Oahu, Hawaii Ka'au Crater: Picture Perfect Scenery - Sep 03 01:28 PM
www.localism.com featured article
What better place in the world to go hiking and grab some scenic pictures but Hawaii! Breathtaking views of lush green foilage from high atop ridges, far above valleys and down to the deep blue ocean. It's an all in one picture perfect story to tell.
My friend Karen's husband Keith goes hiking every Saturday all over Oahu. He takes pictures and they are so beautiful they allowed me to use a bunch to do this post. Hey, these ...
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Waimea Valley: History Uncovered, Preserved and Protected - Oct 09 02:20 PM
www.localism.com featured post
Learning about the history and culture of the area you are planning on relocating to is surely a must!
Waimea Bay is located on the North Shore on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. During the winter months the waves can get as high as thirty feet where some surfers dare to brave riding the wild surf. During the summer months the water is calm and great for swimming and snorkeling.
Follow the permanent river from the ocean of Waimea ...
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Recycling on Oahu, Hawaii with Worms?! - Jul 25 12:36 AM
www.localism.com featured
While watching the news last night I sat with amazement listening to this story. According to The Waikiki Worm Company, the island of Oahu's wastestream is about 34% and they decided they were going to do something about it! This company was established to recycle .....ORGANIC WASTE with.....worms.
The processing of organic waste is called VERICOMPOSTIN. What the worms do is transform garbage into a nutrient-rich, no odor, no pathogen organic soil that is used to improve the health of all types ...
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MAKING the Transaction WORK! (The Loyal Client Update) - Jul 03 09:34 PM
How many of you find a way to make the transaction work? Do you go above and beyond "the call of duty"? How often do I ask myself if I'm doing the right thing when I give a credit or buy something for the client to make a transaction work? NONE! NEVER! NADA! ZILCH! ZERO! That's right...NONE! I don't second guess my decisions when it is to benefit the client and the transaction to make it work.
Three days ago I wrote about my ...
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MEET Mr. "W": The Faithful and Loyal Client - Jul 23 12:59 AM
It's a cool sunny typical Hawaiian day and I stroll down to the building in my complex that Mr. "W" (The Faithful and Loyal Client) is currently in contract for. He scheduled his final walk through for this Sunday morning at 10am after he was finished with church and he did mention that he also wanted to take more measurements because we are getting ready to close.
I showed Mr. "W" the last couple of blogs I had written regarding his transaction and told him how everyone thought ...
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Torrential Rains, Thunder, Lightning, Floods......... and Snow? Only in Hawaii! - Nov 06 08:41 PM
www.localism.com featured article
Whoa! Torrential rains, flooding, high surf, lightning and booming thunder! That's the way it was Saturday night on Oahu. Sleeping soundly until BOOM! And blinding light in our bedroom that startled us awake. The dog's head was under the bed. Okay. She's cool. And my heart is beating because my husband JUMPED at the BOOM!
It was still raining hard on Sunday and because of the storm we didn't get to cut down the junk ...
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The Hawaii SuperFerry Has Arrived in Honolulu! - Jul 01 02:34 AM
The day we have been waiting for is here. Our new ship the Alakai arrived this afternoon in Honolulu Harbor with an entourage of helicopters, coast guard vessels, and a fireboat with water cannons blazing.
I and a few 100 of the local faithful waited at Sand Island State Park next to the entrance of Honolulu Harbor to see the arrival of our long awaited inter-island ferry. Cameras and tripods were at the ready. It was ...
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Why I do Not Recommend Out of State Lenders - Jun 23 11:04 PM
Let me start by saying that I know there are many good loan officers and lenders in other states who may be able to do a quality job on a mortgage. Unfortunately I have not seen a single loan generated through an out of state loan officer go smoothly.
That is a terrible batting average. The story gets worse. In a previous blog post The Lending Industry Needs to Step Up to the Plate I stated that ...
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ActiveRain Guide to Oahu: Points of Interest (Part III) - Jan 05 09:52 PM
Hula Dancers, Food, Shows, Entertainment!
For all you folks who are coming for the Hawaii Chapter: CRS Sellabration at the Hilton Hawaiian Village from January 28-30, 2008 I have been working on this Guide to Oahu that Sharon Simms (Who is not only attending the CRS Sellabration but having a CLHMS class on January 24 and 25 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village too!) suggested that I put together an "ActiveRain Guide to Oahu) for all the attendees who ...
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Premium Service Listings – Would You Pay More? - May 22 07:38 AM
Have heard of Full Service and Limited Service Listings. Have you heard of Premium Service Listings?
In our industry there seems to be a lot of companies and agents focused on dropping prices and lowering services. Limited listings, flat fees and for sale by owner listings are among some of the business models that are out there.
I believe it is reality for two basic reasons for these business models:
There is a segment of the market who wants ...
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Selling in A Tough Market - Aug 07 01:12 AM
You read and followed the best advice for getting your home prepared for sale. You removed negatives by painting, upgrading flooring and counter tops. You have wonderful curb appeal, you had a landscaper come in and make yours the nicest looking yard on the block. After reading and watching cable TV you even had your home professionally staged. So far so good.
Man your home is looking so good. It is looking so good that you are ...
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Marketing Can Make You a Celebrity - Jun 06 03:24 AM
Effective advertising not only brings in sales, but it also adds to your face to face effectiveness. When meeting a perspective client the meetings tend to go a lot smoother if they recognize you form your advertising campaign. There is an assumption by many potential clients that you must be one of the more effective agents in your community if you have a strong ad presence. Perception is everything in sales and marketing.
Along with my other ...
