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Across the Ocean to Paradise: Hawaii Military Relocation

By
Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

 Haleiwa Boat Harbor

Featured article on www.localism.com 

Military personnel who have relocated across the Pacific Ocean to Oahu, Hawaii are always astounded at the differences in homes once they arrive here. Okay, let's say stunned instead. I have had many military clients who were so shocked at the size of homes that they had no alternative but to store the majority of their household goods once they arrived because they brought it all. They also had a cultural shock as well with all our diverse cultural and ethnic groups. And the difference in weather conditions? Tropical paradise to say the least. 

If it's one thing we all will agree on is that Hawaii, the island Paradise, is full of beautiful tropical island scenery that will captivate you to no end.

As a Hawaii Realtor Associate® and Relocations Specialist I guaranty that the following information will help you in your Hawaii Military Relocation across the Pacific Ocean!  

ENVIRONMENT: Expect a totally different environment! You will need an open mind for a brand new experience with Hawaii's diverse community full of ethnic groups and cultures from all over the world! Do not expect everything to be the same as the Continental United States because you will be disappointed! Wherever you look you will have Japanese, Chinese, Filipino. Portugese, Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan, Caucasian, Korean, African American, Vietnamese, Spanish, Guamanian and Polynesian races with different beliefs and styles of living. And the food? We have all the fast food places but why keep eating burgers when we have such a variety to choose from?

JOBS: Hawaii has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. The vast number of military stationed in Hawaii make up the majority of the federal government employees although spouses surely have an advantage if they have been previously employed on a military installation and transferring to a new duty station. We also have many jobs in the tourist industry including but not limited to hotels, restaurants, historic and scenic sites and so forth.

 Sharks CoveHOUSE HUNTING: Make arrangements with this Realtor® to give you information, send you a relocations packet and start you out with your online search for your Honolulu Hawaii Real Estate. Remember, Hawaii is not the same as the last time you were stationed here in back in 1975 and the change will shock you. We have many freeways, traffic, high rises and such. We may be more laid back but change is always inevitable with just so much buildable land.

MORTGAGE LENDER: Make sure to use a local lender as Hawaii lenders know the Hawaii real estate laws and you will have someone face to face to walk you through the loan process too! There is no recourse (RED FLAG!) if something goes wrong with a mainland lender, negotiating the best price and time lines are a very important factor in a real estate transaction. Even if your cousin or uncle is a Loan Officer it is a given that they will not know about  Hawaii mortgage funds. I guaranty that I can tell you some stories about the deals that fell through due to using lenders not familiar with our Real Estate Laws, Contracts and Contingencies. Also, make sure and hand carry your important financial papers as you will need them!

VA GUARANTEED LOAN: The most important thing to consider before utilizing your benefits is what you want to allot yourself for a monthly mortgage payment. The current VA Loan Amount is $783,750 (this is INCLUDING the funding fee)  and the following chart is the monthly BAH for 2009 for Honolulu County Hawaii.

Rank

With Dependents

Without Dependents

Rank

With Dependents

Without Dependents

E-1

$1,949

$1,555

W-4

$2,788

$2,306

E-2

$1,985

$1,555

W-5

$2,967

$2,434

E-3

$1,985

$1,555

O-1E

$2,431

$2,043

E-4

$1,985

$1,555

O-2E

$2,607

$2,144

E-5

$2,043

$1,757

O-3E

$2,816

$2,274

E-6

$2,247

$1,868

O-1

$2,069

$1,855

E-7

$2,403

$1,955

O-2

$2,269

$2,011

E-8

$2,545

$2,088

O-3

$2,627

$2,191

E-9

$2,745

$2,160

O-5

$3,043

$2,416

W-1

$2,276

$1,913

O-5

$3,334

$2,502

W-2

$2,461

$2,087

O-6

$3,361

$2,633

W-3

$2,633

$2,167

O-7 +

$3,401

$2,686

 Mililani Single Family HomeMEDIAN HOME PRICES: During our home search online you may see a home that may interest you. I'll be sure to give you the median home price for that neighborhood. If it's way below the median price...well, it just may be too good to be true!  If this is your first time to Hawaii we will cruise the different neighborhoods so you can get a feel for the community. We will also need to choose between condos, town houses and single family homes according to your price range. (which is determined by your conversation with your local lender who prequalifies you)

HOUSEHOLD GOODS:  Our homes are smaller so be prepared to bring half of the household goods you currently have in your 3,000 sq. ft. interior home on the mainland. A 1,200 to 1800 sq. ft. for a single family 3 bedroom around the $500,000 to $600,000 range in Central Oahu is about the median sq/ft for the price. Be flexible and open minded!

Our office is located in Mililani Town in Central Oahu and 10 minutes from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field. We are also located about 20-25 minutes from Hickam AFB & Pearl Harbor Navy Base although I service all of the island of Oahu.

