As Realtors in Honolulu, we get the chance to speak with people everyday about all things Hawaii. We often talk about Real Estate in Hawaii but we also talk about the things that Honolulu and Oahu have to offer that make it special to live here.

It is very true that the price of gas in Honolulu is higher than the National average and the cost inter-island airfare has gone up. But it is also true that there is no cost to take advantage of the very best our island has to offer! Surfing at sunset or watching big waves at your lunch break. Jogging, Hiking, Exploring Tide Pools Full of Tropical Fish, An Evening Picnic at the Top of Wa'ahila Ridge to watch the Sunset, Exploring Local Gardens or even just people watching from a lava rock wall. There are many other "things to do that are free" in Honolulu but there is one that I think is the most unbelievable and incredible.

Would you like to Swim With Dolphins? During the mornings, just as the sun rises over Oahu, the waters from Yokohama Bay to Makaha on Oahu's West Side can be glassy calm and smooth. There are pods of Bottle Nose Dolphins from 5 to 200 strong. They swim in the morning waters, back and forth about 200 yards off the beach. On the island map, this beach is just below the 9 O'clock point. They swim from Yokohama Bay down to Makaha. The place you want to go to is Yokohama Bay, which is before Kaena Point. Turn around and drive back exactly one mile from the parking lot chain at Yokohama Bay, to the first sandy beach on the right. If the surf's up, don't go in the water unless you are an expert swimmer, but from July to Early October, the mornings should be calm. All you need is a Mask, Snorkel and Fins.


As you swim out, after seeing the Dolphins from the beach, you will hear the clicking. This sound is the Dolphins talking with each other. Swim out to about where you saw them swim by and just wait there. As they swim back, position yourself in their path. Please don't chase them or bother them in any way, they are protected by law. As they become comfortable with you, they will actually turn to check YOU out!

An hour or two in the water with these Dolphins and you will feel like you have been on vacation for two weeks! Please use common sense, never swim alone and if you have any doubt about your swimming ability, just watch from the beach.

You might want to bring a picnic with you as this beach is normally empty. There is food on the way out and the way back if you don't want to eat on the beach. The drive time from Honolulu is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Remember, your goal is to get there at or just before sunrise. Watch from the beach until you see them swim by to be sure they will be there. Once you see them...GET WET! OH...One more thing. Of you see Green Sea Turtles up on the beach, STAY OUT OF THE WATER! It means that there is something very big out there with big TEETH that scared the turtles enough for them to get out of the water! I have been there dozens of times and have never seen a shark, but just remember to se be safe.

As with all of our posts, if you have any questions please feel free to call me at 808-630-1828 or email me at Mike@Greathawaiianhomes.com.

I would also like to share with you what we do for our clients and you can expect when you are ready to buy a home on Oahu and when you work with us.

• Our services are FREE to you because the Seller pays all Real Estate Commissions.
  
  
  
• We Rebate our Buyer Clients 20% of our commissions! This is given to you as a credit at closing. You may apply the money to the Principle of your new home or use it as you see fit, it's your money!
  
  
• When choosing a new home, it will be helpful to know if the list price is Fair Market Value, Priced Over Fair Market Value or a Real Bargain! Our high tech approach to valuation will give you this information Before we even visit the property for the first time.
  
  
• We will go through the Purchase Contract and ALL Addendums with you before you sign anything. You will also find a great deal of information about the Purchase Contract and its Contingency Descriptions on our website at http://www.greathawaiianhomes.com/ . This way, if you choose to become familiar with this document, you can.
  
  
• We will give you recommendations on Real Estate Professionals whom are available to you. We maintain NO affiliation with any of these Professionals, they are simply the best at what they do in our opinion.
  
  
• Buyer's Agent. Every buyer needs a buyer's agent that is dedicated to THEIR best interest. As Realtors, and members of the National Association of Realtors and the Honolulu Board of Realtors, we are duty bound and Licensed by the State of Hawaii to Protect your Best Interest at ALL Times.
  
  
• We work with Mainland Buyers as well as Local Buyers. This is easily accomplished by use of Posted Video Tours of homes they have selected to see more of from our emails, emailing of documents, faxing of documents by way of our Toll Free Fax Line, and by excellent communication skills. We have and can also email pdf Slideshows of homes for Mainland Buyers directly to their inbox.
  