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Mortgage Money is Getting Tougher, Get a Good Professional - Aug 09 05:04 PM
If you are thinking about getting in the market to buyer or sell a home, DON'T WAIT! The mortgage side of the business is going through some major changes and it is already becoming harder to buy or sell real estate. Mortgage money is drying up in several segments of the industry.
If your credit is shaky, getting a mortgage has gotten much harder and possibly impossible in most cases.
For those looking to do 100% financing, you ...
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Value vs. Price - May 15 01:48 PM
I have always believed that there are two ways to go about selling a service. Sell the service or sell the price. There is a market for both.
I had a great mentor many years ago that taught me one lesson that I live by today. You can not win on price alone, because someone is always dumber than you.
A little background:
For many years I sold equipment and supplies in the printing and graphics business. I ...
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Accredited Buyer's Representative Class was a Great Investment of Time and Money - Aug 01 08:45 AM
I was a little tentative about taking the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) classes. I have my CRS the granddaddy of designations and felt the ABR may be a CRS light. There were three things that changed my mind and helped me make the decision to go for my ABR and take the classes:The predatory practices of several agents in the area.Professionalism; is it professional to work with a client without clearly spelling out your relationship in ...
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HAWAIIAN LEGENDS: Kaena Point, Waimea Valley, and Two Heiau's - Jun 18 11:20 PM
www.localism.com featured post
By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789
There seems to be a story for every piece of land in Hawaii so let's start with Kaena Point (picture left taken from Sharks Cove) on the island of Oahu. Travel to Kaena Point from the North Shore and past Mokuleia; but alas! There is no thorough fare from this point to the other side except for a small pathway which can only be crossed ...
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Realtors® Who Give Attention & Care to the Home Buyers You Ignored - Apr 13 01:34 AM
How often do you get a call or email and the "potential Home Buyer" is not going to be buying for a couple of months? A couple of years? Do you just 'let it go' because it "ain't happening" and you just want instant gratification? Well, I have news for you! You don't ever REALLY know if a potential buyer is going to REALLY buy right then and there anyway.
The scenarios may differ but they can sure take ...
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No Secrets, No Lies: Honesty Means the Whole Truth - Sep 07 12:02 AM
Jo-Anne Smith created a contest to write about
Honesty, and What It Means to You~Contest Announcement and Entries So Far . Wow. Is this a sign from all my past remarks and posts? It must be because I would love to disclose what "Honesty Means to ME" and what it means to me in my personal and professional life. <CLICK> and listen while you read please.
First of all, honesty starts with me. If I am unable to be ...
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Japanese in Hawaii: My Ancestry - Jul 07 12:40 AM
Little Sarah Cooper wrote her article on It's a Tiny Little World Out There inspired by her Japanese exchange student and throughout our little conversations of my Japanese ancestry. Now it's my turn to give you some insight on the history of the Japanese immigrants to Hawaii and well as a little history of my mom and me.
The first Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaii in 1868 as laborers in the pineapple and sugar cane fields. ...
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Loan Officers With Better Deals Than VA Are Probably Lying - Feb 07 04:24 AM
Strong words? I don't think so.
I have spoken to many Military folks who were steered away from using their VA benefits when buying a home. When a mortgage broker or an out of state lender tells someone with VA benefits that they have a better deal; it is probably better for the loan officer, not the borrower. Here are a few reasons why some loan officers have consistently pushed vets away from using a VA ...
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Hawaii Military Relocation Package - Schofield Barracks & Wheeler Army Air Field - Mar 06 06:21 PM
So....you are Relocating to Hawaii with the Military and...you are going to be stationed at Schofield Barracks Army Installation or Wheeler Army Air Field. (adjacent right next to each other in Central Oahu) Wheeler used to be an Air Force base and was returned to the Army on November 1, 1991. History shows that the soldiers from Schofield started clearing way for an aircraft strip back in February of 1922 and named in November of 1922 honoring ...
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Overpricing is a Terrible Practice by Some Agents to Steal Listings? - Apr 20 04:52 AM
There is type of agent that pops up every now and then, who makes us all look bad. They cost the seller's time and money and they cost quality agents a listing every now and then.
It just happened to me and Lielane Peralta, who is a new agent in our office, who teamed up with me on a potential listing. I see this happen from time to time and wasn't personally as upset as I was ...
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*Why I love the Real Estate Industry....My Profession* - Oct 27 04:59 PM
Mike Mueller wrote his post What do you Love about your job? and challenged us to write about what we love about our profession. We in the Real Estate Industry love challenges and our industry has challenges galore! And it sure feels good when I take that challenge and turn it into a prize winning ending.
I worked for a Family Law Attorney for many years. Divorces, Child Custody, Temporary Restraining Orders, Adoptions, and personal problems. I ...
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Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Mililani, Oahu, Hawaii - Sep 09 02:27 PM
www.localism.com featured article by Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, Hawaii Following is my entry in the Active Rain Buyer's Challenge Contest. (the name of the "potential client" is fictitious and only used for purposes of the contest to identify a "person") Thank you Colleen Kulikowski for creating the First ActiveRain -- Buyer Challenge contest to expand our horizons in Localism post writing! *************************************************************************************** Aloha David!Thank you for contacting me after reading my post What Makes a House a Home in Honolulu, Hawaii? ...
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The Hawaii Superferry IS a Debatable Subject - Oct 08 02:47 PM
I was very reluctant to write on this very controversial subject so bear with me in writing an opinionated (for BOTH sides) post regarding the Hawaii Superferry. There are two sides to every story just as there are two sides to this one and it will be a debatable subject no matter how it is discussed because of the views and opinions by different environmental groups and Hawaii residents.The Hawaii Superferry had launched on August 26, ...
