Tucked away down a private lane in the Kailua neighborhood of Lanikai is an adorable 1950s vintage cottage for sale.   This charming little property is a short walk to two of the best beaches  – Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach – on Oahu.  The floor plan is flexible – it will work for one family or two.  There are a total of 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  Check out this property by clicking on the link to the Oahu’s MLS – Customer Full Page .

Listed at $1,165,000 this property is the lowest priced Lanikai property currently available.  The flexible floor plan allows you to live in one part of the property and rent out the other.  Enjoy walking your children to nearby Lanikai Elementary or up the street to the Lanikai Pillbox hike.  Golfing at lovely MidPacific Country Club is just 2 blocks away.

If you would like to schedule a private showing for this property or get more information about ”entry level” Lanikai properties just give me a call, text, or email.  Aloha!  Allison Green, REALTOR, Century 21 All Islands, 808-227-1399, allison.green@hawaiimoves.com .

It was another amazing day in paradise!  We – “the Sunrise crew” – met as usual on Lanikai Beach just before 7 am.   What was unusual was the flat, calm water that greeted us there.   Not a wave or bump in sight.  As we pushed our three 6-man outrigger canoes into the lake-like water we commented on the smooth surface and the clarity of the water we paddled through.

We headed south along the peaceful Lanikai coastline toward Waimanalo and beautiful, tree-lined Bellows Beach.  On the way we looked down and to our right and saw a large honu (turtle) swimming lazily under the water.    After about 20 minutes of warm-up we rested off shore and took in the striking beauty of the Koolau Mountain range – the backdrop for all of our Windward Oahu communities.

We reversed course after our break and headed north – back to Lanikai – past the Mokulua Islands.  On a typical day our seasoned steersman is able to catch a few choice waves in this area.  Not today.  The water was as placid as a pond and as clear as glass.  I had never seen so much detail in the coral heads we gracefully glided over. 

We reached the south side of Flat Island and took another break.  We had done a couple of “hard changes” to get our  heart rates up and our bodies working, but nothing too challenging.  Certainly nothing that took away from the magic of the morning.   We actually caught a small, fun bump off Flat Island which made the perfect outing complete.

It was closing in on 8 am.  Our commitment is to be back on the beach by then.  We landed right on time.  We rolled our canoes up the beach – back in their resting positions.  We quietly celebrated our good fortune, said our goodbyes, and dispersed to work and responsibilities – each feeling the truth in the local saying … ”Lucky we live Hawaii!”

Questions about Lanikai, Kailua, or Windward Oahu?  Call, text, or email me.   Aloha!  Allison

Our lovely Lanikai neighborhood – in Kailua on Oahu – enjoys friends and fans the world over. Most all love the small, gorgeous white sand beach with incredible Mokulua Islands views. Others enjoy the active lifestyle the neighborhood offers and/or the neighborly feel of the community.

So what does it cost to own a piece of this special paradise? The easy answer is usually “a million and up”. Lanikai has 3 general types of properties – oceanfront (obviously the most expensive), hillside/view properties, and homes “on the flat” (mostly along Aalapapa Drive).  There are currently 26 properties on the market in Lanikai – of which 4 are in escrow (already under contract).

The lowest priced Lanikai home/property currently available just had a price reduction to $998,000 fee simple. It’s an adorable 2-bedroom cottage on Aalapapa Drive with hardwood floors and a screened-in lanai – great for  relaxing and entertaining .  It’s a short walk to the beach and a great “entry-level” property in a wonderful neighborhood!

If you’re interested in more information about Lanikai or wish to schedule a private showing for this charming Lanikai property call, email, or text me.

A hui hou!
Allison Green
808-227-1399
Allison.Green@C21AllIslands.com

          Tucked between a mountain ridge and the magical Mokulua Islands is a special Oahu neighborhood called Lanikai – Hawaiian for “Heavenly Water”.  It’s actually part of the larger community of Kailua (not to be confused with Kailua-Kona on the “Big Island” of Hawaii) on Windward Oahu. 

          Situated just south of world-famous Kailua Beach, the Lanikai neighborhood has an interesting layout.  At the north-end or entrance of the neighborhood is the distinctive Lanikai monument featured on postcards and in local artwork.  The view of the ocean and surrounding mountains from the monument is absolutely breathtaking!  At this point the 2-lane road taking you into Lanikai becomes a 1-lane loop road around the neighborhood.  The road into Lanikai – A’alapapa Drive – runs along the inland or Lanikai ridge side of the community.   After a little over a mile, A’alapapa makes a U-turn to the left and becomes Mokulua Drive which runs along the beach side of the community and returns to the Lanikai monument at the entrance.   The “Lanikai Loop” road is a favorite running and walking path due to the bike lane that runs the full length of the loop.  In fact, spending time on the Lanikai Loop is so popular some folks joke that Lanikai actually means, “I jog daily!”