  
• Once we have fully explained the various contracts to you and you make an informed decision as to your acceptance or rejection of them, we will do the face to face negotiating with the Seller's Agent for you to be sure you are getting the best terms the Seller will give. We do our best to keep your transaction as stress free and pleasant as possible.
  
  
• Not only will we walk through every home together, we will review and share our insight with you for all inspection reports generated during your transaction. It is important that you know exactly what you are buying and its condition, even inside the walls!
  
  
• We are proud to have represented a great many families in their purchases of new homes.
  
• You will have the full benefit of our years of experience as Realtors acting as Buyer's Agents. We promise not to hold anything back from you...ever.
  
  
• Our website at http://www.greathawaiianhomes.com/ is a big advantage to buyers. It explains the buying process in detail and many clients come us for assistance because they like our website so much. It is very down to earth, just like us.

Let's chat over coffee...

What Sellers Can Expect From Us

 Actually Selling Real Property in Hawaii is an art. The property must show well and help potential Buyers use their imaginations as they walk through it. They have to see themselves in the home in order to create an emotional attachment to it. On top of this, the home must also be priced correctly. Any Real Estate Agent can come to your home and tell you what you want to hear, but the fact is that a home that is priced too high when it enters the market, will lose the initial "POP" and "EXCITEMENT" of a properly priced home. This will end up costing the Seller Thousands of Dollars later in lower offers. Here are some things that do NOT set Market Value. The Price the seller paid for the home, the amount of money the seller wants to make on the sale of their home, the seller's Pride in Ownership or what the seller thinks the home is worth. The only thing that can set the Market Value of a Home is when there is a Meeting of the Minds and the Potential Buyer Offers a Price and the Seller Accepts the Offer to Sell. This mutually agreed upon Price is the Market Value.

It is in Your and Our Best Interest to get the Best Price Possible for your home in today's market. When we take a listing, we take it to sell it. We will pull sales of homes that are very much like yours, and determine the "Center Point Price" of all of these homes. We will then Suggest a Listing Price Based on These Numbers.It is best to use factual data when setting a List Price for a home.

Here is a list of what our Seller Clients can expect from us...

• Work with you to set a listing price for your home in this market.
  
• Place "For Sale" sign on property.
  
  
• Photograph the property.
  
  
• Place lockbox at property.
  
  
• Prepare pdf Slide Show "Walking Tour" of property.
  
  
• Prepare and input listing profile to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and all other internet listing accounts.
  
  
• Notify our premier sales force of the new listing via email blast (2500 Agents from most of Oahu's Real Estate Companies).
  
  
• Submit "Sunday Advertisement" to HNA for Sunday five week run.
  
  
• Assist Client with mandatory "Seller's Real Property Disclosure Statement".
  
  
• Prepare Full-Color Fact Sheet of Property.
  
  
• Schedule Open House for next Sunday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  
  
• Scan profiles in personal database for potential client matches
  
  
• Send "JUST LISTED" post cards and/or emails to all target buyers.
  
  
• Schedule Broker's Open House for our fellow professionals.
  
  
• Submit "OPEN HOUSE Advertisement" to HNA. (If needed)
  
  
• Scan Buyer's profiles in MLS system for potential matches (Reverse Prospecting).
  
  
• Monitor e-mail daily for information requests from public or professionals.
  
  
• Compile showing agent's and public's feedback for your review.
  
  
• Submit and post your listing on all internet sights we advertise with.
  
  
• Conduct "OPEN HOUSE" 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. on selected Sunday afternoons.
  
  
• Solicit, by phone, all agents who have shown property and compile results.
  
  
• Solicit, by phone, all buyers who have viewed property and compile results.
  
  
• Monitor e-mail daily for information requests from public or professionals.
  
  
• Present all offers to you as they arrive.
  
  
• Prepare counter offers/acceptance paperwork for your signatures.
  
  
• Walk you through & fully explain all contracts and what they mean to you.
  
  
• Open escrow to start closing process (when applicable).
  
  
• Schedule all inspections you are responsible for
  
  
• Organize all paperwork and submit to escrow
  
  
• Ensure buyer compliance to Purchase Contract and any Addendums
  
  
• Work to close on time
  
  
• Close escrow, transfer keys
  
  
• Assist you with any post closing obligations or needs