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300 Posts and 200,000 Points on Active Rain - Jul 17 03:48 AM
When I joined Active Rain last year, the top person in my state had about 13,000 points. I remember thinking that is a lot of points. I can't imagine writing that much.Well here I am today with a total of 300 blog posts, 50 featured and 200,000 points. Back when I hit the 100,000 point mark I mentioned that I am a 2 finger typist. I know that surprised a few and gave others a chuckle. ...
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Is the Letter From the Lender any Good? - Apr 03 01:11 PM
A regular topic in our business is the quality of pre-qual and pre-approval letters from lenders. This has been a serious issue in several of transactions. I have gotten to the point that a letter from certain lenders is worthless in my opinion; while others come from true professionals. I give a sigh of relief when an offer comes in with their letter attached.
Why is there such a difference from one loan officer to another?
Let's look ...
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Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor - May 13 11:20 PM
Here is a list of questions I have recommended to people when they are going to work a Realtor from other areas. No these are the same questions I ask when looking for someone to refer one of my clients to. I do practice what I preach.Are you a full time or part time agent? Only work with full time agents. Avoid those who are hobbyists or those who are not good enough to make a ...
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What Kind of Legacy Will You Leave Behind? - Jul 10 12:09 AM
What is your legacy? It's the footprints of our lives that we leave behind. No matter what profession, industry or company I am working for I want to leave behind a good impression; a great legacy. In my personal life with family and friends it is the same. I would love to leave a nice legacy behind so I am remembered in a good way. Gee, I wonder why it is not advisable to leave a "bad taste" in another's mouth ...
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The History of Hawaiian Homes - Jun 11 10:02 AM
Featured post by Celeste Cheeseman in www.localism.com
THE HISTORY OF HAWAIIAN HOMES is an appropriate topic for one who's professional life revolves around residential homes. Don't you think? Though there are no specific dates to speak of residential history before Western Civilization came to the Hawaiian Islands, there are some notations of significance to give some insight into some of our first settlers and our land. Clear pure air, balmy hawaiian sunshine, crystal clear ocean with fine sand beaches. ...
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Mr. "W" and The "Loyal Client" Transaction: WEEK TWO - Jul 13 12:04 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how a transaction can be going VERY smoothly and ALWAYS hit a couple of snags along the way. It will ALWAYS be up to me in how I handle the situation regarding my attitude and being proactive as a "Professional" in the Real Estate Industry. I mean....no transaction is perfect, right?
First of all, if you have not read the previous stories on the "Loyal Client" you can read them here: A ...
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Across the Ocean to Paradise: Hawaii Military Relocation - Nov 26 12:18 PM
Featured article on www.localism.com
Military personnel who have relocated across the Pacific Ocean to Oahu, Hawaii are always astounded at the differences in homes once they arrive here. Okay, let's say stunned instead. I have had many military clients who were so shocked at the size of homes that they had no alternative but to store the majority of their household goods once they arrived because they brought it all. They also had a cultural shock as well with ...
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Hawaii Coastal Land: *Ponder Before Purchasing* - Aug 23 01:15 PM
http://www.localism.com/ featured article
In Hawaii, not only do we have a responsility to take care of our environment but we have a responsibility to understand the potential risks and consequences of purchasing coastal land. Ahhhh. Hawaii is surely a paradise with its beautiful trade winds, blue sunny skies and panoramic breathtaking scenery. A land so unique that will come with drastic weather and ocean changes that will threaten the coastlines and property.
There will always be some natural hazards ...
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The Kamaaina Test - Apr 05 01:07 PM
I commented yesterday on a blog written by fellow Century 21 agent, Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman. In her blog I mentioned a test to determine if you are a Kamaaina. For those from other parts of the country a Kamaaina is what we call locals in Hawaii. Just living here does not make you a Kamaaina. You must have been here a long time and be assimilated with the culture.
If you fail on any of these ...
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To Disclose or Not to Disclose, That is Not the Question - Feb 28 08:49 AM
I recently read a column in our Hawaii Association of Realtors newspaper talking about calls they receive on the legal hotline. The focus of the article was about whether you should disclose or not certain facts.
First let me disclose that I am not an attorney and as such will not give out any legal advice. What advice I will give is a bit of old fashioned common sense.
To start with in Hawaii our State Law requires ...
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Present All Offers Immediately – Part 2 - May 28 04:51 PM
I just posted a blog post: Present All Offers ImmediatelyMany agents do not seem to get the importance of this. It is required by law here in Hawaii.In the previous post I wrote about what happened when I bought the home we live in. Since re-entering the industry I have had several agents not show offers to their clients that I presented for buyers.I am currently representing a seller and am seeing it from the other ...
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Hawaii is a Great Place - Mar 22 03:45 PM
Here are a few facts about Hawaii that possibly only a few trivia buffs may know:
Hawaii is known as the Aloha State, because of the friendly people.Hawaii is the only state that has a palace and was a former kingdom with a royal family. The Iolani Palace is now a museum. (Pictured)Hawaii is the only state that grows coffeeHawaii is the most isolated location on earth that has a population center. 2390 miles from California and ...
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Condo/Townhouse Living in Hawaii..........and A Water Leak - Oct 04 06:16 PM
Townhouse/Condo living can be great easy living for homeowners that want a low maintenance courtyard and maintenance fees that take care of the bulk of insurance/repairs for the common elements of the structure, water, sewer, trash and parking. (at least this is in my Association and others may include electricity) For me (in my mid years) it was good to downsize and not have the added stress of yardwork and a big house to maintain. I also love the ...
