Last year the legislature here in Hawaii passed the now-infamous "Act 137" in a well-intentioned move to protect consumers from predatory wolves wearing the sheep's clothing of a distressed property consultant. Unfortunately, the language in the Act was so broad that in the course of trying to assist clients in a short sale transaction...or even in a sale in which the seller was behind on homeowner association dues...an agent would fall under the definition and suddenly be faced with an entirely different set of contracts. Of course the advice from our attorneys was to steer clear of such transactions, but the lid was already off Pandora's box, so that just wasn't practical. And many of us felt a moral obligation to assist under-water clients.
The nervous initial compromise was to have clients on both sides of the transaction sign one additional short document affirming their understanding that their real estate professional was NOT a distressed property consultant and was not offering advice as such.
At last, a new bill Excluding Real Estate Licensees from Act 137 has passed Conference Committee and will be voted by the legislature in the coming days. If passed and subsequently signed by Governor Lingle, the bill will go into effect immediately.
The proposed bill excludes licensed real estate brokers and salespersons from the definition of distressed property consultants in the Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act and prohibits certain conduct relating to the acquisition of an ownership interest in distressed property by licensed real estate brokers and salespersons for up to one year.
And that's good news for buyers and sellers of real estate in Hawaii.
A hui hou
Beth
Beth Thoma Robinson R(S)
Specializing in the Kohala Coast and vog-free North Kohala- We Know This Market by Heart!
EMAIL OR CALL for a list of best buys at the resorts! Cell: 808-443-4588 FOLLOW ME on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alohabet
Did you know that if you are a part-time resident of Hawai'i, you can take advantage of the Non-Resident Library Card which only differs from a resident's card in that it costs $25,? If you are here for regular or extended visits, considerr a Visitors Card (good for three months) for $10. Once you have your card it is simple to use the on-line catalog to request books from anywhere in the Hawaii system--or just go to the local library to browse the wonderful collection of Hawaiian cultural resources. Maybe rent a DVD of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival or check out a book to identify those colorful Hawaiian birds you see on your lanai.
TODAY (Friday, April 24th at 12:30 pm) saw the official groundbreaking for our new library building in North Kohala. It is quite typical to have an event for the beginning and completion of construction in Hawaii, whether for a single family home or a public building. Today's ceremony included a traditional blessing, hula, and lots of aloha spirit.
The Bond Memorial Library in Kapaau turned 80 this year, making it one of the oldest still-operating libraries in the state of Hawaii. With its classic plantation styling, it is a warm, welcoming center for the community, but has been absolutely bulging at the seams. Community activists succeeded in getting approval from the state to construct a new library with three times the space of the current building.
The new building iwill have big windows to take advantage of our beautiful Kohala landscape, and meets environmental requirements for LEED certification. Surety Kohala donated an ideal site next to Takata Store and walking distance from the Kohala High and Elementary Schools. Construction is supposed to take about a year.
The new library will cost more than $7 million, most of which has already been released by the state, but over $200,000 is stil needed to cover furniture, shelving, computers, and the costs of relocation. Stop by when you're in North Kohala and make a donation for the library! You can find the Hawaii Palm Properties office in Hawi, or look for the library itself just across from the Kamehameha statue in Kapaau.
A hui hou,
Beth Thoma Robinson R(S)
Direct: 808.443.4588
Earth Day has grown into Earth month here on the Big Island. When you live on an island thousands of miles away from the nearest continent, the impact of human decisions on the environment is perhaps more obvious than someplace where land is plentiful.
In the district of North Kohala on the thumb tip of Hawaii Island, we feel perhaps even more isolated and more conscious of the impacts. Perhaps that is why the annual Trash Bash has grown over the past three years into a major community and tourist event.
On Saturday last week, members of the Merchants Association (essentially all the businesses is Hawi and Kapaau) had special prices and events to draw residents and visitors to town, where they also could view the entries into the Trash Bash Art Show and pick up information from Sustainable Kohala or the Zero Waste team.
This is a Tiki made from old fan belts
.And this is a collage created from plastic toys and bottle caps collected in morning walks on the beach.
Our office was open all day, with representatives of the local credit union available to talk to first time homebuyers about special programs, and since we are Hawaii PALM Properties, we also had Aikane Nursery selling non-invasive species plants in our parking lot.
On Sunday, it seemed like the entire population of Hawi and Kapaau came to the Kohala Coffee Mill to vote for their favorite entries in the Trash Bash Fashion Show. There are categories for children, teens and adults, and as the announcer described each outfit, she also gave us some facts about the impact of the materials used on the environment, and how we can reduce, reuse, recycle or upcycle!
Happy Earth Day and see you here next year!
Beth
Beth Thoma Robinson R(S)
Specializing in the Kohala Coast and vog-free North Kohala- We Know This Market by Heart!
EMAIL OR CALL for a list of best buys at the resorts: beth@hawaiipalmproperties.com Cell: 808-443-4588 FOLLOW ME on TWitter: www.twitter.com/alohabeth
We've been blessed to have a volunteer create and maintain an email list for the past few years so that notices of community events, volunteer opportunities, educational offerings, legislative updates and other news of interest to residents of North Kohala (Hawi area). Now they've passed the baton and the new version of the Kohala News has a website and a link so that you too can subscribe to the e-newsletter.
We also are fortunate to have a monthly newspaper with in-depth coverage of community events and issues, as well as features on Kohala history and personalities. The Kohala Mountain News doesn't have a website, but you can subscribe to the paper edition.
