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Lenny,
You will not believe how open-armed people are on the Island. They are willing to help in anyway they can - and I can't believe just how intelligent these people are! Plus - they've lived it! They know what you have ahead of you!
So - when Tony and I came over and actually met a few of the Punatics - we were just amazed and felt VERY welcomed.
You're gonna do great! It's not an easy thing to sell much of your belongings and move to a place (especially with wee ones) where your family will be far away. The research you do now will so pay off when you show up on the island. You will fall right into place. If this is where you are supposed to be - it will happen. I believe the universe has a way of showing us the way - just gotta listen to the whispers, aye? LOL!
Aloha!
Carrie
http://www.cafepress.com/dreamhawaii
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art
Posts: 248
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Joined: Jun 2006
Hi Lenny,
One easy way of narrowing down where you want to look is what type of weather to you want to live in.The main highways that go around the island are a good indicator for climate.If you like it cold and rainy where you'll need a heater at night look at places beyond the mountain side of the highway.If you want beautiful warm tropical weather look at places on the ocean side of the hwy.the closer you are to the ocean the better the climate.In Puna you also have lava zones to consider, financing and insurance are much higher in zones 1 and 2. Also what school system if any do you want to live near? How about transporting the kids to school the bus system is nothing like the mainland and if you go private you'll have to provide your own transportation.If your looking in Puna and not at large acreage the best subdivision I could recommend is Hawaiian Paradise Park aka HPP (and its zone 3).Its the closest to Hilo and a couple of private schools (Waldorf School).The weather is great,and closer to the ocean theres a lovely micro climate.Realestate prices run the gamut and its known for having lots of professionals living here.The locals say its been taken over by mainlanders so you'll probably have lots of like souls near by.Also a word of warning about prices some listing prices are out of control like ainaloa its always been an undesirable subdivision (police stay there all night ect)But some of the comparative homes are priced higher than in great subdivisions.check land prices first to get a good idea for the residential price.The nicest subdivisions in Puna that I've heard of are Hawaiian Paradise Park,Kehena Beach Estates, Vacationland,Volcano Country Club,and Papaya Farms.These are also the ones that will have less crime and hold their value better in a up or down economy.Let us know when you've narrowed you search and we'll tell you all about it.Tell everyone you meet your looking to buy, there is also renters discrimation here. Try www.hawaiiinformation.com as was recommended its the entire mls for big island also try www.vrbo.com for vacation rentals they are the way to go on the east side. usually cheaper than the hotel.
Best of Luck
Posts: 2,314
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You mean Leilani Estates is not even on the "Nicest ..." list?! (BTW, while nice, Volcano Coutry Club is not in Puna, it's in Kau and financing is not more expensive in Zone 1 and 2, even though not every lender offer financing in those areas.)
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
75-5870 Walua Road, Suite 101
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808)327-3185
Edited by - John S. Rabi on 07/06/2006 17:12:20
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Wow Punamom I learned a whole lot from that post. I was actually considering Aniola because some of the prices where in my range. It is totally off the list now. You didn't mention Hawaiian Recreational Estates or Leilani Estates? I had those on my list of very possible places. I know however that I will not be able to make a decision until I get back in a couple of weeks. Also, I you mention financing and insurance are more expensive in zones 1 and 2. I was aware of the insurance but not of the financing. What lava zone are Hawaiian Recreational Estates and Hawaiian Beaches in?
Lenny
Lenny
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Good information, Punamom, but I don't know that I'd say that Papaya Farms is one of the best areas and will hold value. It is off-grid and a little remote for a lot of people. I love the area, but I'd have to agree with John Rabi that Leilani needs to move up the list. And Hawaiian Shore Rec definitely needs to be up high on the list too. As for Ainaloa, I wouldn't be so quick to judge or dismiss it. Its not for everyone (no area is) but there are some good places in Ainaloa. Don't dismiss it until you've seen it.
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
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That is some outdated information about Ainaloa. Lots of nice new homes built and being built in there. We built across the way in Ainapua, which is sort of behind Tiki Gardens. We feel very safe. I think the Johns have better information about whats good and what may not be.
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When my partner and I were looking for the best subdivision for us, we were quite interested in Leilani until we researched the insurance cost. For a home in our price range, the homeowner's policy quotes we got were four to six times what we ended up paying in HPP. It is, however, quite attractive and has a great community spirit, so the cost might not matter so much to others.
Aloha,
Jerry
Posts: 106
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Lenny
I believe all of Hwn Shores, Beaches, etc. are Lava Zone 2, at least most of it is. It didn't seem to have any effect on the pricing of our loan.