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Purchasing Hawaii Vacant Land? Ancient Hawaiian Burial Sites and Laws - Aug 18 01:34 AM
www.localism.com featured article 8/18/2007
It is a known fact that all our Hawaiian Islands have many burial grounds and sites that have still not been "discovered". Another fact is that much of our land is zoned as Preservation and/or Conservation land. There are a few things about ancient Hawaiian Burial Sites that you all need to know if you are thinking about buying vacant land here in Hawaii because it's not as easy as you think.
For one. ...
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What’s In a Real Estate Designation? - Oct 02 01:14 PM
This is a common tossed around topic. Since the last time I discussed it in my blog I have added a few more alphabets after my name.
In the past a few spirited discussions about the wisdom of getting designations broke out when I tied profession development to professionalism. With time my opinion has only got stronger.
Here are a few of my thoughts on the topic.
If you are planning to make your living ...
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The Endangered Hawaiian 'HONU" (Green Sea Turtle) and Laws that Protect It - Sep 25 06:47 PM
www.localism.com featured articleThis past Saturday my husband I went on a ride from the H-3 freeway which starts from the south central part of our Oahu and over the Koolau Mountains to the Windward side of Oahu which the central eastern part of our island. (The map to the left is our island of Oahu and the big stretch of green is the Koolau Mountain Range that stretches from the southeastern tip of our island all the way ...
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The Lending Industry Needs to Step Up to the Plate - May 03 12:02 PM
I was reading yet another blog post on this topic from top Realtor and blogger, Neal Bloom from Florida: WHAT IS THE USE...JUST PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY! Neal discussed a bad transaction, that he had to deal with a bad loan officer. The responses to his post had several that were quite stimulating. Jeff Belonger a top loan officer from New Jersey weighed in heavily on the conversation. Jeff's responses give you a look ...
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Hawaiian Legends - Nightmarchers, Menehune, and the Tiki Gods - Jun 03 09:31 PM
By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789 (Localism.com Featured Article)
HAWAIIAN Spirits and Superstitions covered only a sliver of our Spirits and Superstions in Hawaii. Remember I mentioned that we had our home blessed because our home was in the path of the warriors marching? We will now embark on one Hawaiian legend, ....The Nightmarchers.
The Nightmarchers are the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian high ranking warriors. They say that they come forth during the night ...
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Relocating to Oahu, Hawaii? A Glimpse into Old Town Wahiawa - Sep 13 01:15 PM
Wahiawa (Wha hee a wha) town on Oahu is an old neighborhood in Central Oahu and about 5 minutes from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field.
Wahiawa Botanical Garden is located half way up Wahiawa Heights on California Avenue. It is a 27 acre Tropical Rain Forest and the deepest part of the ravine is 47 feet. Much effort has been made over the years to get the collection of native Hawaiian plants they have today.
A little ...
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*LAST UPDATE* Hawaii: Hurricane Flossie, Earthquake, Wildfire and (THANKS!) FRIENDS - Aug 14 06:04 PM
When something is happening in the world around me I stop to think about all the wonderful things I have had in my life. The things that have made a good impact on my life. This community called the Active Rain Real Estate Network never ceases to amaze me when people band together and actually become friends through their contact along the "Long and Winding Road of Blogging". This is the series of events for the past couple of ...
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"WooHoo Sally": The Hawaii Real Estate Professional - Jul 18 11:33 PM
What if we could turn back time? Would I change anything or would I have done things differently in my Real Estate Business if I could turn back time? Through all the trials and tribulations that I have gone through up until this point in my career; is this where I am supposed to be at this place and time? Of course it is!
Every situation has an outcome. I choose (key word being choose) to have every transaction have some kind of learning experience from ...
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I Love being a REALTOR® in Hawaii - Oct 10 02:05 PM
I love being a REALTOR® and I love Hawaii. How many people can say they love what they do for living? Hawaii for many years had the reputation of being one of the places with the lowest percentage of home owners. The American Dream was not enjoyed by most here. Most of the land was not available for purchase. You could lease the land and buy the house (leasehold).I stayed with family here on Oahu a ...
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The Market DEPENDS on the Circumstances Doesn't It? - Mar 04 02:33 PM
The National News surely depicts an overall picture (so does NAR) of the housing market that is unrealistic. Why? How can anyone believe that this nationwide report will be the same for every state, county, city and neighborhood? It is unrealistic to report that 'nationwide' it is a beautiful market to buy or sell just as it is unrealistic to report that 'nationwide' it is a bad time to buy or sell. It depends on a wide ...
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Hawaii Relocation- The Art of Moving to Hawaii - Nov 04 02:53 PM
www.localism.com featured article Relocating to Hawaii? With our warm climate and breathtaking scenery it's no wonder why everyone (including locals) call it "Paradise"! Hawaii is the choice of many people who prefer a tropical setting to live out their retirement years. It also becomes everyones favorite Hawaii Relocations spot when transferring to the military bases in Hawaii including the Schofield Army Base, Wheeler Army Air Field, Pearl Harbor Navy Base, Hickam AFB, or Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Station. Education, Information and a Good ...
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How Can We Create Pet Friendly Rentals? - Apr 24 12:42 AM
This was an interesting conversation today at a meeting of Realtor leadership. I found this to be an interesting topic of conversation. It was started because of my Active Rain / Localism blog posts listing pet friendly buildings in some of our communities. Believe it or not people actually read those.
I was waiting for our meeting of regional chairs and vice-chairs for the Honolulu Board of Realtors to start. One of the former employees of ...
