Hawaii Randy's Blog

The below numbers were taken from the HUD and VA websites. 2009 Hawaii FHA Loan Limits County One-Family Two-Family Three-Family Four-Family HAWAII $625,500 $800,775 $967,950 $1,202,925 HONOLULU $793,750 $1,016,150 $1,228,300 $1,526,450 KALAWAO $716,250 $916,950 $1,108,350 $1,377,450 KAUAI $773,7...

Below is a great post from Kathleen explaining the change in the capital gains.  This effects those who are taking investment property and converting it to owner occupant or the other way around.The Housing Assitance Tax Act of 2008, enacted on July 30 modifies the rules with respect to gain on t...

                             Last week I attended the CRS Sell-a-bration in San Francisco.  The Sell-a-bration is a gathering of some of the top agents in the country.  We spent 3 days of classes, conference session with top speakers and some fun social mixers.  During the conference I picked up ...

Rules of the game: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.To do this, go t...

There are signs the real estate market is not all bad. The newspaper is not giving you that message. It almost appears the new media is determined influence the real estate market rather than report on it. In the last few weeks I am seeing signs of things picking up in many of the communities I s...

I regularly get approached by friends, family members and clients who are thinking about becoming a real estate agent. After all, I make it look so easy and they see my face all over the place.  I must be making big bucks and not having to work very hard for it; right?  Isn't that the impression ...

I was thinking about an experience I had on Christmas a couple years ago.  I got a call from an agent who wanted to show one of my listings on Christmas.  They not only wanted to show it that day they wanted to show it on short notice.  The same year that happened, I read a similar account from a...

As we get to the end of another year a few things will change.  One of them is the Basic Housing Allowance for our active duty troops stationed in Honolulu County (Island of Oahu).  The rates had a slight decrease from the 2008 levels.  Those who are already stationed here will be grandfathered i...

This is an extremely insightful post from one of the respected mortgage industry folks from Las Vegas.  I think Esko hit it on the head.  Those who ran around causing a major part of the sub-prime mortgage problems are using similar tactics today with FHA financing. The financial system has take...

                                                               One thing that stands out about a real estate professional is their ability to keep their cool under pressure.  The process of buying or selling real estate can be a very stressful process.  Buyers are sellers in many cases are dealin...