Kauai - Paradise Found for Retirement?

[OpenD]

If you check the stats, even the simplest threads here get thousands of reads, so posting updates to old threads is always appropriate, even if the OP is no longer active here.

If you want reasonable house prices, the Big Island is your place. I live in Volcano, half an hour south of Hilo, and the year round temperature here is always cooler and more comfortable than Hilo, averaging 69F. I know of at least half a dozen houses for sale in the neighborhood, nice houses in nice areas in a very nice community, for $300,000 or less (some $200K or less), and it's a buyers market. One gorgeous architect-designed and owned house nearby has been on the market for months, and he's dropped the price a little at a time from $300K to $255K. Somebody is going to get a thrilling house for not much moola.

And my former neighbor down the road, a park ranger who transferred to California, has a nice 3BR place for sale, on the market about 3 months, asking $300K, may be ready for a lower offer. (And note this... 4 years ago the house was valued at $155K when the previous owner died.) In general home values are rising fast in this area, although the bubble was responsible for part of that, so this is an excellent time to buy.

[birdmove]

We bought a place in HPP on the Big Island last May. All the lots not close to the water are an acre. Hawaiin Air is making lots of $$ from us as we fly back and forth a lot. We'll be moving as soon as possible. We have to sell our place on the mainland first. Someone that is handy at fixing or finishing a house and has the time to do it can find some nice prices. We saw quite a few places where the seller was never able to finish the house or lot and had them up for sale.

jon

[OpenD]

By HPP, do you mean Hawai'ian Paradise Park? I live here, but I've been scratching my head at that abbreviation, so I doubt mainlanders would understand it.