Tag: moving to hawaii

A Great Time to Sell, But Tough on Buyers!

Posted on by JUDY HOWARD
Waikoekoe Mud Lane Honokaa
In Escrow: Mud Lane, Honokaa, Listed at $1.2M

In the current Waimea area market, it is a great time to sell, but tough on buyers. There is low inventory to choose from and buyers must prepare before seeking property. Because of the low inventory, sellers are getting what they ask for, as long as it’s within reason. Buyers are having a very tough time finding anything, and they are paying top dollar if they are lucky enough to secure a property.

Just How Ruthless is the Hawaii Buyer’s Market?

Property in Escrow: Waiaka Place, Waimea, Hawaii

Some buyers are having a hard time understanding just how tough the current Hawaii real estate market is. This is not a time to put in a low offer, “just to see”. Study the market for just a little while and you will learn that properties are selling very quickly, for list or above.

I have not yet received an offer where a large earnest money deposit would be forfeited to the seller if the deal fell through, but I’m not going to be surprised to see that term.

At this point, if you must sell a home in order to buy a new home (a home sale contingency), you should be prepared to put up a large deposit and be willing to forfeit it should your existing home not sell.

I have sellers who just rejected an offer from a buyer who indicated he was willing to pay far more than the list price but included a home sale contingency. The sellers were able to reject it because another very strong offer had been submitted even before the property was listed on the MLS.

In a Market Tough on Buyers, Prepare!

Buyers who can’t afford to buy a property while still owning another property should be looking into bridge loans. They should also know their budget and share the information with their agent. If financing is needed, arrange it before looking at properties since there won’t be time to obtain it after choosing a property. The sellers will likely go with someone who is paying cash or submits a pre-qualification letter with their offer, so it is best to remove every possible contingency from an offers. They should be prepared to pay list or above.

Truthfully, bargain hunters need to sit this market out. The market is likely to soften a bit as interest rates rise, and cash may once again justify a slightly lower contract price.


Property Under Contract: Naalehu, Hawaii Judy S. Howard Corcoran Profile

For questions and inquiries, give me a call or email me at Judy@livinginwaimea.com. To learn more about me and my background, read more or watch my introduction video here.

Judy Howard, Esq.
REALTOR® | RB-23241 808.885.5588
Judy@livinginwaimea.com www.livinginwaimea.com

How To Get the Healthcare You Need in Hawaii: 3 Tips to Consider Before You Move

Posted on by JUDY HOWARD
blue and silver stetoscope
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Do you require frequent medical visits, specialists, and accessible treatment options? Before moving to Hawaii it is helpful to know your options and prepare for what’s covered by your insurance, what requires inter-Island travel, and alternative healthcare options.

Medical facilities and insurance coverage can be limited depending on where you live and waiting times vary depending on what care you need. There is a doctor shortage on the Big Island, and in Hawaii generally, and when it comes to specialist care (dermatologist, podiatrist, rheumatologist, neurologist, Mohs surgeon, etc.) it is common to drive long distances, fly to Oahu for care that’s covered by insurance, or to pay cash for services on the Big Island. 

Why Pay “Out-Of-Pocket”?

While cash pay sounds scary, so is paying a high insurance premium that doesn’t cover services you need. With rising insurance premiums, consider progressive ways healthcare clinics provide efficient and quality care with cash pay models. So, where do you start? 

First, know that there are wonderful traveling nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and specialists on the Island that provide excellent care. Some offer partial insurance reimbursement plans, yearly membership benefits, and virtual visits.

Some residents opt-out of traditional insurance and use catastrophic insurance with high deductibles and pay cash for specialized care. If you need traditional insurance coverage, start looking online here to check your options based on income.

Last Things to Consider

Do you require frequent checkups? Dental care, specialized visits, and will you live closer to Waimea, Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo? Look into clinics nearby and what insurance or plans they take. In Hilo, one of my personal favorites is Mahinakealo Dermatology (because when you live in Hawaii, you need a Dermatology clinic). Marne Carmichael Walsh PA-C provides the most detailed and patient-focused care in the Hilo community. While Mahinakealo Dermatology offers reasonable cash pay options and reimbursements now, the office will take HMSA, HMAA, and UHA at the start of 2021. 

