Home Buying FAQ's

Why should I buy a house/property in Hawaii?

We hope this would be obvious, but one of our favorite reasons is simple: This Is Paradise!!! We have plenty of other reasons in case you're not sold there, such as how affordable the price of property and houses are, the diverse and very comfortable climate, and the warm and welcoming people here. If you are new to the Islands, take a look at our Links page to find more information about our wonderful State and all that it has to offer.

What do Leasehold and Fee Simple mean?

This can be a little confusing at first, so here is the explanation. If you purchase a fee simple property, you own the land and the improvements upon it. This is the standard way of owning a property. However, if you purchase a leasehold property, you are buying a lease for the land and, usually, you own the improvements. A residential leasehold might have been set for 55 years but if the ground lease is 30 years old, there would be 25 years left on the lease. Most banks require a minimum number of years remaining on the lease before they will agree to lend on the property. Some require that the lease be renegotiated with the ground lessor, often a family trust or large landholding estate. This can take more time than you expect and, in fact, lessors are not obliged to extend or renegotiate the lease. With all this, why would anyone buy a leasehold property? Because it is often less expensive to purchase and the lease is depreciable, which may have some tax advantages for you. As always, before purchasing any property, you should consult with your tax advisor and your attorney about how to protect your tax position and your estate.

How long will it take to buy a house?

This is dependent on quite a few things, so it's not a quick and simple answer. If your lender works quickly and the sellers have already accepted your offer you will generally have a much better idea as to how much longer things will take. In general, one could say that escrows are somewhere between 30-60 days, but realistically as your property and your sale are unique, so will be the timeline. We can assure you that we will do what we can to expedite the transaction however possible, just let us know.

What is the Hawaii Property Tax Rate?

How much does an average house cost on the Big Island?

Housing costs vary greatly from community to community on the Big Island, as they do on the Mainland. The best way to get an idea of current property costs is to browse through the "Property Listings " section of this web site, exploring different locations as you go. You'll be able to see everything that's presently for sale through the Multiple Listing Service because our site links directly to the MLS database. Once you know the specific area(s) you are interested in, contact us and we will help you find your dream home or property!

House Selling FAQ's

How much work is it to list my house for sale?

The process of buying or selling a home can be a complex and frustrating one if you go about things the wrong way. Karen is very knowledgeable and she does her very best to help in every way to make the process a simple one.

How long will it take to sell my house?

There are many factors involved when it comes to selling a home, such as location, price, current market trends, supply and demand, and in some cases just plain luck! Our real estate agents are here to answer any questions you have and to continually provide you with the options you have when it comes to negotiating timelines with potential buyers. If time constraints are an issue, please let us know and we will advise accordingly.

Why should I list my house/property with your office?

We have a very strong track record in real estate in Hawaii and our staff consists of agents that have been doing real estate for many decades. With our vast experience in Hawaii, our lengthy list of resources, and friendly Aloha attitude, it is no wonder that we have so many satisfied clients.

My house needs some basic maintenance, should I fix things before I list my property?

This really depends on the extent of the work that is needed. In some cases it may be wiser to list a house "As-Is", and in some cases a little handyman work can go a long way. One of our real estate agents can offer their advice once you give us more details.