Posts: 236
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Friends,
I saw a posting on the KonaWeb (sorry, can't call it the Dark Side yet) regarding the auction of several steel-framed homes in my subdivision, Discovery Harbour
http://www.hawaiirealestateauction.com/
Does this place me on the Mason\Dixon Line between the wet and dry side?
I've been curious why these homes haven't sold, and wonder if it has to do with their construction. The floor plans are all the same and don't fit my taste at all, but that can't be the complete story. How do you guys feel? Does anyone have an opinion on this type of construction?
Mahalo,
Brian (Fishboy)
Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour
Posts: 542
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Joined: Nov 2005
Brian I know your serious in your question but i can't resist a little humor here first off. The first problem that appears to me is there is no "Get Out Jail Free Card" being offered. Living in a community of 200 retired westcoasters there are apt to be a party or two now and again and when it is time to stumble home and you've found yourself crawling into bed next to someones elses wife, because all the homes look so much alike ))) a couple of costly trips to the pokey might increase the overall price per sqft unreasonably.....hehehehe read the fine print..
)))
Seriously, nothing wrong with a steel frame home it is actually less expensive to build which is perhaps what these fine folks are capitalizing on. For instance a metal stud is probably 1/3 the price of a treated wooden stud and so on....IMO
Aloha HADave
Aloha HADave & Mz P
Hawaiian Acres
The best things in life are free.... or have no interest or payments for one full year.
Posts: 236
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Joined: Jul 2006
Yeah, I think you're right about the dull party expectations of the Discovery Harbour crowd, but I also suspect these homes are too cookie-cutter and don't fit the needs of we westcoasters looking for our final resting place LOL (many puns and hyperbole intended).
Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour
Posts: 2,314
Threads: 59
Joined: Jun 2003
It's probably just another marketing strategy by Westpro (note, Akamai Realty is owned by Westpro) to sell the properties. Last month they offered a free car.
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
Posts: 2,402
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Joined: Apr 2005
Hey Fishboy aka Brian!
No need to apologize for the dark side comments here! Wait till you are run once or twice!! Some three times run and told you can reup for a price. All for having a valid opinion on nothing more than mundane subjects.
With any luck you won't fall into the robotic answer the same question for the umpteenth time with not quite all the information or understanding, and do it like a seasoned pro. I give you two months! LOL Just having fun in paradise where ever I am.
mella l
Edited by - mella l on 08/16/2006 12:35:47
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
Posts: 279
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Joined: Aug 2006
Does anyone have any un-biased information on how well a steel framed house will hold up to coastal conditions? Our old singlewall home is in extremely good condition.
Stupid should hurt.
“Sometimes the truth hurts. And sometimes it feels real good.”
- Henry Rollins
Posts: 1,727
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Joined: Feb 2006
Aloha Brian,
I dunno personally about steel construction near the coast, but when I had a boat and lived on it, steel was not your friend. Stainless steel of 306 or better and bronze were your friends, but not just regular steel. I would personally suspect even galvanized steel if it is close to the coast. Although it is enclosed in the walls and shouldn't be a problem, so it is probably just a personal worry and not something to actually be concerned about.
However, I doubt the steel construction is the reason folks aren't buying up the houses. The market is slowing down so now we are starting to see these auctions, the "open house" parties and balloons, the free car giveaways and all sorts of other incentives to come look at the houses. I think these aggressive marketing ploys will probably work to keep the sales numbers up for awhile, but soon even these tactics won't work and the sales numbers and amounts will fall. I'm suspecting the lowest rates will be about 25% above what the retail house prices were from 2001. Then the prices will swing around and go back up even higher than they were at the last price swing. It will take several years, though since this whole cycle runs between seven and ten years or so.
Hey, maybe we should start a club for those folks who haven't been kicked off KonaWeb yet. Ha! How about a club for folks who have never been a member of KonaWeb and could care less about it? Hehehehe!
Oh well, back to the drawing board for me. Work doesn't wait.
A hui hou,
Cathy
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 209
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I thought that steel framing might be a selling point due to the fact that it will not rot nor is it susceptible to bug infestation. It might also save a few trees.
Anyone else with experience with steel framed homes? I know there's a whole subdivision in Maui near Wailuku that is steel framed.
What about skyscrapers, Cathy?
April
april
april
Posts: 209
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p.s. I nearly got kicked off Konaweb. I started a mini war over there without even trying. Some people need more ketchup.
april
april
Posts: 1,727
Threads: 29
Joined: Feb 2006
Aloha April,
No skyscrapers around here, they'd get stuck on the stars at night!
Do you listen to the Ketchup Advisory Board on Prairie Home Companion radio show on Saturday afternoons? That's a great show.
Maybe I'll have to go lurk on this KonaPutz site to see what everyone is all riled up about.
A hui hou,
Cathy
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
