Hawaii Homes Market | Hawaii Real Estate

Crucial Pricing and Creative Planning for an Up and Down Oahu Housing Market

July 8th, 2010

I don’t know about other markets, but it’s been quite the chore in some Oahu neighborhoods to determine pricing for the sale of the property. It’s been just as hard for an appraiser to get a grip on some neighborhood markets as well…..in our Up and Down Oahu Housing Market.

For most of the listings I’ve had this year, I’ve literally had to beat our MLS to death for comparable properties as some of the short sales and foreclosures have closed; yet our market wants to recover as well. It’s been mind boggling to present to the seller an approximate in between for pricing. I’ve come to the conclusion that using the ‘in contract’ prices may just be what I need to use for the ‘high’ price as well as other factors……..

The Oahu Housing Market has gone up and down in numbers and sales prices since the beginning of the year and I incorporated a “Strategic Plan for Pricing and Marketing” the property being listed.

After preparing my listing packet with supporting comparable properties, crucial pricing information, graphs and so forth, I sit down with my clients and discuss their options. I listen to their wants and needs and most of the time they are open to listening to my plan to sell their home too.

Get the home in tip top shape for the first Open House. I ask if they want my suggestions to get their home ready. If they are willing, I go through the home with the client and make a list of things that need to be done before that first showing.
Price the property aggressively to attract the consumer. After going through the comps and information we discuss options. It’s not only about getting the top price but how you get that price too! Read on………..
My crucial and creative plan: While they’re still doing their last minute touch ups and cleaning to get ready for the First Open House, I list the property at the attractive list price with notice that the first showing will be at the first Open House. If the property is priced well, this will allow time for the public and agents to view the listing….and make time to attend that first showing.
The first few days on the market: …and before that first showing/open house)….Listing the property in every available internet site that I subscribe to and create the property virtual tour with www.realestateshows.com Here’s an example>> Mililani Townhouse for Sale!
Get all flyers, brochures and property highlights and upgrades sheet done. Making a flyer and brochure attractive along with pertinent information about the property to hand out gives a personal touch. I take notes during my first interview and walk through of the property. I ask questions about any highlights, upgrades and so forth so I can make an additional sheet going room to room to hand out as well.

Open Houses may not work in your area but they sure do in our market! Our Hawaii Open Houses ARE the Sunday event and when using this ‘technique’ along with the right pricing…. I’ve had 20-50 people attending at that first showing and Open House.

This Mililani Townhouse for Sale! was aggressively priced at $369,000.

We sold for an appraised price OVER the listing price of $383,000.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste “Sally” Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client’s needs she serves all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) including all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents.

Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

Posted in Hawaii Home Buyer, Hawaii Home Seller, Hawaii Homes Market | No Comments »

Hawaii VA Loan | Hawaii Home Buyer | Hawaii Military Relocations

July 5th, 2010

HAWAII MILITARY RELOCATION TO PARADISE

Active Duty or Veterans of the Armed Forces have VA Home Loan benefits for their Hawaii home purchase that have proven beneficial for when it comes to little or no money down loan program. (provided their credit is satisfactory) VA guarantees the Local Lender that they will reimburse the lender a percentage should the veteran default on their loan.

*Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii* has loads of information for your Military Relocation to Hawaii so you will have pertinent information on what to expect in your relocation to our island

The following steps are what this Real Estate Professional does in order to make the Hawaii Home Buyer and their Relocation to Hawaii and Hawaii VA Loan as smooth as possible.