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"The Garden Isle" of Kauai in Hawaii - Jun 22 08:43 PM
www.localism.com featured postBy Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, Hawaii 96789 My mother was born in Nawiliwili town on the Island of Kauai on January 12, 1928. Nawiliwili is a little town outside of the the city, Lihue and its right by Nawiliwili Harbor. My mother had 7 sisters and one brother and they had a little Japanese country grocery store. My mother's stories of growing up were one of "the simple life". Nothing extravagant. Nothing too special. Except that she lived ...
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Presentation for the Hawaii Home Seller (The Epiphany) UPDATED - May 06 11:49 PM
After cleaning out my file/storage cabinets and literally filling up one quarter of a dumpster at my complex on Sunday I had an epiphany. While writing Is Your Office Organized? it dawned on me that all that clear space was bound to bring something great.
My last statement in that post: Now that I'm all organized.... Okay, ready for that next client!
And then it happened!
A Hawaii Home Seller walked in to the office yesterday afternoon and we made an appointment ...
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You be the Judge - Jun 05 06:11 PM
I received this e-mail last week and have been giving this some thought. I was not sure if I should post this or not. I think I will throw it out to the group. I blocked out the commission percentage, because I do not feel comfortable discussing percentages and actual fee amounts. It is sufficient to say the percentage was higher than what I am used to seeing.Here is the message; the name was removed to ...
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Honolulu Shopping Centers and the Kakaako Neighborhood Plan - Feb 08 06:19 PM
Ala Moana Shopping Center is the largest shopping center on Oahu with over 260 shops and restaurants and IS the largest open air shopping center in the world.(Picture to the right is the Koi pond in the middle of the third floor open air shopping mall. Koi; also known as decorative carp represent peace and tranquility)A little history of Ala Moana Center:1959 - Ala Moana Center was built on swamp land (and if you folks didn't know....Waikiki was ...
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ActiveRain Guide to Oahu: Points of Interest (Part I) - Dec 03 11:37 PM
The following Guides for Oahu, Hawaii should prove helpful for activities, scenic areas, dining and points of interest for the visitor. This three (maybe ...four) part series I am not only doing for the public but especially for the:
** ActiveRain Members coming to Oahu in January for the CRS Sellabration!**
Hawaii is known worldwide as one of the most scenic places on the face of the earth. From flower blooms to ocean views to beautiful blue skies you ...
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Subterranean Termites – What is the Safest Way to deal With Them? - Mar 08 12:20 PM
Here in Hawaii as in many parts of the mainland termites are a big threat to homes. A large colony of Formosa Termites also known in Hawaii as Ground Termites, left unchecked can cause enough damage to bring down a building in as short as two years.
In Hawaii every home falls under one of three categories.
Those with termites.Those that had termites.Those that will have termites.Several years ago my brother Russ built what he called a termite ...
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Building Professional Relationships - Jun 29 05:30 PM
Often underestimated by Realtors is importance of the relationships you build with other professionals. Networking is not only something you do to get clients it is something you do to enhance what you do for your clients.
Let me give a couple examples of what I am talking about.
Example #1
During the peak of the market I submitted an offer on a single family home. I got a call back from the seller's agent, who was broker ...
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Birthday Request for a Fighting Soldier! UPDATE from John's Mom! - Jul 20 12:20 PM
WooHoo Sally is requesting from all you Active Rain members (and anybody else who would like to) to send a Happy Birthday to John.....one of my clients who is currently a US Army soldier in Iraq.
I received an email from my client's mother this morning asking that all on her list send a Happy Birthday to her son for his 24th Birthday. The time difference is already the 21st of July (his birthday day) although something by the end ...
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Credit Back From Sellers, is it a Panacea? - May 22 03:18 PM
This is becoming a standard practice among many agents and buyers. I have been seeing more and more of this practice. Some think it is a panacea, is it really?
Let me describe what I am talking about.
The buyer offers more than asking price for the home and requests the seller give them a credit of up to $15,000 in credit.
I have heard of much higher amounts from others in our business. I have read here ...
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Screening Pre-Approval Letters From the Lenders - Jul 22 02:38 PM
This is becoming a big problem in my market as I am sure it is in all markets.
Here is a common scenario:
You receive an offer on one of your listings and it has an attached loan approval letter. The loan is for 100% financing, the contract is messy, not complete and may have a unusual request or two. You have never heard of the REALTOR® , their company and more importantly the loan officer or ...
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Let's NOT Forget the Hawaii VETERANS of the Military Either! - Apr 07 12:05 AM
Spark Matsunaga (former Senator of Hawaii) Department of Veterans Affairs is located at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. With The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) Honolulu serving approximately 127,600 veterans in Hawaii AND the Pacific Islands I commend the work they have done to help the Veterans of the Armed Forces. My son served in the Armed Forces and he was on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf when the war broke out on ...
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So You Want to Become a Realtor - Jan 05 05:29 AM
Looking at real estate as an industry and as a profession can be a pretty intimidating thing. Unless your family was involved in investing and bought multiple properties, chances are you hadn't been exposed to much of the how to's of the profession. It took me years of consideration before I finally decided to take the plunge and if I can share with you a few things I've learned along the way, I hope it will ...
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Real Estate-Code of Ethics for Buyer's and Seller's? - May 01 02:58 PM
Realtors follow a strict Code of Ethics. Why not Buyer's and Seller's?
What would you add to the following if there were a Buyer/Seller Code of Ethics in progress?
Real Estate Code of Ethics for the Buyer and Seller
1) I will be loyal and honest to my REALTOR® and respect that they are thinking in my best interests.
