11-11-2005, 08:03 AM
As far as honesty goes for real estate people who are selling Puna property, I don't know if they are any better/worse that on the mainland. I haven't looked for property on the mainland, so I can't comment. What I will say about real estate in Puna is that real estate people seem to be VERY lazy and totally ignorant about property (at least on the lower end). It seems like most are unwilling to give you more than a subdivision map and a vague "The listing says it is close to power pole 24." Then you are pretty much on your own.
The reality is that for a long time I don't think that the Puna District was considered by real estate people to be "the best" area to live in. There are a ton of lots listed for sale now and many more that are not listed that were sold back when they were less than $5K. With the recent rapid increase in the sale price for lots in the Puna area, real estate people are now flogging them with superlatives about how great they are and the last affordable area of Hawaii. Well they are affordable, but I don't see Puna lots as a great investment at current prices IF you think you can buy and flip quick for a profit. I could be wrong. I personally like the subdivision I bought in, but I bought with the intent to build and not as an investment to flip the lot.
My advice to mainlanders thinking of buying is to allocate plenty of time here to look at lots. And unless to find an exceptional real estate salesperson, do not expect them to spend much time helping you go to look at lots. In all probability, you will be on your own.
As far as my particular problem about being sold a lot in a different subdivision goes? I need to put sorting that one out on the back burner for the moment. I'm busy buying building materials on the mainland to ship over the Hawaii. I found it way too frustrating to hear "6 to 8 weeks to order that for you..." when I asked about building materials there. Not to mention the prices on the mainland are usually much cheaper. I won't even begin to pass along my thoughts on building codes and building practices there
.
The reality is that for a long time I don't think that the Puna District was considered by real estate people to be "the best" area to live in. There are a ton of lots listed for sale now and many more that are not listed that were sold back when they were less than $5K. With the recent rapid increase in the sale price for lots in the Puna area, real estate people are now flogging them with superlatives about how great they are and the last affordable area of Hawaii. Well they are affordable, but I don't see Puna lots as a great investment at current prices IF you think you can buy and flip quick for a profit. I could be wrong. I personally like the subdivision I bought in, but I bought with the intent to build and not as an investment to flip the lot.
My advice to mainlanders thinking of buying is to allocate plenty of time here to look at lots. And unless to find an exceptional real estate salesperson, do not expect them to spend much time helping you go to look at lots. In all probability, you will be on your own.
As far as my particular problem about being sold a lot in a different subdivision goes? I need to put sorting that one out on the back burner for the moment. I'm busy buying building materials on the mainland to ship over the Hawaii. I found it way too frustrating to hear "6 to 8 weeks to order that for you..." when I asked about building materials there. Not to mention the prices on the mainland are usually much cheaper. I won't even begin to pass along my thoughts on building codes and building practices there
.