Maui Real Estate

The best location in Keonekai Heights!

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:41:32 -0500

MAUI REAL ESTATE'S LEADING EDGE

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2526 Omiko Place - Kihei

The best location in Keonekai Heights! Featuring an extra large 0.28 acre lot and a quiet, end of a cul-de-sac setting, this home offers a hint of ocean view. The main home has two bedrooms upstairs with a large lanai perfect for entertaining and enjoying the sunset. The remodeled kitchen features granite counters and stainless steel appliances. The downstairs has an additional bedroom and bath as well as a spacious bonus room perfect for a home gym or secondary living area. The detached 600 square foot ohana completes this amazing South Maui Value!

Learn More about this property at: www.2526OmikoPlace.com

Offered At: $759,000

See Additional Photos Below...

Home Facts
Bedrooms	5
Baths	4
Area	2542 sqft
Lot	~0.3 acres

For more Information on

Maui Real Estate

and Makena Real Estate

Wailea and Makena Real Estate.

TOLL FREE (866) 476-MAUI - Email info@tomandsean.com

Thomas D. Muldoon, Realtor (B)
Cell: (808) 870-9083
Email: tom@tomandsean.com

Coldwell Banker Island Properties
Wailea Town Center - 161 Wailea Ike Place - Ste A-104 - Wailea, Maui, Hawaii 96753

Sean P. Crowley, Realtor (S)
Cell: (808) 281-8706
Email: sean@tomandsean.com

DECLINING NATIONAL INVENTORY

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:01:50 -0500

In today's Wall Street Journal the following

The number of homes listed for sale in many U.S. cities continued to fall in April in what some analysts see as a sign that the market may be nearing a bottom...The supply of homes for sale in 29 major metropolitan areas at the end of April was down 3.6% from a month earlier, according to figures compiled by ZipRealty Inc., a real-estate brokerage firm based in Emeryville, Calif.

This is excellent news although the period being examined is relatively short.

In some of the markets most affecting Maui real estate Bakersfield inventory was down 14%, Orange County was down 8%, San Diego and Sacramento 5%, Las Vegas down 11%, Los Angeles down 14%.

This is GREAT news.

INCREDIBLE FINANCING AT KAI ANI VILLAGE

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:00:09 -0500

Victory Development Hawaii in conjunction with Wells Fargo Bank is offering an extraordinary financing opportunity at Kai Ani Village. Today, qualified buyers in buildings 1,2 and 3 can obtain financing a full percentage point below that available in the marketplace generally for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Today those rates would be in the 4.25% range. That savings translates to approximately $300 per month and $100,000 over the life of the loan. For details contact us at Coldwell Banker Island Properties.

MAUI SUNRISE

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:56:15 -0500

THE CASE FOR BUYING NOW

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:53:34 -0500

From the Wall Street Journal's Bret Arends

Maybe the moment of maximum pessimism is at hand after all…So let me play devil's advocate and consider the positive case for buying a home right now. The key factor: Interest rates. If you can borrow at 4.5% or 5% over 30 years, many purchases start to look appealing. Especially if we get a hefty dose of inflation down the line. If that happens, your monthly payments will be low and you'd get to repay the principal over time with devalued dollars. That's a double win.

The entire article is worth a read.

ANOTHER TOM AND SEAN ESCROW

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:53:41 -0600

We are pleased to announce that Makena Surf unit B-107 has been placed under contract. This extraordinary property is listed for $3.75 million. The market for Maui real estate may be slow, but the Leading Edge Marketing Plan continues to prove its effectiveness. For more information on The Leading Edge Marketing Pan, contact us.

Don't just list your home. Sell it!

MORGAN STANLEY ON 2009

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:49:31 -0600

Richard Brenner of Morgan Stanley has been one of the better economic prognosticators recently. Here is his take on 2009 and how it applies to Maui real estate.

The Global economy will grow at only .9%
Home prices in the US will fall another 7%

This is not good news for Maui real estate, but as Brenner sees the economy rebounding in the second half of the year, one wonders if we are finally near the bottom.

NOVEMBER MAUI TOURISM RESULTS

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:48:14 -0600

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has released theMaui tourism numbers for November. Here are the highlights.

