Category: Lifestyle

Jan 15

9 Reasons to Buy a Brand New Home

iStock_000000974184XSmallIf you’re in the market for a new home or condominium in Hawaii, have you considered buying a brand new home?  Not only do you get a home that’s as close to custom-built as possible, you also get energy efficiency, modern floor plans and excellent value!

Here are 9 fantastic reasons why you consider buying a brand new home rather than a pre-existing, used home.

1. Competitive Pricing

Compare prices of existing homes to those of comparably-sized new homes!  In today’s real estate market, home builders are competing for your business, and when builders compete, you benefit.  Most home owners looking to sell their homes cannot offer incentives or attractive financing options like builders can.

2. Choices

When shopping among existing homes, buyers have to take the previous owners’ style into consideration.  Do you pay even more to redecorate or do you make do with someone else’s choices? With a new home, however, you have choices in design, color and material options.  Having the luxury to tailor a home to your tastes can be one of the greatest features of buying a new home.

3. Home Location

Location, location, location. New home buyers often get to choose which individual unit they prefer within a new home development.  Would you prefer your bedroom get morning sun or afternoon sun? Would you prefer to live near the pool or closer to the beach in Maui?

4. Convenient Financing

In today’s market, securing financing for home ownership can be tedious and stressful.  Many new home communities have simplified this process in order to provide you the best deal possible that gets you into your new quickly and easily.

5. Low Maintenance

Why worry about upgrading or constantly maintaining your home if you don’t have to?  New developments like Kai Ani Village use the latest and greatest materials that technology can offer.  The result?  New homes are virtually maintenance-free for many years.

6. Floor Plans

Never thought about the convenience of modern floor plans?  Take a tour of many existing condos and you’ll find bad layouts and wasted or unusable space.  New home buyers, however, benefit from modern layouts suitable for today’s lifestyle.

7. Energy Efficiency

New communities are required by law to meet stricter energy codes than in the past, which benefits YOU, the consumer.  This is an enormous cost-saving benefit when considering the costs of fuel and energy today.  Many existing homes were built when energy codes were either more lenient or nonexistent.

8. Modern Appliances

Appliance manufacturers introduce new models every year and new home communities are able to offer the latest state-of-the-art equipment at the time of completing a new home.  And, because builders buy for the entire production of new home, the purchasing power often reduces the buyers’ costs.

9. Appreciation

The typical home needs remodeling after 25-30 years. Since new homes have an assured longer life, appraisals are generally higher than on comparable existing homes.  That means new homes will likely sell for a higher value in the future.

Jan 04

Walkable Communities Protect the Environment, Your Budget and Your Waistline

couplewalkingHow far have you walked today?

Besides the shuffle from your bed to your bathroom, or from your car to your office desk, how far have you really walked? Most people don’t spend enough time enjoying the world’s oldest cardiovascular exercise, shunning numerous opportunities to put one foot in front of the other and actually going out of their way not to walk (yeah, we know you’ve waited an extra 5 minutes for that close parking space at the mall to keep from walking an extra 20 feet).

But did you know there are those among us who actually enjoy walking and prefer living in a walkable community?

It’s true!

There are places, like the brand new Kai Ani Village in Kihei, Maui, where most of your daily needs are mere steps away and where you rarely need to use a car.

Not only are walkable communities good for your health (duh!), they are also good for the environment. Walkable communities:

• Reduce air pollution
• Reduce traffic congestion
• Conserve energy

In addition, walkable communities promote spending in local businesses, keeping local dollars local to enhance an area’s economic vitality.

When looking at new housing options, be sure to consider your new community’s walkability quotient.

Are there recreational areas within walking distance? What about shops, entertainment districts and restaurants? Are there opportunities to work near or in your new home?

And when evaluating costs, be sure to consider your reduced automobile costs – maintenance, insurance and gas – and time saved during commutes and errand runs.

Purchasing a new home in a walkable community can save your waistline, but it can also help protect the environment and add to your family’s bottom line as well.

Dec 10

Get to Know Kihei!

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Life in Hawaii is good.  Life in Kihei is even better!

Kihei (pronounced KEY-hey) is a beautiful village in south Maui with so much available within walking distance!  Great beaches.  Fantastic dining.  Top-notch water sports.  We really have it all!

When you move into your brand new home at Kai Ani Village, you’ll find lots of activities to keep you busy, no matter where your interests lie.

Of course, the beach is nearby.

Kama’ole I, II & III are Kihei’s most popular public beaches and offer fantastic views of the famous Hawaiian sunset.  All have playgrounds and bathrooms and are wonderful for family excursions.

Hawaii is known for its whales, and Kihei has the privilege of being home to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s Education Center.  The sanctuary is one of the world’s most important whale habitats.  In 1992, Congress designated it a National Marine Sanctuary to protect the endangered humpback whale and their marine habitat in the North Pacific.

The Education Center features exhibits about the natural and cultural history of humpback whales and other marine life found in the sanctuary. Public education programs and lectures are available, as well as a significant marine science library.

And if you’re into fish, you definitely will want to check out the Maui Ocean Center just 7 miles north of Kai Ani Village on the other side of Maalaea Bay.  There are lots of activities for kids, and who doesn’t like to watch sharks swim (behind glass, of course)?  The aquarium offers discounts for Hawaii residents, and at $150, the annual family pass for two adults and two kids is an excellent value!

For excellent libations, walk over to Henry’s Bar & Grill, located on Lipoa Street adjacent to Kai Ani Village.   It’s a cool, down home pub off the beaten track with pool tables and plenty of sports on the TVs.  Henry’s also features live music frequently and is a local favorite.

Also hit up Jawz Fish Tacos for Mexican food with a Hawaiian twist! They also boast one of the largest beer selections on Maui and have a great mobile truck so you can get your taco fix and shaved ice on your way to the beach.  And don’t forget to stop by Stella Blues Cafe and Pizza Madness, both excellent joints a short walk from Kai Ani.

But perhaps even more popular than the food are the fabulous water sports available in Kihei.  Kayaking is particularly popular in Kihei, and Kelii’s Kayak Tours can show you a great time, as well as take you to some killer snorkeling spots.  Also, the Maui Dive Shop is close to Kai Ani and can set you up with equipment (buy or rent) and show you the best places to get wet!

Want to know more about Kihei?  Check out these great resources:

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