Real Estate Information Archive

January 2010 sales figures are up markedly over January last year. Honolulu Board of Realtors reports single family home sales volume was up a stunning 32.8% while median sale price was up 10.8% to  $597,500.

Condo sales numbers were even more impressive, up 42.8% over the previous year, although prices softened 2% to a median $299,000.

First time home buyer credits up to $8,000 are still available as are "repeat" buyer credits up to $6,500, but to qualify buyers MUST be in escrow by April 30.

Interest rates are still hovering around 5%. For folks who've been on the fence about buying, there's a lot of incentive to jump now rather than wait for higher prices, higher interest, and no more generous refunds Uncle Sam.

I've had the ability to blog on this site for most of 2 years. Always fully intended to air news and insights about Oahu real estate, Hawaiian music, living in Hawaii, local events and attractions, maybe even do a little vlogging. Inertia and the distraction of daily demands kept me from launching this thing, despite the nudging of colleagues and a stack of brilliant ideas for posts scribbled on odd bits of paper.  Procrastination ruled...until today.

Today my email contained a note from a visitor to my web site who was dismayed that my blog was identical to those she'd seen on many other real estate sites. She asked, "Isn't there some realtor code of ethics?  It is clearly called plagiarism in academia." Wow.

I was less than thrilled with the bland writing style of the purchased content bearing my by-line, but never considered it plagiarism or an ethical issue. NONETHELESS, someone out there was annoyed enough about that store-bought blog with my by-line on it to complain about it. Point taken! And mahalo to the writer for kicking me out of my inertia!