2) I will listen only to my REALTOR® regarding real estate matters because they are the experts in real estate ...
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Hawaii Open Houses ARE the Sunday Event - Apr 22 11:11 AM
Ah... Hawaii Open Houses: THE Sunday Event! This past Sunday I held an Open House for one of Randy Prothero's listings in Mililani. A 5 bdrm/2.5 bath single family home priced at $660,000, and this home has 2683 sq/ft with a little over 7860 sq. ft land.
That morning I started to get ready with bunches of information, flyers, snacks, etc. (Randy made the flyers with both of us pictured......he as listor and me, the showing agent) That way there is no mistake ...
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The Voyages of the Hawaiian "Hōkūle'a": A Tribute to Eddie Akau - Jul 19 04:07 PM
www.localism.com featured post
Hōkūle'a (the star of gladness) is the name of the replica of the wooden sailing canoe that was used in ancient Hawaii. This vessel was created for the sole purpose of recreating the voyages of the Polynesian migration from Hawaii to the Tahitian Islands.
The following story that profoundly surrounds my memory is glossed over with a legendary man. This story is that of the 1978 voyage that famous legendary surfer Eddie Akau was a part ...
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My Waipio Gentry Hawaii "Home": The Price We Pay to Live in Paradise - Jul 07 03:09 PM
Ahhhhh. The price we pay to live in "Paradise". How about a tour through our little townhouse and fenced in little courtyard? Hawaii is truly a scenic splendor of crystal clear blue waters, lush green mountains and valleys with gorgeous botanical scents. If you have time to view the tours then....let's begin!
Before we moved into our Waipio Gentry townhouse in early 2005 we went on a short "vacation"....fishing in Laie. (Click on the button for the fishing vacation tour!)
Our little ...
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King For a Day Series – Real Estate Agents - Oct 30 07:44 PM
OK, here is the one you were waiting for. If I were King For a Day what changes would I make to the real estate industry in the area of real estate agents and realty companies to better protect the public?
I have read thousands of news articles and blog posts, sat through hundreds of hours of training classes and meetings and participated in many real estate transactions. Through these experiences, I have formed some very strong ...
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A New Loan Officer, You Should Be Scared - May 14 01:38 PM
I was handed a business card yesterday from someone I knew. She said this is my new business with a big smile on her face.
She was a loan officer, with an out of state lender. Oh Boy! (I am being a wise guy here)
Me: I asked why didn't you go with a local lender?LO: Because we can do loans in all 50 states.Me: Do you understand the problems with an out of State lender?LO: Not a ...
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A "Typical" Hawaiian Day: Beautiful Scenery and.....Swap MEET! - Aug 08 07:47 PM
www.localism.com featured article by Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, RA; Century 21 Liberty Homes
Yesterday I ran out of battery juice and couldn't finish my post on Oahu, Hawaii: Waipio Gentry, Pearl City, Aiea with all the pictures i wanted to put in although it just gave me an excuse to drag along my camera again today!
I started out again and went to the Pearlridge Escrow office to pick up Condominium Association Documents that were supposed to be ready ...
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How to get featured on Localism - just follow me - Dec 19 05:36 AM
I haven't been posting much lately, probably because I spend way to much time making my posts all pretty - I love eye candy. But it's paid off anyway - a couple of the last ones became featured on Localism, so they earned me 400 points or more. Woohoo.
Stable Road In Spreckelsville and Ho'okipa Beach Park must be doing something right. I'm not quite sure I know what it is, but if points and juice is what you're shooting for, then check ...
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Localism Client! Rewards of Posting Good Content! - Jun 24 01:06 PM
And you want to know how Active Rain and Localism help your business? Write good content! Last Monday I received a call from a woman and she asked me some questions regarding homes for sale. We chatted for awhile and I took some information down so I could set her up with auto listings from our MLS site with the criteria she gave me.
I was going to give her my other information when she said it ...
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Hawaii Photo Post and Virtual Tours! - May 24 04:30 PM
Active Rain Real Estate Network is for members to advertise, entertain, network with each other, is loaded with information and insight, ideas, support and most of all....a way for each and every member to give back to the community that gave so much to us!
Everyone has their different style of writing. I have the ability to write from the inside out. REAL stuff. Yup! That's what I call it. So now I am going to pay it ...
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Going Above and Beyond (Part III- From Call to Contract) - Dec 20 12:22 PM
Currently, my buyer is in contract for a Mililani Condo and it is from a direct hit from an ActiveRain post that I received this wonderful client. My client contacted me after reading my ActiveRain post *Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii* on the internet.
I created this series so you can follow along with this transaction because this is my FIRST transaction that WILL close that was a direct hit from ActiveRain. Exciting? Yes! I moreso want ...
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Hawaii Townhouse Living... Responsible Homeowners Take Steps to Protect - Oct 12 08:54 PM
After spending the last three weeks of heartache trying to find a water leak in between our bathroom walls we are finally on the road to "recovery". During this time we had a plumber come out TWICE (and there was still a water leak), getting estimates to replace the cheap fiberglass tub/surround the townhouse came with, and scheduling our "vacations" so we could get all this done quickly. (picture to the left are the old tub/walls)Condo/Townhouse Living in Hawaii..........and A Water Leak is ...
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What Makes a House a Home in Honolulu, Hawaii? - May 22 12:06 AM
By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman
Featured in Localism.com!
My home is where I choose to make it. And I made it here in Hawaii!
Whether it be the military or retirees that are relocating to Hawaii our islands offer a paradise that is unmatched. Why? We are the 50th state. The ALOHA state. Our beautiful scenery and tropical warm weather compliment the word "paradise". WE ARE the gateway to the Orient, Australia and the Continental United States.
