Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 41 into law on April 26, 2022 and it will take effect on October 23, 2022. The bill takes effect six months from now presumably to provide time to short term rental owners to make adjustments to their rental activities.Earlier this year (January 11, to be exact) the Honolulu City Council passed and the Mayor signed Bill 2, stipulating that home sellers must disclose whether short term rentals are legal or not for their property being sold. If the seller represents their property as being legal for short term rentals, they must also present evidence, in the form of a permit number, zoning information and tax clearance certificates showing their compliance in paying General Excise Tax and Transient Accommodations Taxes paid to the State of Hawaii... 05/03/2022

Illegal vacation rentals under scrutinyMany condominium associations are stepping up enforcement of vacation rental laws in 2017.  Recently I spoke with an investor who used to own and operate one such rental.  Illegal rentals are common on Oahu, talk to enough people and you'll find somebody who either owns, manages or maintains an illegal rental.In 2014 Makaha Beach Cabanas, once a haven for illegal rentals, announced the association wouldn't allow them going into 2015.  That resulted in a selloff of condos at the building, both good and bad depending on who you are.  For investors, it was bad because they lost their cash cows.  For persons intending to owner occupy or to use their units as second homes, it freed up inventory and made it easier for them to buy.Makaha Beach Cabanas' re... 11/20/2017

What qualifies as affordable?  Oahu's median home prices were $745,000 in May, 2017.  The more popular neighborhoods in town (Honolulu, that is) are often priced near $1 million and  higher.Looking for a home in the $300,000's is challenging.  Common "wants" for buyers include: No homeowner association and related fees. Not CPR (condominium property regime). Not attached or duplex. Not foreclosure or short sale. Those wants significantly reduce the inventory to prospective homebuyers.We recently renovated this home near Maili Beach in West Oahu, now on the market and priced at $329,900.  It's regular single family home, no homeowners association, not CPR, not attached/duplex and not a foreclosure or short sale.  This house is ready for an owner occupant or investor.Built in 1936 and rem... 06/21/2017

Last year I wrote about the many listings available at Makaha Beach Cabanas.  Prior to 2015, the building tolerated short term vacation rentals - less than 30 days at a time is illegal in most condos.  Makaha Beach Cabanas' board of directors decided they wouldn't allow it starting on January 1, 2015.  The building was so popular as a vacation rental that some mortgage companies wouldn't lend on it, they believed it was a hotel-condo rather than a residential condo.The result: a huge selloff of units in 2015, primarily by vacation rental operators.  This year, things have calmed down and the sales frenzy has subsided.  Why? That's a tough question.  For one thing, the short term vacation rental buyers are gone. Some buyers have purchased and are using their units as 30+ day vacation ren... 09/08/2016

Recently there have been some issues with buyers in obtaining mortgage loans for Makaha Valley Towers purchases.  Known issues:- A Slip and Fall insurance claim against the Makaha Valley Towers homeowners association (AOAO).  The claim settlement is pending.  In addition, a lawsuit was been filed in October 2014, apparently by the same plaintiffs for the same incident.- Some lenders have expressed concern about the possibility of asbestos in the popcorn ceilings.  Back in the 1970's popcorn ceilings were very popular and countless buildings had this texturing installed.  The most recent RR105C Project Information Form for Makaha Valley Towers which I received did not mention the presence of asbestos.  Prior RR105C forms have mentioned it though and apparently that's a red flag for some ... 04/08/2015

Well it FELT like it was freezing.  Anybody from the Midwest to the East Coast will laugh at my "freezing" statement. This morning Oahu matched its record low temperature for this date, 59 degrees fahrenheit.  It was nearly perfect for getting up and taking the dogs for a run first thing in the morning.  Now it's 9:30 a.m. and the temperature is 72 degrees fahrenheit.  The sun is out, this weather is perfect!  No wonder so many Canadians come to Hawaii in the wintertime. Wish you were here?  Come on over.  Looking for a deal on a winter getaway?  Here are some recommendations:   For a low priced, turn key condo - Makaha Valley Towers The best low-priced building for sandy beachfront - Makaha Beach Cabanas Windward Oahu townhomes with ocean views - Makaua Village Oahu's lowest priced oc... 03/10/2015

