Sales volume may be improving but home prices are down on Oahu.  Data from the last 6 months, available to see on Trulia.com, shows that home prices in Honolulu have been reduced 10%.  Great news for buyers, sobering news for sellers.  A recent article in the Star Bulletin quotes John Riggins as stating “It’s imperative in this market that sellers price their homes competitively.”  According to John Riggins, “There weren’t any Oahu neighborhoods that saw price increases last year and only a very few have begun to show increases in the last few months.  Most sellers are still going to have to list their homes below the last comparable sales in their neighborhood.”

For a house to sell on Oahu, it not only has to look better than the next house for sale but it also has to be priced better.  The tax credit extension and expansion may have more people looking but those that want to sell their Oahu real estate and trade up are going to have to price their homes competitively if they want to sell.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

As the northern states start preparing for winter golf enthusiasts may be mourning the end of a season.  The good news is that there are many places where the golf season never ends one favorite being the Ko’Olina Golf Club on Oahu.  The Ko’Olina Golf Club offers a wonderful golf course which has hosted a variety of golf tournaments, including the LPGA.  Playing golf is always more enjoyable in a beautiful setting and this Oahu location offers a stunning landscape filled with lush gardens and ocean views.

For families who like to vacation together but not necessarily all play golf together the Ko’Olina Resort has many amenities to enjoy.  From stunning beaches to shopping this Oahu resort has something for everyone.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

The Oahu rail project is supported by businesses across the state of Hawaii.  The rail project is expected to reduce congestion and therefore create more traffic for businesses.  The most congested traffic in the state of Hawaii is on the stretch of roadway between Kapolei and Honolulu.  The rail project on Oahu will allow people to avoid driving, therefore reducing traffic and making their own commute much more tolerable.  Easing congestion is seen as a way to boost commerce on the island of Oahu.

Another benefit of the Oahu rail project is job creation.  This project could not come at a better time, when unemployment levels are rising.  The rail project will help boost the overall economy on Oahu.

For more information on the rail project click here.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

The newly extended and expanded tax credit is sure to benefit real estate on Oahu.  There is no doubt that the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit helped to boost real estate sales on Oahu.  The expanded version of the tax credit now includes current home owners that have owned their home for at least five years.  What does this mean for Oahu real estate owners?  If someone has owned in a home on Oahu for at least 5 years and they want to trade up and buy a bigger home they can get up to a $6,500 credit at closing.

The tax credit has been extended into 2010.  Any properties need to be a primary residence and have to be under contract by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30 2010.  The credit is available for real estate valued at up to $800,000 and the income restrictions are $125,000 for an individual and $225,000 for a couple.

If you would like to purchase a home for the first time on Oahu or trade up, contact John Riggins today.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Short sale and foreclosure properties, prevalent on Oahu, are also known as distressed properties.  While unfortunate for the home owner, distressed properties can off great opportunities for the Oahu real estate investor, sometimes that is.  A potential buyer is much better served buying distressed property with and experienced broker, a broker who has a knowledge of distressed property sales.  CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) is a classification for such brokers.  NAR (National Association of Realtors) has also come up with a new classification, SFR (Short Sale & Foreclosure Certification Program). In either classification the real estate broker is trained to handle short sale, foreclosure and REO transactions, which are much more complex and time consuming than traditional real estate transactions.

If you are looking to purchase distressed property on Oahu contact John Riggins today.  John Riggins is an experienced CDPE who can help make your real estate

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Good news for anyone interested in Oahu real estate, reports show that sales were up in October.  Both single family home sales and condo sales improved on Oahu.  According to the Honolulu Board of Realtors 281 single family homes and 381 condos closed in October.  This is not only a significant increase from September but also a significant increase from October 2008.