          There are many things to love about Lanikai … the gorgeous white sandy beach, the beauty of the Mokulua Islands offshore, the scenic vistas from the World War II pillboxes on the Lanikai ridge, or simply the relaxed family-friendly atmosphere that pervades the neighborhood.

          If you would like more information about lovely Lanikai just call or email me.  I’ve been a resident of this fair neighborhood for 14 years and there is so much to share … Aloha!  Allison

          I recently attended an informal lunchtime presentation and Q & A session with our Honolulu City & County Mayor, Mufi Hannemann.  Mayor Hannemann spoke frankly about the challenges that our fine city is facing and about the actions being taken to try and ease us through these tough times.  According to the Mayor, our Oahu and State of Hawaii economies are experiencing the impact of slowing private construction.  More damaging still is the cooling of our visitor industry – due to high fuel costs – to the point that the Mayor called the short term outlook “bleak” for this important industry.  At times like these, the Mayor stated, it’s necessary for government to provide some economic stimulus and invest heavily in the community it serves.

          Since the first priority in any community should be safety and security, both the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii have made intergrated communications and operations between all its first responders a top priority.  They’ve been so successful that the FBI has named Honolulu the “Safest Big City in America”.   We seem to be well prepared for natural, man-made, and biological disasters.  That’s money well spent!

          A second priority for communities should be its infrastructure.  With a Capital Improvement Budget of over $1 billion, Mayor Hannamann has made this another of his top priorities.  As I look around our island I see repair and replacement activities everywhere.  And what about all that sewer work that’s being done?!  Yes, it’s been frustrating to drive over and around torn-up roadways, but “Save the drama for your Momma“, because the work needs to be done!

          Of course the Mayor discussed the need to develop a multi-modal transporation solution that included rail.  I’ll save that topic for a separate discussion, but I like hearing that our Mayor is networking with other city leaders from around the country and around the world to draw on their experiences and best practices on an array of topics.  He and his team also seem diligent in their efforts to leverage Federal grants to bring monies to our island home to both stimulate our economy and improve our quality of life. 

          I know this is an election year and that Mayor Hannemann is looking for a second term in office.  I was glad to have the opportunity to hear what he is doing for our neighborhoods and for our families.  I believe he is working very hard on our behalf and the City & County of Honolulu is a better place to visit and to live as a result!

        The Honolulu skyline is changing!  Several new high-rise condominium buildings have been built in the last couple of years, and they are fine additions to our fair city.   I had the opportunity to work with a real estate investor from Southern California recently, and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting many of our Honolulu high-rises, both new and old.
          Among the attractive newcomers to downtown Honolulu are Capitol Place and Moana Pacific.  Capital Place has an amazing location – right downtown Honolulu.  If you work downtown, why not give up your expensive monthly parking pass and walk to work!  Moana Pacific is in the Ala Moana area and consists of an East Tower and a West Tower.  Not only can you to walk to every type of shopping and dining opportunity under the sun, but you are close to the beach!  Each of these new complexes boast terrific amenities and awesome security, not to mention stunning ocean views from some of the units!
          In my travels with my mainland client I also visited the Nauru Tower and Hawaiki condominiums.  Both of these pre-2000 complexes are very popular with investors and second home owners from around the world.  Both feature attractive lobbies, lovely pool/amenity areas and have excellent rental potential.
And not to be forgotten there are lovely condominium ownership opportunities in other places on Oahu such as Hawaii Kai.  The Colony is just one of many excellent choices in that beautiful community … which is so close to Honolulu but enjoys a slower pace of living.
          If you are interested in learning more about condo ownership on Oahu give me a call (808-227-1399) or email me – algreen@lava.net - and we’ll continue this discussion.  Aloha from paradise …. Allison

          If you will be putting a property on the market in the near future you’ll need to select a real estate professional that can partner with you to make the sale of your property happen. The agent or team of agents that you select to navigate the potentially challenging waters in this down market will make a HUGE difference in the outcome of your sale. It’s important to “hire” the right agent for the job. It can make all the difference between success and failure. Over the weeks ahead I’ll share some tips that will make the selection process more effective and the sale process smoother and more profitable!

          An important agent selection criteria is experience – both in general and with regard to the area or neighborhood your particular property is located in. Look around … Who is selling property in your area? Take the time to visit open houses in your neighborhood and meet the agents that are representing your neighbors. Open houses can be a great place for a casual “interview” with a potential listing agent … You’re really seeing them in their element. What are they doing to promote that property? Are they conducting themselves in a professional manner? Are they knowledgable and able to answer questions about the property and the neighborhood?

