shake finish conjures up the the tasteful old homes of the Hamptons. The interior has the open floor plan and the modern style of a New York City loft. The setting is classic Upcountry Maui. The home is surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside and forest. The property was named the "See Forever Estate" due to its specatcular vistas of the Wailea Coastline, neighbor islands, and the West Maui Mountains. The synthesis of Hamptons, New York City Loft and Upcountry charm works. It helps to make this a truly unique estate property.

The open and airy first floor is 2000 square feet. 65 feet of seamless glass windows bring in the spectacular views.

A gourmet kitchen features Leicht cabinets, absolute black granite counters and Wolf, Bosch and Subzero appliances.

Another shot of the open and airy living space. The floors are 5" wide IPE planks accented with slate. Steel I beams hidden by concrete columns provide structural support. The house has central heat and gas fire places for those cool Upcountry Nights.

The 1,000 square foot spacious master suite boasts its own private lanai and a decadent master bath which includes a "wet room" with a Starck Tub and Dornbracht shower and body jets.

This shot shows the homes "Hampton Style" exterior, citrus orchard and the great views. A separate two car garage with artists studio is barely visible on the right hand side of the photo.

Sunsets are truly magical from the "See Forever Estate". These views and this exquisite home are offered at $3,473,000. Check out the property website for additional photos and details on the property. Check out MauiRealEstate.com for the MLS details on the property.

Eco-All Star's January Challenge-A Maui Perspective

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:58:08 -0600

The Hawaiian Islands are located farther from a continental land mass than any other island chain in the world. It is an important point to consider as we continue to rely on imported fossil fuels and imported food for our day to day living. Island home owners can make choices that will improve our self sufficiency and reduce our carbon footprint. The native Hawaiians were able to sustain a large population through the local environment. It is time that current residents start the steady shift back to this model of living.

Here are a few options that homeowners could take to make their island lifestyles more sustainable:

1) Improve your water heater. Electric water heaters are energy hogs plain and simple. Consider a solar water heater or an on demand water heater. The high cost of utilities on the island speeds the return on investement when installing any sort of device that improves your efficiency. It of course also means less demand for fossil fuels through the utility companies.

2) Power your house through a complete photovoltaic system or a wind turbine. Maui and Hawaii in general offer copious amounts of sun and wind. As with solar water heaters, return on investment for these upgrades is shorter due to high utility prices. Hawaii utility prices are quick to rise and slow to decrease. Until we reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, that is unlikely to change.

3) Plant a garden. Maui offers a year round growing season making your backyard an ideal spot for a veggie garden. If you have a little less space, a container garden will grow well even on the lanai of a condo. If you have a little more space, consider planting some fruit trees. Citrus, banana, avocado, papaya and mango all grow well throughout much of our beautiful island. If you really want to take the next step, consider a small chicken coop or some goats. They provide protein and manure to fertilize your garden. If you are looking for inspiration, the Dervaes family urban homestead in Pasadena shows how much you can do in even a small space. Growing your own food decreases our dependence on imported food, and it reduces your bill when you go to the grocery store. Imported fruits and veggies can be expensive!

The one area where this list is lacking is when it comes to new construction. While there are a few companies like Bamboo Technologies that have addressed green home construction on Maui, there is still considerable work to be done. While I have seen a few high end homes earn LEED status on Maui, sustainable design has been lacking on the low end. This is where the designs of Brad Pitt and the Make it Right Foundation would be a boon to a community like Maui. Maui developers are scheduled to build a significant number of affordable housing units on island over the next few years. Wouldn't it be nice if these homes were green and affordable? The designs would need little or no modification as our sub tropical climate is somewhat similar to New Orleans. The New Orleans homes are built on stilts, but it appears that they could be modified pretty quickly to be post and pier construction which is predominant throughout much of Hawaii. Were the Make it Right Foundation to sell these designs to Maui developers, the proceeds would help underwrite the cost of construction in the 9th Ward. It could be a true win win for all parties.

