Hawaii Real Estate - Permits, Licensed Contractors, Lenders and MORE!

Sally, quality work with expert workers you can never go wrong.The problem often is figuring out how expert they are or are not.

I see it everyday.  Building department thinks there is a 3 bedroom home, yet I count 5.  The other is the lanai that was closed in to make a family room with no permits.

Woo-Hoo: Amen to this post!  Even IF it isn't a VA loan, which as you say are VERY strict with their guidelines, getting a lic'd "anyone" is a good idea.

Not just for VA loans but it should be a standard for all workers if you want it to code and done right.

Sally~

I can see the big name for today is Licensees. And right you are.And lucky Buyers who get this great advice.

Woo Hoo, Guess how I got to this site , everyone? I did a search in del.icio.us ,the social bookmarking site and I typed in the word Cheeseman and here I am. How cool is that? I am going back since  I am the one that saved this post for Sally  as partof her post being featured in our new group and write about her in the notes section as one of the top REALTORS in Hawaii. Hopefully that will get her lots of extra Google Juice and maybe even a new client.

Good info Sally, however, I don't think the home in the pic can be salvaged. A good way to take care of some of those problems in the future is the FHA 203k program. You can do the rebuilding & permits at the same time. Pain in the Butt to work with, but good program. Easier is the 203k Streamline available up to $35,000.

Sally,

I agree, Hawaii Real Estate is way too expensive normally, but FHA loan limits in Hawaii go from $618,750 to $793,750, depending on county, with 3% down on a single family. However, I agree that VA is the way to go for anyone that qualifies, there is no better program. My referral on the streamline referred to the amount of repairs you could do, not the loan amount. I should have been more concise.

Sally this is such good advice.  As a builder I aways insisted that all work have permits for the reasons you mention.

Woo Hoo, It is also useful when using licensed contactors that do any remodeling or repairs that the homeowners should request refernces or even ask for referrals frpm others that have been satisfied with the workmanship provided. Soemof the trades are true crafstman and others not so much.

Here on Kauai, lots of designers and contractors are now expanding their services to help property owners with their transient vacation rentals. Any property outside the VDA needs to get a non conforming use certificate and that requires submitting plans and engineers drawings. Many property owners have neither. Some have some plans and need the rest of the plans to be drawn. And of course the county will use the situation as an opportunity to bring everything out of code into being fully permitted. I agreeing using licensed contractors is always the best bet especially for investors who do not live in Hawaii full time. Thanks, Sally.

I have to laugh at Lori's comment about Deming!  ROTFLOL!  Growing up in Las Cruces and having lived around the country, don't worry:  having homes repaired, added onto and "improved" by "Cousin Joe" isn't limited to the southwest.

I remember one case where the buyer had to remove a room because he wanted to sell his home and had added the room without getting a permit.....................why do people do such things????

Sally - You are so correct. Nothing like selling a home after the DIY owner did it all without permits or skills!