          I’ll blog about additional criteria for agent selection in the near future, but let me continue to address the area of an agent’s experience … After you have identified a couple potential agents, invite these agents to do a listing presentation for you. You will want to ask each agent about their recent real estate listing experience. Have they helped buyers or sellers or both in your area? Have they successfully sold properties similiar to yours in the area? What have they learned about your neighborhood or area that is of special interest? Are they aware of any issues or challenges with properties in your area. You will not only learn more about the agent’s credentials, but you may learn more about your neighborhood in the process!

          There are several other selection criteria I’d like to suggest to you. I’ll address them in future blogs so stay tuned! In the meantime, if you are interested in continuing this conversation just email me at algreen@lava.net . Aloha, Allison

         One of the many reasons we enjoy living in Hawaii is the opportunity to visit historical sites – especially from World War II. Visiting Pearl Harbor – and specifically the USS Arizona Memorial - is an experience almost beyond compare. If you are considering a visit to Oahu check-out www.nps.gov/usar . My son is an absolute military history buff and never passes up the chance to go to Pearl Harbor whether to see the Arizona, the Mighty Mo, or the Bowfin submarine. In fact we all love the newest attraction in the Pearl Harbor area – the Pacific Aviation Museum! The aircraft displays are well done and the gift shop has a terrific selection of memoribilia for collectors. Take a peek online at www.pacificaviationmuseum.org .

          Another destination worth seeing is the Punchbowl Veterans Cemetary of the Pacific – www.acresofhonor.com. The mosaic depictions of the WWII battles in the Pacific theater are amazing and the setting – a lush green oasis inside a volanic crater – is breathtaking!

          Yes, we are really steeped in military history here on Oahu. In fact the front page of today’s Honolulu Advertiser had a great article on 100 years at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. You can read about it at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/May/04/ln/hawaii805040397.html .

          If you enjoy military history like our family does Oahu has so much to offer. Consider a visit to our fair island … Who knows you might even decide to stay!

          I had an interesting conversation with a Seller client recently. We were talking about how to price his property for sale. I made the comment that his home was NOT worth what we might list it at. Okay, that’s fairly obvious! I went on to tell him that it may NOT even be worth the price that the eventual Buyer offers to pay for it. At that statement the Seller tilted his head and looked at me quizzically. I told the Seller that his home will be worth what the Appraiser says it is worth (assuming that the buyer is not paying cash).

          Here’s what I mean … We all know that Appraisers have been under a great deal of fire from the lending world to be accurate, even conservative, with their appraisals. And should an appraisal come in below the contract price that the Buyer and Seller have agreed on, you can bet in this market that the Buyer is going to want to re-negotiate the contract price down to appraised value.

          So what is the moral of the story for Sellers? There are actually two … Consider getting a professional appraisal up front before deciding on a listing price AND work with a professional real estate agent who will meet with the Appraiser at your property and give them a written list of all the upgrades and features of the property that support the contract price. Your agent should be working hard to get you every dollar you deserve!

          If you have any questions about listing your property for sale please contact me. Aloha, Allison

          These days I’m completely sold on “staging” (most) residential properties before putting them on the market for sale. Now there are different definitions of staging. For some, putting a couple of placemats and dinner plates on the kitchen counter and some nice hand towels in the bathrooms is staging. My approach is quite different … it’s almost like a complete make-over for the subject property.

          The goal of staging in my mind is emphasizing all the good attributes of a home – inside and out – so Buyers can really see how to live in the property. After discussing my approach to prepping their home for sale with the Sellers and getting their agreement to stage the property, I bring in professional interior designer, Kathy Norton of Design Management. Kathy begins by doing a 1-2 hour consult with the Sellers and me at their property. That consult results in two lists – things that need repair or maintenance and a complete list of staging items that will be needed to complete the project.

          The next step is to create a calendar or timeline for all the items that need to be done and in what order. At some point Kathy and I return to “install” the make-over. This usually takes 1-2 days time. A typical Design Management staging involves moving furniture (including some additions and some deletions to existing pieces), rearranging artwork and wall hangings, using area rugs for focus, and adding LOTS of light to each room. Kathy really makes each job special with her custom artwork and hand-built furniture, as needed. And the outcome is always stunning! In every case the staged homeshave looked at the final product and have told us, “We don’t want to sell now!”. In fact most of my Sellers do more entertaining once they go on the market because their home looks so beautiful after the staging. So if you would like to talk more about staging just email me or call me.

          The bottom line is staged homes really speak to the Buyers who are looking for a turn-key property and staged homes typically sell much faster and for more money than the average hum-hum listing. And for the Sellers that can mean more $$ in your pocket sooner in this softer housing market. Aloha! Allison