Buying a Home in Hilo (Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Acres: real estate, rent, house prices)

[pondergang]

Thinking of buying a home in Hilo in Hawaiian Paradise Park area. What are your thoughts?

[monkeychi]

I've heard it's great there... Where are you moving from?

[cynmkolohe]

Inventory levels are high, so you can find some deals if you are patient.

Will you need financing? If so, ask lots of questions about how appraisers are dealing with this subdivision in particular.

[hotzcatz]

Aloha Pondergang,

Your post didn't mention where you are posting from? Have you lived in Hawaii? Are you familiar with the Island of Hawaii? Are you familiar with Hilo? DO NOT BUY A HOUSE UNTIL YOU HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. Okay, I'm done yelling now, but that is a very important point.

Many folks, especially folks living in cold places, want to move to Hawaii during the cold winter months. That's fine and all, but don't buy a house until you have moved to the area, found a job and decided you like it here. The percentage of folks who "move to Paradise" and then move back to where ever it was they came from within a year or two is extremely high. Either it isn't paradise (well, "duh"!), they couldn't find a job that paid the bills, they missed their family, they went stir crazy from living on a small rock in the middle of a huge ocean, they couldn't function without all the stuff they were used to on the mainland, etc.

At the moment, house prices are falling but then so are the available jobs. Move here and rent a place for several months, six months or a year even. That will give you time to get situated, look around and see where you really want to be, not just someplace you were able to find. The place you select to live is a huge choice, make it carefully and you will have a much higher percentage of joy in your life.

A hui hou!

[Tantalust]

Agree with hotzcatz.

And, I haven't been to Hilo, (yet) but it's often cloudy and rainy on the windward coast thereabouts. I've read that Hilo's rated as the wettest city in the U.S.A.

[Jimbo's]

We just bought property in Hawaiian Acres through cynmkolohe here on the board, my wife and I loved the puna area and really enjoyed working with Cynthia. She was so very helpful and I highly recommend her to help you through the process.

We chose the Puna area for many reasons, we meet many locals that were just fantastic. My arm got tired from all the waving to everyone that for no reason what so ever waved at us just saying hi. I just asked my wife what she liked best and she said "Everybody was so nice and treated us like we were family" and I would have to agree with her.

As far as the rain goes, well it keeps it green and like most everyone who lives there that posts on this forum says it mainly rains at night and you just get used to it. We found that when it was raining in HA we drove 5 minutes away and there was no rain.

I agree that you should listen to hotzcatz, always good advice. We have gone many times to all of the islands and rented a cottage in the area we liked most and after hanging out awhile we were sold even more then being sold before we got there. if that makes sense!

I hope you the best

[kawika52]

Aloha! My wife and I are considering buying a home around Hilo or north. Ive been to the Islands 6 times over the years. We will be retiring in a couple years. We will need to finance the home and I figure we will make about $85k on our pensions and soc sec. She is a RN and I work for the state Agriculture Dept here in Michigan. Hopefully we could find some part time work there for some extra cash and to meet some new people. My wifes filipina and Im haole. Before getting married I dated a Hawaiian woman who was a kumu hula and fluent in the language. I managed to pick up a little bit of the culture and language from her. Any advice anyone has on moving over there would be greatly appreciatede. Mahalo nui loa. A hui hou.

[hotzcatz]

Aloha Kawika52,

Move over and rent for six months or a year in the area you are considering moving to. You will end up with a much nicer living situation by having lived in the area for awhile first. There are so many things to decide since all the areas are so different from each other. There will be some sort of compromises made in any location you choose and being in the area you will have a much better idea of what the choices are. Land and house prices might even be lower by then, too.

[Pilgrim21784]

hotzcatz is a source of really, really good advice concerning HI. We are considering relocating to Maui in the future and wouldn't ignore any of his advice. It is priceless and a tremendous kindness to folks. JMO.

[almost_hawaiian]

A general question about real estate tax: how does it work? Say the house is worth $200k? I've looked thru the MLS listings and sometimes you see taxes for only $200/yr, other times it's $2000? I see the words "homeowner exemption" used sometimes but not sure how to interpret it? I'm looking at purchasing a 2nd home that I would occupy 3-4 mth per yr.
Thanks