12-27-2017, 02:12 PM
terrracore: I absolutely agree with everything you said about using due diligence to make sure you know what you are buying.
Unfortunately, here as elsewhere, that's not always what happens.
I am frequently reminded of a George Carlin quote: 'Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that". I'm not trying to come off as someone who makes brilliant decisions all the time, but I am constantly amazed at how many take the words of real estate agents as the 'truth', because after all, they are the professionals.
Edit: After re-reading my post, I see that I need to clarify: people should not be labeled as stupid on the basis of one decision. However, that does not change the reality that some people make bad decisions about moving here.
It seems to me that two points come into play: it's always a matter of perspective, and you get what you pay for.
People who buy land in Puna are buying cheap land in the very poorest part of the state. Why is it cheap ? No infrastructure, no jobs, and it's a long way from anywhere. That's why it's cheap land. There are many subdivisions in Hilo that have all the amenities, but the price range is $175,000 - 200,000 - just for the lot. And the property taxes reflect those amenities. The property taxes in Puna are miniscule - reflecting the level of service and infrastructure. The state does not tax pensions - cheap to live here when you're retired, but little to no money is being contributed to upgrade the highway, or to build a wastewater treatment so commercial areas could expand.
For people who bought land because it was cheap to then grumble about legal shenanigans that happened 50-60 years ago seems to me to be misplaced. You don't want a long commute along Hwy 130 ? Why not move to Hilo - as it is now, your cheap land is costing you a long commute. ( As a side note for comparison, on Oahu, people who live in the bedroom community of Hawaii Kai pay well over $750,000 - 1,000,000 for a home, and have a longer, more congested commute than any Punatic. Many transplants from other parts of the state that I encounter at work laugh at the grumbles about traffic.) Again, it comes down to you get what you pay for.
Unfortunately, here as elsewhere, that's not always what happens.
I am frequently reminded of a George Carlin quote: 'Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that". I'm not trying to come off as someone who makes brilliant decisions all the time, but I am constantly amazed at how many take the words of real estate agents as the 'truth', because after all, they are the professionals.
Edit: After re-reading my post, I see that I need to clarify: people should not be labeled as stupid on the basis of one decision. However, that does not change the reality that some people make bad decisions about moving here.
It seems to me that two points come into play: it's always a matter of perspective, and you get what you pay for.
People who buy land in Puna are buying cheap land in the very poorest part of the state. Why is it cheap ? No infrastructure, no jobs, and it's a long way from anywhere. That's why it's cheap land. There are many subdivisions in Hilo that have all the amenities, but the price range is $175,000 - 200,000 - just for the lot. And the property taxes reflect those amenities. The property taxes in Puna are miniscule - reflecting the level of service and infrastructure. The state does not tax pensions - cheap to live here when you're retired, but little to no money is being contributed to upgrade the highway, or to build a wastewater treatment so commercial areas could expand.
For people who bought land because it was cheap to then grumble about legal shenanigans that happened 50-60 years ago seems to me to be misplaced. You don't want a long commute along Hwy 130 ? Why not move to Hilo - as it is now, your cheap land is costing you a long commute. ( As a side note for comparison, on Oahu, people who live in the bedroom community of Hawaii Kai pay well over $750,000 - 1,000,000 for a home, and have a longer, more congested commute than any Punatic. Many transplants from other parts of the state that I encounter at work laugh at the grumbles about traffic.) Again, it comes down to you get what you pay for.