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Showing posts from September, 2017

New Luxury Listing in Upper Triangle

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Wake up to beautiful views of Diamond Head and the blue Pacific Ocean, the majestic Koolau Mountains in the background of the Hawaii Kai marina.  Situated in the luxury neighborhood of Upper Triangle on the southeastern tip of Oahu, this elegant home offers single-level living, 2 master suites, and a third bathroom that services an additional bedroom.  Enjoy outdoor living and dining on the extended covered lanai that overlooks the swimming pool.  Walk to shops and restaurants, and to the hiking trails of Koko Head and Koko Crater.  List Price is $2,188,000 Fee Simple. Property Details from Matrix.hicentral.mls

JUST SOLD! Luxury Neighborhood in Upper Triangle Neighborhood of Oahu

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Situated in the luxury neighborhood of upper Triangle, this single family home has superior views of Diamond Head, the Pacific Ocean, the Koolau Mountains and the Hawaii Kai marina that appear the minute you walk through the front doors.  The grand staircase leads to a spacious living room and lead to the outside patio and swimming pool through beautiful French doors. Two master suites are located on different floors for privacy, and a third bathroom services an additional bedroom on the main level.  Sold at $1.9M Fee Simple. Property Details from Matrix.hicentral.mls

Easier to Play the Game

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It’s much easier to play a game when you know the rules so you can avoid mistakes that may keep you from winning. Homeownership isn’t a game but there are some rules that will protect your investment and increase your enjoyment. Most people want a home of their own to raise their family, share with their friends and to feel safe and secure. In most cases, it is also their largest asset. These suggestions can help protect your investment and make homeownership more enjoyable. Don’t overpay for your home Maintain your home to protect its value Minimize your assessed value to lower property taxes Make extra contributions to save interest and build equity Validate the insured value of improvements and contents Be aware of current surrounding property values Make mortgage interest payments deductible Invest in capital improvements that increase market value Don’t over-improve the neighborhood comparables Keep records of capi

Protecting Your Credit

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One of the “big” three  credit bureaus recently announced that a massive hack has exposed the personal information of up to 143 million people. To add perspective to that statement, that is about two-thirds of American credit card holders or close to half the population of the United States.  Part of protecting your credit is being vigilant and making it difficult for thieves to steal your identity.  If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, an initial step is to place a fraud alert on your account. Contact one credit reporting company (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion), tell them you are an identity theft victim and ask the company to put a fraud alert on your credit file. Confirm that the company will contact the other two companies. The initial fraud alert will make it harder for an identity thief to open accounts in your name. The alert lasts for 90-days and it can be renewed. A more severe precaution called a credit freeze restricts access to your credit repor

Investing on Your Side of the Fence

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The grass tends to look greener on the other side of the fence. Maybe that’s why some people invest in things they don’t understand. It has been said that the grass is just as hard to mow on the other side of the fence so stay with what your most familiar. Single-family homes used for rental property give a person a chance to invest in something they understand: a home. They also have distinct advantages over other types of investments. An investor can borrow up to 80% of the value at fixed interest rates 30 years. The financing creates leverage so that the investor can benefit from the increase in value of the home not just the down payment. It is reasonable to expect that the home will appreciate while providing tax advantages and practical control that are not available with many other investments. Low housing inventory in many markets has caused rents to increase and low new home growth will make it difficult to keep up with demand. Consider a $150,000 home purchased f

Deductible Dilemma

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The purpose of insurance is to shift the risk of loss to a company in exchange for a premium. Most policies have a deductible which reduces the amount of the claim that is paid by having the insured share in the first part of the loss. In the process of managing insurance premiums, policy holders often consider higher deductibles to lower the premium. Lower deductibles mean less money out of pocket if a loss occurs but also results in higher premiums. Higher deductibles result in lower premiums but require that the insured bear a larger part of the loss. A small fire in a $300,000 home that resulted in $2,500 of damage might not be covered if the policy holder has a 1% deductible. If the homeowner can afford to handle the cost of repairs in exchange for cheaper premiums, it might be worth it. On the other hand, if that loss would be difficult for the homeowner, a change in the deductible could be considered. Homes in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from federally regula