It's not easy moving across the Pacific Ocean let alone to a totally different "world" of people but you can do it with effort, motivation and a great Realtor®! 

http://www.hawaiihomesmarket.com/

 

Posted by

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 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 Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2015 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's

Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

Comments (32)

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Tom: Mouth open ....that's it?  lol!
Nov 26, 2007 11:03 AM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
Sally- WoW! Your posts continue to outdo the last! I am so impressed with your writing and the way that you put it all together on this post!  I have already resigned myself that I will have to scale down to move to Hawaii! I stopped buying material things so my load can be lighter! It is still some years away, but it is there waiting for me! Katerina
Nov 26, 2007 03:03 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Katerina: That's exactly what we do!  My husband goes through cabinets and closets one at a time at different times and unclutters. I am very happy in my small house (of course the kids are grown and live in gramma's big house and help her out) .... it makes for ridding of material things and being happy with what we do have :)

Nov 26, 2007 03:12 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Sally -- congratuation on the localism feature.  This is so full of important information.  I must say that moving from San Francisco to Nashua, N.H. 10 year ago was sort of an opposite type of culture shock.  The people, the climate, the small town, the yankee culture -- it is amazing how diverse this country is!
Nov 26, 2007 03:35 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Joan: No kidding!  I've lived all over the United States, Japan, Phillippines, Turkey and I don't think I can get shocked anymore. One thing about Hawaii ... I have grown up with so many ethnic cultures it's diversity is just wonderous actually. :)
Nov 26, 2007 03:41 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Sally,

You are doing such a wonderful job showcasing Hawaii in so many ways, this one is no exception. It's obvious you know your market, it's easy to see why your the Oahu real estate pro.

Nov 26, 2007 03:54 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Lynda:  I'm sooo waiting for you and Marlene and the others to come....if anything...we're going cruising and going to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet! North Shore! Fun...fun...fun! And thank you for your kind comment!

Nov 26, 2007 03:57 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
I am glad they continue to increase the VA cap and the housing allowance here locally.  Our military folks deserve it and the cost of housing continues to rise.
Nov 26, 2007 04:23 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Randy:  The military is a vital part of our economy ..  just as tourism is. If they did not take care of "their own" they wouldn't have anywhere to live but on base...and even then...there is not enough housing to take care.  They surely deserve it!
Nov 26, 2007 04:28 PM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate
Sally, this is great!  Such a short but concise description of what to expect and how it may differ from their past experiences.  FYI, I am changing my post to put it in Positive.  thanks!
Nov 27, 2007 12:13 AM
Andrew Trevino
ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale

Sally,

It's obvious that you are the pro here. If I ever get the bug to relocate to Hawaii, you'll be my first call!!

Nov 27, 2007 12:28 AM
Jeanean Gendron
The Address Realty - Redding, CA
Specializing in Selling Unique Properties
Sally, when my husband and I were first married, we vacationed in Hawaii every year for several years. We loved it so much we wanted to move there. We somehow knew it was not for us to do, however. After some years, we bought a boat and put it on the Estuary in Oakland, across from Jack London Square and began a 10 year odyssey and love affair with boating and coastal cruising. Not exactly Hawaii, but we got to enjoy it on a full time basis. I love reading your posts and going back in time to my memories of Hawaii and how beautiful it is. We both live in beautiful places. I still have pretty little stickers I use that say "Aloha" and "Mahalo". 
Nov 27, 2007 01:06 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Diane: Thanks! I would hope that people "just know" that no matter where they move it's going to be different :) Although I believe Hawaii is a whole different "world".

Andrew: Okay then!

Jeanean: I would love to see those pictures!  I am not too fond of boating although pictures on the open sea I love!

 

Nov 27, 2007 02:51 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Sally - No wonder this got featured on Localism - what an amazing post!  You really packed in the information.  If anyone had sent us material like that when we were in the military, they would have had us for clients!  Congratulations!
Nov 27, 2007 09:56 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
The announcement of the VA cap being raised to $700,000 in Hawaii is good news.  It will finally reach our median price.
Nov 27, 2007 11:40 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Margaret: Thanks! I'm hoping that's what this will bring...in the relocation packet I sent it had this article in it too :)

Randy: Yes it will. (and you commented twice :)

Nov 28, 2007 03:03 AM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents
Sally, This is really a wonderful overview. What a great resource you've created! Worth bookmarking. Thanks
Nov 28, 2007 03:58 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Thanks Joeann!
Nov 28, 2007 04:00 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
I can see why this was featured and got the attention of a buyer - congratulaitons on closing him.
Jan 25, 2008 09:33 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Georgina: Thanks!  It was a "her" and she is thrilled!
Jan 26, 2008 02:14 AM