Maintenance of shore properties

[bduvall]

Aloha-I am planning a move to the Big Island in 18 mos. Have been researching property in the Puna area.Would love to have an ocean view but realize there are extra maintenance issues involved.Would someone familiar with these enlighten me? Also,think we would be happy with a distant ocean view. Any particular subdivisions that have that or is it dependent on the particular lot? Mahalo in advance.

[hotinhawaii]

Almost every subdivision I can think of in Puna has some lots with ocean views. It does depend on the lot. Most listings for properties list if there is an ocean view. It won't let you know if there is an ocean view if you build a second story though.

[Carey]

We rented in a house that was 1/2 block from the ocean, with no houses in-between & no ocean view, because both of the lots in-between had lots of trees...but lots nearby had ocean view....be aware when looking at any property that what is between you & the view can change, based on plant growth & changes in housing...

When we did live near the ocean, one of our ocean front neighbors had an immaculate looking 2-story colonial type house. We always wondered how... they had a garage sale & we asked... it was "simple", they washed all of the outside windows once a week & power washed the house once a month, all tools in the garage were oiled or waxed or repainted after every use.

They did not look at this as a lot of maintenance, and it is probably best to set that as a standard if you want a house without salt etched windows & rust streaks from every nail/screw attachment - oh, they also had fiberglass windows & doors with stainless hardware... we have found even 3 miles from the ocean that stainless is better than non-stainless hardware, but still must be cleaned or it can get rust pitted...

[punafish]

We know a couple who live right on the shore, basically their house is built on a cliff that drops directly into the ocean. (A tad too close for me.) The husband claims he paints his house year round, a little every week. (It sounds good in the abstract, but absolutely sure I wouldn't have the discipline to do it that way.) Weekly window-washing and monthly power-washing sound like a better way to go.

[cwaters]

have lot in Seaview subdivision, far enough from ocean to reduce salt damage. Need to build a two story house for ocean view.

[Rene Siracusa]

If you purchase a lot right on the ocean there are some caveats.

One is, of course, that sea level is rising and depending on how high above current sea level your lot is, you may one day be underwater.

Find out if any part of your lot is in the SMA (shoreline management area). You may have to do a shoreline survey to determine the current "highest wash of the waves". There may be restrictions on building that may be costly (septic tank vs. cesspool, for example).

Realtors are required to make certain disclosures, but they will not tell you any more than absolutely required. Make no assumptions and sign no papers until you have done some research. For example, are you in a lava inundation zone? are there little fire ants in the area? coqui? cultural remains? lava tubes?

Also find out the names of the trees on the lot and the surrounding lots. If they are albizia, for example, you will be buying an expensive nighmare.

Many of these questions should be asked even for lots a little higher up. I am at 1,200 ft. and the high ground on my land has an ocean view. No tsunami will ever reach me, and the ocean is only a 20 minute drive.

[ericlp]

I saw a house at the end of Kahakai Blvd for sale. 3 story house. They have automatic sprinklers that wash the windows!

[Cagary]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rene Siracusa

If you purchase a lot right on the ocean there are some caveats.

One is, of course, that sea level is rising and depending on how high above current sea level your lot is, you may one day be underwater.

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What? The current rate of sea level is rise is about one tenth of an inch a year! (Trend = +3.26 mm/year.3mm equals about one tenth of an inch), See below.

http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/envs501/d...202010.pdf

Ten years from now the ocean will be a whole inch or so higher than it is now. And this is something she should worry about? What if the rate doubled? Then in 10 years the ocean in Puna would be two inches higher!

[Greg]

If you look at the remnants of house foundations at Kapoho Vacationland, you can see first hand what high tides and storm surge can do. Would a couple of inches of sea level make a difference?

Probably only for a block or two.

[csgray]

Subsidence is a bigger deal in Kapoho, far more an issue than the sea level rising is the ground sinking. There are other places on the East side of the Big Island that have also experienced these drops, Kehena beach dropped something like 6 feet after an earthquake. Somewhere on the Volcanoes National Park website they have a whole article about subsidence. Part of the issue is the weight of all that lava pouring out on the East side shoreline, then add in general seismic volatility and you can have big drops of shoreline.

Carol