It is time for Maui and Hawaii to embrace green. Not only does it hold the opportunity to help the environment, over the long run it may very well save island home owners money.

1324 West Kuiaha Road Haiku

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:27:35 -0600

This four bedroom/three bath condominium home in Haiku is an interesting opportunity for buyers looking for a spacious move in ready home in a quiet country setting. The home has been extensively remodeled over the last couple of years. Recent improvements include completely upgraded bathrooms, new custom lighting, a new roof, a new solar hot water heater, new tile on the lanai deck, fresh paint, new carpet and more. There is even a recently finished gym area attached to the home via the garage. This home offers a flexible floor plan making it ideal for an extended family.

Set at the end of a quiet cul de sac off the main road, the home has a great country feel with views of rolling hills, Haleakala, the beautiful Pacific ocean and the eastern end of Molokai. This home is priced to sell at $699,000. Contact me for additional information or to arrange a showing. Click here for additional details and photos.

Price Reduction 183 Welau Way Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:11:39 -0600

We just had a nice price reduction on our listing at 183 Welau Way in Ka'anapali. This beautiful three bedroom/ three and a half bath executive home in the Summit gated community is made for entertaining. A pool, attached spa, and a huge covered lanai connected to the home via pocket doors all make for great indoor/outdoor living. A gourmet kitchen is ideal for preparing meals. The views are second to none with vistas of the Ka'anapali coastline, neighbor islands, sunsets and breaching humpback whales during our winter season.

This home was just reduced in price from $2,495,000 to $2,249,000. This home is co-listed with Mary Anne Fitch of Coldwell Banker Island properties. Contact us today for additional information or for a private showing.

Click here for a virtual tour of this beautiful Ka'anapali Residence.

Beyond Recycling

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:14:42 -0600

I recently came upon an interesting article on a surfing website. It is about a new campaign supported by the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Those that are green will recognize the three Rs. That is reduce, reuse and recycle. The new campaign calls for people to reduce, reuse and recycle only as a last resort. That doesn't mean plastics should be disposed of in the trash. Instead, it calls for members of the Surfrider foundation to be conscious in their choice and use of plastic products. While it is good to recycle your plastic water bottle, is it necessary to use the plastic water bottle in the first place?Could you instead use filtered tap water? The campaign targets water bottles and other things that they refer to as "single use plastics".

I think this is a pretty intelligent campaign when you consider the energy and materials used in the creation and transport of single use plastics. It is especially important now as current economic conditions have reduced the demand for recycled materials. More plastics that were put in recycling bins are ending up in landfills. You may wonder how a Surfing organization adapted this type of campaign. Most have heard of the great pacific garbage patch. Most surfers have seen the small bits of plastic that helped create this patch floating at their favorite surf spot or strewn on their favorite beach. Some of the most pristine and secluded surf spots in the world may still have floating plastics.

Regardless of whether or not you are a surfer, I hope you will catch the "wave" (awful pun intended) and start making some conscious decisions on the use of single use plastics. For Realtors, I have seen lots of plastic water bottles at open houses. I challenge you to find ways to serve beverages without using single use plastics.

Another Lazy Beach Day on Maui

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:10:47 -0600

My sister in law was recently over on a beach in West Maui when she came upon this Hawaiian Monk Seal enjoying a lazy day on the sand.

Hawaiian Monk Seals are endangered species. Every once in a while they will camp out on a more popular beach for a few days at a time. Due to its limited numbers, humans are asked not to disturb these cute pinnipeds. To limit human seal interaction, wildlife officers and/or county lifeguards will occasionally rope off the areas where a seal is lounging. I have seen a few on the beach myself and seen a couple out in the lineup while surfing. I feel pretty lucky to have had the opportunity to encounter these beautiful animals.