Speak to a Local Hawaii Lender (if you do not have one I can refer you to a few who are well qualified in the State of Hawaii) to submit your information and get prequalified. While talking to the Loan Officer make sure and let him/her know what you are comfortable with for monthly mortgage payments. After getting prequalified your Realtor® will now know in what price range to search for properties for you.
Let your agent know what other criteria you are looking for as far as # bedrooms/ # of baths, sq. ft. interior/land, parking, single family or condo/townhouse. Just remember to go over the *Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii* because this gives pertinent information on what to expect in your Hawaii Relocation.
Get all your financial paperwork together so you will have it with you when you arrive.(Do not pack your bank statements, W-2’s, LES’s and important documents you will need to submit for your loan!)
If you have a couple of months to spare you may order your Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans of Affairs office. It is not necessary to do so though, because our lenders order them online once you start your loan process and if anything is held up we have a VA office centrally located on Oahu for your convenience and it takes just minutes.
Start your loan process before you get here so you will have everything in place when you submit an offer for a loan. The loan process is the lengthy and important part of the transaction so it is better to be proactive in your process. Your funding fee can be included with your loan but you will have some closing costs to close with.
Appointments are made and off we go in search of your new home! When you decide that you would like to put in an offer we will go through the whole 12 page (plus addendum’s) contract and submit it to the sellers agent to present to the seller.
After the offer is accepted the loan process begins. You will meet with your Loan Officer to submit your complete application and submit all documentation needed for your VA Loan process packet. Then it goes to Underwriting to process the initial packet and order the appraisal with their VA approved appraisers.
The Condominium and/or Subdivision Association Documents should be ordered immediately after acceptance of the offer and in the buyer’s hands within 10-14 days after acceptance. This agent will make copies of the Budget, last three Association minutes and the Property Information form (RR105C) and submit it to the lender. They need this for the VA Loan Guidelines and process for your loan. (these documents will show how the Association budgets their money in reserve. % of owner occupants, any pending concerns or litigation going on and so forth.
Provided your loan process goes smoothly you should have a Conditional Loan Commitment Letter within the first three weeks in contract. This is an approval of your loan with Conditions. Maybe you need to submit a couple of more documents or the appraisal is not in yet or the survey and termite inspection are not done yet. These are the types of conditions that will be listed on this letter.
Within two weeks after the Conditional Loan Commitment letter is issued all the conditions should be complete for signing documents with escrow and the loan officer. Not to worry! I attend all signings with you.

In Hawaii, we do not sign at the same time as the Seller due to conflict of interest and we sign approximately four days before recording. After the signing, the loan officer takes the notarized and signed documents to go through processing and within 2.5 days the Lender should have funded the money for your loan to the escrow company. When escrow receives all monies then they will take the documents to the Bureau of Conveyances in Honolulu to record. By the next business day it will record and we usually get word between 8-10am. At that time, the home is legally yours and I will have already made arrangements and have your keys in hand to open the doors to your new home.

Congratulations!

Posted in Hawaii Home Buyer, Hawaii VA Loans, hawaii military relocation, hawaii va loan | No Comments »

Mililani Real Estate | Mililani Market Report April 2010

May 21st, 2010

April 2010 Market Report for Mililani Condos, Townhouses, Homes

As holds true in all neighborhoods nationwide, each neighborhood will determine their market for their local area. On Oahu, we can pretty much gather that from neighborhood to neighborhood the sales prices will vary and so will the median and average prices. To better determine the market (particularly for your sq/ft interior, land, condition and year built), contact a Realtor® who will give you a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis)

Mililani Apr2010

Mililani Single Family Home Market Report April 2010: We have 50 Active Listings for April 2010, with 20 in contract and 23 sold. Mililani Single Family Home activity remains comparable with March as multiple contracts are submitted and accepted due to the end of the First Time Home Buyer Credit on April 30th. Average Sales Prices were a bit lower than the previous month of $628,610; down to $587,923 and average days on market…DOM was 46 days.

Mililani Apr2010- Condo

Mililani Condo Statistics for April 2010: We have 66 Active condos/townhouses on the market from April 2010, 46 Pending and 21 sold. Looks like our Mililani Condo/Townhouse market sped up for the month of April with MANY trying to get into contract before the April 30^th deadline on the Home Buyer Credit. Average sales price of $292,023 had a very slight decrease from March 2010 of $293,238. Average days on market ..DOM was 43 days.

Hawaii Home Buyer | SOME Military Qualify for Extended Tax Credit

Yup, the Home Buyer Tax Credit ended on April 30, 2010 but there are some “Qualified service members” (which means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community) that may still qualify for the extension of this Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Qualified service members who are ordered on a period of official extended duty are extended for one year. For these home buyers, the tax credit applies to sales with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011.