The rise in home sales is a positive sign.  While property values are lower than last year, seeing the sales volume pick up is a sign of Oahu real estate getting healthier.  The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit expires at the end of the month and the anticipation of it coming to an end has probably contributed to many of October’s sales.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert. Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Mortgage rates dropped again last week when the 30 year fixed rate was at 5.12%, the lowest level in 3 months.  Add the low mortgage rate with lowering home values and now could not be a better time to buy in Kapolei or anywhere on Oahu for that matter.  If deciphering the Kapolei real estate market seems difficult contact John Riggins.  John RIggins is a Certified Distressed Property Expert located on Oahu and can use his expertise to not only decipher the Oahu Real Estate Market for you but also to help you find the best bang for your buck.  If you have been interested in owning real estate on Oahu there could not be a better time to start looking.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

According to Kapolei real estate reports on Trulia.com people trying to sell property in Kapolei on the island of Oahu have been reducing their asking prices.  Home prices are down by an average of -2.9% per square foot compared with a year ago and the sector showing the biggest drop in value is in the larger properties of 4 bedrooms or more.  What does a drop in home values mean?  It may not be a great time to sell a property in Kapolei but it certainly is a great time to buy.  Contact John Riggins today about Kapolei real estate.  Kapolei will always be a desirable place to own property and taking advantage of today’s decrease in prices is a prudent move for a long term investor.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Oahu real estate prices, whether they have reached bottom or not have fallen significantly.  Often those who are waiting for an absolute bottom miss the boat because the bottom isn’t known until it is passed.  A recent article in the Star Bulletin has experts giving their opinions on Hawaii real estate.  John Riggins was quoted in the article as saying “In Ko Olina we’ve seen properties that sold for $1.5 million a year ago sell for $825,000 today, and some Kapolei properties that changed hands for $900,000 are now closer to $600,000.”  Hawaii real estate experts don’t appear to fully agree on whether we have hit bottom or still have a ways to fall.  Mainland real estate sales are seeing a rebound but Hawaii’s real estate market is not expected to be on the rebound yet.  What does this mean if you have been interested in Oahu real estate? Now might be the time to start looking before the market rebounds and you can get a deal on Kapolei real estate.
 

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.
 

Kapolei real estate could be a true real estate bargain these days as record foreclosures hit Hawaii.  A recent article in the Star Bulletin recognizes the dramatic increase of foreclosures in Hawaii and the fact the the numbers increase Hawaii’s national ranking from number #40 in 2007 to #15 today.  The number of foreclosures is certainly disappointing for the home owner as well as the lenders involved but it opens a new door for the real estate investor, making Kapolei real estate more affordable than in recent years.  On the flip side, if you are a home owner who thinks he is facing foreclsoure contact John Riggins today.  John Riggins is a CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert) and can help save you from foreclosure.  Whether you are looking for a real estate bargain or looking to save your home in Kapolei, John Riggins is the Realtor to call.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

Sales were up in June on Oahu and recent reports say that July was up too.  According to national real estate reports, presented by NAR (National Association of Realtors) real estate sales have been on the rise and June was the 5th month in a row where pending real estate sales were on the rise.  Great news for the real estate market in Kapolei, Oahu and the United States in general.  There were 265 single-family homes sold in July, compared with 251 in July 2008, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors.  Ewa Beach and Kapolei have been leading the charge in sales of single family homes, demonstrating the desirability of the area.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.

On Oahu single family home sales were up 9.5% in June 2009 compared with June 2008, according to statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.  The median sales price is down from a year ago, $569,000 compared with $625,000.  Lower home prices mixed with low interest rates and tax incentives could be the reason for the increase in sales for single family homes.  There couldn’t be a better time to buy real estate on Oahu.  For an in-depth look at what is selling on Oahu contact John Riggins.  John Riggins can help you find the real estate you are looking for, whether it be in Ewa Beach, Kapolei or Ko Olina Resort.  Take advantage of the Oahu real estate market today.

For more information about Kapolei Real Estate please contact John Riggins, Certified Distressed Property Expert.  Click here for access to the Oahu MLS and all available listings in the Kapolei area.