Obama and Hawaii

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:59:01 -0600

With president elect Barack Obama back on Oahu for vacation, there has been increased media focus on Obama and his relationship to Hawaii. In the last couple of days I read two very different articles on Obama and Hawaii that I thought were worth sharing. The first was a piece in the New York Times that looked at how Obama's Hawaii Upbringing helped contribute to his cool temperament. It also talks about how the multi-culturalism of Hawaii may have had an impact on his willingness to consider and accept a diversity of viewpoints.

Photo courtesy of Obama-Biden Transition Project via Creative Commons

The second article looked at how members of Hawaii's surfing community wanted to give Obama a keepsake to remember his island roots. While Obama is known to enjoy bodysurfing, he is not believed to be a surfer. That being said an Oahu surfboard shaper collaborated with a talented airbrush artist to create a board that they hope to have delivered to Obama to keep in the white house. The board is meant more for display than catching waves.

While Hawaii is part of the United States, there is no denying its unique and rich culture. The islands draw traditions from Polynesia, Asia and Europe. This multi-culturalism has an impact on all of Hawaii's residents including its most famous former inhabitants like the president elect.

52 Lae Place, Paia, Maui, Hawaii-The Perfect Maui Beach Cottage

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:07:34 -0600

A couple of years back, I had the opportunity to house sit for a friend of my brother. I hadn't seen the house before, but my brother raved about the place. It was one of his favorite homes on Maui. Despite the glowing advanced billing, the first time I saw the property it far exceeded my expectations. It was a blend of Hawaii Plantation Style Charm and modern convenience in a spectacular setting. Located directly across from the water it boasted absolutly stunning views. It was as close to a perfect beach cottage as I could imagine. We now have the privilege of listing this one of a kind home.

The home has a great covered lanai for checking out the beautiful waters of the Pacific and the West Maui Mountains.

This is the view from off the front porch. The house is located right across the street from the ocean with no chance of a home being built in front. At night, you can see the twinkling of city lights down the coast.

The home was originally built in 1938 and extensively remodeled in 2006. The goal was to modernize while maintaining plantation charm. One of the key elements of modernization was opening up the floor plan. The living room, dining area and kitchen flow together seamlessly. Vaulted ceilings add to a sense of airiness.

The remodel also included new wide plank pine flooring. The flooring helps give a warm touch to the home and maintains the old time plantation charm.

The kitchen includes a brand new 36" wolf range. That is a beautiful mango wood bar in the foreground.

There are a few other amenities worth mentioning on this home. There is central a/c, solar hot water, custom lighting and woodwork throughout the home. One bathroom has an enormous walk in shower. The other has a great old claw foot tub. There is also an outdoor shower and back yard hot tub for a relaxing soak after a day in the ocean. The detached garage also has a small office space and workshop when you need to put your head down and get some work done.

The home's great location goes beyond its proximity to the ocean. You are also just a short walk from the shops, restaurants and charm of Paia town. This home is offered for $2,850,000. Contact us for additional information or with questions.

Check out the MLS listing for more details and photos.

183 Welau Way- Beautiful Home for Sale in The Summit at Kaanapali Golf Estates

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:48:43 -0600

Billy just co-listed a wonderful home in the Summit at Kaanapali Golf Estates.This gorgeous three bed/three and a half bath home is great for entertaining. Property amenities include a pool with spa, a gourmet kitchen, a huge covered lanai accessible by Fleetwood pocket sliders, and a luxurious master suite with a spa like bath. The home boasts beautiful views of the Pacific, neighbor islands, sunsets and winter whales.

The property's location may be one of its best amenities. Located behind the gates of the Summit at Kaanapali, this home is a short bike or golf cart ride to Championship Caliber Golf courses and world renowned Kaanapali Beach. The home is being offered for $2,495,000. With over 4,500 square feet under roof, it compares well on a cost per square foot basis in the local market. This property is co-listed with Mary Anne Fitch of Coldwell Banker Island properties. Contact us today for additional information.

Click here for the MLS information on the property.