Have you ever seen the Makaha Beach Cabanas?  This condo is on a beautiful beach here on Oahu.   No exaggeration, that's how nice the beach is.  In recent years there have been times when listings rarely came up.  Now that's beginning to change.   The reason - the board of directors has decided to enforce Hawaii's laws regarding vacation rentals and now the condo will not "look the other way" when owners rent out their units for less than 30 days.  In other words, the board of directors is choosing to be sure the condo complies with Hawaii state law. There have been many illegal vacation rental units in the building and now the owners are selling.  If you're looking for a beachfront condo to live in, use as a second home or rent long term (at least 30 days at a time) then you're in luck... 07/22/2014

Last Sunday started out just kind of cloudy. We decided to pack up and look for a fishing spot on the West Side of Oahu, thinking that maybe the Waianae Coast would turn fruitful in our quest for a fish dinner. We stopped a few times along the coastline but the wind was starting to pick up and by time we got to the Waianae Boat Harbor it was starting to drizzle.   I did manage to capture this wonderful ‘stormy’ shot along the Waianae Coast.   We headed back to the Leeward side of Oahu and it seemed we were now running INTO the storm.  Then, the traffic started to slow down to a CRAWL. Oh my, they had three lanes on the H-1 shut down for …road work?   There wasn’t a darn road worker on the highway but we knew this was not going to get any better. We got off the H-1 and then doubled back ... 04/17/2013

Looking for a Farm or just Room to Roam?  This is your chance to own over 1 acre of fee simple land with existing piggery and single family homes.  Land is partially zoned AG2 and  the rest is R5.  One home is non conforming and needs major renovation.  The other is tenant occupied.  Call Maureen Fukumoto for information or showing instructions. Additional pictures can be found at HawaiiRealtyPro.com   02/07/2011

Are you looking for a place to lease on Oahu? Rental Soultions Oahu has an apartment for you. The apartments leased by Rental Solutions Oahu are clean and comfortable in prime locations. Many buildings accept section 8 housing. Military personnel are also welcome. Whether you want a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment, give me a call or text at Rental Solutions Oahu. Andy Kress Rental Solutions Oahu phone or text: 808-253-8858 12/09/2010

Makaha Surfside Apartments are for rent at 85175 Farrington Highway in Makaha, hawaii. A low cost studio is $695 per month including parking, water, sewer, and trash. There is no deposit with approved credit. The Makaha Surfside Apartments is a very secure complex steps to the ocean. The Makaha Surfside has amenities including pool, spa, refrigerator, onsite laundry and more. The Makaha Surfside offers 1 year leases. For photos of the Makaha Surfside, visit www.rentalsolutionsoahu.com Call or text me now for your private showing - Andy Kress 808-723-4351 andy@rsoahu.com   11/30/2010

I am a top leasing agent and property manager in Waianae, Hawaii. I am #1 on Active Rain for realtors. Please call or text me for leasing or property management in Waianae. Waianae, Hawaii is near to Honolulu and a great place to live, quiet, great value, nice waves, lots of sunshine, not much traffic, and nice apartments.You can get a nice place to live for under $1000 per month. Enjoy the paradise of Hawaii for a bargain price.For more information, please call or text me. Andy Kress - Your Hangten Realtor Rental Solutions Oaha phone or tect 808-253-8858 11/29/2010

Happy Thanks giving from Waianae, Hawaii! We will have an aloha perfect Thanksgiving with plenty of turkey, dressing, gravy, and surfing waves too. The sun is shining, the tradewinds are blowing and we are ready for an aloha perfect day. For your next holiday, make it aloha perfect in Waianae, Hawaii. Happy Thanksgiving! 11/24/2010

Since I got back into real estate, I have really wanted to do Property management. I was grateful and proud to be a part of Waikiki Real Estate Inc. for the past several months, but yesterday I got the job I have wanted for a long time. I was hired to be a full time property manager for Rental Solutions in Honolulu. I fanyone is lookg for a good broker and a good company in Waikiki, Waikiki Real Estate Inc. is the one! If you have anyone who is looking to rent in Wainae or Makaha or Kaneohe, please give me a call. I will find them a nice apartment and a good value too. I now have to decide where I go with Active Rain? I have learned alot and gotten alot of support. Should I keep blogging as a property manager?  For now, Andy Kress, Your hangten Realtor is a property manager with Rental ... 11/24/2010