Jon
Posts: 1,516
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Lenny - we will be in HSRE - didn't matter to Wells Fargo that we are in Lava 2...they are familiar with it since our guys and Wells Fargo are in Hilo. We looked at many, many houses in Ainaloa. I wouldn't dismiss it either. Lee & Ana Graves have one of the prettiest properties ever. They built there and it's just beautiful. It wasn't for us because we found our home elsewhere...but this one we DID peek at and it and was very nice http://www.hiinfo.com/Research/IDX/mlsHawaii/IndividualListing.asp?page=1&MLS=179412
By the way - that Nanawale house was just lowered in price again. You may want to look at that one!
Lenny - it's an individual experience I've found. What some people think is too far from Hilo - I don't. What some people think is not a good area - you may. The rainfall varies within even a few miles.
The other thing is that with the Lava Zones, it's kinda funny. I mean we are ALL going to be living on a VOLCANO!! I don't think the volcano knows about Lava Zones, unless Pele is reading up on it, but all of the east side of the island is sitting right on the side of Mauna Loa! There was a flow in the 80's that nearly reached Hilo. It's a risk everyone takes to live there. And we haven't even started on possibility of hurricanes or tsunamis LOL!!! If you have your insurance and know what the risks are, then you're in as good a shape as you can be.
Community is important too. But for me community is very much about the people here on the forum as well as who may live right next door!
I just know when you SEE the area you will instinctively know where you wanna be - as it should be.
Aloha!
Carrie
http://www.cafepress.com/dreamhawaii
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art
Posts: 248
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Joined: Jun 2006
Sorry Leilani"ians" I forgot to mention you as one of the good subdivisions, but I would not live there because of the mold problem and the annoying sound of the geothermal plant, its also built on a rift and kinda far from anything.One woman in another topic said her homeowners policy in Leilani was going to be $3500 thats like a east coast property tax bill.My insurance bill for a 3000 sqft house in HPP is $500. They do however have a great community spirit and a lovely playground.
As far as Hawaiian Shores,Beaches and Parks Hawaiian Shores has some very nice well kept homes in some places But its across the street from Hawaiian Beaches which is considered undesirable and you can not distinguish one subdivision from another.Haw.Shores has a nice park but if any kids come over from haw. beaches they toss them out thats just obnoxious to me.Its also very far from anything because theres this long boring road you'll have to drive to get there.The lots are small and the houses close together but some folks like that.If you look there or anywhere check out the neighbors make sure they are quiet,receptive and plan to live there awhile.Check the surrounding streets too. There is nothing worse than living next to people that have a radio/tv blaring,100 crowing roosters,dogs tied starving in the front yard,or junk everywhere
There is this weird thing here I guess its the lava land but sound carries really far and loud.So you may want a big lot to give you peace and privacy.As for Ainaloa an Officer told me himself that they have a post in Ainaloa because they get so many calls there (although he said they are mostly domestic problems).Its also just a poor investment do the comps.I also have not met anyone that was passionate about living in Ainaloa like you'll find some people feel about other subdivisions.
Hilo is where most of the jobs (non construction anyway)are.In the morning and evening with traffic my husbands comute from HPP to Hilo is about 30 minutes, without traffic its about 15 minutes, from Pahoa and points beyond its probably 45 min or more its not like your going to be going 65 on a big freeway its like a rural route on the mainland (slow).This comute time will probably get longer as more people move here and the co./state does NOTHING about changing the roads/infrastructure.
Sorry to be so blunt I hope I haven't offended anyone except for the investor/flippers who are over charging for their properties, but as one east coaster to another I'm sure you appreciate it and since you have children you have a lot more at stake than others.
If you find a deal grab it(they go fast)
make it contingent on the sale of your other property.HPP is a very good indicator of the market as the investors came here first and were the first to pull out when the market turned.The investors in the other subs are newer and still trying to hold on to the higher prices.
After about 10 minutes of driving around a subdivision you'll know if you want to live there or not.
The economy here is good so crime is down everywhere and all the neighborhoods are great but if the economy gets bad (ie; the construction industry goes belly up)or the volcano goes off big time or whatever. you'll want to be in a better subdivision.When we moved here 5 years ago before the boom some of the subdivisions were very,very scarry.And building a pretty house and selling them high to unknowing mainlanders does not make them great subdivisions.Good luck on your search keep an eye out for "for sale by owners" there are lots of those you'll see as you drive around and you can still use a realtor.
Sorry I can't recommend a Realtor (they've all disappointed me.I am not refering to john rabi or any realtor on this site as I do not know them personally)But find one, actually call a few ask them whatever you want to know about and tell them what your looking for after a few of them mention the same subdivisions as good ones concentrate your search in those areas and make them do the leg work of finding some properties for you to look at online ect...
Rebecca
Edited by - punamom on 07/07/2006 02:10:56
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