Aerial Tour of Pali Makai Estate Part II

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:59:48 -0600

This is part II of my aerial tour of the Pali Makai Oceanfront Estate in Haiku, Maui, Hawaii. You can check out part I here if you missed yesterday's post. These posts illustrate this spectacular estate's stunning setting as well as a few of the home's design elements.

This shot shows the back of the home. It offers a good perspective on the wrap around covered lanai on the second floor. It is also provides a good angle on the Balinese style roof line on the home. This roof design helps keep the house cooler on warm days.

This side angle shows the covered lanai on the west side of the house. There is a sliding glass divider on the second floor lanai. The divider will keep you dry and out of the wind in even the windiest trade wind squalls.

This is a photo from another helicopter trip over Pali Makai. While the most recent trip provided some beautiful photos and great shots of this wonderful property, this is the best photo that I have seen showing the dramatic cliffs of Haiku where the house is situated. It helps illustrate how this is a truly one of a kind property. The Pali Makai estate is listed for $3,850,000. Contact us for additional information or to set up a showing. Click here for additional photos and a virtual tour.

Aerial Tour of the Pali Makai Estate Part One

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:25:55 -0600

We just put our listing the Pali Makai Estate back on the market today. This amazing 5.8 acre oceanfront estate is located in the town of Haiku on Maui's North Shore. The home's materials and finishing are all five star. While words can't quite capture the home's spectacular setting. Recently, my brother Billy had an opportunity to fly over Pali Makai to take some photos. The photos give a good idea of this estate's amazing location as well of some of the design elements.

The home is part of a gated three lot subdivision. The Pali Makai Estate is on the right hand side of the photo. There is a second lot that shares the main peninsula with Pali Makai. The property line is roughly where there is a change in the color of the grass to the left of the line of palm trees. The third lot is down in the gulch on the left side of the picture. The bay below the house is pretty spectacular. During the winter time, massive waves will roll into the bay throwing up huge plumes of spray when they collide against the cliff line. The bay is also popular with humpback whales during their winter migration to the water's off of Maui.

The design and architecture of the home draws influence and materials from Bali and Indonesia. Lush landscaping adds to the tropical ambience.The landscaping is augmented with antique Buddhas and carved stones.

The cedar roof is three inch split pitch cedar with hand made roof hips. The garage doors and windows are made of copper. The small structure in the foreground is the well house for the private water system that services the community.

The driveway by the house is stamped concrete. The port cochere makes for an elegant entry way. Also of note, there is a small volcanic rock island visible in the background. Shore line access is difficult, but intrepid types will be rewarded with good snorkeling around the island during calm conditions.

Look for part II for additional aerial photos of this one of a kind Hawaii Estate property.

This home is offered at $3,850,000. Contact me for additional information or to arrange a showing.

Click here for Part II of the Aerial Tour.

Just Listed Grand Champions Wailea Unit #2 2 Bed/2 Bath

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:54:46 -0600

We just listed a great 2 bed/ 2 bath condo with lock off in the Grand Champions condominiums in the heart of the Wailea Resort. This original condition unit has been very well maintained throughout the years. It is in a quiet location within the complex. Other unit amenities include a private lanai, vaulted ceilings and attic storage.

Grand Champions is located close to all of Wailea's amenities. You are within walking distance of the Wailea Blue Golf Course and the Wailea Tennis Club. You are within 5 minutes of the Gold and Emerald Courses, the Shops at Wailea, World Class Dining at the resorts and of course Wailea's award winning white sand beaches.

This property is offered furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished for $599,000. The motivated seller will consider offers! Contact me for additional information or to arrange a showing.

Check out the MLS listing details for additional information and photos of the condo.

Behind the October Maui Condo Stats

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:45:48 -0600

Last month, I posted on some interesting happenings in the Maui Condo market. The September median of $388,500 was significantly lower than the August median of $625,000. Our October Maui Real Estate Statistics proved September wasn't an anomaly when the median came in at $402,500. So what gives? Has the bottom dropped out? Are we seeing plumeting prices? I will try to answer these questions and provide a few other observations on last month's condo sales below.

