The Beach Villas at Ko Olina on Oahu Hawaii held their clearance sale on their luxury condo's this past weekend on September 19th & 20th.

This was the real estate sales event where the condo prices were drastically reduced with the goal of selling all of the remaining 114 condos/villas (or about half of the project) over two days.

The sale was very successful with around 78 out of the 114 villas sold. You still have a second chance with around 26 villas remaining. If your interested,

click the Call Me or Email Me links to the right >

and we can discuss the opportunity. Some of the villas sold for as low as in the high $500's which is an amazing price when you figure the original starting prices at the project were around $1.8m. This is an almost four for the price of one deal.

It remains to be seen as to how they will dispose of the remaining villas. The standard method would be to sell the rest of them one at a time as they have in the recent past (at the discounted prices) until they are all gone. Who knows though, they might add additional incentives as time goes on so that they can unload the remaining units. Maybe they'll sell the rest of them in bulk to a single buyer. I don't have a crystal ball to know what will happen next. The one thing I have learned around here is that everything can and will change from moment to moment.

I am still working on pulling as many homeowners together into a central reservation website site so that we can control our rates and offer good values for guests with rates that don't force homeowners into foreclosure when they can't make their mortgage and HOA payments. Rates continue to decline and I predict they are going to get worse. At some point, it's not worth renting out because the cost of wear and tear of both our grounds and our villas will be higher than the nightly rental rate.

One central site will also allow us to compete with other properties in the global market instead of spending time competing with each other. There should be enough guests around the world if we can effectively reach them. Why spend all of our time fighting over one guest, we should go out and get ten more instead.

Give me a call or drop me an email if you agree. If you have purchased a villa and are interested in renting it out and would like some effective marketing, I may be able to help. If your still thinking about purchasing there may be some good opportunities for you. It's going to be a little rough going for the immediate future but five or ten years from now you'll probably be glad you "got in the game". At least, that's what I think. See you around the pool! Alfred--

If you didn't purchase but have fallen in love with the area, Beach Villas Vacation Reservations are available at: Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort Reservations.

Check the Specials and Packages tab for the latest vacation rental deals.

First time on the market, luxurious Ocean Front Condo at the
Beach Villas at Ko Olina available for lease or vacation rental.

Are you looking for a place to live where each day feels like you are on a luxurious vacation? You can at the Beach Villas at Ko Olina. Imagine waking up to a beautiful Ocean Front view, then wandering down to the the fitness center for an early morning workout, followed by a visit to the steam room and sauna, and then some laps in the lap pool, all before you head off to work.

In the evening, go for a stroll on your sandy beach, take a dip in the ocean or lagoon pool, watch the sun set as you BBQ some fresh Ahi Tuna steaks, Rib Eye Steaks or Shrimp. Costco, Target and Safeway are all just one exit away and less than five minutes from your home.

Not interested in cooking? No problem, our on-site concierge staff (Debbie, Heaven & Summer) are here to make your life easier by making that perfect restaurant reservation or ordering tickets for a special event.

Need a massage after a hard day, no problem, perhaps a Hot Stone Massage will chase away any stress.

Short term rentals of one week and longer are available through September of 2010. After September of 2010, minimum length of stay is 30 days.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI for people purchasing property in Hawaii: Property tax rates in Hawaii are 400% higher for properties that provide short term rentals. So we're keeping our 3br as a short term rental and our 2br will become a long term rental.

We've already paid the taxes for short term rentals through September of 2010 for both properties so that's why you can reserve the 2br as a short term rental until then. However, to change the property type from a short term to long term rental, you must do it a year in advance. The deadline is once a year in September so you have to decide now to make the property a long term rental but it won't take effect until a year later, in October of 2010!

It's a crazy system but I think it maximizes revenue for the state. Taxes for this property are $16,000.00 a year as a resort rental and around $4,000.00 as a residence/long term rental, quite a difference.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vacation rental rates and long term lease rates include two parking stalls, high speed internet, phone service with unlimited local and mainland phone calls, cable and water. Vacation rental rates also include electricity. (On a long term lease, the tenant pays the electric bill based on usage and the monthly association fees for the upkeep of the grounds. You don't need a gardener, lawn mower or pool maintenance person.)

Contact us for current short term and long term vacation rental and long term lease rates.

Beach Villas Condo Photo Slide Show: 2br/2ba, Long Term Rental Photos.

Beach Villas 360 panoramas (you can rotate the view): Long Term 2br/2ba Rental 360 Views.

Beach Villas at Ko Olina Common Areas, Panoramas (you can rotate the view):
Beach Villas at Ko Olina 360 Views of the Grounds.

