By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman
Featured in Localism.com!
My home is where I choose to make it. And I made it here in Hawaii!
Whether it be the military or retirees that are relocating to Hawaii our islands offer a paradise that is unmatched. Why? We are the 50th state. The ALOHA state. Our beautiful scenery and tropical warm weather compliment the word "paradise". WE ARE the gateway to the Orient, Australia and the Continental United States.
Please click here for a special virtual tour of my home, Hawaii.
Our population is so diverse and unique in culture with such a large number of ethnic groups and defines our local life. In the last 200 years Hawaii has become home to such ethnic groups of Hawaiian, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Marshallese, Guamanian, African American, Caucasian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Portugese..... And these are just to name a few! Now this also makes for a variety of different foods!
There are so many neighborhoods to choose from according to personal criteria.
- Mountain preference? So you can have your own little hideaway looking down on the city or ocean!
- Oceanside preference? With open restaurants to view the ocean scenery!
- Suburban preference? And close to all the shopping centers and malls!
- City preference? Close to work, city life, night life!
- Country preference? Agricultural or just wide open space!
It's at your beck and call. Sometimes a client of mine will get discouraged after walking into several homes. I reassure them and recite my same line, "You will feel it and instantly know...when you walk into that right home". The neighborhood will surely be the first point. Secondly, it will be the criteria for the house, townhouse, or condo that will bring you closer to home ownership.
My personal experience: I grew up in Mililani, Hawaii which is centrally located on the island of Oahu and it is 5 minutes from the townhouse we bought in Waipio Gentry and this is our little "home".
What were the important features in my choosing this townhouse?
- Neighborhood. (Located in a nice townhouse community this immediately struck me as the place I wanted to live. Quiet, orderly, neat in appearance and grounds are immaculate)
- Security guards riding around in golf carts all night long. (nothing that was reported but makes for a great deterent!)
- Maintenance fees were low. (that tells me that our Association budgets well and takes care of our community)
- Pool and cabana recreation area. (not that we have ever gone there...but sure is a nice feature in case we do!)
- Covered parking. (carport syle parking and covers my nice car so droppings from birds and trees are minimal)
- Just the right size (small but enough for us and our doggie)
- Fenced in small courtyard (for my orchid garden and for the poochie to bathe in the warm sunshine
- Definitely affordability (our real estate is one of the highest in the nation...so ...this is the price I pay to live in paradise)
We all find our little niche for what Makes a House a Home. It could be the neighborhood, state, climate or just the house itself.
So, What makes a House a Home for me? Hawaii Is My "Home". No matter what "House" I choose to live in...that house will be my home because I live in Hawaii. I love Hawaii.
Following is more information so you can decide if you would like to make HAWAII your home as well!
10 Quick Tips for Selling Your Hawaii Home!
10 Simple Things for BUYING YOUR HAWAII HOME
HAWAII OPEN HOUSES (RULES WHILE ATTENDING)
Relocating or Residents-Buying Real Estate in Hawaii -Mililani, Honolulu, Oahu
Relocating and Buying Real Estate in Hawaii -Mililani, Honolulu, Oahu (military)
http://www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
Link back to all tags with: What Makes a House a Home
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I was wondering where you were going with this. Hawaii is your home; I like it.
Sally - gave you a "5" - wow I thought Florida was home for me but you make we think about Hawaii - great post girl!
Randy.......Go enter the contest What Makes a House a Home.....the tag to all the entries is at the bottom of my post....
Cyndee: Wow...I just answer Randy and you popped up! Did you watch the virtual tour?
Is this a Localism post? It not, it should be! Good job and I love the photos =D
Great post.
Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin
The Benjamin Team
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Gold Canyon Arizona
Ahhhhh.......Hawaii, blue ocean, beautiful beaches, lush green golf courses, afternoon showers.....life is always so good in paradise. For those of you that have not been to the 50th state.....please come and visit. We welcome you with open arms and I can give you Sally and Randys telephone numbers so you can have a personal tour of the island. LOL Sally and Randy! I really wouldnt give up your numbers (unless someone offered a referral fee). JUST KIDDING! Have fun.....enjoy life and enjoy your friends! ALOHA!
Nice Virtual tour.When are you sending my all expense paid vacation.
Sally -- Congratulations! Job well done! You make me want to live in Hawaii...
Sally,
This was beautifully done! I just took a vacation to Hawaii from my desk! Life is good!
It sounds so wonderful, Sally. My husband and I often travel south to the Caribbean for sunny, hot vacations. You get to live somewhere similar to where we take our breaks. Lucky you!!
Lisa/Bob/Carolin: Thanks for comments and dropping by!
David: Funny.... we lucky we live Hawaii!
Neal: Hey...I was thinking about that when I was writing this....yeah, right.
Colleen: I really take your kind comment as a real compliment...it's soooo hard for me to grasp structure for a public blog. Thanks!
Suzanne: Thanks! and...get crackin!
Jamie: Lucky you to go on vacations! (we are already here...and going anywhere else would be too much work..haha!)
Sally, great information on Hawaii, keep the good blog :P
Ray: WooHoo Sally in Hawaii!
Hey, I started to read this at 6 am and the music almost woke up my boy so I closed it. Sorry, I'm back.
You did an awesome job on this one! Looks great!
Sally, thats great i rate this post a 5 tastefully done
Steph: Thanks..,.thought the added video would be good for public viewing.
Paul: Wow...thanks!
Sally- Very Very nice job! Did you post this on localism? I loved the virtual tour!
Alecia: You can see if I posted by seeing if it's in Hawaii and Honolulu County...by ratings at the top...and groups I posted in. So, yeah I did...and glad you liked the tour!
Sally - Your entry is great - It will be hard to top that one
Thesa: I don't think so...I mean...take a look at some of those entries....well, if anything whenever these come up I join up just so I can write more for localism. Thanks for your kind comments and support all the time!
I just stare at the dreamy blue water. It doesn't even look real. You have our water beat, for sure!
Chris: I've been all over the world...including Turkey along the ocean with it's aquamarine clear waters....but nothing beats our deep blue sea!
Sally, If I could have a view like that it would definitely be home!
Danny: I'll be posting very shortly pictures I took today...stay tuned!
Sally, Great Post! "My home is where I choose to make it." ..... What a powerful statement, and oh so true.
Good Luck in the contest! Woo Hoo
Robert: Thanks bud for visiting me and giving me your support! Have a WooHoo kind of day!
Hi Sally - what a nice post this is! I so did not want your tour of Hawaii to end - I wanted to see more and more and more.......... great post!
Ann
Ann: Got more up on other ones if you got time! I love doing these tour thingy's...thanks for the compliment!
Sally.... some good points, that you home could be the state that you live in, or the neighborhood, or the climate. This certainly was a different twist. Thanks for sharing this. And as Chris mentioned, I love the water there... what a pretty blue.
Wow...I was on yours when you were on mine....wo...not woo.....wo...some psychic connection stuff going on...haha! Thanks...yours was like I was in the house with you guys!
What were you doing in our house without me knowing about it? lol Yes, some psychic thing. ;o)
Hey Jeff...you invited me in....don't you remember?
Sally - Living in Hawaii is a dream for most and you get to live the dream everyday. Your love for your home is evident and the pictures beautiful!