Marketing the property well was a given. With internet presence galore, the MLS, Open Houses and a couple of ads it's no wonder my listing was in contract within a month. Even in a a slower market. I even helped my guy clean up and repair a couple of minor things so they signed off on the home inspection. Everything was going oh.....so too well. But... 'ship' happens. So what exactly did happen? Passed the Home Inspection and even met them a second time to go over the minor repairs the seller and I completed. Addtional deposit was sent in to escrow after the completion/approval of the Home Inspection period. Appraisal came in on the money...we didn't doubt that one. All Association and Condominium Docs were signed and approved Buyers had Loan Approval (just Termite Inspection to be done... 11/18/2008

I just thought it would be nice to share some pictures of my neighborhood, here in Mililani, Hawaii. There are two tours here. The first is of the neighborhood Shopping Centers (there are three: Mililani Town Center, Mililani Shopping Center and Mililani Market Place). The second tour is of 4 neighborhood Recreation Centers and a couple of the many neighborhood parks. I hope you enjoy the tours, and that you get a real feel of what Mililani is like! I used the Visual Tour product to create these panoramics. 11/12/2008

Everyone knows how to use a bucket, right? As children we used buckets when we played in the sand box or on the beach making sand castles. As adults we use buckets to haul all kinds of things and occasionally we use them as something to sit upon. However, there is much more to discover about how to use a bucket! Those of you who knew Bruce know he was notorious for using simple devices to teach or make a point easily understood. One of the stories he shared about a bucket came from Frank, his dad. Frank was a man of few words and preferred to demonstrate than to explain things. One day when Bruce was a young boy he told his dad he wanted to be a very important person when he grew up. He wanted to be the BEST at something special—to do things other people couldn't do. Frank told him it w... 11/11/2008

I have watched lenders one by one drop like flies over the last few months.  I see commercials telling consumers in trouble to contact their lender, because they want to help them.  I honestly do not believe it.  Have you ever tried to contact a lender for a short sale packet or to discuss not being able to make the payments and the need for some relief?  Fortunately I have not been in that situation, but know several folks who have.  They all have a consistent story.  The lender would not take their call. I personally have avoided doing short sales as much as possible.  Dealing with the delays and the non-sense from the lenders just does not seem like it is worth the trouble.  Buyers I work with so far have not tried to buy one. (thank goodness) Currently I am working on a REO sale.  T... 10/03/2008

Double Petite Filet Mignon (about two inches thick) with sauteed onions and mushrooms for the main course with lightly grilled quarter cut potatoes on the side. My wonderful mom treated the whole family to dinner for my 51st Birthday. (I got around to writing this over a week late :) Okay, so 51 years old wasn't as exciting as the half a century mark last year but the dinner at Assagio's Ristorante Italiano in Mililani Town Hawaii was superb!  It's always an entertaining session when we go out with mom, my son and daughter. Hmmm...seems the kids always manage to get a meal off one of us LOL!  Assagio's Restaurant at the Town Center in Mililani has an interesting history: In 1979 Chinese Thomas Ky's family chose him as the person to go to America after struggling on the outskirts of Sai... 09/24/2008

Right off the beaten path in the middle of preservation land I drove until there was a grand opening in the woods displaying a wonderful grassy area with palms, trees and floral arrangements galore. The Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary sits on 34.94 acres of land (or 1,521,986 sq. ft. of land) and displays rolling hills high above sea level for peace and tranquility for the dearly departed. In 1991 they proposed a bill for rezoning for the Mililani Memorial Park from AG-1 (Restricted Agricultural) to P-2 (General Preservation Distric) for the expansion of Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary and it still is one of the more popular parks just for the tranquility that surrounds it. Many a time I have driven up to this wonderful park just to look at the scenery from atop this private land i... 09/20/2008

  Tomorrow the Division Champion Mililani High School Trojans will face private school powerhouse St. Louis Crusaders in a pre-season game at Mililani Stadium. The JV teams take the field at 4:00pm followed by the varsity game at 7:00pm.  Head Coach Darnell Arceneaux has been training the Trojans exceptionally hard and has them ready for this extremely tough opponent.  We are all looking forward to an exciting season. The season roster and schedule is posted on the team's website.  http://www.MililaniFootball.com GO TROJANS! 08/22/2008

