The day I closed on an oceanfront house last week in California, I was off to Hawaii to work with a couple of buyers here. Yes, I have a broker's license in both states and it turns out that my Hawaii clients like to come over here for the Holidays just like I do. I my case, I combine seeing my daughter and grandsons for Christmas with business. My clients do the same.
On arrival here, I realized that I didn't have my Sentri Smart Card with me that magically opens lockboxes over here when I insert it into a slot and then punch in some numbers. Yes, the system in Hawaii is totally different from the one I use in Carmel-by-the-Sea where my California office is located. There I use a Supra EKey, a "blue tooth" connection between lockbox and phone; well, sometimes I need a "fob" to connect the two.
Still, here I was on my way to the Honolulu Board of Realtors to get a duplicate "smart card" since I'm starting to view homes this Friday. Actually, this is only a precaution because for many listings, the listing agent has to be there to open the door. Why is that you ask? Because most of the properties I will be viewing with my clients are in condominiums and they have strict rules about "outsiders". Even when there is an "open house", listing agents have to buzz or walk customers/clients through the main door.
On the other hand, condominiums like the Yacht Harbor Towers which is one of my favorite older condominiums with dynamite ocean views, has a provision where security guards can let a bona fide real estate broker into the front door. Lockboxes with keys to various apartments for sale are secured on a kiosk by the security guard station. And for this eventuality, I need my "smart card".
Now comes the fun part, selecting likely condominiums out of the hundreds that are for sale here in Honolulu.
Overview of what's on the market on Oahu/Honolulu:
Number of condo/townhouses ACTIVE for sale: 1431 (plus 691 in escrow)
Number of houses ACTIVE for sale: 911 (plus 546 in escrow)
