About Mililani's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations

Yup! I'm all for the Bill passing and starting on Wednesday, July 01! It's going to stop all this text messaging, game playing and so forth while driving (and weaving all over the road). I've used hands free technology (Bluetooth earset) for years just for the fact it was safer with answering so many phone calls during my drive to and from each destination.

With all the accidents and even instances with public bus drivers playing games while driving (that's scarey) it's about time we had this bill passed. I think back to when I used to smoke and talk on the phone at the same time. ..... <groan>

There is NO grace period allowed...in case you are wondering. More from the Honolulu Police Department website here>>>>> http://www.honolulupd.org/traffic/electronic_devices.htm

19 days and counting :)

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

I'll be 52 years old in a couple of months and I'm proud of it. I have learned many lessons in those years and believe me I was one of those that HAD to learn the hard way. Or so my Pop used to tell me over and over. He didn't agree with many of my impulsive decisions back then and mom was the one who was there to support me when I fell. It hurt my dad too much to face me and see me hurt with my failures.

At this moment...I am at the exact point and time I am supposed to be.

There are many things I have learned in my half century of living:

• It IS MORE than Words. The way I speak to other people is not so much the words being spoken but the way I am speaking them. Definitely not like the person I was in my younger years. I used to believe that expressing my views and opinions is all that mattered and the way I barked at them didn't.
• Setting Personal Boundaries .....The Key is Communication Setting healthy boundaries takes communication skills and being assertive. Taking care of ourselves means that we make sure we know where our boundaries start and we let others know where their side ends. Just remember... There's a Diplomatic (Nicer) Way to Say IT! Go and bark at me and I just won't listen. Plain and simple. Now I know why no one listened to me....way back when.
• Someone asks me for help and I'm very busy. I can only speak for myself as I have been in many a situation where I have been very busy and managed to squeeze in a moment or at the very least, let them know I'm busy but will get back to them shortly. Give a Little.....Gain a Lot. Everything in life is a give and take situation.

Awareness of how I affect others is one thing I am conscious of every day now. I learned that the small simple things really matter and that a smile, a kind word or a little task can help lift someone's spirit when they're weary. These traits of ours carry into our business. That's a FACT.

I know this to be true. I just told someone this morning that the small things like answering my questions or an email made a difference for me. And these are the small simple things that I do for my clients that make a difference for them and that they remember.

These are the small simple things that DO matter.

These are the details that make me a good Realtor Associate®

.....and a good human being.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

In 1971 my family moved to Mililani and it was in the beginning stages of a 40 year Master Planned Community development of single family homes, condos and townhouses with the first homes built in 1968.

My children went through their school years in Mililani (they're adults now) and my mom still lives in the same house bought in 1971.

I remember when....

Miililani is centrally located to all military bases on the island and 5-10 minutes from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield, 20-25 minutes to Hickam AFB, Pearl Harbor Navy Base and over the H-3 to Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Station in a matter of 35-40 minutes. We have three shopping centers and seven recreation centers (five have pools) with many community activities for all ages.

Mililani is the ONLY community in Hawaii to receive the distinction of "ALL AMERICAN CITY" in 1986 and you can get more information, association docs, homeowner packets and more from our association site by clicking on the following link: MILILANI TOWN ASSOCIATION INFORMATION

Over the past few months we have had a fluctuation of sales numbers and a small decrease in sales prices but bottom line our sales numbers significantly increased in the past month.

The following market statistics show a clearer picture for the last six months:

*NOTE: DOM (Days on Market) means how long the property was listed on the MLS until the properties went into escrow with an accepted contract.

More Hawaii Real Estate & Relocation Links:

• Mililani Town, Hawaii: Recreation Centers and Fun for All Ages!
• Launani Valley Mililani Condos Homes-Hawaii Relocation Schofield Barracks, Wheeler AAF
• Mililani, Hawaii: Info and Pictures
• This Realtors® Perspective: Hawaii Military & the VA Loan
• Honolulu County Hawaii Military Bases & Installations- Oahu Neighborhoods
• Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii*
• The Art of Hawaii Relocations
• A Honolulu Hawaii Relocation: Getting Ready With Your "To Do" List

For more information on Hawaii Real Estate and Relocations:

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

This Sunday I will be holding an Open House for my Hilldale Listing in Mililani Mauka and decided that I wanted to use my show I created through www.realestateshows.com to pass out to the consumer on cd.

I also wanted to create the disk MY way :) (you can order the cd's from RES as well) so I had my husband burn it to cd. Since we have a cd printer he created (with my supervision) the picture that would display on the cd.

With four pictures on the cd and the name of the complex on the top and the address on the bottom, it will serve as a great tool for the buyer who tours the home. They won't have to dig into their memory bank to remember which property this was and will inspire them to put in that contract!