Scenarios: You the REALTOR®, you walk into a potential listing and the home has a few (hundred) too many items in the house.  What do you say to the seller? The seller wants $75,000 more than the home is worth.  Do you tell them the advice they got from their hairdresser neighbor or uncle from another town is a mile off? The house is dirty, messy and has a bad smell (Big Dog).  Do you say lovely home, I am sure it will sell fast or do you tell it to them straight? The orange bathroom walls and hot pink bedroom carpet is not going to be popular among buyers.  Do you say lovely choice of colors or do you talk about neutralizing? These are among some of the basics we as REALTORS® deal with on a daily basis.  If you are a professional, you need to be honest and tell them the truth up front.... 08/22/2008

Yesterday my daughter and I went to the Super Shopping Plaza. The NEX (Navy Exchange) at Pearl Harbor. The NEX back in 1967 was a single story old building with a couple of separate ones scattered around the Moanalua Shopping Center area and up the road from the Makalapa Gate- Pearl Harbor Navy Base. A few years ago they built this giant double level mall NEX consisting of 275,000 sq. ft of oodles of shopping, other stores and a giant Commissary too. It is Hawaii's Largest Navy Exchange and named the "2006 Bingham Award" winner for excellence and outstanding performance. Not only is this "mall" HUGE to accomodate the hundreds if not thousands that trapse through all the shopping mall,  it is also tastefully decorated to entertain Active Duty Military In Hawaii, their dependents, Vets in... 08/07/2008

This Community is not just for people who are relocating to Hawaii but for all military personnel and dependents, residents and visitors too.... who just want information on our neighborhoods, information on purchasing a home, information of what to do to get ready for your move, information on the VA loan process and anything to do with POINTS OF INTEREST, places to see and things to do.  BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS! is something I put together for residents, military, non military, retirees, visitor or anyone interested in things to do on Oahu, Honolulu County. Have fun! Military Transfers & Relocations to Hawaii: A Geographical Shock tells my story and travels as a Military Dependent but also that the Hawaii Military Veteran makes up 10% of our population on Oahu & the ... 08/05/2008

This Mililani sales report covers zip code 96789 which covers both Mililani Mauka and Mililani Area (which includes Mililani Town, Launani Valley and Waipio Acres). Mililani real estate is still moving strong.  We are still seeing good real estate activity in the Mililani area.  Mililani has remained a balanced market giving buyer good selection, and seller's the ability to move appropriately priced homes. A few dynamics in the area: Castle and Cooke have almost finished selling the new homes in Mililani Mauka. We are continuing to see troop movements at Schofield Barracks, which is contributing to the movement of inventory in Mililani. Single Family Homes (resale): Average sales price and sales volume in Mililani Town and the valleys saw a bounce back from the same period in 2007 and w... 08/05/2008

The New Localism has opened new doors for more communities of MY OWN Honolulu County Neighborhoods that will continue to get me google juice.  When I wrote about something that may interest a Hawaii Military Relocation and a Honolulu Hawaii Relocations I posted into Localism entered the State, County and City. Under "neighborhood" it give the option to "Add Neighborhood". This is where the memory bank kicked in from all I've learned on ActiveRain. MY Community is surely my market niche. The military plays a HUGE part in our community and so do the Hawaii Retiree or Hawaii Job Transfers. Even the people that just want a geographical change move here...to live and own a little of 'paradise'. So, what better what to network with the Relocations to Hawaii? Yup, online opportunities. Don't y... 08/05/2008

                                                                   This Friday and Saturday Mililani High School Trojans will be scrimmaging against Moanalua High School at the Mililani Stadium.  The JV Team will be on the field at 2:30pm and the Varsity Team comes on at 4:00pm. On Saturday both teams scrimmage against Kahuku at 10:00am.  The JV team plays in the Mililani Stadium and the Varsity Team will be taking on the Red Raiders at Kahaku the same time. For a the Mililani High School Trojan schedule and additional information check out their website:  www.MililaniFootball.com During the season the site will contain the most up to date information available.  The team has taken on a Mililani's top REALTOR® as their webmaster.  (Me) If you are in or near Mililani, please come out and... 08/05/2008