Air visitors fell 15% in November
Domestic visitors down 16%
Canadian visitor count was up 23%
Per day spending was down 11%

These numbers are actually a bit of a year over year improvement compared to the July-October period, but it is still not good.

OCTOBER HOME SALES

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:32:24 -0600

Another dismal housing report. The Census Bureau reported October new home sales to be as follows:

Sales of new one-family houses in October 2008 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 5.3 percent (±15.0%)* below the revised September of 457,000 and is 40.1 percent (±9.9%) below the October 2007 estimate of 723,000. The median sales price of new houses sold in October 2008 was $218,000; the average sales price was $272,300. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of October was 381,000. This represents a supply of 11.1 months at the current sales rate.

There is no way to feel good about this report.

ANOTHER TOM AND SEAN MAUI ESCROW

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:33:11 -0600

We are pleased to announce that Kamaole Sands unit 4-408 has gone into escrow. This remodeled two bedroom unit features an ocean view and a large lanai. More evidence that even in the difficult Maui real estate market, the Leading Edge Marketing System works! Contact Us for More Information on the Leading Edge Marketing System.

View From Lanai

PRICE REDUCTIONS IN KAI MALU

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:29:02 -0600

Kai Malu unit 38-B, currently rented and in excellent condition has reduced its asking price to $1,185,888. This three bedroom unit is new, offers three bedrooms and access to Kai Malu's wonderful amenities. 24-B, with downstairs mast and a wonderful ocean view has been reduced to $1.285,888. Both of these units nor represent great values.

GEBERAL MAUI UPDATE

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:23:23 -0600

Activity on Maui continues to be very slow. The Maui real estate market is a function of tourism and tourism remains down dramatically from a year ago. List price reductions are no coming daily and it remains a buyers market. We are now seeing a little more foreclosure activity but it is still not driving values in this market. For details, contact us!

JP MORGAN PLAN ON MORTGAGES

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:49:34 -0600

JP Morgan has announced that they will modify the terms on $70 billion of mortgages.

JP Morgan launched an ambitious plan Friday to modify the terms of $70 billion in mortgages for borrowers who are behind on their payments or soon could be. The move by the New York bank will cover as many as 400,000 borrowers. They'll be moved into loans carrying lower interest rates, smaller principal amounts or other more-affordable terms. The changes will particularly focus on a type of loan structured in such a way that the borrower's outstanding balance sometimes grows month after month. J.P. Morgan inherited $54 billion of such loans with its takeover of the beleaguered thrift Washington Mutual Inc. in September.

This is one of several plans in the works to assist homeowners nationally. While this may not affect Maui directly it clearly will help the national market.

THE CONTINUING CREDIT CRISIS AND THE RECESSION

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:31:33 -0500

Over the past several days there have been several major events on which to report.

First on the general economy. If we weren't sure? We are now. The recession is here. If the economy shrank .3% in the quarter ended September? Then it isn't going to improve between now and December given the fallout from the financial trainwreck in October;
The Federal Reserve has cut the Fed Funds rate to 1% from 1.5%, citing declining consumer spending;
Wells Fargo has completed their sale of $25 billion in preferred stock to the US Treasury;
The credit markets continue to creep, and we mean creep, into improvement but no significant improvements as of yet;

For more details, contact us.

LATEST CASE SHILLER RESULTS

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:28:05 -0500

Standard and Poor's has released their Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for August.

Data through August 2008 released by Standard and Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of US home prices, shows continued broad based declines in the prices of existing single family homes across the United States.

What the press release doesn't go into is a very interesting phenomenon in markets Maui property owners would care about. In markets like Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver, the rate of price declines slowed in August. What do we mean. Well in Los Angeles for example the August monthly decline was 1.8%. Multiply that by 12 for an annual decline and you get 21.6%. A terrible number, but better than the last twelve month decline of 26.7%. In other words the rate of decline is slowing. A speck of good news anyway. Now to be fair, this sales data all came in advance of the October financial markets meltdown. For details, contact us.

Large Kihei home with Attached Ohana - Nice Price!

