Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR

Yes, it's that time of year and even if you can't enjoy the holidays with us here in beautiful Maui, you can think Hawaiian.

Actually, the Hawaiian people did not celebrate Christmas before Captain Cook arrived in 1778 - since, naturally, it wasn't part of their religious ceremonies. When the protestant missionaries came in 1820, the festivities became established in the Islands. These missionaries created a written form of the Hawaiian language, so Islanders could read and write in Hawaiian. Words for which there were no clear Hawaiian language equivalents were translated phonetically.

Merry Christmas: say "Mele Kalikimaka" (this was the phonetic version since no words for Christmas existed in Hawaiian)

Happy New Year: say "Hau'oli Makahiki Hou". The origin of this term comes from the Hawaiian celebration to honor the earth for its plenty about the same time of year, which they called Makahiki. The holidays lasted 4 months, and wars were prohibited (sounds like a great idea). Makahiki also means "year" so the term for Happy New Year became a phrase combining happy ('Hau'oli") and year ("makahiki") and new ("hou"). Say "how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho."

Thank You: say "Mahalo nui loa" or thank you very much.

Courtesy of www.about.com, here are some other Hawaiian words used during the holidays:

Angel - Anela

Candy - Kanake

Christmas Eve - Ahiahi Kalikimaka

Christmas Tree - La'au Kalikimaka

Elf - Menehune

Garland - Lei

Gift - Makana

God - Akua

Holly - Kawa'u

Jesus Christ- Iesu Kristo

Joy, Happy - Hau'oli

Love - Aloha

Mistletoe - Kaumahana

Ornament - Wehi

Peace - Malu

Reindeer - Leinekia

Santa Claus - Kanakaloka

Snow - Hau Kea

Snowball - Popohau

Snowflake - Hau puehuehu

Star - Hoku

Wreath - Lei

You can order ornaments like the one shown above from MaikaiHawaii.

When you decide to visit Maui and consider an investment, call or email me. I love this island, and feel very lucky to spend the holidays here.

Mahalo,

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
Hawaii real estate team services Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Big Island Hawaii
Hawaii real estate search of Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island

While most of the country is suffering from cold winter weather, even Florida and southern California, I thought I'd give you something to think about to make you feel warmer. Today it's 80 degrees in Maui, gentle breezes, happy people getting ready for holiday fun.

Here are some of the events planned:

Maui Film Festival, Dec. 17-30, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului
12 Days of Fish-mas at Maui Ocean Center
Lahaina banyan tree spectacular in Lahaina town
Hula & musical performances at Lahaina Cannery Mall

Birthday of a King: the Musical, Dec. 19-22, 7 PM, King's Cathedral, Kahului
Sing it Yourself Messiah, Dec. 19, 7 PM, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort
Christmas Celebration at Piilani Village Center, Santa arrives 11 AM, Kihei
Wailuku Door of Faith Annual Christmas Pageant, Dec. 21, 6-8 PM, Wailuku
Lahaina Gift & Craft Fair, Dec. 21, 9-4 PM, Lahaina

Christmas Eve:
Candlelight worship service in the courtyard of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, 9:30 PM
Keiki Christmas show in the shops of Wailea, 4-5:30 PM
Santa arrives by outrigger canoe on Wailea Beach
Christmas Eve service at Grand Wailea Resort, 10 PM, Wailea

Christmas Day
Christmas brunch cruise by the Pacific Whale Foundation, Lahaina Harbor, 11-1 PM
Christmas sunset Dinner cruise by the Pacific Whale Foundation, Lahaina, 5:30-7:30 PM
Christmas buffet lunch & dinner at Kaanapali Beach Hotel
Keiki Christmas Island Style in the shops of Wailea, 2-3:30 PM

If I've missed any event, just let me know & I'll add it in the next blog.

Imagine spending the holidays in Maui...

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
Hawaii real estate team services Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Big Island Hawaii
Hawaii real estate search of Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island

A recent article in the NY Times said it this way, "Five or 10 years from now, when the financial crisis has ended and housing prices are up smartly once more, we will look in the rearview mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first-time home buyers."

This is the buying opportunity of a lifetime, or at least of a generation, for those who can qualify for a mortgage. While no one knows when the market will hit bottom - and this traditionally is a few months later in Hawaii than the mainland - all indications point to that event coming soon. Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages have fallen below 5% (yes, 4.5 - 4.85% - unbelievable!) - that's for 30 years, not a 3-year or 5-year ARM like a few years ago. Imagine having that rate for the next 30 years while you build a real estate portfolio.