                                                                       Well known Hawaii REALTOR®, Randy L. Prothero will interviewed on local TV show, The Kukui Connection as a guest of State Representative Marilyn Lee.  He will be wearing one of his other hats, that of Hawaii Chess Federation President and head of the "Chess in the Schools Program".                                                                       The show is scheduled to play three times this month.  It can be viewed on local TV channel 54 or through the station's website at the same times. This half hour show will be aired at the following times: Sundays at 4:00pm Hawaii Time (9:00pm CST) - August 3, 17, 31 Hawaii Chess Federation President, Randy Prothero Is the guest on the The Kukui Connection With State Rep.... 08/02/2008

Some Housing Markets are pretty hard to figure out but bottom line I asked myself, "Is the Hawaii Real Estate Housing Market Still Shifting?  "  I truly believe that the Hawaii Homes Market is surely neighborhood geared. As I stated before, "I also believe that it is up to everyone in the Real Estate Industry to keep the market moving. With our professional attitudes shining through in all communication and contact with our clients and peers and being thorough in our process through each and every transaction are just a few points to always be aware of. How well we all perform will determine the level of service "they" will rate us as well. Well, back in the middle of May I wasn't too confident that a listing I had just put up Mililani Hawaii Home for Sale, 95-091 Waipuka Place would se... 08/02/2008

Rinnnggg!  "Mom! Whatcha doing mommmmm"? (my daughter with her little squeachy high soft voice) Me: Uh, on my way to escrow to drop off papers. Where are you? Her: Ross store. Me: Kay...I'll come over there. Rinnnggg. "Hey, Mom. Can I come over and fax something"? (My son...needing me for something. Good. At least he's calling)  Me: Okay...meet me at the office...I'm next door with Dori at Ross. ME:  Well, I guess we can go out to lunch? Both kids: Cool! And they're already out the office door and running to MY car. (we all drove separate cars) Known for it's "Serious Salad Bar", Ruby Tuesday at the Mililani Town Center has been the ever so popular place for 'casual dining' since it opened in 2004. Ruby Tuesday is a mainland based chain with southern and southwest dishes to get those ta... 07/31/2008

Is that agent making their living selling real estate or is this something they do on the side? This should be the first question you should ask an agent who is trying to get your business.  I am amazed how many folks will trust the most expensive purchase or sale in their life with someone who is doing this as a hobby. If that person is not successful or dedicated enough to make a full time living at this, do you really want them handling your transaction?  If were a consumer, I would want the absolute best real estate agent and loan officer I could find. Those part time agents, who are getting upset reading this, please step back and look at this from the eyes of a consumer.  I am sure you feel you are good at what you do and you have a great reason for doing this on the side.  The tr... 07/27/2008

So, we have a couple of weeks left before closing and the Seller is scheduling the movers, making plans for his MILITARY Retirement Ceremony & pretty much coming down that last stretch. You know, the last stretch where there are ALWAYS stuff to make right. Such as... the Buyer wants to close early now. Then the VA says NOPE! You gotta fix that problem with the back 'storage' room. You know...the problem of not having a building permit.  They want us to get permits? Isn't this kind of late to only have that ONE option?  I get a building inspector to come out and lo and behold. MORE PROBLEMS: It is not up to code. (Figures) No electrical outlets, too high off the ground, roof is too low and there are acrylic windows. IT'S REALLY A STORAGE AREA! The inspector says, "Well, you also have the... 07/27/2008

Roger Wilf is the home instructor I have used and trusted on majority of the transactions that I represented buyers.  Roger is extremely good at what he does.  A few of us call him inspector gadget.  His brief case has meters and probes that can check things most inspectors would miss or not know how to check. Roger is a retired Army Warrant Officer.  After getting out of the Military he had a construction company servicing our area and built a nice business.  He built relationships with several area real estate companies.  The last few years he re-focused his business to just doing home inspections.  His knowledge of local construction gave him a great advantage in that arena. Recently Roger and his wife Lynn decided they would be retiring and moving to Florida to be closer to family. ... 07/17/2008

Among the real estate agent in my area who claim to be doing poorly, I have found many have simply stopped working.  I try to make appointments to show listings and find a third of the agents not returning phone calls or e-mails in any reasonable period of time.  Hard to sell a home if no one can view them. In our market, prices of home sales have stabilized.  Some parts of Oahu have seen price decreases; some have had increases, while many have stayed flat for the last couple of years.  The big change is in sales volume.  Sales volume of homes has gone down tremendously from the peak of the market in 2005. Many real estate agents have seen major drops in their business.  I hear them complaining about how bad the market is.  Yet in this changing market there are several of us who have s... 07/17/2008