Rare lakefront town home in Kailua

Location, location, location!

Rarely does a lakefront town home come available in Kailua’s Kukilakila complex. Even more rare is this four-bedroom unit with expanded living area, its own boat dock and photovoltaic system among the many upgrades. It won’t disappoint.

The view is this home’s biggest selling point, and one of its most unique features is the innovative NanaWall system of sliding glass panels that opens completely and folds against the wall for indoor-outdoor living. Even when closed, the panes create a virtually seamless window on the lake.

Being part of a PUD, Kukilakila allows for more flexibility with structural improvements. This unit has been thoughtfully expanded to maximize the usefulness of the space. Upstairs lanais have been enclosed to add 341 square feet to the bedrooms, making the interior square footage 1,966, larger than many single-family homes. Downstairs, there is a large, covered lanai for you to take in the views, and even a small outdoor grassy area, fenced for pets. This owner thought of everything, even a doggie door to the living room.

Ample custom cabinets line the walls of the enlarged kitchen, which also has granite counters, stainless steel appliances and even a gas stove, fuled by a propane tank. A photovoltaic system – owned, not leased – and solar hot water heater keep bills low.

Kukilakila is a well-kept complex with beautifully manicured grassy areas, walking paths along the lake and picturesque scenery. A clubhouse offers a salt-water swimming pool, kiddie pool, grill, kitchen, banquet table and bathrooms. Maintenance fees for the unit are $788 a month. Kukilakila is zoned for the highly rated Kaelepulu School District. The pet-friendly complex is just a short drive from Kailua town and the beach.

Offered at $925,000 FS
MLS#: 201406340

Listed By: Diane Pizarro, RA, ABR, SRES
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties
(808) 343-0659
dianep@cbpacific.com

 

Foreclosure deals elusive in Hawaii

Hoping to land a deal on property at foreclosure auction in Hawaii? While some savvy buyers find luck in this arena, it’s not something buyers should count on when shopping for a home.

Just 0.5% of homes sold in Hawaii in February 2014 were sold at foreclosure auctions, according to Realty Trac.

Read more here

Second lottery for Ka Malanai condos begins

The second lottery for the Ka Malanai condos in Kailua will be held March 29, with applications being accepted from 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 16, through noon on Friday, March 28.

This second phase will involve the sale of 20 units in Building 3 of the D.R. Horton project along Kailua Road.

Prices are:
1 Bedrooms starting from $520,155 (fs)
2 bedrooms starting from $776,575 (fs)
3 Bedrooms starting from $875,290 (fs)

Please visit the Ka Malanai website for more information. I would be delighted to help you navigate this process. Contact Diane Pizarro at (808) 343-0659 or dianep@cbpacific.com.

Ka Malanai lottery set to begin

The owner-occupant lottery for Ka Malanai, the new condos being built on Kailua Road in Kailua, will be held on Jan. 25, D. R. Horton announced  Jan. 12 in a public announcement in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (page A-10).

Lottery applications will be accepted beginning Sunday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. at the Ka Malanai Sales Center, 407 Uluniu St. #105, Kailua. Applications can be turned in through noon on Jan. 24. The lottery drawing will take place on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. The first lottery will consist of the sale of 28 units of the 153-unit project.

Prices:
1-bedroom units start at $477,755 (fs)
2-bedroom units start at $750,755 (fs)
3-bedroom units start at $847,700 (fs)

Entrance into the lottery calls for a signed owner-occupant affidavit.

Complete instructions and a sales application can be acquired from the sales office or at the D.R. Horton website, where all the floor plans are also available for viewing: http://www.drhorton.com/where-we-build/hawaii/honolulu/division/ironwoods-@-kailua-phase-1.aspx

I would be delighted to help you navigate this process as your buyer’s agent. Please call me at (808) 343-0659 or email me at dianep@cbpacific.com.

Majestic views beckon you to Lulani Ocean

This gallery contains 12 photos.

Just a short distance from the heart of Kaneohe, Windward Mall, three major highways and access to military installations – just close enough, yet far enough away to feel like you are escaping all that, lies lush and luxurious Lulani … Continue reading →

Low rates help buyer get larger condo for less

When I met Dorothy at an open house last fall, she was quite happy with the 1-bedroom condo she had owned for 10 years, but admitted to wanting something more – a second bedroom to which her active-duty, war hero son could return home.

The process of selling her condo and simultaneously searching for another seemed daunting. Furthermore, she liked her building very much and would only sell if she found the right place to buy. We stayed in touch and when a 2-bedroom unit in her building came on the market at a great price on a much higher floor, she agreed to look. Right away, she loved it.

