Thank you to Realtor Lance Owens for the great deals in Kona, Hawaii that he shared with us. Wow Lance......it seems there are some great deals on the Big Island right now!!!!! The Big Island is becoming very popular with Mainlanders that are looking for a perfect place to retire. Nothing beats living in Paradise - at any age ( well, this is of course my opinion ). Check out more on his website - www.Konahometeam.com Thank you again Lance for sharing! 05/09/2011

Although the impact to your credit score will be similar, your ability to become a Homeowner again, is dramatically different. As a professional we need to ask that bigger question. How long before your client will be able to buy a home again? I know they came in asking you, what effect the short sale will have on their FICO® scores, but they didn’t realize it is a lot more complicated than just their FICO® score, its up to you to explain the difference to them.  Before you jump down to the charts supplied by the Banking Analytics Blog, I want you to do some research on the Fannie Mae guidelines for short sales, foreclosures, deed in lieu.  Mid 2010 - Fannie Mae came out with some guidelines concerning short sales – (they didn’t really have anything up to this point) Short sales, Deed ... 04/27/2011

omePath® Buyer Incentive Here are the basic guidlines from fannie mae, go ahead and read, these, and let me know if you have any questions   Fannie Mae is currently offering buyers up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through June 30, 2011. The HomePath property buyer must meet the following qualifications to be eligible: Buyers and/or selling agents (the agent representing the buyer) must request the incentive upon submission of initial offer in order to be eligible. The initial offer must be submitted on or after April 11, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011. If an initial offer was made prior to the effective date, the offer is not eligible for the incentive. The sale must close on or before June 30, 2011. No exceptions will be made to this deadline. Only buyers purchasing a HomePath pr... 04/27/2011

OK - I need your help again, 34 short sale transactions successfully closed, and I need more - NOW !  I'm down to only 2 left (that are not currently in Escrow) We were up in the mid 20s and had to taper off on accepting new listing for awhile. But the sign is turned back on - OPEN - come on over and talk. By the way - I always, always, always,  suggest you check out your Realtors success on Google, and with some cool new technology - I can do that for you - click this "Google"Link and it will do a search for you in Kailua Kona - automatically, and its a totally organic search (no advertising here) . Here are the 2 we have left - please bring us an offer and let us work our magic! Hualalai Colony - Private Gated Comunity 75-5608 HIENALOLI-KAHULUI RDKailua Kona, HI $679,000 3 Bed2 Bath 1... 04/16/2011

Lance Owens, your featured Real Estate Agent for Ocean Front, Luxury condos in the Kailua Kona, Keauhou, areas of the Big Island of Hawaii.   Ok there are a few homes in here also Featured Listings click to view Rated "Best Condo in Kona" By Trip Advisor 78-261 Manukai StreetKAILUA KONA, HI $795,000  2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Kanaloa at Kona Condos for sale # 2601 78-261 MANUKAI STKAILUA KONA, HI $749,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Hualalai Colony - Private Gated Comunity 75-5608 HIENALOLI-KAHULUI RDKailua Kona, HI $679,000 3 Bed2 Bath 1,862 sq ft Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club, 4202 78-6800 ALII DRKailua Kona, HI $579,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1170 sq ft Kanaloa at Kona Condo For Sale 78-261 MANUKAI STkailua Kona, HI $499,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1321 sq ft 04/14/2011

Still bucking the Real Estate Industry trend - 2011 vs 2010 -  All 3 areas of sales, are up at least 20% according to the Hawaii MLS statistics. More interesting than that were last years numbers - Home sales 2010 over 2009 were up 75% - Condo Sales for the same time frame - up 100%. (land sales were down) And don't forget, we had Tsunami that closed business's down for a few days ($30,000,000.00 in damages) , we had a 4.9 earthquake, and we had a Major Lava eruption - all part of the charm of living on a Volcanic Island in the middle of the pacific.   For the Full report please visit my website, follow this link; www.HawaiiMLS.co   Funny - I had 1 deal pull out - right after the eruption - I guess they didn't realize that this eruption has been going for almost 30 years now, she (Pele)... 04/01/2011

March isn't even over yet - Homes, Condos, and Land have all exceeded 2010 numbers. in fact, Home and Condo sales have been outpacing previous years, usually by double digit percentage points, for OVER A  year now, and March is no exception. First question is - well ya look at the prices - and yes this does have a huge affect, I lost 2 of my offers last month to a bidding war. 1 of them, had the exact same unit - right next door, close at $89,000, the one across from it closed at $85,000 - this unit was listed at $99,000 - but was very clean (the one next door needed updating) We offered $104,000 - and it wasn't high enough ??? I really struggled with the $104,000 looking at comps - but the buyers are coming out and buying - IF ITS PRICED RIGHT - and its nice. Follow up next week for th... 03/28/2011

