When the first signs of lava appeared in Leilani Estates subdivision on May 3rd, it wasn’t just the residents of that area that were affected. Insurance companies that write Homeowner’s policies in Lava Zones 1 & 2 immediately put in place a moratorium on writing any new policies. The moratorium is also in effect for…

There’s a lot of confusion these days on how to get your required funds to escrow, and what form of funds they will require. Here’s a quick guide to help make your transaction flow without any issues. Initial Deposit on Sales Contracts: These funds can be in the form of a personal check. They must…

Most people are aware that the counties either charge different rates or offer credits if you live in your home versus owning it as an investment. What surprises almost everyone is how long it takes for the county to implement those changes when you purchase a home. In most other states, when you purchase a…

A very common situation being seen more today in our every tight housing market, are offers being accepted in a backup position. Talk to any real estate agent, and they will tell you of the transaction that fell out of escrow – meaning the deal didn’t go through. This makes sense in a tight market…

This situation has crossed my desk more than once, and it seems to be happening more and more. Those interested in buying a home start house hunting before they get pre-approved for their financing. If you noticed, I did not include the term “pre-qualification”. To me, a pre-qualification means absolutely nothing. More on that distinction…

Sales of previously owned homes has slowed some, mostly due to a lack of inventory. In Hawaii, the bulk of sales are previously owned homes, as we don’t have large amounts of new development. After a long stretch of a seller’s market, a good portion of the inventory that’s available could be considered “not ideal”.…

Since the beginning of the year, interest rates have risen about 0.500%. But if you look at where rates were exactly a year ago, they are only up 0.250%. For most people, the 30-Year Fixed rate is still below 4.500%. For many who are now just getting to that stage in their life where they…

What is a credit score, and how is your score calculated? There is so much misinformation and confusion, so let’s shine some light in the dark matter of credit scores. The first important step to understand is that the 3 big credit reporting agencies do exactly that. They report your credit payment history. Ever since…

With the rise in Hawaii’s home values, those with an FHA loan may now have the ability to refinance out of an FHA loan and lower their monthly payment. FHA loans allow those with little down, or insufficient income, or credit issues, or all three, to buy their slice of the American dream – owning…