Price: $279,000 FIZBER.com ID 15545582 Single Family with 3 bed, 1.0 bath, in 87198 Holopono St Waianae, HI, 96792 http://www.fizber.com/15545582/ 87198 Holopono St - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 87198 Holopono St, Waianae, HI, 96792 Sq footage: 926.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 1.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1998 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Hawaii homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Affordable 3 bedroom home on good sized lot. Own a single family home for the price of condo. Close to the growing second city of Kapolei. Great beaches, golf courses, and restaurants close by. This is a Short Sale. DIAL 808-227-2703 FOR MORE INFORMATION. Open House This Sunday 4-11-2010, From 2-5PM: More Photos: 04/11/2010

I appreciate the history surrounding Oahu and if one is relocating to Hawaii or just coming to visit, I strongly encourage to seek out the historic sites. There is more to an area besides the stores and malls and the history of an area will provide insight into the past to present. The Waianae Range spreads the length of the West Coast of Oahu (Nanakuli, Maili, Lualualei, Waiane and Makaha are a few of the communities along the way) and separates it from the rest of the island. To get to the West Coast of Oahu you can just go down Farrington Hwy around the mountain range.  The Waianae Coast was named after the mullet that was once farmed in the area.  To break down the word, Wai (pronounced why) means water and enae (eh na ee) means large mullet.  This community was known for it's agric... 04/10/2010

You may have seen on the news that the big waves have come to Hawaii!  The North Shore had huge surf this week.  The Eddie Aikau invitational at Waimea Bay was held for the first time in five years.  The contest is only run when the waves are very big and rideable. I'm not a big-wave surfer, I do enjoy surfing the smaller stuff!  West Oahu had some great waves this week.  Last night after work we headed out to Tracks, near the Kahe Power Plant in between Ko Olina and Waianae. Here are some pics of surfers having a blast at Tracks. Okay, where's the picture of Mike?  Well I was holding the camera and it's pretty hard (though not impossible) to take a picture of myself.  Anyways, my buddy Rick was paddling out and he said one of the waves I caught had the lip curling over my head.  There ... 12/10/2009

Calling All Investors Two 3-bedroom 1-bath homes on one level lot by beach. R-5 zoned 15,000 square foot property has room to potentially build another home. Front home is currently rented out for $1,600 per month and back home is rented out for $1,650 per month.           Offered for $675,000 Please check out www.HawaiisHomeBroker.com for more information   10/23/2009

My wife and I recently watched "The Informant" - a movie starring Matt Damon.  The movie is based on a true story about a whistleblower at Archer Daniels Midland, a company in Decatur, Illinois. The main character travels around the world and at one point he attends a meeting in Hawaii.  The meeting and a golf outing take place at the Makaha Valley Country Club in West Oahu.  In a golf scene the Makaha Valley Towers are a backdrop to the characters walking along the course.  When you see the movie, keep an eye out for the Towers 'cause you'll only see them for a few seconds. Back in the early 1990's (the period that the events in the movie occurred) this resort was actually the Sheraton Makaha.   Back then I was an auditor for a CPA firm and actually audited the financials of the resort... 09/23/2009

When Hawaii's housing market turns downward, the outlying locations seem to get hurt the worst.  Why is this?  Probably because areas like Waianae have less good jobs compared to Honolulu neighborhoods.  Also, when the market begins to recover, people look to the future and where there's room for growth - West Oahu! Now we're back in one of those painful slumps, where some owners are getting hurt.  Buyers with good credit and/or cash are preparing to make their moves on properties.  It's great to make a purchase, knowing that it would have cost more had you bought it a year or two earlier. Where are the deals?  Here are a few: Makaha Shores MLS 2819098 -  a short sale listed for $150,000.  This is a fee simple studio at the famous Makaha surfing beach.  Interior area is 323 square feet ... 01/14/2009