Or....the neighbor thinking of selling will see that this is a great marketing tool as well. New listing perhaps?

The next 'different' thing I've done is create a nice booklet with all pertinent information on the property so when there are agents showing their buyers the property they have the following:

• Nice cover and a contents page in a thin three ring binder to start with and all pages inserted plastic sheeting to protect the documents.
• Seller's Real Property Disclosure Statement is a plus as it gives the potential buyer a bit more information on the property. A birds eye view from the sellers knowledge of the property will give them additional insight.
• Comparable Properties in the immediate area. Our MLS has a CMA Wizard to create a comprehensive CMA using sold properties and all the criteria and adjustable prices for each (i.e. sq/ft interior, additions, condition of the property and so forth)
• The Association's House Rules so if the buyer has any questions about the pet limit, where to BBQ and so forth it's right at their fingertips!
• Any Building Permits for walls, alterations, extensions, major electrical or plumbing work etc.
• Warranties or manuals for the property for the refrigerator, automatic garage door, sprinkler system, ongoing termite treatment, alarm system and so forth.
• Floor Plans, extra pictures, flyers and so forth are all added to the pocket of the booklet and I stand it up so they can flip right through it. (flyers in the front inside pocket, buyer/seller brochures in the back pockets along with floor plans to take with)

At the closing of the transaction I will leave this booklet behind for the buyer so they have all the information in one place to refer to.

Though internet marketing is surely top priority for my marketing for current listings, Hawaii Relocations, VA Home Loan Transactions, Hawaii Home Buyers and Hawaii Home Sellers, I do think it's important to keep the face to face material in the forefront as well. Though Open Houses may not be for all markets it's one of our area's main marketing tools due to our densely populated neighborhoods that make it easy to travel from one open house to the next.

Though these are not new marketing techniques my efforts will be appreciated.

At the very least it has my personal touch.

© 2009 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

If you are planning on a Relocation to Hawaii you may want to consider the community of Mililani, Hawaii. Centrally located to all military bases on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Mililani is the home for many Active Duty Military as it is 5-10 minutes from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field, 20-25 minutes from Hickam AFB, Pearl Harbor Navy Base and Ft. Shafter Army Base and about 30-35 minutes from Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Base.

Mililani is a Master Planned Community and has a population of approximately 30,000 people. The first homes went up for sale around June 1968 and our H-2 freeway opened in 1976 which lessened the time to travel to Honolulu. With three shopping centers, a 14 plex theater, 7 recreation centers (5 have pools), parks, Mililani Golf Course and activities galore we have a lot of what we need in our central location.

In 1986 Mililani was named an "All American City" and IS the only community in Hawaii to receive this distinction. In 1990 a ground breaking ceremony commenced for the Mililani Mauka subdivision which is a newer and more modern side of the community on the east side of the H-2 freeway.

Current statistics for the last two months for Mililani Town & Mililani Mauka Single Family Homes & Condos:

*NOTE: DOM (Days on Market) means how long from the time it was listed on the MLS until the properties were sold

From 2007 when sales were still going strong and prices remained stable there now shows a significant decrease in sold properties for November- December of 2008. We can attribute the sales numbers drop due to the financial crisis going on in our nation and this does not exclude Honolulu County. VA (for military and vets) and FHA loans are still great loans and there are still strong lending institutions available with your great credit and/or a % down payment.

Bottom line? If sellers are realistic and listen to the advice of their Realtor® regarding pricing and their expert opinion then they will get their property sold. It may take a little time but it will get sold. It is NOT a seller's market so listen to the strategy of your agent and we are working for you when we are giving you suggestions!

Buyers need to realize that though sales numbers are down it does not mean that all neighborhoods have a significant decrease in sales prices. Waiting for prices to drop and taking a chance on interest rates increasing will still net a monthly mortgage payment that could be significantly higher and lose that home you really love. It all depends on your circumstances.

Our office is located in Mililani Town in Central Oahu and 10 minutes from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field. We are also located about 20-25 minutes from Hickam AFB & Pearl Harbor Navy Base although I service all of the island of Oahu.

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Be proactive in your Hawaii Relocation and your search for your home in paradise. It's not easy moving across the Pacific Ocean let alone to a totally different "world" of people but you can do it with effort, motivation and a great Realtor®!

• Hawaii Military Relocations: Choosing the RIGHT Realtor® & Loan Officer
• Mililani Town, Hawaii: Recreation Centers and Fun for All Ages!
• Hawaii VA Loan Process: BE PREPARED!
• Launani Valley Mililani Condos Homes-Hawaii Relocation Schofield Barracks, Wheeler AAF
• Mililani Hawaii Military Relocations Community INFORMATION- Part I

© 2009 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com