Add to the rate advantage the $7,500 government tax credit for 1st time buyers, the huge inventory of available homes giving buyers a plethora of choices, and it should be hard to resist jumping in to the market.

Here are some reasons 1st time buyers who have invested grabbed the opportunity:

• no house to sell
• in most locations, your mortgage payments now won't be more than renting
• use the basics to your advantage - buy within your means
• fixer uppers are plentiful - this is a great chance to add sweat equity
• builders have steeply cut prices on new home inventory
• it's still the best long-term investment available

Maui has it all - investments, 2nd homes, oceanfront, ocean view, land, and new developments. Contact me to discuss the wide range of options you have for buying in Paradise.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
808-385-1265
www.garybland.com

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
Hawaii real estate team services Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Big Island Hawaii
Hawaii real estate search of Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island

Brant Holland, of Western Paradise Financial, wrote about this special mortgage program in his December Rate Update Newsletter:

"With interest rates on the rise, it's become increasingly difficult for many homeowners with Adjustable Rate Mortgages. Each month, they watch their monthly payments increase as interest rates climb closer to the lifetime caps of their loans. In addition, property owners who are looking to sell are finding that their properties are staying on the market for longer periods as buyers have more optionsto choose from.

Thankfully there is a solution for both of these issues. This special mortgage program has no margin and no index, yet it offers greater financial flexibility because of its tiered interest rates. During the first year of the loan, the borrower pays a rate that's 2 full percentage points below the current prevailing rate for a 30-year fixed. During the second year, the borrower pays a rate that's a full 1 percentage point below the prevailing rate. From years 3 through 30, the loan caps out at a rate that's much lower than their current loan's cap rate. This provides the borrower with greater cash flow, stability, and instant relief from interest rate nightmares.

For those who are seeking to sell homes more rapidly, attaching a strategic financing program to a specific property for a limited time will create both buyer incentive and a sense of urgency, making marketing and selling the property a breeze. Buyers are inspired to act quickly in order to take advantage of this unique financial benefit. Strategic financing is a perfect solution to today's challenging market."

Since the rate as of 12.10 for 30-year fixed was about 4.875%, paying 2 percentage points below this for the 1st year sounds pretty attractive in today's market.

Contact Brant directly,

Brant Holland, Mortgage Consultant
Western Paradise Financial
Phone: (808) 298-1891
brant_holland@countrywide.com
www.loan24-7.com/brantholland

or me for an introduction and previews of all the great Maui homes for sale.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
real estate in Hawaii on the following Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Hawaii Big Island
Hawaii Oahu real estate company offers Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island

Our Century 21 President/CEO just circulated an email of a recent RISMEDIA article abut GSEs, Government Sponsored Enterprises, like Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae. These are lenders that have government backing for fund sourcing and lender insurance, which would help spread the risk in event of a default.

Because of the sagging economy and high rate of foreclosures, government support for the mortgage market is needed, now more than ever, to take the lead. GSEs are currently the only reliable source of funding for home loans, and account for an unprecedented proportion of home loans. Even with capital infusions, the private mortgage sources have totally failed to support jumbo mortgages and seemingly have abandoned the nation's housing markets.

All credit to Joel Singer, Exec. VP of the California Assn. of Realtors. He said it so well, I quote, "Some argue that GSEs, or any government support for housing, poses too great a risk to the overall economy. Certainly, the massive leverage of the recent past, when coupled with unsafe instruments and totally insufficient underwriting, cannot be condoned. Yet, it is also clear that the growth in homeownership opportunities for millions of American families were a direct outgrowth of the strength of the GSEs."

The mission of lenders should be to create home ownership opportunities, particularly for the underserved and first-time buyers. Singer stated the charge to the new GSEs perfectly, "The successors to Fannie and Freddie need to focus on originating affordable and safe purchase money loans and steer clear of complex exotic capital instruments. Any subprime lending must be accompanied by responsible, realistic underwriting and clear consumer understanding....The critical issue now is how the GSEs are restructured. Our greatest challenge is to ensure the availability of mortgage capital."

Make your voices heard - Pres-elect Obama has said this is our opportunity for change and we must work together. Let's do it right this time.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
Hawaii homes for sale on Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Hawaii
Hawaii condos in Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island