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:56:32 -0500

Real Estate's Leading

TOLL FREE: (866) 476-MAUI
EMAIL US:

info@tomandsean.com

37 Hoolalei Way

Nice Home in Kihei!

This immaculate home is located on a cul-de-sac in the conveniently located Keala Hills subdivision. This three-bedroom home is close to shopping, fine dining and Maui's exceptional beaches. The 1820 square foot floorplan includes a great room that opens onto a covered lanai perfect for entertaining. The home boasts central a/c, vaulted ceilings, a huge master suite and views of Haleakala.

There is also a one bedroom attached ohana for guests, extended family or income. The lush landscaping provides a private, tropical feeling and the fenced in yard is perfect for pets. At this price this is a remarkable value.

www.37Hoolalei.com

Offered At: $799,000

See Additional Photos Below...

Home Facts
Bedrooms	3
Baths	3
Area	1820 sqft
Ohana
Bedrooms	1
Baths	1
Area	588 sqft

For more Information on

Maui Real Estate

and Makena Real Estate

Wailea and Makena Real Estate.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SALES JUMP

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:12:54 -0500

Dataquick has announced that sales in Southern California jumped dramatically in September:

Southern California home sales shot up by an unprecedented 65 percent last month from the dismal, record lows of a year ago, when a credit crunch slammed the brakes on home financing. September sales also posted a rare gain over August as price cuts lured more buyers. Foreclosure resales rose to half of all transactions..."You have to view last month's sales in the proper context," he cautioned. "They represent escrow closings, which reflect purchase decisions made in mid-to-late summer. That was before the dramatic worsening of the nation's economic crisis in recent weeks. Over the next few weeks our sales data will begin to show how the meltdown in financial markets this fall has impacted housing demand."

So while this is undeniably good news, the question becomes is it sustainable and how long before this trend hits Maui? Economists estimate the lag is usually six months.

THE BAILOUT VERSION 2

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:45:13 -0500

The Federal Government will buy approximately $125 billion of preferred stock in nine large banks in the first step of injecting $250 billion in banks across the country. Here are the key components of the plan:

The structure will be as a dividend paying perpetual preferred stock
Dividend rate to be 5% initially and increasing to 9% after five years
Companies that return the money in 2009 will get better terms
B of A, JP Morgan and Citigroup will get $25 billion each
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley will get $10 million each
BONY and State Street will get lesser amounts
FDIC will guarantee newly issued senior debt issued by these firms for a period of three years

To give some idea of just how massive these injections are as of June 30, Citigroup had a little over $100 billion in tangible shareholders equity and another $27 billion in perpetual preferred. This infusion will increase the shareholders equity by approximately 20% and could potentially increase Citigroups' ability to lend by a staggering $300 billion. For Bank of America that would also increase lending capacity by $300 billion. This is why this is a superior answer to the credit crunch compared to the initial legislation that passed two weeks ago. Indeed the TED spread we talked about as an indicator of the health of the credit markets has already eased somewhat.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR... (aka when will it end)

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:21:58 -0500

If there is one key tool that will tell us when the credit crunch and problems in the financial markets are easing? It is the TED Spread. That is the gap between three-month US Treasuries (the risk free rate) and three month Libor (the rate at which banks lend to one another). Historically that rate has been a fraction of one percent. It spiked in September 2008 to over 2% and has increased since last month to well over 4%. A chart can be seen here. When this ratio declines it will be good news and when it it under 1% this crisis is likely nearing its end.

THE LATEST...

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:17:47 -0500

Another eventful weekend. The Morgan Stanley Mitsubishi transaction is being renegotiated but is likely to be completed. Were that to not happen, it would really rattle the markets. Germany has announced a $400 billion bailout of its banks. European leaders are considering guaranteeing all interbank lending. Clearly there is now worldwide political will to infuse capital into banks in return for a taxpayer ownership stake. This is MUCH better idea in our view than buying troubled mortgage assets directly.

