06-06-2010, 07:52 AM
Adrienne,
Many if not most of the subdivisions in Puna were built as land scams. Various land companies bought up large parcels of ag land that was not suitable for actual agriculture, punched through "roads" that were really just bulldozed tracks over the lava, printed up lovely brochures about affordable paradise, and sold lots sight unseen to people on the mainland and in Japan. (I remember seeing a scan of an old brochure on someone's blog recently that showed riding stables and a swimming pool in Hawaiian acres.) Many of these lots have over the years continued to pass from one owner to the next without anyone actually seeing the land.
These "developers" and Hawaii County did not intend for anyone to ever actually live in these subdivisions, there is little to no supporting infrastructure, and some don't even have a mechanism to maintain their "private" roads. Over time, people have bought into these subdivisions, but most are thinly populated and still lack infrastructure to support even the small populations they have.
If you just want to grab hold of a tangible piece of your paradise dream, as so many before you have, by buying a cheap lot sight unseen, go for it. Just know that very few of those who have done so ever actually make it over here. If you think you ever might actually try to live here I would highly recommend paying attention to the length of commute to Hilo, where virtually all the jobs are. Even if you end up reselling the lot, most on island potential buyers will also want to be closer to Hilo for work.
Don't feel rushed, land prices are dropping, and will probable continue to do so until real estate prices on the mainland truly recover. By waiting, you could easily end up saving enough to cover the investment costs of plane tickets from Spokane, so you could actually see what you were buying.
Carol
Many if not most of the subdivisions in Puna were built as land scams. Various land companies bought up large parcels of ag land that was not suitable for actual agriculture, punched through "roads" that were really just bulldozed tracks over the lava, printed up lovely brochures about affordable paradise, and sold lots sight unseen to people on the mainland and in Japan. (I remember seeing a scan of an old brochure on someone's blog recently that showed riding stables and a swimming pool in Hawaiian acres.) Many of these lots have over the years continued to pass from one owner to the next without anyone actually seeing the land.
These "developers" and Hawaii County did not intend for anyone to ever actually live in these subdivisions, there is little to no supporting infrastructure, and some don't even have a mechanism to maintain their "private" roads. Over time, people have bought into these subdivisions, but most are thinly populated and still lack infrastructure to support even the small populations they have.
If you just want to grab hold of a tangible piece of your paradise dream, as so many before you have, by buying a cheap lot sight unseen, go for it. Just know that very few of those who have done so ever actually make it over here. If you think you ever might actually try to live here I would highly recommend paying attention to the length of commute to Hilo, where virtually all the jobs are. Even if you end up reselling the lot, most on island potential buyers will also want to be closer to Hilo for work.
Don't feel rushed, land prices are dropping, and will probable continue to do so until real estate prices on the mainland truly recover. By waiting, you could easily end up saving enough to cover the investment costs of plane tickets from Spokane, so you could actually see what you were buying.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb