maui vs big island (Volcano: 2013, insurance, lender)
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I love Maui, and considering purchasing a vacation home on the big island based on the prices. What are the tradeoffs, going for the first time in January to home search. The leander said that the insurance costs would be high on the big island and that would off set the lower price of the homes on the big island. She suggested buying on Maui or Oahu. I would not like Oahu, too overrun.
The Big Island appears to have more lava features, but how are the beaches.
If beaches are a high priority in your decision making - then the Big Island may not be for you. Beaches are typically few and far between compared to Maui. You may have to take a lengthy drive depending on where you are to get to a good beach.....
There are different lava zones on the Big Island, depending on proximity to rift zones and likeliness of losing your property to a lava flow. Maybe your lender doesn't understand that.
But you really need to understand the differences between Maui and the Big Island and why the lower prices. It's much more than just the lava. Also, there is a new law regulating vacation homes on the BI, so your options will be more restricted.
Maui & the Big Island are my favorite islands. It's very hard to say which one I like more.
The Big Island might not have a lot of beaches but the very few it does have blows away most other beaches in the other islands. And I'm saying this as a Maui homeowner.
Kau Bay, Hapuna & Mauna Kea beaches are glorious.
The Big Island has a lot of contrasts. Beaches of all sorts of colors, active volcanoes, barren desert and lush rain forests.
I think if you're into the outdoors, like hiking, etc. you're better off on the Big Island.
If you enjoy better restaurants / amenities, then Maui would be best.
I bought in Maui because it is the most balanced island out of the main 4.
the one problem with the big island, though, is the vog. although when vog is not an issue, the big island is beautiful. the second to last i went to the big island, the weather was perfect almost everywhere. absolutely amazing seeing clear blue skies, the deep blue ocean... the ocean breeze, etc.
Maui & the Big Island are my favorite islands. It's very hard to say which one I like more.
The Big Island might not have a lot of beaches but the very few it does have blows away most other beaches in the other islands. And I'm saying this as a Maui homeowner.
Kau Bay, Hapuna & Mauna Kea beaches are glorious.
The Big Island has a lot of contrasts. Beaches of all sorts of colors, active volcanoes, barren desert and lush rain forests.
I think if you're into the outdoors, like hiking, etc. you're better off on the Big Island.
If you enjoy better restaurants / amenities, then Maui would be best.
I bought in Maui because it is the most balanced island out of the main 4.
the one problem with the big island, though, is the vog. although when vog is not an issue, the big island is beautiful. the second to last i went to the big island, the weather was perfect almost everywhere. absolutely amazing seeing clear blue skies, the deep blue ocean... the ocean breeze, etc.
Did the sugar cane burning ever get to be an issue on Maui? I lucked out and was never there when it was happening but always wondered if the smoke nailed certain neighborhoods.
Did the sugar cane burning ever get to be an issue on Maui? I lucked out and was never there when it was happening but always wondered if the smoke nailed certain neighborhoods.
Although no longer an issue - since well, it closed down - it was a fairly constant issue when it occurred.
VOG isn't an issue anywhere at the moment since none of the volcano's are particularly active at the moment.
Maui's biggest problem is if Haleakala fires back up, it is still an active Volcano - many people don't realize that
Of the things I worry about here on Maui, Haleakala is way down on that list. Here are a few concerns I have...
- Hurricanes. They twirl around the central pacific every year and you never know when one will hit, although it's been 30 years since the last direct hit of the islands. But we get remnants often. Just think about hurricanes when you buy a house. Roads get washed out, trees blow onto houses. Stuff like that.
- Health care industry here. If you're healthy all is fine. If you have some issues you may have to go off-island. My wife had to have surgery on the mainland recently. It is not big city medicine here.
- Fragile ecosystem. We are constantly dealing with invasive species, local endangered species, dying coral, too many tourists, too little water for all the demands on it, what to do with sewage and trash.
Of the things I worry about here on Maui, Haleakala is way down on that list.
I can see that....
Although, it generally erupts every 200-500 years and the last eruption happened between 1480 and 1600. The clock is ticking.
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