National governments around the world have agreed to do what is necessary to prevent another major financial institution from failing, the International Monetary Fund's managing director said, although he didn't specify any measures.During weekend meetings, the IMF's 185 member nations endorsed an earlier commitment by the leading industrial nations to "use all available tools" to prevent the failure of "systemically important" financial institutions. Essentially that meant "no one is going to let an important financial institution fail," said the IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

WORLDWIDE RATE CUT

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:11:41 -0500

In response to the ongoing financial crisis, central banks from six countries have announced a joint interest rate cut:

Some easing of global monetary conditions is therefore warranted. Accordingly, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, Sveriges Riksbank, and the Swiss National Bank are today announcing reductions in policy interest rates. The Bank of Japan expresses its strong support of these policy actions.

Federal Reserve Actions
The Federal Open Market Committee has decided to lower its target for the federal funds rate 50 basis points to 1-1/2 percent. The Committee took this action in light of evidence pointing to a weakening of economic activity and a reduction in inflationary pressures.

ANOTHER TOM AND SEAN MAUI CLOSING

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:28:44 -0500

We are pleased to announce the sale of Wailea Ekolu 1603. This beautiful two-bedroom condominium has been thoroughly renovated. Once again the LEADING EDGE REAL ESTATE MARKETING SYSTEM succeeds in a difficult market.

Wailea Ekolu nestles into the foothills of Haleakala and lies within walking distance of the Shops at Wailea and this world famous resort's other amenities. Only a minute away is a selection of Maui's finest beaches as well as Wailea's three golf courses. Owners of Wailea Ekolu appreciate the two swimming pools, the complex's recreation center and available golf privileges, and the flexibility to utilize the property as a vacation rental.

Beautifully remodeled and privately located, Wailea Ekolu 1603 provides a serene and peaceful haven available only on Maui. With two en suite bedrooms and what is essentially a private yard, this luxurious, 1071 square foot condominium boasts the feel of a single family home and twenty-first century appointments. The spacious floorplan includes three tiled lanais and an open design. The kitchen has been lovingly remodeled and includes slab granite countertops, maple Merillat cabinets (including pullouts galore), new Kitchen Aid appliances, Elco recessed lighting, Delta faucets, instant hot water and a wine refrigerator.

THE CREDIT CRUNCH HITS MAUI

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:18:07 -0500

We have been saying for several months that the direct impact of the issues facing the credit markets on Maui has been small. That is no longer the case.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. and its partners in the Kapalua Bay Hotel redevelopment have had to advance money to pay contractors after losing financing from the bankrupt Lehman Brothers. Lehman had an agreement to loan $370 million for the project, or 61.6 percent of the total cost. But the investment firm filed for bankruptcy Sept. 15, a week before it had been scheduled to release the next funding installment. Other lenders provided 22 percent of the payment, but Lehman failed to release its share, or $27.7 million, according to a disclosure ML&P filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While our guess is that this will not slow down the completion of that project, other new projects on Maui are clearly being affected:

Developer Everett Dowling, who is pursuing the expansion of Makena Resort, said he plans to complete projects that are already under way. But he has shelved proposals for new projects because of the difficulty in getting financing for resort developments, and because financing costs more when it is available.

What does this mean for Maui real estate? Less new product for buyers to choose from, fewer construction jobs and some cushion on high end values.

DECLINING INVENTORY ON MAUI

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:11:12 -0500

Over the last two weeks we have seen a number of cancellations of listings. The number of condominiums for sale in Wailea-Makena has declined to 160, down from an average of 180 over the last year. Single family homes have similarly declined to 42 from a high of 50. We will keep you apprised as to whether this is a permanent decision on the part of owners or merely frustration with the events of the past few weeks.

Best View in Kai Makani Beach Villas

Sean Crowley (Tom and Sean Maui Real Estate) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:34:14 -0500

Real Estate's Leading

TOLL FREE: (866) 476-MAUI
EMAIL US:

info@tomandsean.com

Kai Makani U-202

Great Vacation Rental!

Perhaps the best ocean view unit at Kai Makani. upstairs 2B/2B unit comes fully furnished-turnkey. Vacant and very easy to show.

www.U-202KaiMakani.com

Offered At: $649,000

See Additional Photos Below...

Home Facts
Bedrooms	2
Baths	2
Area	1075 sqft

For more Information on

Maui Real Estate

and Makena Real Estate

Wailea and Makena Real Estate.