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comparing neighborhoods
#1
Newcomer Gary brought up an interesting question about comparing land so I thought I would put my response in a new thread. Gary ask about Seaview vs. Leilani. Funny thing is Gary, 5 years ago most people thought of Puna as a lawless, wreckless place and prefered to drive through in route to the Volcano. Even Hilo wasn't a desirable tourist destination. Wow, how things have changed. It used to be than not much land in all of Puna exceed $25K a plot so it was even harder to choose where to be. I have some literature from '99-01 I need to dig up and post the prices so some of you that are new to the East side can have heart attacks Smile Rising prices in Kona have driven a lot of people to the East side. There is a lot of sight unseen buying going on from folks sitting on the mainland with no clue of what they just bought. A lot of these folks will sell rather quickly after they make a few realistic visits to their property.

Leilani is a really nice neighborhood and you do get an acre. We used to have this fixation with having a private jungle lot where you could run naked up & down the property. Quit laughing - my husband really thought he could do this on an acre with no one caring. We had many agents mention how much work that jungle acre really is. Leilani does have CC&R which can work for & against you. Regardless of what folks say there are still drug bust, domestic violence, crazy dogs and unkempt houses in Leilani. Just not as much in other areas. It is just a few quick minutes to Pahoa village which is a plus when you need butter to finish cooking dinner. We stayed in a rental there a couple of years ago and I saw first hand what the jungle lot can do to your home. I never felt dry the whole time I was there. It seemed that powdery mildew covered everything. It was really gross between the sheets. I think a lot of it was this house we were in and it's lack of good air flow but I am sure this is a big problem there.

I like Seaview because of the aawesome view and the laid back atmosphere. A few years ago Seaview was kind of sketchy but it has cleaned up a lot. My lot will be much small than what I am used to having but it will mean less yard work. Also, I think the neighbors in the Seaview/Puna Beach Palisaides/ Kehena area are a much tighter bunch than in Leilani.

We are thinking about having a child next year and Leilani might have been better suited for that since it is closer in and most likely more kids living in there.

All in all it is pretty tough to compare the neighborhoods. The Tri-Kehena community is all about the same (PBP a little bigger lot) but all the other neighborhoods are pretty different. Keep us posted on where you decide to buy. Remember to introduce yourself around and ask people living there, especially ones that have been there a long time about their neighborhood. Oh and don't pick an agent in Hilo to help with Puna property. Most of them are not that familar with the area.



Atlanta/Pahoa
Atlanta/Pahoa
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#2
Aloha,

I have an acre parcel in Leilani that was my first purchase on the island, its got exactly everything i wanted in a property, privacy, lush surroundings with coconuts, avocados, bananas and exotic ginger and heliconia...also I had unwanted things tossed in -lots are very skinny with small frontage to the street so you do see your neighbors on your side, there are alot of cracks/fissures in the neighborhood since the east rift goes through this area-hence the geothermal plant at the end of leilani and last insurance for new builds are at a premium with only state insurance, a relatively new neighbor from southern cali with a very southern cali attitude ( he wanted to buy my lot from the original owners so he can put in a putting green from his lanai...)

I have since looked at various areas and weighing their pros and cons for various personal and investment decisions. Have purchased in ainaloa, orchidland, Hawaiian Beaches and HPP and each do have various flavors....the only thing i do regret is not buying earlier in the kalapana area when i thought half acre lots for 50K for rock was already outrageous two years ago....

My personal feeling is that when you look for land, you need to consider the people on that block and neighborhood to see if you jive and feel aloha, maintenance/CCR's in the area that you are comfortable with, distance to conveniences and highway, property with views, lush factor or growing capability, lot dimensions, lava zone, coquies/rosters/loud dogs, paved roads. Theres alot of criteria to think about-but for me its all of the above and a gut feeling about if you really feel that you can fit into this area....But, if not you can always sell for a profit...I eventually sold that Leilani lot, I didn't want to risk building a new home with a big fissure on the property-never know when pele will be acting up again and insurance is already high enough in that area.

These are just my thoughts about the various neighborhoods.

noel

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#3
Aloha,

For us, this article gave a quick high level summary of all the subdivisions, price range and size, found it handy to narrow things down, although the prices may no longer be correct;

http://www.sunriseprop.com/punainformation.html



Ajit
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#4
Thank you for the forum! What a pleasure to get so much support, as we prepare to make our choice. I do feel the aloha in Sea View, and will be driving around real slow. . . .
Gary

Gary
new member
incipient landbuyer
Gary
new member
incipient landbuyer
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#5
I wanted to thank Robguz for some more words on Sea View (under "introduce Yourself"Wink:

Just thought I'd join in about Seaview. I agree that it seems better each time I visit, and will be there again in early Dec. The lots are closer to 1/5 acre although still small compared to LE. On our last visit when we thought we might buy more land elsewhere, LE was clearly the nicest neighborhood though. Some Seaview lots have not been too horrible lately. If you can live without an ocean view, some have been selling for more like 50-60K rather than the 90-130K that ones closer to the ocean. For me another great benefit of the area besides Kehena is that it is very gay friendly, although I haven't spent much time in other Puna areas to really compare. Probably my favorite thing about the Seaview location is I can walk downhill 5 minutes from my lot to the rocky coastline and see and hear nothing but the ocean and nature. Quite an incredible place to have coffee in the morning.

--- I've had lots of real friendly response from folks online at Leilani, but I appreciate your pointing out explicitly the gay-friendly aspect of Sea View; I know that part of the magic there is that it seems to be an unspoken rule there of being an accepting place for whoever's showing up, in particular I suppose the gay people drawn to the friendly openness modelled by Kalani.
Thanks again for the post, Rob.


Gary
new member
incipient landbuyer
Gary
new member
incipient landbuyer
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#6
Hey folks,been reading this thread & have to comment-I've lived in upper Leilani for 6 years now, gay, and was welcomed with much aloha that has only grown. I know all the people on my street on a first name basis, only 1 bad egg in the whole group, and her place is up for sale, to the relief of everyone! Leilani is so large that it really is several neighborhoods,so I can only speak from my own experiance, but I love it here. (unit 1- no CCR'S here, but everyones place is neat & clean). It is wet, true but it is a little cooler, has the advantage of enough water and lushness and if you build the right type of house for the jungle evironment, there's not such a problem with mildew. In KSV, Kehena and the Palisades there are limits on what you can grow, and expect to buy water on a regular basis. Remember too, that you are far from emergency services (if you have a fire, for example, the chances of firemen saving your house is practically nil). Also, it was mentioned that Leilani lots are narrow, but they are 40' wider on average than KSV or Kehena and 4 times as deep.As far as eruption danger, Leilani hasn't been overrun by lava in 200-300 years whereas the Palisades and KSV were covered by hot lava in 1955. That's when Kehena beach was formed, so don't assume it's safer. In any case, Alona nui loa to you all. Leilaniguy

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