READ THE DETAILS HERE: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/service_mem.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Mililani Townhouse | Holaniku Hale 4 bedroom | Mililani Real Estate

May 14th, 2010

Mililani Townhouse for Sale! \| 95-035 Kuahelani Ave 124, 96789
94-035 Kuahelani Avenue, #124, Mililani HI
		RARELY Available FOUR bedroom split level townhouse in Holaniku Hale in Mililani Town.Renovated with thousands of $$ in quality upgrades. Premium porcelain tile flooring with custom mosaic inserts on the ground floor. Enter the kitchen w/Corian counters and custom tile backsplash. Load of space with these Maple solid wood raised panel kitchen cabinets with upgraded cabinet knobs. All appliances are newer with the “energy star” rating.The main bath renovated with deep soaking tub surrounded by large porcelain tiled walls, tile flooring, new vanity and all new plumbing fixtures.Quality light fixtures throughout the inside and outside. Large private courtyard of 135 sq/ft ready for entertaining or owner’s enjoyment.w/a large open area behind the courtyard.A short distance away is a playground in the complex as well as a block from a Mililani city park.We believe ….THIS is the home you’ve been dreaming of.
Click to View Show
Details			Contact Info
Asking Price: MLS:Sq. Feet:Bedrooms:Bathrooms:# of Floors:HOA/Maintenance Fees: Subdivision: Year Built:	$369,000 1006286135742.52430 Mililani Town 1976		Celeste “Sally” Cheeseman, Realtor-Associate® Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations Main (808) 625-1776 ext. 300 Cell (808) 375-1404 Dir (808) 375-1404 Email \| Website Other Shows
Property Amenities
- Range/Oven - Sink Disposal - Full Refrigerator - Washer/Dryer - Dishwasher - Balcony	- Patio - Fenced Yard - Tool Shed - Living room - Dining Room	- Corian Counters - Maple Solid Wood Raised Panel Cabinets - Porcelain Tiled Floors - Completely Remodeled Main Bath - Quality Light Fixtures
Community Amenities
- Swimming Pool(s) - Recreation Center - Clubhouse	- Tennis court(s) - Golf course	- Playground - Millilani Boasts SEVEN Recreation Centers

Posted in Century 21 Mililani, Mililani Townhouse, mililani condos homes | No Comments »

Hawaii Home Buyer | SOME Military Qualify for Extended Tax Credit

May 2nd, 2010

Yup, the Home Buyer Tax Credit ended yesterday, April 30, 2010 but there are some “Qualified service members” (which means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community) that may still qualify for the extension of this Home Buyer Tax Credit.

READ THE DETAILS HERE:

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/service_mem.php

Posted in Hawaii Home Buyer, Hawaii Homes Market, Hawaii VA Loans, army air force navy marines relocation hawaii, hawaii military relocation | No Comments »

Hawaii Homes Market Report | Honolulu Real Estate Market December 2009

January 7th, 2010

As another year comes to a close in the Hawaii Homes Market, we look at the coming year of 2010 with a positive note. As the holidays approached the market was still moving although there were significant changes with sales prices in single family homes. READ MORE HERE>>Honolulu County Real Estate Market Report- December 2009

Posted in Hawaii Homes Market, Hawaii Real Estate Market Report | No Comments »

Hawaii Homes Market | Real Estate Market Report Nov 2009

December 13th, 2009

Honolulu County Real Estate Market Report- November 2009

As the saying goes…the only thing constant in this world is CHANGE. The same goes for our Honolulu County Housing Market Statistics for November 2009 which showed yet again the continued up and down numbers in sales numbers and sales prices!

Single Family Resale Numbers: Our sales numbers for single family homes showed a slight decrease in sold single family homes from 281 to 249. The Median Sales price also had a slight decline from $605,000 in October to $590,000 in November. This is decrease of 0.75% from November 2008 to 2009 and also shows a decrease of 2.4% from October to November of 2009 in sales prices.