West hawaii condos is your leading edge rescource for Condo's in West Hawaii, Kailua Kona, Keauhou, area. Featured Listings click to view Rated "Best Condo in Kona" By Trip Advisor 78-261 Manukai StreetKAILUA KONA, HI $795,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Kanaloa at Kona Condos for sale # 2601 78-261 MANUKAI STKAILUA KONA, HI $749,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Hualalai Colony - Private Gated Comunity 75-5608 HIENALOLI-KAHULUI RDKailua Kona, HI $679,000 3 Bed2 Bath 1,862 sq ft Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club, 4202 78-6800 ALII DRKailua Kona, HI $579,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1170 sq ft Kanaloa at Kona Condo For Sale 78-261 MANUKAI STkailua Kona, HI $499,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1321 sq ft HAFA approved short sale 88-1651 Moana DrCaptain Cook, HI $480,000 3 Bed2 Bath 1,612 sq ft Na Hale O Keauhou 78-6833 ALII DRK... 03/25/2011

Kanaloa at Kona, one of the best private, gated ocean front Condominium complexes on the Big Island of Hawaii, Keauhou Area.    Rated "Best Condo in Kona" By Trip AdvisorKanaloa at Kona - Gated Ocean Front Resort Community $795,0002 Bed 2 Bath 1486 Sq Ft   click image to zoom in List Date 03/17/2011   78-261 Manukai Street   Type Ocean Front Condo   Lot Size 16 acres   Garage Carport   Status Active   MLS# ?   Maintenance Fees 1,040.   Unit # 2002   Year Built 1980   Lanai Ocean Front   View Ocean - Bay Additional Information There’s a reason Trip Advisor calls this ocean front beauty the “Best condo in Kona.” It’s the best value in Kanaloa, for buyers who want it all. The first floor unit is privately oriented, with the ocean so near you can catch the spray, and situated just high enou... 03/22/2011

Following a 2 year trend now, Kona home sales jumped an astounding 66% for February 2011 over February 2010. And if your thinking like a lot people are -"well 2010 wasn't a great year to begin with" Think again - 2010 sales were up 40% over 2009. I keep telling people - if your house is priced right - its going to sell - and sell fast! In the last 2 weeks I have lost 2 sales to multiple offers coming in on properties, offering over asking price - and still not high enough to win the bid! The big key to that equation is - They were Priced Right! Sure there are a lot of overpriced dogs out there that make the market look like its in a slump still, but get an agent that knows his area - and you'll find the right deals. The quickest way is to just sign up for my MLS automated notifier - you... 03/03/2011

Your Kailau Kona Specialist for Luxury Homes 75-5608 HIENALOLI-KAHULUI RD KAILUA KONA, HI, HI Gated Luxery Subdivision, Tennis Courts 3BR/2BA Single Family House $679,000 Year Built 2002 Sq Footage 2,002 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 16,973 sqft HOA/Maint $200 per month DescriptionThis home was designed by renowned architect �Lucky Bennett� with special attention paid to the Panoramic - Coastline and Ocean Views. Lucky really knows how to bring the outside � in, all you need to do is push open the wall of glass doors and extend your living area onto the Lanai. With Custom Cabinets and Granite matching throughout this home, there seems to be no detail overlooked. The Master Bath will truly make her feel like a Queen, whether soaking in the J... 03/03/2011

2011 Condo sales for the Big Island of Hawaii - I just did a report on the what the largest share of the sales were - $100,000 - $200,000 range, but after posting it I noticed some interesting facts. Link to the previous blog: http://konalance.activerain.com/post/2159216/what-is-selling-in-hawaii-condos-for-kailua-kona- Of the 21 that sold - 14 were CASH (2/3 if you dont have your calculator handy) Who bought them - If I hadn't looked,  my guess would have been - Canadians - and I would have missed the mark by a mile ! Buyers: Kailua Kona - 3 Honolulu - 2 California - 5 Arizona - 2 Whashington - 1 Alaska - 1 Colorado - 1 Canadians - 0 (all-though  6 of the sales do not have addresses on the buyers yet) OK - Californians, take a look at these deals - I have 3 Ocean Front Condos, in resor... 02/26/2011

Had a good question on one of my blogs the other day - I thought the answer deserved a blog of its own. You ever get those questions, and you really feel like you just know the answer without looking - well I'm glad I looked before putting my foot in my mouth. We have had 45 sales, year to date, in the Kailua Kona area of the big island. SO what price range is selling? 0 - 100k = 7 100k - 200k = 21 200k - 300k = 11 300k - 400k = 2 400k - 500k = 1 500k - 600k = 0 600k - 700k = 1 700k - 800k = 0 800k - 900k = 1 900k - 1,000,000 = 1 over $1,000,000 = 0 So here is a list of the most popular catagory $100,000 - $200,000  Search criteria: TMK Taxkey 3-7. MLS Property Type Condo. MLS Price from 100,000 to 200,000. MLS Sold Date since 1/1/2011 MLS DATA   MLS # Tp Sub Own St DOM    Taxkey Tnr Pr... 02/26/2011

