Tell me about Puna...

[TheodoreJay]

I love to visit Puna but cost of living is pretty high, then there is Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Pests, Earthquakes, Lava, Ferrel Dogs/Cats, Vog, Vagrants, Red Necks, Tropical Illness, High Unemployment, Poor Healthcare, and if the docks get closed or labor disputes toilet paper can become very rare So keep those in the negative column. Proceed w/ any realestate adventure w/ a cool calm head. For example there are many nice houses in Kehena for sale but may never sell. My strategy would be to buy a vacation rental shack furnished w/ Goodwill furniture and if Pele takes it away no big woop. Still, I'm really looking forward to my next visit.

[hawaiideborah]

Thought I would throw my newbee view in about Puna.
We moved here full-time in October. We first visited and checked the area out, from north of Hilo to Pahoa and up to Volcano. We did rent vacation rental in the middle of the area (Orchidland).
It sounds like you are looking for simple and if there is just yourself or only 2 of you, we stayed at a wonderful VBRO owned by a punaweb member. It was great to explore from. www.ohiagrove.com

When we finally moved here full time we rented a VRBO on month to month for 5 months in HPP to be close to Hilo. That way we didn't have to move or buy furniture. We moved our cat and dog and found a VBRO that took pets.

We looked at a lot of neighborhoods and sections of puna and Hilo town during our 5 months search. We did find the house, price and location that fit for us. However, our priorities shifted the longer we were here. Size of lot, condition of roads, commute to Hilo, sun-belt or rain-belt, lava zones and prices.
What may be important to you now can shift as you live here and get to know what each subdivision has to offer. Many pros and cons to consider with each choice.

It really helped us to rent first and take our time looking at all the options available. Puna is huge and diverse. There is something for everybody here.

There are lots of farmers markets in Puna.
Here is a website to farmers markets:
http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/farmers-marke...d.pdf/view


Tips:

* aloha living is the MLS site. Once you have familiarized yourself with what subdivisions you are interested in you can go on site daily and see "new listings".
http://www.alohaliving.com/RealEstate/Home/index.asp

* Do the addresses you are considering on google earth because you can get a visual of location and relationship to roads,etc.

* read the Hilo paper on-line free.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/

* we invested $9.99 on Puna Guide to buying real estate in Puna. It has great descriptions of all the subdivisions and good maps and info for new to Puna folks like us. http://www.punaguide.com/

GOOD LUCK in your search and have fun.

[birdmove]

Apparently, in HPP, if you go uphill at least to 3rd street, you are above the tsunami zone? Our place is on 23rd and pretty close to the highway.

Though our place is listed on VRBO, we have a real estste person that takes care of the renting. He has cleaners and a gent that can do repairs and replace the water filters when its time, etc.

Now we have to sell two houses before we move. Ours in Puyallup Wa. and now my wifes parents place, as her Father recently passed away.



Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[kimo wires]

Best to live here and rent for a while and see if it's for you or not.

Check out all the different elevations and see which climate you like best.

Some neighborhoods are too funky, have too many barking dogs, or noisy farm animals in odd places.

It will behoove you to have patience.

I'm glad I shopped around... And I thought I waited a long time to buy but in hindsight I wish I would have waited longer.

I bought in 2008 and thought real estate prices were rock bottom at that time.

But land prices dropped another 20% in my area since then.

[LADesign]

We actually started seriously looking for a condo in Waikoloa, where our realtor lives, but all the beautiful trees & plants - and insexpensive houses - on the east side of the Island got me looking there too. But yes, LOTS OF HOMEWORK TO DO! All the links and ideas you have all given me are SO helpful! I have found at least 5 places I would love to rent for a couple weeks when we (my husband & I) can finally get back there... from Captain Cook to Ohia Grove! And I spend way too much time "driving" around the roads near addresses I am interested in on virtual Google maps. I see what you mean by Puna being "a box of chocolates", and not for sissies! Very interesting.

The SAD thing is really getting to me, lack of vitamin D is just not healthy! It's 5 degrees and there's PILES of snow out there. I'm pretty sure it's about 80 where you are... except maybe Jon in Wa

THANKS AGAIN, I will continue checking in with you all!

[Kapohocat]

quote:

---

Originally posted by LADesign

We actually started seriously looking for a condo in Waikoloa...

---

My pals used to call it Waikoblowa. But in the early 90's I had a ton of friends living up there (and we lived in Puako in a house on the ocean for $800!!! - oh those were the carefree days of my 30's!)

Minuses: Windy, not much rain (I wanna say less than 15" a year).
Pluses: not far from Hapuna, more jobs ovah dare

[birdmove]

Taliknb about vitamin D. I'm 57 and just recently had a checkup with blood work. Blood pressure good, cholesteral good, etc. But vitamin D=bad. Of course we haven't seen the sun in a looong time here in the Pacific Northwest!!

Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[kimo wires]

There's also lava zones to consider and vog .
Know where the rift zones are.

Wind patterns downwind of the active cones and vents carry the s02
(sulphur dioxide) with the prevailing tradewinds toward kona.

If the trades die which is a lot lately the winds can bring choking sulphur dioxide into many Puna areas normally upwind of Kilauea.

The closer you are to puu'oo' or Hale mau mau the worse it can be.