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Moving to a new home is an exciting time, but it is also a monumental task that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. This is especially true when downsizing. What others may see as clutter is your life lived as you remember it. We’ve put together a few simple strategies to help you get moving, and take some happy memories along with you.

Many elements went into creating our current strong seller’s market, but things could shift towards buyers in the future. This year, high buyer demand coupled with low inventory elevated home prices and continues to cause stiff competition when new listings hit the market. Overall, new home construction hasn’t kept pace with demand for the past decade. It didn’t help that the lumber industry was severely affected by the pandemic, driving up home building costs. When you look

It is an incredibly challenging time for home buyers right now. There is a countrywide shortage of homes for sale. So, when something appealing does come on the market, there is a lot of competition. Buyers may find themselves in a bidding war.

If you are in the market for any type of wood—from plywood or sheeting to standard 2x4s, be prepared for a massive sticker shock. U.S. lumber futures contracts for May 2021 delivery were priced at $1,645 per 1,000 board feet, about 60% higher than they were a month ago and 374% above the $347 contract price average in May 2020. This marks the fastest rise since the housing boom that followed World War II.

While a public health crisis gripped the country for the last year, the housing market for some stayed red hot. Most areas of the country remain in a solid seller’s market.

It is interesting to compare today’s market with where we were a year ago. Would we have predicted this activity in a pandemic? Maui sales activity is up in March 2021. Home sales are up 46% and condo sales up 43% from last year.

Most investors know the basic premise for success: “Buy Low and Sell High.” Seems simple, but in practice it is not. In real estate, we really don’t know the best time to buy until years past the purchase, when see if purchase prices have gone up or down.

While still wrapped up in a pandemic, the median price of a single-family home on Maui jumped by 20% last month, compared to February 2020, as sales grew by 22%. The number of condominiums sold also rose 24% as the median price held, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui.

It can be exiting to buy a new home or condo on Maui. However, if you are trying to sell a home at the same time as buying it can be stressful, especially if money from your current home’s sale is needed to put toward your next place. However, with a little planning and working with a savvy real estate agent can ease the process for both of these transactions. To keep your sanity intact, here are some tips to help you manage the process.

Many Americans find themselves downsizing, motivated by debt, from the nest getting emptied or retirement. Moving to a smaller home or condominium may have some surprising benefits. However, determining how much smaller to go can be tricky.

2020 was an odd year for the mortgage industry. Instead of a market crash due to the pandemic and economic turmoil, home prices and sales actually rose. At the beginning, low-interest rates, low unemployment, and rising rents drove the housing market up. As the pandemic wore on, people fleeing urban areas, or looking for more space to work from home, plus historically low interest rates kept demand for housing high. The important question is, where will interest rates go now?

There are many ways to invest in real estate, but one way which typically generates income is through purchasing rental property. Sometimes people buy rental property to fix up and quickly sell, or flip. Another option is to invest in a property for the long-term and rent it out, which is what we will focus on.

The global pandemic caught many of us unprepared, especially financially. If you are still struggling with job loss, business reduction or other financial impacts, your mind may not be on how you can better insulate yourself financially in the future. But like anything, when is a good time?

We are fortunate to have many outdoor activities to enjoy, away from crowds. However, with rising COVID-19 numbers in Hawaii, the state and county has put new rules in place to help protect the community and visitors. Effective September 15, 2021, many indoor activities are curtailed or require proof of full vaccination, including indoor dining. Travelers are strongly advised to stay up to date on current rules.

If you have been following our real estate market reports, you know closed condo sales lagged behind residential sales in 2020 on Maui. However, in December statistics we saw that start to turn around. Whether you want to take advantage of a robust market, or have an urgent need to sell for any reason, this guide will help you move your property in an efficient way.

Instead of just relying a crystal ball, there are some facts that help predict what will happen to home buying and selling in the coming year.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues and the economy furthers into disarray, more people are having financial difficulties including how to pay their monthly mortgage bill. As of October 2020, nearly 3 million Americans are in mortgage forbearance plans as according to data firm Black Knight. Forbearance may mean you can forgo some of your mortgage payments.

In today’s market, remodels that are planned with a return on investment in mind is essential. Properties are selling quickly, so only those projects with the best opportunity to increase value are worth the investment. For investment properties, you can then rent your units for more income while planning to sell.

The typical home value of homes in Maui County is $708,445. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Maui County home values have gone up 2.0% over the past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 4.0% in the next year. Low inventory has decreased competition for sellers. If your property is priced appropriately, it will likely sell promptly.

Moving to a totally different environment from what you are used to opens up a wealth of opportunities for new experiences and growth. But if the actual moving cross-country part has got you a little anxious, there is some smart preparation that will help the transition go smoothly.