08-05-2009, 01:05 PM
Thanks Devany!
Blake, one very upscale subdivision is Sunrise Estates, but I didn't mention it because it is so upscale and has major CC&R's. A more affordable subdivision that is quite nice is Konohana Gardens. They have a community open space that the houses back onto, so you don't have a rear neighbor, which is nice. It's quite genteel, as is Ainako. LOL, can you tell I like Ainako? Problem with Ainako is you are paying for something you don't require, the desirable school district, De Silvo. Good for resale value though.
In Hilo town you really must pay attention to drainage, as was said above. The amount of water that come down fast is astounding. Our 1950 kama'aina home was all properly sloped and sat on a knoll so that the water ran away from it. Some spec houses are just plunked down on the site. Streets literally turn into rivers when it rains hard, and need good channels along them to carry off the water. Some low cost lots are low priced because they have drainage issues.
I wouldn't live in Waiakea Uka. While it looks enchanting in the sunshine, very rural, it gets much more rain than lower Waiakea and I've seen some moldy houses there. There are new/newer subdivisions going in at the top of town, natural I suppose as the town fills in. Again they look nice but go look at the feeder streets during commute and pick up from school hours. It can be tough to get out. I'm talking about areas like the top of Kawailani street.
One thing about Hilo, much easier to assess your neighbors than on wooded lots, as their rusted cars and chained dogs and wild roosters are generally quite visible.
Blake, one very upscale subdivision is Sunrise Estates, but I didn't mention it because it is so upscale and has major CC&R's. A more affordable subdivision that is quite nice is Konohana Gardens. They have a community open space that the houses back onto, so you don't have a rear neighbor, which is nice. It's quite genteel, as is Ainako. LOL, can you tell I like Ainako? Problem with Ainako is you are paying for something you don't require, the desirable school district, De Silvo. Good for resale value though.
In Hilo town you really must pay attention to drainage, as was said above. The amount of water that come down fast is astounding. Our 1950 kama'aina home was all properly sloped and sat on a knoll so that the water ran away from it. Some spec houses are just plunked down on the site. Streets literally turn into rivers when it rains hard, and need good channels along them to carry off the water. Some low cost lots are low priced because they have drainage issues.
I wouldn't live in Waiakea Uka. While it looks enchanting in the sunshine, very rural, it gets much more rain than lower Waiakea and I've seen some moldy houses there. There are new/newer subdivisions going in at the top of town, natural I suppose as the town fills in. Again they look nice but go look at the feeder streets during commute and pick up from school hours. It can be tough to get out. I'm talking about areas like the top of Kawailani street.
One thing about Hilo, much easier to assess your neighbors than on wooded lots, as their rusted cars and chained dogs and wild roosters are generally quite visible.