It is clear that we are seeing price adjustments throughout the condo market. That being said, the big drop off in median condo prices is not a reflection of the actual changes in value in the Maui condos. Condos did not depreciate 38% between August and September. In my post on September condo stats, I argued that the big drop in medians may be a sign of shifting market activity. The luxury condo market on Maui remained resilient throughout 2007 and the first half of 2008. The volume of activity at the high end was pushing up the median prices while most of the condo market were seeing modest downward price adjustment. This appears to have shifted in the last couple of months with volume of sales dipping sharply in the high end and volume of sales increasing on the low end of the market. This is the cause of the big drop in median prices more so than depreciation.

The numbers provide clear support to a shift in market activity.I took a look at the percentage of the total monthly sales volume that was occuring at the high end of the market and what percent was occuring at the low end of the market. I did this for the months of January, August and October. I designated prices of >$800,000 as the high end and <$300,000 as the low end of the market. Here is how they stacked up.

For January, the percentage of the total volume of sales >$800,000 =37%. The percentage of the total volume of sales < $300,000 =13%
For August, the percentage of the total volume of sales >$800,000=41%. The percentage of the total volume of sales <$300,000=14%
For October, the percentage of the total volume of sales >$800,000=17%. Ther percentage of the total volume of sales <$300,000=26%

It is likely that the cooling in the high end market, may have started even earlier than the numbers would indicate. Our August numbers were bolstered by a significant number of new project closes. Just over 27% of the total sales volume for October were high end new project closes. Most of these were based on contracts that were drafted a couple of years back.

In addition to the trend in median prices, we are seeing a clear trend in diminished volume of sales. We have been under 60 sales per month since June with one exception. Fall is traditionally our slowest time of year for sales volume. It will be intereting to see if we have a jump towards the start of 2009. The winter months traditionally represent peak buyer season as we see more off island visitors.

With price adjustments and less competition, there are some opportunities out there for buyers. I have talked to a number of buyers who are waiting to see greater decreases on list prices. That being said, some buyers are being rewarded by making lower offers. List prices aren't always the best indication of seller motivation. Browsing through October's sales, I noted sales prices 14%, 17% and 19% below list price. The highest priced sale for the month was a beautiful luxury condo at Wailea Beach Villas that closed at $7,800,000. It was a wopping 28% below list price. Another savy buyer bought three condos as a bulk sale at the Kai Makani development in Kihei. One of the three units closed for 34% below list price. This supports the old real estate adage that it never hurts to make offers.

Contact me for additional information on the Maui Condo market and Maui Condos for Sale. You can browse through the current Maui MLS listings for Condos or do a custom search or Maui inventory.

Paia Happenings

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:47:12 -0600

I just wanted to do a quick post highlighting some Paia merchant news. First and foremost, Simmer is having their annual fall sale tomorrow. Simmer is one of our neighbors at the Shops at Paia Bay. Their sales are always a big draw as they offer upto 75% off on clothing, surfing and windsurfing gear. They usually have food, refreshments and a drawing towards the end of the day. Get their early before all the good stuff gets snatched up.

It is also worth noting that Indigo Paia has just launched a new website. They are another neighbor of the Jim Sanders Office located just east of us in the Paia General Store Building. Indigo offers beautiful imports from Asia. Their hand woven, organic dye rugs are the best available in the island. They also have a great selection of jewelry, home furnishings, photos and more. Come support Paia's local merchants.

Welcome Jen Tempchin!

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:09:08 -0600

I want to extend a warm Active Rain Welcome to Jen Tempchin of Century 21 All Islands' Wailea Office. In the time that I have known Jen, I have seen first hand that she is a good agent, a great ambasador for the island of Maui, an avid social networker and a fun person. Jen works with clients all over the island with a focus on South Maui Real Estate. She is an avid scuba diver, traveler and adventurer. Hopefully with a little bit of prompting, she will come out of her shell and do some blogging on AR. She has some good stories to tell.

