In today’s competitive real estate market, many homeowners face a frustrating “chicken and egg” problem: you need the equity from your current home to buy the next one, but you can’t sell your current home until you know you have a place to go. Even worse, carrying two mortgages often pushes your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio … Read more
For decades, homeowners looking to upgrade or downsize have faced the same stressful dilemma: Do I sell my current home first, or try to buy my next home first? If you sell first, you risk being temporarily homeless or forced into a double move. If you buy first, you might get saddled with two mortgages, … Read more
In real estate, there is a common misconception that the seller or the Realtor “sets” the price. While we certainly choose the number that goes on the MLS, that number is actually just a suggestion. The truth? The buyer is the ultimate arbiter of value. A seller can list their home for $2 million, but … Read more
We often talk about the high cost of living in Hawaii, but a recent April 2026 report from WalletHub puts a specific, sobering number on it: 13.3%. That is the share of total personal income that Hawaii residents pay toward state and local taxes. For 2026, Hawaii has officially claimed the top spot as the … Read more
The latest data shows that existing home sales have plunged to an annualized rate of 4.09 million, nearly matching the lows of February 2009. For those who remember the Great Financial Crisis, that year represents the “bottom” of the most significant housing crash in modern history. Back then, the market was flooded with foreclosures and … Read more
Historical Peaks and the Case for Mean Reversion The visual evidence from the inflation-adjusted Case-Shiller Index is hard to ignore: we have moved significantly past the peak of the 2006 housing bubble. Historically, the real estate market tends to operate on a mean reversion principle. When prices accelerate this far beyond the long-term trendline, the … Read more
Zone What it is (Plain English) Is Insurance Mandatory? Zone X Low-to-Moderate Risk. The “Safe” zone. Most of Kailua is here. Not in the 100-year floodplain. NO. Lenders cannot require it. Policies are very cheap (optional). Zone A High Risk. You are in the 100-year floodplain, but FEMA hasn’t calculated exactly how deep the water … Read more
One of the biggest misconceptions keeping buyers on the sidelines — especially here in Hawaii — is the belief that you need 20% down to buy a home. That’s simply not true. According to the National Association of Realtors: 🧠 So how are people buying homes? In short: if you’re financially responsible and ready to … Read more
A recent Consumer Policy Center report confirms what savvy sellers have known for years: low-fee real estate brokers can deliver the same results as traditional agents — for a fraction of the cost. The study examined brokers offering either flat-rate pricing or reduced commissions (1–2%), and found that many, such as Clever and Ideal Agent, … Read more
In recent months, many Hawaii homeowners—especially those in older homes or near the coastline—have been shocked to receive non-renewal notices or see sharp increases in their hurricane insurance premiums. What’s going on? And what can you actually do about it? Let’s break it down. 🌋 What’s Driving the Surge in Insurance Costs? 1. Climate Risk … Read more