Live or vacation in paradise! Give us a call or drop us an email.

Are you thinking about purchasing a villa at the Beach Villas at Ko Olina at the Final Sales Event in September, 2009? Should you buy? Here is the latest scoop.

Last week in Federal Court (August 13th, 2009), the Master Developer of the Ko Olina Resort, Jeff Stone lost his motion to stop Centex, the developer of the Beach Villas at Ko Olina from recharcterizing the limited common areas of our property into common areas. This allows Centex to take the areas such as the pools, grounds parking lots, etc. and turn these areas over to the homeowners via our homeowners association. This is through the process of converting the limited common elements into common elements.

The judge ruled that Centex was within their right to proceed with the change, based on the wording of the contract signed by the Master Developer and Centex.

With this said, the rental program front desk and the beach bar will continue to be under a long term lease (20+ years) to the Master Developer. In addition, the fitness center and owners lounge are currently slated to be owned by the Master Developer and are not part of the current proceedings.

Here is a copy of the court document:

Order Denying KOD Preliminary Injunction Motion (filed 8/13/09)

A big caviat, while I believe I have the best perspective of what's going on from being involved with the property in many different ways, I am not an attorney. The above referenced document and other documents that were signed between the Master Developer and the Developer of the Beach Villas along with the latest Condominimum Report filed with the State of Hawaii and the purchase agreement between you and Centex should be read, digested, interpreted and advised upon by a licensed attorney. Not just any attorney, but one you trust and who is very skilled in this type of work. I would be glad to speak with your attorney to help them make a better educated guess as to where all of this will end up and the risks and rewards offered.

As I continue to say, the developer wouldn't be offering an additional 35%-40% discount off of the already reduced prices if the situation was perfect and the economy wasn't in the dumps. As with any investment, you'll have to make an educated decision as to if this investment is better than another investment for your situation. A lot has to do with your own motivations and why you wish to be here at the Beach Villas. I can lend you my ear but ultimately, only you will know if this is the right fit for you.

If you wish to brain storm and get my perspective on "Should You Buy" based on my being a homeowner at the property, a licensed Hawaii Real Estate professional, a member of the homeowner group who brought all of these issues to see the light of day and who runs a successful rental operation at the property, give me a call or drop me an email.

Ko Olina Vacation Reservations available at: Beach Villa Resort Reservations.

North Shore Dining
When your ready to venture away from the Beach Villas at Ko Olina head to the North Shore or Haleiwa, my home town. Here, stop at Kua Aina's for a Mahi Mahi burger, my wife loves their burgers. They also have hamburgers but we never order them. I get mine with Ortega Chilies on it. Delish! Kua Aina Burgers

For desert, stop at Matsumoto's for a Shaved Ice. I have great childhood memories of my mom rewarding me with a shave ice after my haircut across the street, the barber shop is now a dress shop. My favorite flavors are li hing mui, lychee & lilikoi (passionfruit). Matsumoto's Shave Ice

The best Mexican Restaurant on the Island is also in Haleiwa,  they have good margaritas also. Good local vibe. After lunch, continue on around and stop at Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, Pipeline, all at the Northern tip of the Island. Great waves, great surfing, check the water and see what everyone is doing before swimming. In the summer, Waimea is as flat as glass, in the winter up to 40 foot waves. Cholo's Mexican Restaurant

Further around in Kahuku are the famous shrimp trucks, on one of your treks out, you have to stop here for lunch. The shrimp are grown in ponds right outside the shanty's or trucks. Giovanni's is the original. There are many more since then. The Polynesian Cultural Center is also over here in Laie. Think Epcot of the Pacific Island Nations. Good visit and a good show to end your day. The shrimp trucks have also expanded into Haleiwa.
Giovannis Shrimp Truck or Romy's Shrimp Shack

Ko Olina Vacation Reservations available at: Beach Villa Resort Reservations.

Ko Olina Restaurants and Kapolei Restaurants located near the Beach Villas at Ko Olina, West Oahu, Hawaii. Beach Villas at Ko Olina Homeowner and Vacationer nearby dining options.

So your on vacation at the Beach Villas, where to eat? Even though the Beach Villas at Ko Olina have beautiful kitchens with Sub Zero, Wolf & Fisher-Paykel appliances, not everyone wants to cook while on vacation!

Here is a list of our families favorite restaurants in the Ko Olina Resort and the Kapolei area. All of these restaurants are convenient and close to our property, the Beach Villas at Ko Olina. Our property, the Beach Villa Resort is located on Lagoon Two.