The Class Act at Maui Culinary Academy

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:06:50 -0500

As a world class destination resort, Maui offers some fantastic dining options. The quality of our restaurants is bolstered by the island's access to fresh produce and seafood. We also benefit by the diversity of cultures on the island that bring a variety of food preparations from throughout the Pacific and other parts of the globe. Maui restaurants and resorts do not have to go far to find the culinary talent that prepares our island's food. The Maui Culinary Academyat Maui Community College prepares students in one of the three specialties of culinary arts, baking and restaurant supervision. Students at the Culinary Academy have the opportunity to showcase their skills at The Class Act Restaurant and Exhibition Kitchen.

The Class Act is a real jewel of Maui. It offers a four course gourmet lunch at the very reasonable price of $28 plus gratuity. I have had the opportunity to eat there on two separate occasions and all courses of the meal were quite good. The preparation was excellent and the fresh Maui produce used in a number of the courses was quite tasty. Diners have an opportunity to watch the young chefs prepare the meals and the menu uses local produce extensively. Restaurant patrons can select from a few different daily entree options from a rotating menu. The Class Act is located in the Pa'ina building on the Maui Community College campus in Kahului. The hours are from 11:00-12:30 on selected weekdays. While the restaurant is a hidden gem, it has a loyal following. Interested parties should make reservations.

Changes in the Maui Condo Market and a Cautionary Tale on Real Estate Statistics

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:44:00 -0500

Small market real estate statistics can pose a challenge. When you have a relatively small sample size, median and average sales prices may swing significantly based on new development sales, bulk purchases, or increased activity in one price range in the market. That leaves median and average prices as a poor indicator of actual changes in value. We have seen this effect with statistics on Maui.

Our condo market has been more resilient than most. There were relatively few condos financed with sub-prime loans and International demand was strong through much of 2007-2008 as Canadians and Europeans took advantage of the strength of their respective currencies. That being said, we saw price adjustments starting in the low end of the market in 2006 with changes coming to a greater portion of the market in 2007. Now all but the most luxurious properties have seen price adjustments. Despite these dynamics, our median prices managed to stay high and in some cases hit new highs.

How did median prices hold steady when comparable condos were selling for less this year than what they were selling for just one year earlier? The answer has to do with the segments of the market that saw more activity. While the low end and the middle of the market saw lower sales volumes, we saw a surge in volume in our ultra luxury condos. Condos over $2,000,000 sold in significant numbers. The surge was due in part to a bevy of new project sales and a pretty healthy volume of high end resales.

The September Maui Real Estate statistics produced some pretty eye catching numbers. The condo numbers in particular were interesting in that the formerly resilient median condo prices tumbled dramatically. The median was $244,000 below last month's median and $210,500 below September of 2007. What caused this drop? Did the bottom fall out on the market? As I mentioned before, we have been seeing price adjustments in our market for sometime, but the drop we saw this month can again be traced to changes in activity in different segments of the market. September saw the fewest high end new development closes than any other month this year. While the low end of the market saw increasing activity as buyers are starting to take advantage of the opportunities presented in this market.

What does this all mean? Well it is in part a cautionary tale. It points to the dangers of small market statistics at face value. It also is a heads up to keep an eye for a shift in the condo market. One month may be an anomaly. If we see a series of months where high end condo sales are down, it may be indicative of a cooling in our luxury market. This would not be too big of a surprise in light of the current global financial picture. We are due for another artificial bump in medians sometime in January of February as we will start seeing sales recording for Honua Kai. That will be another thing that needs to be filtered out when trying to sort out the state of the Maui Real Estate market. I will keep you posted.

High Walkability in a Small Beach Town on Maui

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:43:53 -0500

A few months back, I found out about a website called Walk Score. The site allows you to plug in an address and it assigns a walkability score based on the addresses' proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, libraries, schools, restaurants etc. It is a great tool and a valuable asset to those that want to find a property that allows you to reduce your reliance on a car.