In Kona, Elite Smiles Dental has a discount program for individuals and families with a small yearly fee. In Waimea, Iris Integrative Health has successfully created an affordable subscription healthcare model clinic utilizing western and naturopathic medicine. 

There are three main hospitals in Hawaii: North Hawaii Community Hospital Queens Medical Center in Waimea, the Kona Community Hospital down South, and The Hilo Medical Center on the Eastside of the Island. Urgent care clinics are also commonly used for quick care and family medicine concerns. 

There are many factors involved, so be prepared to make shifts as you consider life on the Big Island. Many local residents are happy with the healthcare quality on Island, but it is best to know your options and avoid the frustration of having insurance that not all offices take because it is “out of network.” So, is there a clinic or doctor you go to on the Big Island? There are many more to mention, so be sure to share in the comments. 

Contact me Here to learn more about available listings and information about life on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Hawaii is paradise because of its people and the Hawaiian culture!

Posted on by admin
Waipio Valley-photo by Sarah Anderson

The Hawaiian people and their culture make Hawaii a unique paradise. The peaceful gathering at the base of Mauna Kea has received some media coverage lately. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/07/13/young-hawaiians-learn-about-protection-mauna-kea-ahead-conflict/ This gathering, more than almost any other event I can recall in my 64 years, has demonstrated the strength and beauty of the Hawaiian people and culture.

In the past, aspects of the culture have been commercialized and trivialized. We have no one to blame for this but ourselves, because of the leaders we chose to elect. It is not the fault of tourists travelling here as a result of the marketing they have seen, but it is well past time to set the record straight.

This is not a huge amusement park. This is a place of extraordinary natural bounty and beauty, and the land, the people and the culture here deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

Thriving on these islands is not easy, despite their felicitous placement in the generally benign central pacific ocean. The fact that the Hawaiians managed to thrive until their numbers were decimated by disease brought by explorers, shows just how adaptive they must have been. The fact that they are now stronger and more unified than they have been since their language was banned in the late 1800ʻs, shows their wonderful resilience.

Whether coming to visit or hoping to establish a new home in Hawaii, people who come with open minds and a willingness to respect those already here will truly find a paradise!

Moving to Hawaii. Will I be disappointed?

Posted on by JUDY HOWARD
Waipio Valley camp fire. Photo by Sarah Anderson

What if I don’t love living in Hawaii?

“What if I don’t like it?” This is a very valid concern. Moving to Hawaii is expensive! Not everyone is happy here, and you should do everything you can to make sure this is the right place for you.

Come multiple times, and stay in as many places on the Island as possible.

This is not as easy as it used to be, because of the new restrictions on vacation rentals. See http://livinginwaimea.com/2019/03/30/hawaii-county-restricts-vacation-rentals/ But if you can’t stay in as many parts of the Island anymore, at least make sure you spend as much time visiting each area as possible. Moving to Hawaii is a big deal, and it’s worth investing time and money to make sure it’s right for you.

Many people say, though, that while the place matters, it is the people they fall in love with.

I hear this again and again: the people here are so friendly and helpful. I am a bit surprised, because I think there are more unfriendly people here than there were 50 years ago, but I guess it’s all relative. Compared to many places on the mainland, the people here are wonderful.

If you come with an open heart, you are likely to be treated with aloha.

There are always exceptions-people who are so bitter or angry that they won’t give you a chance. But if you treat the people you meet with kindness and respect, most will repay you with the aloha our Islands are known for.

Some nuts and bolts information on moving to Hawaii.

There are many sources of information about moving to Hawaii, and living here happily once you’ve made that move. Your Realtor is a great source of such information. You should also check out https://portal.ehawaii.gov/residents/newcomers-guide/