The Hawaii Team Real Estate Blog
Now Is The Time To Speak With An Agent
The Christmas presents are opened and you’ve made the returns. There’s just one more party, and after New Year’s it’s back to business, the business of selling your home, that is. Making your home a marketable property takes some...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Those close to me know that during this week of Christmas I don’t like to give out advice or write about business. Instead, it’s my opportunity to talk about the blessings in life, to thank you for your loyal readership and to wish you the happiest...
Top 20 Renovation Mistakes Part Two
Let’s continue our look at the top 20 mistakes people make when renovating. If you’d like to check out numbers 20 through 10, visit www.codreamhouse.com and click on News. Now, as Casey Kasem used to say, on with the countdown. 10) Using the wrong...
Low Prices, Low Rates Mean Opportunity
Housing prices have fallen dramatically all over the country and rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are already close to 5.5 percent. Experts say it's possible, with government encouragement, that rates will fall as low as 4.5 percent. Now is the time for...
Fed Weighs Options as Europe Cuts Rates
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is scheduled to meet in mid-December, and officials are looking at unconventional methods to spur a rebound in the U.S. economy. European and other central banks continue to use interest rate cuts to head off recession, but the U.S....
Top 20 Renovation Mistakes Part One
I think this title speaks for itself so let’s get right to it – the top 20 mistakes people make when remodeling or renovating their homes. We’ll count down in reverse order. Remember to be here next week to learn what blunder made number one. 20....
Top Tax-Friendly Communities for Retirees
Spending the least amount possible on taxes is smart money-saving strategy for retirees. To find the most tax-friendly places to retire, U.S. News & World Report sifted through more than 2,000 U.S. locales to find spots with low taxes and the amenities that are...
30 Year Mortgage Rates Drop Below Six Percent
Mortgage Brokers’ phones rang off the hook last week as 30-year mortgage rates dropped below 6 percent. Some brokers say their rates are as low as 5.25 percent. The rates are down because the Federal Reserve announced that it would buy $500 billion in...
Selling Your Home Over The Holidays, Part Two
Last week we discussed the pros and cons of listing your home before the holidays. Does it make any sense? Will you have any showings, or are you just going to be inconvenienced? To check out that column, go to CoDreamHouse.com and follow the link for “News.â€...
FEMA Rolls Out New Flood Map
For all those who read my blog on a regular basis you know I just went through a flood in my basement. I then wrote two newspaper columns talking about my problems and frustrations with the insurance industry. You'll also remember I advocated looking into flood...
Cities Where Most Homes Are Mortgage-Free
Amid the subprime mortgage disaster, it's easy to forget that a lot of people own their homes outright. In fact, a full one-third of U.S. homeowners don't have a mortgage to worry about. According to an analysis of census information by USA Today, there are 123 areas...
Selling Your Home Over The Holidays, Part One
I did an informal survey of real estate agents, asking them this question: Should people list their homes over the holidays? Sorry, but there’s no surprise statistic here. Answers were split right down the middle—50/50 for yes versus no. Some agents thought...