Please click here for a special ...
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Honolulu County Hawaii Military Bases & Installations- Oahu Neighborhoods - Apr 19 10:55 PM
All branches of the military occupy a large portion of Oahu and I recently put together a Hawaii Military Relocation Package - Schofield Barracks & Wheeler Army Air Field for the Military Relocating & Transferring to Honolulu County Hawaii .
Many military personnel have not been to Hawaii before so they obviously do not know what neighborhood is closest to the Honolulu County Military Base they will be stationed. So it is without question they do not know which neighborhood they should ...
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More Regulation & Stricter Standards Needed For Loan officers - Nov 24 04:34 PM
OK, I am bracing for the backlash from that title. Those who know me know that I am not a big government kind of guy. To the contrary in almost every case I believe in less government; unfortunately not in this case.
There have been several great blog posts written the last couple of days on similar topics. Rather than hijacking their posts I felt it better to write my own.
CALIFORNIA SUBPRIME BORROWERS MAY GET RELIEF? - ...
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The Story of the Hawaiian Dance: The Art of "HULA" - Jun 14 08:12 AM
By Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, (RA); e-PRO, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789Featured Article Captain Cook's arrival in Hawaii in 1779 signified a change in the Hawaiian culture with Western Civilization comingling with the settlers of the Hawaiian Islands. Before his arrival the Hawaiian people had been dancing the Hula for centuries and it debatable whether the men actually danced more than the women! In the story about Hawaiian Legends - Nightmarchers, Menehune, and the Tiki Gods I mentioned the ...
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Zillow can be your tool - why not use it? - Mar 25 03:30 PM
I went to zillow.com today just to see if anything was new in "my towns". It's quite amazing that it's such a blank slate still. I'm going to use it as a tool to connect with buyers and sellers of Maui real estate. I don't care if their zestimates are inaccurate - that's just another reason why a buyer needs an agent, and hopefully they will contact me.
Previously I have uploaded photos of my towns, because ...
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Makakilo, Hawaii-A Mountain Community - Jun 25 01:10 AM
Makakilo was on my agenda for today because I did an Open House to help out a fellow agent who is in Japan. So, I took advantage of the scenery to take pictures as well as bring you some information about the Community of Makakilo. (the picture to the right is a beautiful blooming Plumeria Tree in the front yard of the home)
Makakilo is located on the southern end of the slopes of the Waiʻanae mountain above the ...
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There are No Short Cuts to Becoming a Real Estate Professional - May 20 01:24 PM
I have run into many inexperienced people in our industry from all facets of the business. I see a common problem in an overwhelming percentage of them. Very few are prepared to do what it takes to learn their craft.
The fact is that most newbie's take short cuts. They are unwilling to make the investment of time, money and education required to become a top professional.
One story that sticks out in my mind was told to ...
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Our Adventure: The Star of Honolulu Sunset Dinner Cruise - Apr 07 06:34 PM
It was the day after I married Gary and the evening of January 19, 2002 that we went on our adventure.
My daughter wanted to give us something special for our Wedding Present and she bought us a dinner and show cruise aboard the Star of Honolulu.
The Honolulu Sunset Dinner Cruise started boarding at 5pm and away we cruised out into the open sea by 5:30pm! Ah, a beautiful cruise it was and with an astounding sunset with ...
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ActiveRain Guide to Oahu: Points of Interest (Part II) - Dec 06 03:20 PM
Part II will cover the sightseeing part of Oahu which will definitely be the "in thing" to do for the avid nature, scenery and picture taking lover! I am not only doing this series for the public but especially for the:
** ActiveRain Members coming to Oahu in January for the CRS Sellabration!**
While driving around the Central to North Shore part of the island you will definitely find pleasure going through Old Wahiawa Town right past Mililani ...
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I Love Open Houses - Jun 03 10:57 AM
I have recently read several articles and a few blog posts questioning the effectiveness of holding open houses. I have also spoken to agents in other markets how do not feel they are effective.I can say without any hesitation that open houses are alive and well on Oahu. I am sure there are many markets that have similar successes.In the last few years I have not kept statistics, but I can say without hesitating that over ...
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Hawaii/Big Island: Current Volcanic Activity - Jul 28 11:41 AM
www.localism.com featured article
From January 1983 to present, the Kilauea Volcano has been going through an eruptive era. A new "episode" of this volcanoe's eruption is going on and this warrants a very careful watch. The events starting from Father's Day (June 17, 2007) and are almost identical to the events that led up to the January 1997 eruptions at the Napau Crater.
These are the following events since the activity started.
On June 18, 2007 there was a ...
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What Do You Consider Full Service? - Jul 20 10:49 PM
This is a question that comes up in conversation among REALTORS ® and the public regularly. Why is this hard to answer? It is because everyone has a different idea of what is full service or even service for that matter.I turned on the morning radio and listened to local real estate agent talk about how he charges a lot less and saves clients money while providing them the very same services. I thought that sounds ...
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I Live in Paradise and Every Day is Spring - (Spring Inspiration & Positive Views) - Apr 02 03:08 PM
While growing up in Chicago we always looked forward to the weather warming up, the plants blooming and the birds returning. Spring was a wonderful time of year when we were children. The days got longer and summer vacation was just around the corner.
Spring was also a time of renewal for homes. Spring cleaning was an annual event for most families. Getting rid of the items no longer used, putting away the winter wardrobes, scrubbing ...