Contact kohalamountainnewsediotr@gmail.com or call 808-889-6909 for current rates.
A hui hou,
Beth
Beth Thoma Robinson R(S)
Specializing in the Kohala Coast and vog-free North Kohala- We Know This Market by Heart!
EMAIL OR CALL for a list of best buys at the resorts: beth@hawaiipalmproperties.com Cell: 808-443-4588 FOLLOW ME on TWitter: www.twitter.com/alohabeth
There are few condos on the Kohala Coast with their own private path to the beach. Most of that prime real estate is taken by luxury single family homes with multi-million dollar price tags. Kolea at the Waikoloa Beach Resort is unique in that the front row of this gated community has 17 single family home sites (about half with homes on them in the $7 million range) and beautifully constructed condominiums behind them. The best priced condos don't have views of the beach, but who needs the view when you can enjoy it all day from the beach, pool and Beach Club, and all you are going to use your condo for is to sleep at night?
The first REO hit the MLS this morning at a "best buy" price of only $663,900 for 1550 sq ft 2BR/2BA (the larger, outside two-bedroom floorplan). This unit sold two years ago for $1,195,000. In the adjacent building, the same flooplan came on the market 45 days ago for $1,450,000.
The timing of this beautiful project was such that it attracted a number of buyers who either intended to flip, or who simply over-extended and found themselves unable to carry the number of investment properties they'd acquired. That led to a large number of listings on the market - 30 active condo listings at Kolea, out of 126 total.With the homeowners association reporting a dozen owners delinquent on dues, it became clear that a significant number of these luxury condos are headed for short sale or foreclosure. Now we have an indication of price levels. With no sales since last July, the appraisers will have to use foreclosures for comps, so every resale listing will be under pressure.
A hui hou,
Beth
Beth Thoma Robinson R(S)
Specializing in the Kohala Coast and vog-free North Kohala- We Know This Market by Heart!
EMAIL OR CALL for a list of best buys at the resorts: beth@hawaiipalmproperties.com Cell: 808-443-4588 FOLLOW ME on TWitter: www.twitter.com/alohabeth
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The vog-free sunny skies of North Kohala and the Kohala Coast resorts of Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani and Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawai'i: great places to live your Hawaii Life!
E komo mai—welcome to Kohala on the Big Island! Like most of my clients, this corner of paradise is my chosen home rather than my birthplace. I live and work in North Kohala (Hawi area) because I treasure its physical beauty and the sense of community, values, and Hawaiian culture. I also love the classic lifestyle of the Kohala Coast resorts, where I worked for the developer of the Kolea and Hali’i Kai oceanfront condo communities.
I offer you the diverse skills of a “professional chameleon” to work as your trusted advisor in Big Island real estate. As a PhD economist by training, I understand markets. As an 11-year veteran of Wall Street, I understand finance. As an entrepreneur, I ran both an artistic talent management business and a membership organization providing education for high net worth families. I’ve invested in real estate and managed my own rentals since I was in college. When my husband and I became full-time residents in Hawaii in 2005, I saw real estate as a natural avenue to continue to serve the client base I’d been working with for 30 years.
It really is a BIG Island, so I concentrate on only the districts of North and South Kohala (I can refer you to great agents elsewhere on the Big Island or throughout Hawaii).
Although there are modest starter homes from the $300,000s in the Hawi area, most of our Kohala and resort properties would be in the $500,000 to $5 million+ range.
Sellers--I take listings here in the Hawi/Kapaau area as well as in the Kohala Coast resorts, and if you have a property to sell I can bring the best of Internet technology to help us find the perfect buyer. I understand how to sell land and equestrian properties.
Buyers--Whether you are looking for a carefree second home in a luxurious Kohala Coast resort community, searching for a unique lot to build a “green” residence, planning for future retirement, or seeking savvy investment opportunities, I can help you sort through the options, guide you through the transaction and get you situated in the community. We often have pocket listings or ideas of who might consider selling to the right person, so don't be afraid to ask.
Sustainable agriculture is alive and well here in North Kohala, Hawi area and Waimea. And if you are interested in an equestrian property, acreage, or ranch, my horse consults free of charge!
Beth was my real estate agent on the purchase of two condos at the oceanfront Hali I Kai community. As a real estate investor and developer, I am very particular about the quality of the properties I buy and whom I deal with. Officially, Beth was working for the developer, but I felt like she was working for me. Many real estate agents try to sell you what they have, rather than listening to what you want. Beth listened to find me the right units, and creatively addressed my concerns during the months I was under contract in a shifting market. I appreciated her professionalism and initiative.
Michael J Newell Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (re: oceanfront Kohala Coast condos)
When we first considered buying property on Big Island we contacted a number of Realtors. Beth was the only Realtor who responded to our many questions the same day, always with a thoughtful considered response. She impressed us with listening very carefully to our specific needs and requirements so we were able to use our limited time to maximum effect. Her detailed local knowledge helped us to identify a property to buy on our second visit and we still have a great working relationship. We would have no hesitation in recommending her for buyers of either land or the many types of property on the Island.
Andrew and Corinne Latham, CA and Hawi
I want to thank you again for all your time and help that you gave us. If anyone else asks about a realtor to buy or sell, I will certainly send them your way. You are very competent and so prompt with all your communications. Continued blessings on your work!
Much Gratitude,
Francis Clare Fischer, Splendora, TX (re: sale of single family home in North Kohala)
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