Condo/Townhouse Resale Numbers: Our Honolulu Real Estate Housing Market sales numbers for condos/townhouses increased slightly from 381 in October to 407 in November of 2009 and we can attribute the sales number increase for the past couple of months due to the lowering inventory on the island of Oahu. Honolulu County Median sales prices increased 102.5% from November of 2008 to November of 2009 and also increased in sales prices from $295,000 to $320,000!

I believe these ups and downs will continue as our market tries to find a happy median. With the FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENSION approved, interest rates still lower and inventory considerable down in all neighborhoods the shifting is evident with more homebuyers in the market.

These Honolulu County Market Statistics vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and I continue to experience multiple offers on homes and townhouses in all areas in Honolulu County including short sales. Stay tuned for more neighborhood market statistics.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste “Sally” Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client’s needs, she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com Supporting Hawaii Local Businesses!

Posted in Hawaii Home Buyer, Hawaii Home Seller, Hawaii Homes Market | No Comments »

Hawaii Military Relocation | Part II of YOUR Military Move to Hawaii

December 3rd, 2009

Hawaii Military Relocation

Part II of YOUR Military Move to Hawaii

In Hawaii Military Relocation YOUR Military Move to Hawaii PART I, I gave you information on the being proactive in YOUR Military Move to Hawaii and Hawaii Military Relocations. You now know that there is quite a bit of difference living on an island out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and that the environment and culture are mysterious and diverse and that the homes and land sq/ft are definitely smaller than the Continental United States (the ‘mainland’ we call it) so scale down on the household goods!
You also learned that the main Hawaii Military Bases are on the island of Oahu; which is Honolulu County and that you will have to get your pets ready with shots and checkups way before you leave lest they be put in quarantine for a lengthy stay.

Now we have Part II of the Series on YOUR Military Move to Hawaii.

RENTING vs. BUYING your Hawaii Home

Everyone needs a place to live in YOUR Hawaii Relocation to an island paradise. You are still wondering if you’d like to live on base, rent off base or buy a home in Hawaii. Regardless, what you decide you want to be proactive in your search for homes, condos or townhouses or contact your base Community Housing.

Renting a Hawaii Home: You can peruse the listings for rentals on www.ahrn.com which is a great place to get the criteria picked out for what you want to spend. Most likely you want to stay in your BAH range and you can check out Honolulu County 2009 BAH for your criteria. Don’t forget to do a budget including your utilities and make sure that if you have a big dog that the complex (if condo/townhouse) allows for or has limitations on the size or kinds of pets. That is one big factor to consider when doing your search. Look for pet friendly buildings and rentals.
Buying a Hawaii Home: You have been Searching for Hawaii Homes and contact me to get more information on how to get started with the real estate transaction process. You have read all about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit Expands and that you will get the regular tax breaks throughout the years you are paying a mortgage and that this year you will be getting an $8,000 tax credit when you file your taxes…..as long as you close on the property BEFORE December 1, 2009. (meaning, Nov. 30 or before!) And just think….that BAH is extra money for housing and yours to invest in your own property.
No matter if you are planning on Renting or Buying a Hawaii Home during your tour of duty here you know that you will not be able to have us hold a rental or a property for sale until you get here. It’s just known that with rentals it’ll be first come, first served. In home buying it’s the same.

In any case, you will need to see the property before making a decision.

So, Searching for Hawaii Homes for sale and searching for rentals on www.ahrn.com is the best thing to do right about now to get started. You’ll get an idea on the sq/ft, the neighborhoods and the properties closest to your Hawaii Military Duty Station when you make that Hawaii Military Relocation in the near future. At least you’ll be getting prepared with learning about the different neighborhoods, schools, that will be closer to your duty station and more appealing to your idea of the neighborhood you’d love to reside in.

Honolulu County Mililtary Base Housing: The following links provide you with your Base Community Housing contacts and websites to get more info on getting on the list should you decide you just want to live in base housing.

•Hickam AFB Community Housing http://www.hickamch.com/ and their number is 808-423-4650. Other information on Honolulu County here>> Air Force Communities.

•Fort Shafter Housing Office, (808) 275-3800. Report to the housing office within 3 working days of your arrival to have your name placed on a housing list or to be able to get authorization for off-base housing. Be warned that housing lists are sometimes six months or more of waiting. More on TLA here>> NEW ARRIVALS- Housing

•Kaneohe Marine Corp Base- Building 455, at the corner of Lawrence and Pancoast Street. Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 0730-1530, Wednesday from 0730-1400.Toll free: 1-866-224-7942 or 808-257-1257. BASE HOUSING INFO

•Army Hawaii Base Family Housing- Go here for info on>>Our communities
Army Hawaii Community Homes available for Aliamanu & Rim/Red Hill Housing Communities, Fort Shafter Community, Tripler Community, Wheeler AAF Community and Canby, Porter, Hamilton, Sante Fe and Kalakaua Communities on Schofield Barracks.

•Pearl Harbor and Navy Housing- The Navy Aloha Center (Family Housing Office) is located at 4825 Bougainville Drive, Bldg 2652, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818. Call 808-474-1800. You can also apply here>> for a Welcome Aboard Packet

Regardless of where you decide to reside in Honolulu County you have to admit one thing.

What a life to be living and working in paradise!

Posted in hawaii military bases, hawaii military move, hawaii military relocation | No Comments »

Hawaii Honolulu Military Relocation | Part I of the Series on YOUR Military Move to Hawaii

December 1st, 2009

Your Hawaii Military Relocation and Move is only PART of making that transition across the Pacific Ocean. There are many other factors to consider such as local area neighborhoods, schools, commute to your Hawaii Military Base and more. Maybe you want to know a little more on the History of the Hawaiian Islands or Hawaii Points of Interest for things to do. You may also considering Buying a Hawaii Home while you are stationed here on the islands and you need more information.

We’ll cover all of this – and more -in YOUR Military Move to Hawaii series.

Part I- Six Months Prior to “Moving Across the Pacific Ocean”

Across the Pacific Ocean to Paradise. You are moving to a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific. You already know to expect a smaller land area but that means you’ll be living in smaller homes with smaller sq/ft. as well. You’ll be living on Oahu with its dense communities and neighborhoods that will appear one after another. The island of Oahu IS Honolulu County with a population of almost a million people and you can read more here>> What You Didn’t Know About the Hawaiian Islands

Expect a Totally Different Environment! Keep an open mind for an experience unlike any other you will have in your lifetime. With a wide variety of ethnicities and cultures from all over the world, you will certainly get to experience different foods as well as each culture and their way of living all in one place. From Historic Honolulu to Chinatown to the tourist scene in Waikiki you definitely won’t be bored!

Weather and Clothing Wear! Tropical island weather means sun, rain, cooler, warmer, tropical breezes and no snow (except during extreme conditions on the top of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii (aka Big Island). Wait until you get here to go shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet where they have t-shirts, swim suits, swim shorts, sarongs, shorts, tank tops and everything you need to start your tropical island ‘wardrobe’.

SCALE DOWN on your Household Goods! If you haven’t used it for at least six months and it’s doesn’t have the sentimental value you used to believe then put aside everything you need to have a garage sale or put in storage. Stuff is just stuff and you WILL NOT be able to fit all that ‘stuff’ in a smaller home. Prices of homes go according to interior or land sq/ft regardless if it’s a rental or you are going to Buy a Hawaii Home.

Getting Your Pets Ready! Hawaii is a rabies free state and our Quarantine laws are strict. You can avoid putting your pet through a long quarantine if you start the process on immunizations and checkups NOW. You can find more information in the Animal Quarantine’s Hawaii Rabies Quarantine Brochure (info about pre and post arrival requirements, quarantine station procedures, policies, rules, operations and fees) and the Checklist for Hawaii Resident Pets will give you a

Hawaii Home Buying Means Being Proactive! Start by Searching for Hawaii Homes and take a look around the different neighborhoods and their price ranges. When you’re ready to have me set you up with your own personal webpage with specific criteria and getting you prequalified with loan officer who is seasoned with Hawaii VA Home Loan Transactions. Also, the Current Hawaii Market Report will give you an update on our current market statistics.