The one issue I noticed with walk score was that the best results were skewed towards the big cities. That makes sense. If you plop yourself down in the Center of Times Square, chances are you will find every type of shop, restaurant and/or community service within a half dozen city blocks. There is certainly something to be said about the green nature of urban living. That being said, not everyone is seeking city living. There are small towns out there that offer a host of amenities that are accesible without ever taking your car out of your driveway. My little town of Paia on the North Shore of Maui is one of those towns.

My brother Billy recently took a helicopter flight over portions of the island and was able to take a pretty good photo of Paia from above. This photo captures the majority of our community's small downtown. I took the photo and numbered a listing that I have in downtown Paia as well as some of the amenities in the community. I think this photo does a great job capturing all that is available to residents of the neighborhoods in and around downtown Paia. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

My listing in downtown Paia. This is a cute plantation style home with lots of soul.
Cafe Mambo is a great little restaurant that serves international fare ranging from Morrocan to Nuevo Mexican to burgers and salads. Our little town does not have a movie theater, but it does have Mambo Movie night every Thursday which features Cinema Classics and cult favorites.
Mana Foods is a Natural Foods Store that draws shoppers from all over the island of Maui. It offers a lot of organic and locally grown products.
Moana Cafe offers great food and an entertaining Monday open mic night. The Paia Post Office is about 200 yards up the road from this picture. Also out of view are Fresh Mint, a Vietnamese Vegetarian Restaurant and Haz Beanz Coffee Shop.
There are three great bars and restaurants along this block. Milagros Cafe offers Nuevo Mexican and great outdoor seating. Jacques offers international cuisine and great sushi in a cool indoor/outdoor setting. Charleys is a Paia Institution renowned for its breakfasts and celebrity musical performers.
Paia Fish Market offers great fish and good prices in a very laid back atmoshphere. It has the best fish sandwich on the island.
The Paia Youth and Cultural Center is just out of view in this photo. It is a real jewel of the town. PYCC offers a lot of great programs including a skate park, girls club, media lab, cafe, a radio station and more.
Paia Bay Beach Park is a beautiful beach for a swim during the summer and surfing and boogie boarding during winter months. There is also a community basketball court in the park.
There is a good little Thai restaurant in this location. This little cluster of shops also hosts special events on occasion.
The Flatbread company has been a fantastic addition to Maui since it opened its doors in late 2006. This pizza place offers pizza with local and organic ingredients cooked in its own wood fired stoves. It hosts a community night every Tuesday where a portion of sales benefits a local non-profit.
Side by side are Anthony's Coffee Company and a new pharmacy expected to open in the week. The pharmacy will be a welcome addition to the community eliminating the need to drive elsewhere to get prescriptions filled.
Ono Gelato offers a variety of delicious gelato with lots of yummy local flavors and ingredients.
This is the location of the shops of Paia Bay. Chances are you might find me here in my office at Jim Sanders Realty or having a coffee next door at the Morning Glories Internet Cafe.
Fiesta Time is a good little mexican place offering good fish tacos and burritos. If you want to pick up a nice bottle of wine, beer or other spirits, the Wine Corner is just two doors down.
Cafe Des Amis is a good little restaurant with an interesting combination of crepes and curries as the two main menu attractions. They recently opened a great outdoor seating area.

As you can see, my little beach town has a lot to offer within a condensed area. The food alone is enough to keep you satisfied for weeks. While it may only have a walk score in the 60s, I can make do just fine leaving my car parked for days on end. If there are amenities that I can't get in town, Central Maui is only ten minutes by car or county bus.

If a walkable beach town on Maui sounds like something up your alley, you can check out all of the current Paia real estate listings on my website or you can contact me for assistance.

