Hawaii

It is a great time to travel to Maui!

Okay the kids are back in school and summer is winding down. People are beginning to settle in for the fall season and then on to winter. Things are pretty quite on Maui right now. With oil prices coming down you are seeing some pretty good air fares which we have not seen in a while. The hotels are not as busy as they have been the last 5-years.

If ever you were thinking of coming to Maui this is the time. Already the winter season it is starting to book up talking to the hotels. This is the time between times and a great time to grab some great values. The hotels are offering some pretty great rates like I haven't seen in a while.

This time of year in Hawaii is one of my favorites. It is not because the winter surf starts coming in which I am happy to see. I really like the fall weather. Mild wind and sunny days. It usually is not to busy so the roads are lighter and it is easier to get into your favorite restaurants

So if a fall season sounds good to you check on-line for those great tickets and hotel deals. To check airfares go to www.hawaiianair.com For the Grand Wailea check Grandwailea.com or for Kannapali resort area the Sheraton Maui www.sheratonmaui.com For Maui real estate check Steven Nickens.

Steven Nickens R(S) GRI ABR

The Wailea Group LLC.

3750 Wailea Alanui, suite 5WE

Wailea, Maui, Hi 96753

www.nickensmaui.com

Email: nickens@maui.net

Hey folks,

I normally send out updates in the beginning of the week, but a lot has gone on the last couple of days:

Market Highlights

•· Carteret Mortgage closes offices, including Hawaii

•· GMAC Mortgage closes all 200 offices, 4 in Hawaii, laying off 5,000 employees

Interest Rates, 30 day lock - DROPPED

(compiled from CPHL, FHB, Countrywide, Wells Fargo, First Horizon, and more. These are wholesale rates we have access to, often lower than going to these banks directly)

30 yr fixed: 5.75% w/ 2 points, 6% w/ .875 points, 6.25% w/ 0 points

7/1 ARM: 5.5% w/ 1.875 points, 5.75% w/ 1 point, 6.25% w/ 0 points

5/1 ARM: 5.25% w/ 1.75 points, 5.5% w/ 1.25 points, 6% with 0 points

Have a safe weekend,

Baccarat Wailea Resort & Residences Maui

This is one of Maui's newest and upcoming Wailea Maui projects. Position along Maui's sunniest shore, between the sparking, cobalt pacific and the lush slopes of Haleakala Crater. This will be a place of beauty and untold luxury.

Show room

It is no wonder Wailea ranks among the world's most desirable destination in the world. The area offers a myriad of activities including world-class golf courses, coral reefs for snorkeling, tennis facilities and The Shops at Wailea for shopping and dining.

Kitchen with rosewood european cabinets

Baccarat is offering 193 luxury units. There are one to four bedroom units offered in this Wailea Maui oceanfront luxury resort. There are three pools offered with a world class restaurant for all your fine dinning needs.

Barracrat Crystal and entry

Among other features include poolside restaurant, Yoga lawn, and state of the art fitness center with professional trainers. How about 5-star spa & fitness center. Baccarat will be offering quality full service business center and personnel assistant service. There is so much more to Baccarat. For more information contact Steven for more details or to send out packet of information.

Steve at work

Steven Nickens R(S) GRI ABR

The Wailea group LLC.

3750 Wailea Alanui, suite 5WE

Wailea, Maui, Hi 96753

www.nickensmaui.com

Email: nickens@maui.net

Selecting the right real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home is essential to a smooth transaction. For the best possible experience, you should consider a professional's background, personality and responsiveness.

Here are some tips to help you choose and work with your real estate agent.

How to choose a real estate agent

1. When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, consumers who do their homework can save thousands of dollars and experience a smooth financial and physical transition. So don't waste time and resources - decide what's most important to you, and then find a professional who specializes in that area. Are you buying or selling a loft? A condo? A rural property? Raw land? An investment property? Perhaps cost is your main concern. Or timing. Whatever you decide, a RE/MAX Associate can help you.
2. Ask friends and family members for referrals. Someone you know and trust to help you meet your real estate goals.
3. If you've already determined where you'd like to live, drive through neighborhoods in the area and survey them for Realtor yard signs. Seeing the same name pop up on signs time after time may indicate that the agent is a specialist in the area. If you're thinking about selling, monitor the signs in your own neighborhood.
4. Pay attention to credentials. This will help you determine areas of expertise. You may be interested in these designations: ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), CRP (Certified Relocation Professional), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). There are dozens of designations pursued for continuing education, so identify one or more that fit your needs.