The majority of Hawaii Military Bases are right on this island with Schofield Barracks (Army), Wheeler Army Air Field, Hickam Air Force Base, Pearl Harbor Navy Base, Honolulu Harbor Coast Guard and Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Station being the main bases for each branch of the military.

Honolulu County Military Bases Military Lodging Hawaii Other Useful Links:

Honolulu County Military Bases	Military Lodging Hawaii	Other Useful Links:
Hickam Air Force Base *and* *Hickam AFB Newspaper*	Hickam Lodging *Bellows Lodging*	*Oahu Public Schools, Oahu Public Schools Serving Military, Oahu Private Schools*
*Tripler Army Medical Center*	*TLA Approved Hotels*	Honolulu County Commissaries
Kaneohe *Marine Corps Base Hawaii* *and* Hawaii Marine Newspaper	*Lodge at Kaneohe Bay*	*Honolulu County Military Base Golf Courses*
*US Army Pacific* *and* *Hawaii Army Weekly Newspaper*	*Inn at Schofield Barracks* “Virtual Tour”	Animal Quarantine Station Rabies Information Brochure Checklist for Hawaii Resident Pets
*Pearl Harbor Shipyard, US Navy Pacific Fleet Hawaii-Pearl Harborand Hawaii Navy News*	*Navy Lodge Hawaii* *Beach Cottages at Kalaeloa*	*HONOLULU COUNTY* *BAH 2009*
*US Coast Guard Hawaii*	HALE KOA HOTEL IN WAIKIKI	*Hawaii Military Base Guides*

Posted in hawaii military bases, hawaii military move, hawaii military relocation | No Comments »

Hawaii Military & the VA Loan

November 21st, 2009

Honolulu County IS of the whole island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. With 50+ Hawaii Military Bases and Installations on our island alone, you can guaranty that the VA Guaranteed Loan is the way to go for the Hawaii Military Veteran purchasing their piece of Hawaii and paradise with a place they can call home.

(picture to left is the model of the USS Arizona Memorial depicting the ship under water and the memorial above at Pearl Harbor Hawaii)
Remember, VA Guarantees a percentage of the loan and you still have to go through a Lender that actually does do VA Loans and it is for your OWN PERSONAL USE. (not all banks, credit unions and loan companies do VA Loans). The Veterans Administration Guaranteed Loan is one of just a couple of loan programs that allow the Veteran to finance the funding fee as well as come in with no down payment. (100% financing)
In my experience, the Hawaii Based Military personnel have purchased homes or condos totalling 1/3 of my total sales with their VA loan benefits. I have learned the process very well and you may as well consider me a Seasoned Real Estate Agent for VA Transations and the Hawaii Military Relocation.
I take pride in my relationships with the Military Stationed in Hawaii and pay particular attention to their needs when they Relocate to Hawaii. Military Transfers & Relocations to Hawaii: A Geographical Shock tells my story and travels as a Military Dependent but also that the Hawaii Military Veteran makes up 10% of our population on Oahu & the Active Duty Military Personnel make up about 3.5 % of our population on Oahu.

The following guidelines will help you in preparing for your Hawaii Relocation (or even if you already live here and are purchasing a home) and learning about the transaction process using your VA Guaranteed Loan:

Your Realtor® needs to know what price range you qualify for in order to search through the MLS system for properties in your criteria that you provide (i.e. #bedrooms, baths, etc). If you do not know a LOCAL lender Your Realtor® can refer you to a couple who are well qualified and know the State Laws In Hawaii. Local lenders also will be walking along side you step by step as well as being face to face at time of signing loan docs.
When the Loan Officer lets both you and Your Realtor® know what price range you are qualified for the Oahu and Surrounding Neighborhood Search: Relocations Hawaii gives you information on how Your Realtor® will set you up with a detailed web page according to your criteria for property listings.
Get your financial documents together (and make sure you don’t let the movers pack them!) such as LES’s for a whole month prior (you can also get this on MyPay online so not to worry), last two years of W-2’s, last two months bank statements, any documents relating to your VA disability (if you are a disabled vet) and whatever the Loan Officer tells you that you will need.
Your VA Certificate of Eligibility will be ordered by the Loan Officer online once you go through the loan application process and it saves you the trip to Tripler Army Medical Center -VA Office- so, not to worry. VA guarantees approximately 25% of your loan to the lender.
Your Credit (FICO) Score and Income make a difference if you are to be qualified for a VA Loan. Remember, just because you have VA Benefits does not mean you don’t have to have decent or some credit. There is a criteria that the Lenders follow according to VA guidelines. (i.e. if you have NO credit you cannot obtain a loan. Get a gas card and credit card to establish credit. You DO have to show a history of payments). Your debt to loan ratio is also taken into consideration and part of the criteria.
This Realtor® makes showing appointments according to the criteria you have specified. You will know which home to put an offer in on and it’ll be when you walk in a home and you say, “This feels like the right home for me!”
Then the contract is drawn up and this Realtor® explains each contingency throughout the contract while signing. The offer is submitted to the Seller’s Agent and when it is accepted by the seller the Transaction and Loan Process begins!
This Realtor® sends the accepted contract to the Loan Officer and Opens Escrow. All documents and you initial deposit check will be submitted to escrow during the transaction and you will make an appointment immediately to submit all documentation and go through the VA application/signing with the loan officer. From there the loan officer orders the appraisal.
This Realtor® will set a time & date coinciding with your schedule to do your home inspection and will also give you a list of professional home inspectors to choose from. The home inspection will show you if there is anything to be repaired or remedied,
The Condominium and/or Subdivision Association Documents should be ordered immediately after acceptance of the offer and in the buyer’s hands within 10-14 days after acceptance. This agent will make copies of the Budget, last three Association minutes and the Property Information form (RR105C) and submit it to the lender. They need this for the VA Loan Guidelines and process for your loan. (these documents will show how the Association budgets their money in reserve. % of owner occupants, any pending concerns or litigation going on and so forth.
Provided your loan process goes smoothly you should have a Conditional Loan Commitment Letter within the first three weeks in contract. This is an approval of your loan with Conditions. Maybe you need to submit a couple of more documents or the appraisal is not in yet or the survey and termite inspection are not done yet. These are the types of conditions that will be listed on this letter.
Within two weeks after the Conditional Loan Commitment letter is issued all the conditions should be complete for signing documents with escrow and the loan officer. Not to worry! I attend all signings with you. Approximately two to three days after signing the lender will wire all monies to escrow (funding) and when escrow receives all monies they will take the documents to the Bureau of Conveyances to record. One day later the Bureau gives clearance of recording and in turn escrow notifies all parties, and….

At this time, I call you and say, Congratulations! You now own your home!

How Can I Obtain More Information About VA Home Loans?

Call VA at 1-800-827-1000 or contact a local lender or real estate professional. Pamphlets available from VA include: 26-4 VA Guaranteed Loans for Veterans

Honolulu County Hawaii Military Bases & Installations- Oahu Neighborhoods
LIVE on VIDEO: A Hawaii Military Relocation Story Comes to Life
*Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii*
The Art of Hawaii Relocations
The Cost of Living Factor in Considering A Hawaii Relocation
Oahu and Surrounding Neighborhood Search: Relocations Hawaii
Aiea, Pearl City Neighborhoods- Hawaii Military Relocation

~~~~~

It’s not easy moving across the Pacific Ocean and purchasing your Hawaii Home;

let alone to a totally different “world” of people.

But you can do it with a little effort, motivation and a great Realtor®!

If you’re Relocating to Hawaii (regardless if it’s near future or just wanting to be proactive for the future) contact me to get started with your search for Hawaii Homes for Sale.

Celeste “Sally” Cheeseman, RA, e-PRO / Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, Hawaii

Posted in Military Hawaii, VA Home Loans Hawaii, hawaii relocations | 1 Comment »

Hawaii Homes Market | Hawaii Real Estate | Hawaii Relocations