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Team Selling of Real Estate, the Team Includes the Seller - Jun 30 03:43 PM
To be successful in selling a home it requires a team effort. There are many members of the team. I am not talking about the whether the Realtor is a solo agent or part of a sales team within their company, when I refer to the team in this post I am talking a little bigger picture.The team I am referring to is the team of all the people needed to make for a successful transaction. ...
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Townhouse or a Single Family? - Jun 29 05:02 AM
I have seen several of these listings in the past and it gets under my skin. A townhouse listed as a single family home. What is the agent thinking?
If a buyer is looking for a townhouse he may never see it. When it all said and done it will negatively affect the sales numbers for the area. The average sales price for the neighborhood will be lowered. The number of town home sales will be ...
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The Rewards? Smooth Transaction and Happy Clients - Jun 28 01:28 PM
The rewards lie at the end of a transaction that went all too well! Don't you all feel that "feeling" when the client's were just so wonderful and listened to everything you said, and did everything you instructed them to do? Don't you get that "feeling" when both sides (buyer/seller) have no problems getting everything done in a timely manner? We all go through horrendous transactions and the ones that will always stand out (positively) are ones that go off without ...
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Hawaii SuperFerry to Begin Operations Later This Summer - May 29 08:15 PM
The company put out a press release this week announcing that they are continuing to undergo a rigorous U.S. Coastguard certification and inspection process of our new ship named the Alakai (Pictured above undergoing sea trials). To complete that process before transporting the first ship to Hawaii they have delayed the start of service until the end of summer. Once the trials are complete the Alakai will leave Mobile Alabama and sail to the warm ...
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Moving to Hawaii? Just Visiting? Spring Views Just For You! - Apr 01 01:58 PM
If I Could.....I Would Give You a Year Full of Spring Views
To Brighten Your Each and Every Day
Not a Worry to Befall You....Only Inspirational Moments
And Surround You With Positive Souls.
If I Could, I Would Give You Hope to Fulfill Your Dreams
To Create Your Destiny with Good Health
Of Prosperity and Success ..... From the Inside Out
And Lift Your Weary Souls With Positive Spirits.
If I Could, I Would Give You ONLY a Lifetime of these Spring Views.
By: "Sally" Cheeseman - 2008
A Spring ...
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Oahu and Surrounding Neighborhood Search: Relocations Hawaii - Dec 19 12:39 PM
If you are planning a Relocation to Hawaii the first step for you is most likely searching the internet for listings, a good Realtor® to advise you on your first step to getting started, and a local lender to help you with your financing needs and who knows our local real estate laws and contract. This local island Oahu Realtor-Associate® will first suggest that you contact a local lender to get pre qualified so we will have ...
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A Haiku & The Big Jumping Rock at Waimea Bay- North Shore of Oahu - Mar 08 11:46 AM
Blue ocean and skies
So inviting that's true
But leap off the rock?
--A Haiku by Sally
During the winter months at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, there can be winter surf swells up to 30 feet and during the summer it is most likely to be calm and serene (as in the picture above) and great for swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling while looking at all the diversity in these waters!
The "Big Rock" at Waimea ...
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The Island of Hawaii: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, The Honu and Akaka Falls - Aug 26 02:12 PM
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is located on the southern end of the island in the Ka'u district of the island of Hawaii aka "The Big Island". Black Sand evolves from the ground lava and these black sand beaches are found around the areas where there are still active volcanoes.
The black sand actually has the term "black volcanic glass". When the lava flows into the ocean (which it is currently doing) then it chills and the glassy rinds shatter and ...
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From "Pending" to "Executed" Contract / Congratulations Mr. "W"!! - Aug 01 02:39 PM
During the past month I have written several posts on "The Faithful and Loyal Client" and in the last one I introduced Arden to everyone as well as gave an update. This is the perfect example of an EXECUTED Contract. This is a perfect example of a relationship with a client that last three years and many more to come! His townhouse recorded this morning and he is legally the proud owner of his long awaited ...
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Why Does Hawaii Have Fewer Foreclosures? - Feb 15 12:46 AM
I sat in a Broker's Forum last week. One of the speakers was the economist from Bank of Hawaii, Paul Brewbaker.
He said something I did not expect to hear. Well let me start by sharing a little background for my surprise first. For the last year or so, bankruptcies have been up nationwide in most markets. Hawaii has consistently been among the lowest. In my practice I rarely see buyers doing sub-prime, ARMS, stated income/ stated ...
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Do You Remember When? - May 25 09:45 AM
Do you remember when to communicate with clients; you visited them or picked up the phone? Business was done in a much more personal way back then. Letters and notes were commonly hand written and if it was official we may have type written it. Back then clients were loyal and your friend.
One day a new invention changed the way we do business. The fax machine allowed us to communicate faster without leaving our office. The ...
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What's In Your Real Estate Agenda? - Dec 19 06:25 PM
First of all, let me give you an idea of the number of Realtors® that are licensed in the state of Hawaii, and more specifically on our island of Oahu. Then I'll be able to give you my opinion of what my agenda is like as a Realtor -Associate in Honolulu County that just may be helpful in your Honolulu Hawaii Relocation.
There are approximately 15,400 real estate licensees in Hawaii and the breakdown for just my island (Oahu: Honolulu ...
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The Cost of Living Factor in Considering A Hawaii Relocation - Dec 14 07:15 PM
If you are considering relocating to Oahu, Hawaii or you are Relocating to Hawaii with the Military then you need to consider quite a few things. With the military your BAH covers housing expenses and your commissary priveleges allow you to buy food with only a smaller percentage higher than the mainland.What about civilians who are relocating to our Hawaiian islands? Consider this: The main reason that everything costs a little more here than on the ...
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