07-25-2006, 12:46 PM
Speaking as a new land owner (as of today, it closed) I will defend realtors.
John Dirgo helped us but I would have trusted others. It is important to realize what they are and are not. If you have your own realtor you have your own agent, rather like your own lawyer. If you go only through the listing realtor then be aware that in many area, he represents the seller, not you. That is not good or bad, it is just he way it is.
Realtors naturally know more about real estate. It is their business. An economist can talk about the economy but a realtor knows real estate and much more importantly , a realtor knows the local situation, No economist can know that. They are the experts. Are they going to puff up the market. Sure, to some extent but it doesn't matter. Reality will ultimately prevail. If in doubt, ask whether the realtor owns the property. I've noticed in studying the listings that some of the most overpriced properties are realtor owned, but quess what? they don't sell.
Also in studying the listings, it looks to me that Puna land prices are reasonably consistent within each subdivision. Some land prices, eg Hamakua seem outrageous to me.
At the end of the day, I am more than satisfied with the advice I received and very satisfied with our purchase and I don't care one bit whether it increases or decreases in value because I'm never going to sell. We're going to plunk ourselves down and not budge. And Madame Pele is not going to come knocking. I already talked to her
So there!
John Dirgo helped us but I would have trusted others. It is important to realize what they are and are not. If you have your own realtor you have your own agent, rather like your own lawyer. If you go only through the listing realtor then be aware that in many area, he represents the seller, not you. That is not good or bad, it is just he way it is.
Realtors naturally know more about real estate. It is their business. An economist can talk about the economy but a realtor knows real estate and much more importantly , a realtor knows the local situation, No economist can know that. They are the experts. Are they going to puff up the market. Sure, to some extent but it doesn't matter. Reality will ultimately prevail. If in doubt, ask whether the realtor owns the property. I've noticed in studying the listings that some of the most overpriced properties are realtor owned, but quess what? they don't sell.
Also in studying the listings, it looks to me that Puna land prices are reasonably consistent within each subdivision. Some land prices, eg Hamakua seem outrageous to me.
At the end of the day, I am more than satisfied with the advice I received and very satisfied with our purchase and I don't care one bit whether it increases or decreases in value because I'm never going to sell. We're going to plunk ourselves down and not budge. And Madame Pele is not going to come knocking. I already talked to her
So there!