Back Road to Hana Open

Pete Jalbert R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty, Inc. ) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:04:19 -0500

The Road to Hana is one of Maui's most famous tourist attractions. This windy road with numerous one way bridges accesses the beautiful community of Hana on the east end of Maui. The road traverses some of the most spectacular terrain on Maui with lush rainforest, cascading water falls, gorgeous ocean vistas and panoramas of the jagged east Maui coast. For almost two years, the Road to Hana experience was incomplete. In October of 2006, an earthquake with an epicenter just off the coast of the Big Island shook the Hawaiian Islands. The quake resulted in limited damage on Maui, but the Southeast corner of the island felt the heaviest shocks. The shaking was strong enough to damage one of the bridges past Hana. Additional inspection revealed that a number of the cliffs that lined the road between Kipahulu and Kaupo had become unstable. The county worked to stabilize the cliffs removing loose rocks and covering the cliffs with protective steel mesh. In the interim, a section of road between the small communities of Kaupo and Kipahulu were closed. This was a hardship on the local communities. It also meant that you could no longer go to Hana via a loop. It was an out and back along the north east coast.

The road to Hana highlighted in grey on the map below.

While the out and back drive is still incredibly beautiful, there is something to be said about the loop that navigates around the flanks of Haleakala Volcano. The neat thing about driving the Road to Hana as a loop is the diversity of climate and flora that you encounter along the way. The road starts in beautiful and tropical Haiku. As you head east, you head deeper into the rain forest and the scenery is progressively more lush. As you arrive in Hana, you encounter a mix of rolling hillsides and pastures dotted with more lush foliage. The stretch between Hana and Kipahulu is almost as lush as the areas just north of Hana. The Oheo Gulch area of Haleakala national park also known as the "seven sacred pools" is located along this strech to the road. It is a stunninging location where beatiful freshwater pools cascade into the ocean.

A waterfall emerging from the bamboo forest in the Kipahulu of Haleakala National Park

Fresh water stream meets the Pacific Ocean in the Kipahulu Section of Haleakala National Park

Somewhere in the Kaupo/Kipahulu area of the Road to Hana

It is when you go past Kipahulu and past the stretch of formerly closed road that you really see some changes. While most of the Road to Hana is on the windward sides of the island. The back side of the Road to Hana is on the South Side of Haleakala volcano. The volcano shields this area from the bulk of the precipitation that reaches Maui via the north east trade winds. This section of Maui is arid with light vegetation. It is a stark contrast to the dense Jungle of the Nahiku area. The limited vegetation also allows you to get a better view of the raw geology of the area. Canyons run down the south flank of Haleakala. The area almost reminds me of somewhere in the Desert West of the United States. Of Course, you don't have panoramic views of the Pacific in the West Desert.

A canyon coming down the South Face of Haleakala between Kaupo and Ulupalakua. This photo was taken mid winter so the area looks greener than usual.

If you head further west on the road, you begin a steady rise in elevation as you move into Maui's Upcountry. You are entering yet another ecological zone on Maui as you approach Ulupalakua. The arid South side of Haleakala is green in the winter fading to brown in the summer dry season. Starting near Ulupalakua, the foliage is green year round. This area of Maui's Upcountry is frequently cloaked in clouds and prone to summer showers. In addition to the perpetually green grass, there are groves of towering non-native eucalyptus trees around the Ulupalakua Ranch. This is the third The vistas of Central Maui, the West Maui Mountains, Kahoolawe and Lanai in this area are breath taking. About ten minutes past Ulupalakua, the road begins to straighten and the road to Hana experience comes to an end. Though, I imagine you will carry many memories with you for some time to come.

I had a planned a camping trip out to Hana last weekend for my birthday. I was excited to hear that the back road to Hana had opened in the two weeks before the trip. I took the back way to get there going through the Upcountry and then crossing the south flank of Haleakala. It was great to be on this stretch of road again. The efforts of the engineers and road crews were evident as there was a lot of protective netting along the formerly unstable cliffs. After a couple of nights of camping by the Seven Sacred Pools, we headed back on Sunday through Nahiku and Haiku completing our loop. Like any trip to Hana, it was magical.