78-6800 ALII DR, #4202 KAILUA KONA, HI, HI Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club, Ocean front gated resort community - vacation rental approved 2BR/2BA Condo $579,000 Year Built 1979 Sq Footage 1,188 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking Unspecified Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $1,041 per month DescriptionDramatic Ocean, and Kailua Bay views from this second floor unit. Turn key furnished. Easy maintenance tile floors with carpet in bedrooms. Kitchen totally redone with elegant cabinets and granite countertops. New cabinets and tile in both bathrooms. Complex amenities include * Vacation Rentals are approved - this one is in rental pool * Gated Community * 3 Tennis Courts * Swimming Pool * Gathering area * Mature Landscaping * Archaeological Sites on property ? and pro... 02/18/2011

Alii Heights is one of Kona's newest neighborhoods.  Located midway between Kailua Kona and Keauhou Alii Heights is all about the views.  The developer took a break from building during the recession but once they saw homes start to sell again then resumed construction. They are nearing the end on several homes. I was able to preview one the other day (mls 239359) priced at $689,900  and, well, the view was outstanding.  Unobstructed panoramic views of the Kona Coast from the great room, kitchen, Master suite and bath.  Front row for fireworks and cruise ship arrivals too.  The developer in addition to the fit and finish warranty is offering a buyer credit of $20,000K purchasing incentive for the time being.  This is a great deal. Homes in Alii Heights are priced between $481,552 (mls ... 02/12/2011

My apologies - but my old link was bad - so i had to RePost this I just put $80.00 worth of fuel in my truck, shook my head when I got in and checked the level - a little over half a tank. Im thinking, man whats this world coming to - $80.00 doesn't even get me to 3/4 of a tank. So I went and posted it my Facebook page, and got a little dose of reality. almost all of my family are in the Midwest, St Louis area and I had some very interesting remarks. 1. At least your not pumping it in the middle of an Icestorm (made me realize I wouldnt mind paying $5.09 - as long as I was warm) 2. You live on island - how far do have to drive anyway (got me thinking, he's right) 3. Looks like were both getting a snow job - (comment from Cleveland) boy did he hit that one on the head! 4. Lance, dear hea... 02/05/2011

As I was tending to my Garden this morning - I thought - why not share my secret to success. This is going to sound so easy, you're going to be scratching your head - saying - Why Didn't I Think of That?  I found this out -  back in 1984 and it has been working flawlessly ever since. Here - take a look - You start with the usual, I like mine in containers, so I  load them up with some rich Organic soil, mix in a little Organic Chicken Manure. Hooked up those drip feeder hoses, set the timer to go off at 6:00am for 20 minutes Kind of like the Infomercial for that cooker - I set it, and forget it ! A few weeks later - presto - nice fresh Organic Salad There is nothing better than making my Son his lunch, and walking out to the garden, and peeling off a fresh, living,  lettuce leaf,  for t... 02/05/2011

Aloha, Lance here with www.WestHawaiiCondos.combringing you the January 2011 Sale's Statistics Report for Kailua Kona and surrounding areas, straight in from the Hawaii MLS system. January 2011 - Number of condos sold:    UP  23% over 2010 sales January 2011 - Sales Volume:    DOWN over 42% - this one surprised me, I am going to look into these numbers further (2010 $11,178,300 and 2011 is $6,401,900) January 2011 - Median Price: DOWN 17.4% (2010 $254,250 - 2011 $210,000) For the entire report click on the link below, look of r"Market Report" tab to your left - you'll figure it out from there. www.WestHawaiiCondos.com Here is a peak at one of our ocean front listings, currently in the Vacation Rental Pool and booked most of the time   Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club, 4202Ocean Front,... 02/04/2011

I just put $80.00 worth of fuel in my truck, shook my head when I got in and checked the level - a little over half a tank. Im thinking, man whats this world coming to - $80.00 doesn't even get me to 3/4 of a tank. So I went and posted it my Facebook page, and got a little dose of reality. almost all of my family are in the Midwest, St Louis area and I had some very interesting remarks. 1. At least your not pumping it in the middle of an Icestorm (made me realize I wouldnt mind paying $5.09 - as long as I was warm) 2. You live on island - how far do have to drive anyway (got me thinking, he's right) 3. Looks like were both getting a snow job - (comment from Cleveland) boy did he hit that one on the head! 4. Lance, dear heart, precious .. read my mind LOL!!! (I guess she didn't have muc... 02/03/2011

We are gearing up for 2011 and specializing in Condo sales, see our listings below and then sign up for the Hawaii MLS updates   Featured Listings click to view Kanaloa at Kona - unit 2002 78-261 Manukai StreetKAILUA KONA, HI $795,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Kanaloa at Kona Condos for sale # 2601 78-261 MANUKAI STKAILUA KONA, HI $749,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1486 sq ft Single Family Home 755608 Hienaloli-Kahului RdKailua Kona, HI $699,000 3 Bed2 Bath 2002 sq ft Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club, 4202 78-6800 ALII DRKailua Kona, HI $579,000 2 Bed2 Bath 1170 sq ft Self Sustainability - Green Living 18-7965 N. KULANI RDMountain View, HI $569,000 4 Bed3 Bath 1776 sq ft Kona Real Estate 76-206 Kealoha stKailua Kona, HI $439,000.00 3 Bed2 1/2 Bath 1212 sq ft Your Stealing this home at that PRICE 76640... 01/23/2011