Get all of the information you need to make an informed decision about buying or selling real estate on Maui. 

National and Local Headwinds Slow Real Estate Market on Maui

Maui Real Estate Market

What we’re seeing in the real estate market at the national and local level here on Maui is something we haven’t really seen before, low supply and low demand simultaneously. Typically, either supply or demand exceeds its counterpart and that tells the story of the market we are in. For example, 

  • Demand exceeds supply=seller’s market. 
  • Supply exceeds demand=buyer’s market. 

This is not the case right now and it's not the only unusual aspect of our current economy. 

How the National Real Estate Market Affects Maui

At the Federal level, the treasury yields are inverted, which is rare. When treasury yields are inverted the yields on shorter-term securities exceed those…

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What is the National Association of Realtors?

National Association of Realtors

Whether you are a new real estate agent, an experienced agent who is interested in advancing your career, or a buyer/seller curious about the organization, the National Association of Realtors is an important organization that not only serves the community of real estate professionals around the country but also provides significant support to consumers.

Originally established as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges, the NAR now serves more than 1.5 million members and functions in conjunction with approximately 1,400 state and local associations. With a closer look at what the National Association of Realtors does for the real estate industry and its members, you can confidently decide…

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Strategies of Buying and Selling Simultaneously

Buying and Selling a Home at the Same Time

You may have found yourself in a position where you would like to buy one property while simultaneously selling another property. While doing this does present some unique challenges, it's completely possible to pull this off with the proper strategy and some degree of flexibility. 

The reasons and strategies for wanting to buy and sell simultaneously will differ from a primary homeowner looking to relocate to an investor seeking to execute a 1031 exchange to avoid capital gains taxes. In either instance, it's important to have a sound strategy and understand what the undertaking will involve. 

Selling A Primary Residence While Buying Another

There are several different ways to do this and…

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What Are The Costs of Selling My Home or Condo on Maui? 

Cost of Selling a Home Real Estate

Maui is a wonderful place to live or own a second home, but there may come a time when you are ready to sell your home. Perhaps you are moving away from the island or excited to upgrade or downsize to a new home or condo on Maui soon.  Finances play a major role in many people’s decisions to sell. 

While your attention may initially focus on determining a realistic home sale price, there are costs of selling a home that will require your attention. The seller usually pays closing costs like real estate agent commissions, title insurance, and any pre-sale repairs. There will also likely be withholdings for HARPTA and FIRPTA to pay any applicable capital gains taxes. Understanding the costs…

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Title and Escrow Companies on Maui Hawaii

Title and Escrow Companies Maui

Owning your own slice of heaven as a property owner in Hawaii may be in your near future. However, after you find the ideal property and negotiate a deal with the seller, the work isn't done yet and you must complete the escrow process before closing on the property. The timeline for this process varies, but it usually takes between one to two months and is outlined in the Hawaii Purchase Contract.

Buyers and sellers typically work with a title and escrow company based on the island they are buying/selling and since I work primarily on Maui, I always work with a local escrow and title company to go through this process. Given the timeline, your interactions with the title and escrow company will begin…

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Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project

Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project

Growing concerns about sea level rise and coastal erosion in Kahana on West Maui have led the Maui County Planning Department and the Kahana Bay Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive plan of action to not only protect the condominiums along the coast but to restore the Kahana beach entirely. This plan is currently known as the Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project. 

Looking at the picture above it's hard to imagine that just 30 to 40 years ago a large beach existed in front of the Kahana coastline. Kahana Bay beach is all but gone today and the coastal condos in Kahana along with one residential property are in danger of being destroyed by rising sea levels. 

What's Being Done in Kahana To Restore…

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How Bill 159 Will Affect Short-Term Condo Owners on Maui

Bill 159 Maui County

With the primary objective of establishing a means to limit tourism on Maui, the Maui County Council recently passed Bill 159. The desire to limit tourism on the island comes from environmental groups seeking to reduce the impact that growing tourism is having on Maui as well as from local residents who are growingly concerned about overcrowding and an ongoing housing crisis. 

The bill was originally introduced for discussion in January 2022 and addresses the total number of legally allowed transient vacation accommodation units on the island. These accommodations include hotel rooms, short-term rentable condos, bed and breakfasts, as well as camper vans and recreational vehicles. 

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The Maui Real Estate Market Has Settled Down

Maui Real Estate Market

Earlier in the summer, I wrote a market report when the real estate market had just begun to shift after having been on an extended hot streak since the fall of 2020. So, here we are today about 5 months after that shift started and we certainly have a dramatically different real estate market today nationally and locally here on Maui.  You're probably not surprised to learn that the market has cooled significantly, but Maui's unique market makes for a unique market report that has a few surprises. 

The national headlines are still full of doom and gloom stories, but at this point in the transition, while closed sales and pending sales on Maui are significantly down from the same time last year, the…

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A Realtor's Guide to the Hawaii Real Estate Purchase Contract

Hawaii Purchase Contract

If you’re buying or selling real estate in Hawaii, you’re going to encounter the Hawaii Association of Realtors Standard Form, which was most recently updated in May of 2022. The Hawaii purchase contract is 14 pages long and has 20 separate sections that are labeled with the letters A-T. Each section covers a different working element of the contract and they all collectively establish the terms of the deal, price, any and all contingencies for the sale, and the parties involved. 

As you can probably imagine, buying property on Maui has a few nuances as does our purchase contract. In this article, I’m going to take a look at each section from A-T and explain the purposes and nuances…

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Where Are Things with Wailea 670?

Wailea 670 Honua'ula

Originally referred to as Wailea 670, the development that is now known as Honua'ula is more than three decades in the making. This is a mixed-use development that would span across 670 acres in South Maui. This area, which is located just south of Maui Meadows and across the highway from the existing Wailea community, is both culturally and environmentally sensitive.

While opponents of the development say that the project is not advantageous for the communities, others say that it will provide much-needed affordable housing to the area. Recently, a major agreement has been reached as a result of years of stressful negotiations, but more negotiations are underway.

Balancing The Environment with Housing Needs

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