In January, Dorothy set out on what she thought was a most improbable journey.  She made an offer on the 2-bedroom condo, which was accepted, and the clock started ticking. The sellers of the unit she was purchasing weren’t keen on a contingency offer, so they notified us that they would continue to market the property aggressively. We had 60 days get her not-yet-listed condo into escrow. We rushed to ready her showplace unit to market, listing it less than a week later.

Within three weeks, we had multiple offers and a cash buyer making it possible for Dorothy to realize her dream.

Dorothy is now moving on up, yet her payments are going down! Low interest rates and good timing allowed her to buy a larger, 2-bedroom unit on a higher floor, with higher HOA fees and her payments still went down by more than $300 a month, net.

My colleague, Ruth Sinclair, and I couldn’t be happier for our client. Congratulations, Dorothy!

Diane Pizarro, RA
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties
dianep@cbpacific.com
(808) 343-0659
www.oahurealestate808.com

New listing: Bluestone beauty

Don’t miss the first open house Sunday at my new Bluestone listing in Lanikai. This highly upgraded 3-bedroom, 3-bath unit on the 18th fairway of Mid Pacific Golf course will go fast!

Since my client purchased this unit a little more than two years ago, almost everything has been replaced. Though the upgrades are too numerous to list, the highlights include solid bamboo flooring throughout, marble bathrooms, all new doors and windows, all new lighting, new paint, new stainless steel appliances and much, much more.

Come home to tranquil mountain and golf course views and gentle trade wind breezes as you relax on your open lanai. Breathtaking!

Please click here to view the property and click on the photo to see more photos.

Open Sunday, 2-5 p.m. Access from the Lanikai side. From Aalapapa, turn right on Kaelepulu Drive to the Bluestone gate. Instructions for gate access will be posted at the gate. See you at Bluestone!

Contact: Diane Pizarro RA
(808) 343-0659
dianep@cbpacific.com
http://www.oahurealestate808.com

Why wait?

With home prices still relatively low and mortgage interest rates  continuing to hover near record lows, conditions are highly favorable for buyers.  The biggest challenge is inventory, which is also low. Diminishing supply, coupled with high demand as buyers look to cash in on interest rates, is beginning to put upward pressure on prices.

If you are interested in buying this year, now is a great time to do so – if you can find a home, that is. We know rates are low for now, but we don’t know for how long. Even just a small half point tick up in the interest rate can have an impact in the tens of thousands on your purchasing power.

As Bernice Ross, CEO of RealEstateCoach.com put it in her column on Inman News, “If the buyers wait six months to buy and the rates increase by as little as 1 percent, they will lose 10 percent of their buying power.

“In other words, while the buyers can afford a $200,000 house today, if interest rates increase they will be able to afford only a $180,000 house. Furthermore, given the inventory shortages in many areas plus the inflationary pressures on the economy, there’s a good chance that $200,000 house may very well be selling for $220,000 in the near future,” Ross says.

So if interest rates are a motivating factor, get with your realtor now so he or she can find your home and maximize your purchasing power.

Happy house hunting!

Not Pro-Bowling? Join us at Open House

For those venturing out to the Pro Bowl, I hope the weather holds up for you! Weather isn’t expected to keep fans away. Read more about it.

If football isn’t your thing, and you are don’t want to miss a beat on the house hunting front, there will be plenty of homes open today. Some may even have the game on TV. Please be sure to stop by and see us today The Commodore in Hawaii Kai.

There are also other condos open nearby in The Heritage House, Kalea Kai, Mawaena Kai, The Esplanade and Lalea. Here’s a link to a handy open house guide to take with you or store on your smart phone.

Hope to see you!

Appreciating The Commodore

My client is selling an extra large one-bedroom unit in The Commodore, a peacefully quiet, well-appointed high rise in Hawaii Kai. At 1,019 square feet, which is extremely large for a one-bedroom, space is ample and storage is in abundance. A second bathroom off the hall is a bonus feature of this immaculately kept unit. The nicely upgraded kitchen has all stainless steel appliances including double oven. Silestone counters compliment the solid oak cabinets.

But it’s the amenities that sell this building. You name it, The Commodore has it. Swimming pool. Two whirlpool tubs. Private picnic areas, each with its own BBQ. His and hers fitness rooms. Sauna. Tennis courts. Billiard room. Card room. Library. Party room. Central A/C. Storage locker. Ample guest parking. And two – yes, TWO – secure, covered parking spaces.

If you are out and about this weekend, we are open Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27, from 2-5 p.m. Please stop by.

Click here for property information

Read more in Honolulu Magazine