What to ask in the interview

1. If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would establish a price. Request a Comparative Market Analysis, also called a CMA, which shows the market value of similar homes in the area that are for sale or have recently sold.
2. If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would market your property. Understand that some agents may prefer to first tour your property and then put together a comprehensive customized marketing plan to present at a later meeting. But if he or she can't suggest a single strategy when asked, you might consider interviewing other candidates..
3. Ask the real estate agent how often you should expect to hear from him or her. Know how and when you will communicate to avoid unrealistic expectations. Pay attention to office hours and whether you'll be invited to stay in touch via a cell phone or e-mail.
4. Ask how long the real estate agent has been licensed and how many buyers and sellers he or she has helped. While time is not the most important factor, it may demonstrate experience.
5. Ask about designations. Interest in continuing education is a strong indicator of motivation and professionalism.
6. Pay attention to the agent's listening skills. Does he or she cut you off before you've finished a sentence? There's nothing worse than looking at houses you have no interest in because the real estate agent has not listened carefully to your needs, or having your home on the market too long because it's priced incorrectly and the wrong buyers are being targeted.
7. Ask the real estate agent what his or her fee structure is. Does he or she require a percentage of the sales price or work for a flat fee? Will the agent be paid another way?
8. If you are unsatisfied with a prospect's plans or personality, thank him or her for taking the time to meet with you and repeat the process with another real estate agent. It can be time-consuming, but it's worthwhile.
   
   Once you've found the right real estate agent to represent you, hold up your end of the relationship. There are simple things you can do to help your real estate agent get you the best deal.

How to work with your real estate agent

1. If you are selling, create an information sheet that lists your home's features and best qualities, especially those you know best that others might overlook. Give this to your real estate agent, who may be able to use the information in marketing materials or when talking with potential buyers.
2. When selling, talk to the real estate agent about cosmetic improvements. Your home may need fresh paint or new carpet. (Make sure you choose neutral colors.)
3. If selling, keep it clean. Eliminate cobwebs and dust. Keep the bathroom counters and mirrors wiped down. Vacuum and sweep daily during the selling process.
4. If buying, be clear about what you want. Make a list of your priorities numbered 1 through 10 and give it to your real estate agent. You can always revise the list, but give your real estate agent something concrete so that he or she can research available listings more efficiently.

Food for thought

1. Office environment can say a lot about a businessperson. Is it clean and organized? Do the office hours make it easily accessible? Are staff members pleasant and helpful?
2. Your real estate agent is an authority you hire to help you make the right decisions, but you have the final word.
3. Hiring a Realtor will give you the best advantage. Although many practitioners work part time, RE/MAX Associates are industry professionals who can provide their complete attention and expertise. This gives you an enormous advantage.
4. Your residence is likely to be the biggest single investment you'll ever make. Buy and sell wisely.
5. Remember that home values fluctuate with the economy.

Kauaʻi (in standard Hawaiian pronounced [kauˈaʔi]; in Kauaʻi-Niʻihau dialect, [tauˈaʔi]; usually spelled Kauai outside the Hawaiian Islands and pronounced /ˈkaʊɑɪ/ or /kaʊˈɑɪ/^[1]) is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of 552.3 square miles (1,430.5 km²), it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago and the 21st largest island in the United States.^[2] Known also as the "Garden Isle", Kauaʻi lies 105 miles (170 kilometers) across the Kauaʻi Channel, northwest of Oʻahu. Of volcanic origin, the highest peak on this mountainous island is Kawaikini at 5,243 feet (1,598 m).^[3] The second highest peak is Mount Waiʻaleʻale near the center of the island, 5,148 feet (1,569 m) above sea level. One of the wettest spots on Earth, with an annual average rainfall of 460 inches (11,700 mm), is located on the east side of Mount Waiʻaleʻale. The high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains, carving out canyons with many scenic waterfalls.

There is no known meaning behind the name of Kauaʻi. Native Hawaiian tradition indicates the name's origin in the legend of Hawaiʻiloa - the Polynesian navigator attributed with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. The story relates how he named the island of Kauaʻi after a favorite son; therefore a possible translation of Kauaʻi is "place around the neck", meaning how a father would carry a favorite child. Another possible translation is "food season"^[4].

The United States Census Bureau defines Kauaʻi as Census Tracts 401 through 409 of Kauaʻi County, Hawaiʻi, which is all of the county except for the islands of Kaʻula, Lehua, and Niʻihau. The 2000 census population of Kauaʻi (the island) was 58,303. ^[5]