Earth Day

I've been working on my personal project on recycling coffee sleeves toward the Earth Day. I found this wooden bowl couple of weeks ago and just fell in love its fluid shape and tone of grain.

When you take out daily cup of coffee or tea, just keep the sleeve for the second, or third cup. It save the cost for the cafe, and it save the Earth.

You can find this bowl waiting for your coffee sleeve(s) at ING DIRECT Hawaii Cafe.

Attention! (Hawaii Homowners)

For all Hawaii homeowners - Yes, your real property tax will be due tomorrow (Semi-Annual 1st installment, another February 20). If you have a mortgage, chances are your lender will be paying from impound account on behalf of you. I would suggest to check your mortgage account activities to be sure this has been paid on time. For those income under $50,000 in year 2007, City and County has real property tax credit: please take a look at this link for more information.

In Hawaii, there are many homeowners who are "house rich, cash poor". Imagine you bought your home in Kahala 30 years ago - humble cottage on a big lot. You have worked all years, and paid off mortgage, now on fixed income into retirement. Real Property Tax assessment in recent years has been very tough for those who "Lived in whole life" homeowners. Find out more and be sure to file before September 30.

About Home Exemption:
I have seen many homeowners who purchased their homes and moved in "forgot" to file this rather simple homeowner's exemption form. Chances are, you are given this form at the escrow table, and you filed away without submitting. You can check your property tax status and if you don't see any exemption status (and you don't remember if you filed it), follow the instruction and file by September 30, for the next fiscal year (July 1~June 30 of following year).

Goodreads - my bookshelf

I recently sign up for Goodreads, just so that I keep notes on myself about books I read and remind which book I want to read (if I have a time). These days, books are things of the past for Gen Y (they migrated to MySpace and YouTube or Wikipedia), but I still like the spare time spent at bookstore just browsing around, or the almost forgotten old books in the library...
Even local library offer e-book you can rent for 2 weeks electronically. No past dues or lost books.

Enjoy books!

Real Estate for Boomers and Beyond: Exploring the Costs, Choices and Changes for Your Next Move by Tom Kelly

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a must read for all baby boomers. It explains why we feel the way we feel, and how we attract certain things... Just like birth order or birth place, the generation we born in affect our way of decision making. This book is to learn the social trends, know where you stand, and make wise decision: find the balance of financial and emotional needs.



Some chapters are related topics, mortgage and reverse mortgage, long term care facilities and "age in place" concepts. You can pick and choose what interest you, just be aware those are within the sphere that influence your lifestyle.



Title cover shows the intent of this book. In order to make a move in real estate (or anything else in this regard) is to know yourself first, learn how other thinks (market), and measure if that makes economical sense, particularly if you are thinking for short-term or transitional. This is the wisdom needed in today's market and forward.


View all my reviews.

Sustainable Housing - Tokyo Style

MAN MADE -one of the TV series by National Geographic-aired interesting episode: Tokyo-Living Small in the Big City and I would love to share 4 minutes of the video about "penguin house" - the extreme creativity and innovation for mere garage space.

I remember years back (circa 1990) when I used to rent an apartment in Tokyo. It was a sticker shock how expensive those tiny rentals were. But in lieu of personal space, this metropolis provides the unlimited opportunities to explore beyond your small pad.

Another article the Newest Cottage Industry is also worth the reading. Slideshow of instant history of housing trends are informative. Baby Boomers (born between 1946~1964) are largest, healthiest and wealthiest group ever appear on the US growth landscape. Builders and developers has been researching this most influential group as target market. To reflect what Baby Boomer wants, the size of average home grown from 953 sq ft to 2,200 sq ft in 50 years.

I don't see smaller homes gain popularity here in Hawaii, yet. Maybe Hawaii's home is smaller by mainland standard, and their lifestyle and choice of furniture doesn't allow any shrinkage to the Hawaii home. Once supersize it, isn't it hard to go back to the size it used to be?

Club Monaco opening at Nordstrom

"Buzz Words" in today's real estate

This year's Hawaii Build & Buy Green Conference is held May 20 and 21 at Hawaii Convention Center. I've been hearing "buzz words" for a while (Realtor Magazine featured Eco-friendly movement as a trend in May 2007 issue), and now it becomes daily topic - "how to save energy$".


With the boost with rebate and tax credit incentives, solar panel installer is working overtime to meet the demand. Some may consolidate the driving pattern to save gas.


For realtors, there is a new "Eco-Broker" certification program, a marketing specialization of this new trend. Becoming an "Eco-Broker" help homebuyers? when majority of properties in the market is not going to be adopted by this new trend? It may show that you care, but it doesn't change how properties are built.

I would think developers and architects are the visionary and take active role for future building to be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environment Design) certified. Older existing building should improve its energy-efficiency at reasonable range by contractor and eco-friendly products on the market.


I renovated my condo in 2005 with my little effort to be eco-friendly:
*change all bulbs to CFL, *replace old water heater with tankless (on-demand), *replace old kitchen appliance with energy-star appliance, *replace toilet with ultra-low flush model, *Rip off old wall-to-wall carpet/pad with recyclable carpet-tile (FLOR*) and just open up the window instead of a/c. This is not much to change the world, but I'm glad I did. Be green!

*picture is for Wolf showroom on N. King St. Architecture incorporate some energy-efficient feature, but do you know Wolf appliance is energy-star?

Brand New Model Open - Ka Makana at Hoakalei

Haseko's master planned community Ocean Pointe models are now closed, and brand-new project "Ka Makana" sales office will open tomorrow with 15 models.

Ka Makana means "the gift" in Hawaiian, and this is the first village of Hoakalei Haseko envisioned to create a major international resort destination.

Hoakalei Marina (largest marina in the State), Hoakalei Country Club Golf Course (Ernie Els signature design), Hoakalei Beach/Canoe Club, Ka Makana Swim Club, tennis court and fitness center are the features you see in their conceptual plan.

HALA series - The 20s (4 models) From mid $500,000s
MILO series - The 40s (4 models) From high $600,000s
BANYAN series - The 50s (3 models) From mid $800,000s
KOA seris - The 60s (4 models) From mid $900,000s* ($1,000,000 for homesites w/golf course view)

I previewed those models April 16 and my favorite are:
HALA 20.10 (3bed/2bath 1,212 sq ft living area) only 2 single level floor plan (other is MILO 40.10), vaulted ceiling in master bedroom, 2 tiny fixed windows in kitchen, small porch/lanai area doesn't require much maintenance/gardening for those who opt out, separation of master and 2 bedrooms, bedroom 2 facing frontage can be used for study/den/office, and another still away from street. This is small bungalow cottage feel, small and cozy.

KOA 60.30 (5bed/3.5bath 3,552 sq ft living area) Maybe the color scheme attract me (nautical theme in teal blue green shades), but I do love the airy open spaciousness with little bit of extra, such as kitchen nook and master bedroom retreat area. Check to see his and her walk-in closet, appropriately proportioned! Balcony/Lanai space is larger and square than other models. If I vote for Parade of Homes, this gets my vote.

For more information about this project or buyer's representation, please contact:
Misa Kataoka (RA)
www.GotHawaiiHome.com
hi9272000@hotmail.com
Cel: 808-927-2000