Lagoon Two (Beach Villas) - The Beach Bar is now open serving well drinks, sodas, water and coffee in the mornings. The Beach Bar is for the exclusive use of our guests so it's not crowded. Moon is always ready to talk story with you and play his Ukulele. Todd mixes a mean drink both with or without alcohol. The $3.00 smoothies are a hit with both children and adults. Sandwiches and salads are also available while relaxing at the pool or beach.

We also have BBQ grills on the property by the lagoon pool. (The front grills by the bar are for bar use only.) One exit down on the highway (a 5 minute drive) is the new Costco which opened on February 23rd. They sell USDA Prime Beef and fresh fish (The Ahi steaks are fantastic marinated in some huli huli sauce, garlic & ginger) which you can grill using your in villa Wolf oven or poolside with our outdoor Wolf BBQ grills. Grill out by the pool, swim, eat, watch the sunset, not a bad way to end the day. Check with the bar tender at the beach bar to have them unlock the grill and to provide you with a grill cleaner if needed. The grills are cleaned every day.

Lagoon One (One lagoon over from the Beach Villas) - The outdoor patio at the Ihilani has a pool side bar and they have live Hawaiian Music and torch lighting each evening. Our favorite restaurant at the resort is Azul's which is located here. There is also a casual dining restaurant and a Japanese restaurant here. These dining options are about a five minute stroll along the ocean via a palm lined pathway that connects all of the lagoons together.

Lagoon Three (One lagoon over from the Beach Villas) - Kolohe's on Lagoon Three is good for lunch and drinks, also for sunset drinks, it overlooks lagoon three. Chuck's Steakhouse is also located here. They have good steaks and seafood.

Either lagoon is only a couple minute stroll along the beach in either direction from the Beach Villas at Ko Olina.

Dining at the Golf Course within the Ko Olina Resort - Located between lagoon's one and two at the 18th hole.
Roy's is great for Pupu's and listening to Moon Kahele who works at the Beach Villas at Ko Olina play his slack key guitar, every other Wednesday overlooking the 18th hole. Roy's is also a full service restaurant, their Chocolate Soufflé is famous. The restaurant is a short walk along the golf course, you can drive over or take the shuttle which comes by the Beach Villas at Ko Olina at 7 minutes and 37 minutes after the hour.

Dining and Food Options in Kapolei - One exit down from the Resort. A five minute drive. On the "Makai" side of the Freeway. Makai means towards the ocean. (The other direction you'll hear is "Mauka" or towards the mountain.)

Kapolei is called the "second city" after Honolulu as all of the new government offices, a new University of Hawaii campus, etc. are being constructed out this way. Here you will find the Safeway Grocery Store, the new Costco, the new Target and other stores.

Assaggio's Restaurant - 777 Kamokila Blvd, Kapolei, HI 96707 (808) 674-8801
My favorite restaurant in Kapolei is Assaggios Italian Restaurant. I'm a "local boy" and when I go home I usually eat all of the food I can't get on the mainland. With that being said, I like the food at Assaggio's so much that I could eat here every day. The food quality is top notch and the prices are more reasonable then say at Roy's or Azul's at the Ihilani. Menu

House of Fortune - 777 Kamokila Blvd, Kapolei, HI 96707 (808) 693-8998, the Chinese Restaurant next door to Assaggio's is also enjoyable. Hong Kong Style. Not as good though as a trip to China Town in Honolulu for some Dim Sum at lunch. Right next to and in the same building as Assaggio's. Menu

Chun Wah Kam - 885 Kamokila Blvd, Kapolei, HI 96707 (808) 693-8838, (on the same side of the street as the above restaurants, building to the left) is the new Chinese takeout place that also serves takeout Dim Sum. The local favorite is the Pork filled Manapua. In Chinese it's called a Char Siu Bao. Char Siu is the pork, Bao is the bun. A Chinese sandwich. My favorite is the Kalua Pig Manapua. They make a yummy food gift for family and the staff. Menu

Local Fast Food - Our fast food comes from "Zippy's" a good local place for plate lunches and local food. They have a location in Kapolei. They are three in one kind of place, a sit down, dine in restaurant; a fast food take out counter with outdoor seating; and a Napoleon's bakery which has really good pastries. This or Safeway both have good baked goods. I stop at both places for breakfast items.

There is also an Outback Steakhouse and a Chili's here in Kaploei along with a water park and movie theater. Outback prints a Hawaii version of their menu here as you can get Rice instead of a potato with your Steak! In Hawaii, you eat rice with pretty much everything.

Hope this gets you started with a great list of restaurant choices in West Oahu, have a great vacation!

Ko Olina Vacation Reservations available at: Beach Villa Resort Reservations.