By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman
Featured in Localism.com!
My home is where I choose to make it. And I made it here in Hawaii!
Whether it be the military or retirees that are relocating to Hawaii our islands offer a paradise that is unmatched. Why? We are the 50th state. The ALOHA state. Our beautiful scenery and tropical warm weather compliment the word "paradise". WE ARE the gateway to the Orient, Australia and the Continental United States.
Please click here for a special virtual tour of my home, Hawaii.
Our population is so diverse and unique in culture with such a large number of ethnic groups and defines our local life. In the last 200 years Hawaii has become home to such ethnic groups of Hawaiian, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Marshallese, Guamanian, African American, Caucasian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Portugese..... And these are just to name a few! Now this also makes for a variety of different foods!
There are so many neighborhoods to choose from according to personal criteria.
- Mountain preference? So you can have your own little hideaway looking down on the city or ocean!
- Oceanside preference? With open restaurants to view the ocean scenery!
- Suburban preference? And close to all the shopping centers and malls!
- City preference? Close to work, city life, night life!
- Country preference? Agricultural or just wide open space!
It's at your beck and call. Sometimes a client of mine will get discouraged after walking into several homes. I reassure them and recite my same line, "You will feel it and instantly know...when you walk into that right home". The neighborhood will surely be the first point. Secondly, it will be the criteria for the house, townhouse, or condo that will bring you closer to home ownership.
My personal experience: I grew up in Mililani, Hawaii which is centrally located on the island of Oahu and it is 5 minutes from the townhouse we bought in Waipio Gentry. This is our little "home".
What were the important features in my choosing this townhouse?
- Neighborhood. (Located in a nice townhouse community this immediately struck me as the place I wanted to live. Quiet, orderly, neat in appearance and grounds are immaculate)
- Security guards riding around in golf carts all night long. (nothing that was reported but makes for a great deterent!)
- Maintenance fees were low. (that tells me that our Association budgets well and takes care of our community)
- Pool and cabana recreation area. (not that we have ever gone there...but sure is a nice feature in case we do!)
- Covered parking. (carport syle parking and covers my nice car so droppings from birds and trees are minimal)
- Just the right size (small but enough for us and our doggie)
- Fenced in small courtyard (for my orchid garden and for the poochie to bathe in the warm sunshine
- Definitely affordable (our real estate is one of the highest in the nation...so ...this is the price I pay to live in paradise)
We all find our little niche for what Makes a House a Home. It could be the neighborhood, state, climate or just the house itself.
So, What makes a House a Home for me? Hawaii Is My "Home". No matter what "House" I choose to live in...that house will be my home because I live in Hawaii. I love Hawaii.
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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
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