www.localism.com featured article by Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, Hawaii
Following is my entry in the Active Rain Buyer's Challenge Contest. (the name of the "potential client" is fictitious and only used for purposes of the contest to identify a "person") Thank you Colleen Kulikowski for creating the First ActiveRain -- Buyer Challenge contest to expand our horizons in Localism post writing!
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Aloha David!
Thank you for contacting me after reading my post What Makes a House a Home in Honolulu, Hawaii? on the Active Rain Real Estate Netowork. You mentioned that you wanted information on purchasing beach-front property although you were more interested in the Central Oahu area. There are a few things that you may want to know regarding coastal land and if you read Hawaii Coastal Land: *Ponder Before Purchasing* it may give you an idea at what is involved with this type of purchase.
Following is a virtual tour of Haleiwa and the Coast along the North Shore of Oahu so you can visualize:
Since you are familiar with the neighborhoods and lived in Mililani from 1982 - 1984 while stationed on Schofield Barracks then you know Mililani will be convenient as it is minutes away from the base. Following are some links with useful information for schools, Mililani Town Association, golfing (you mentioned you loved golfing) and shopping centers.
Area schools for your child who is in high school: Oahu Public Schools or Oahu Private Schools - Miliani Town Association
- Military Golf Courses, Public Golf Courses and the Hawaii State Golf Association
- Town Center of Mililani, Mililani Shopping Center (where Century 21 Liberty Homes is located) and Mililani Marketplace and Community Resources for Mililani
- The Mililani Trolley operating schedule
The first step for purchasing real property is always to contact a Local Lender who will help you determine what price range and loan program you are qualified for so we know in what price ranged property to look for. Being a retired member of the armed forces you may find the following information helpful regarding your VA benefits:
If you have not used your VA benefits for purchasing a home in the past (or even if you have once before but have sold that home) then you may want to discuss with the Loan Officer about using your VA guaranteed loan benefits. - You also mentioned you are a disabled vet and if you are at least 10% disabled then you may qualify to waive the funding fee!
- Here is a brochure on VA Guaranteed Home Loans for Veterans for more information.
- Just be sure to tell the lender what you are wanting to spend per month for your mortgage payment and this will better aid the Loan Officer in not only qualifying you according to your credit score but also according to your monthly budget for housing.
- If you need referrals for Loan Officers on the island I'll refer you to a few local lenders who will walk you through every step of the loan process.
As you know there is No Bursting Bubble For Hawaii? Home Buying and Selling Tipsters! and this information will help you to see more clearly that your options for purchasing real estate will most likely be geared toward a condo or townhouse.
The following Real Estate Show includes information (click on the details button) on three townhouses around the Mililani area:
I'll give you a call tomorrow so to go over everything and from there we can set you up with automatic notifications of listings in areas you are interested in. Even though you are not arriving for another six months we can get started in weeding out areas/types of townhouses and so forth to get a better idea of what you are looking for.
Thank you for contacting me in your search for real property on Oahu, Hawaii and I will look forward to speaking with you shortly!
Mahalo!
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, RA * Century 21 Liberty Homes
95-2214 Kipapa Drive, Mililani, HI 96789
Direct Contact: 808-375-1404
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007©
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Katerina: I love the challenge and I think it gives us all an opportunity to support our community and the contest coordinators ...so chime on in!
Gary: Ohhhhh I love the pats on the back! Now where's yours? You're funny....he's the one with the slogan "not just another pretty face"!
Woo Hoo Sally...
I like it. The shows are a really nice touch :)
TLW...ROAR!
Simply wonderful! It sure conveys the feeling of Hawaii. Now if there was just a way to send a little puff of Plumeria fragrance into the air LOL
Aloha Sally!!
Very nice entry in this contest! Love how you used the RES shows to help show your area as well as some property to help the buyer get started. You did a nice job with providing very helpful links, too.
Good luck in the contest!
Ann
Sally,
I just knew I didn't want to go after you in this contest.....you are so good at the visuals, and describing your area. :) :) i too bookmarked this, and gave it a 5 because you have info that is useful to me as a Vet that hasn't used my own VA Benefits. Thanks, and nice job. I'm 1/2 done, but am stuck on the graphics again, how do you make dirt pretty :)
Kathy: Send you dirt pics..hehe. For real...check your email ....sent you two emails with a few each. Now get going.
Jason: Yeah, yeah...that's just cuz you're my bro.
Carole: WooHoo...that's exactly what I was shooting for...a bunch of info and visually appealing
Sally,
Thanks for the pics.....I am pretty sure though that we don't have any lions or elephants in my area :) :) What a kind thing you did though, thank you. This again shows your shaing nature.
Before I knew you sent them, I have spent literally hours going through my old photos to find some... I have them now..tonight I should be done......NEVER again am I entering one of these contests.....a ton of work :) :) Not the writing, just the pictures :)
Sally, This is an excellent introductory letter for David with lots of good information to get him moving forward into property ownership in your area.
Very thorough....I'm sure he'll know he is in professional and competent hands after reading this !
Jo
Steph: Funny...get going and get yours done!
Neal: I hope to see yours too!
kathy: did you get the ones with only dirt? Never say never...they're great!
Jo: I hope you're doing one as well!
George: Great! Nice to get an opinion of a loan guy and thank you for the encouragement!
Excellent Sally....Was worth the wait;)
Mahalo
Thanks Chris..yours was just so outstanding it took all I had to get something acceptable. Thanks for your inspiration...gave me the initiative to get it done.
Thanks so much Bob ....Do you realize how much work it takes to think about all this stuff? Funny it comes naturally when talking....writing about what I would say takes some thought process....wonder why?
Bob: I write a lot...it's the contest ones that take a bunch of time to do.
Hi Sally,
Great entry into the contest, I love how you used RES in your presentation! Great job, you never disappoint! :)
Suzanne: I think the RES makes it a little more personal and thanks!
Randy: I grew up in Mililani from 1971 and still work and play here...had to move a little bit away from mom...hehe.
Jeff: I've got to use them ...they're just so much fun and express more than one picture can.
Once you move to Mililani it is hard to leave. Love it here!
Lola: Thanks Lola....yours is wonderful too!
Randy: Got everything in one place too!
Anna: Thanks Anna....good luck to you too!
Thanks Ashley!
Colleeen! Oh goodness! Thank you for letting me know that. I'm number 1 on page one!
Good morning, Sally - You can tell I REALLY want to comment on this, since it's my 3rd try. 'Keep getting "unexpected error" messages. Anyway, I love your videos and your references to earlier ActiveRain posts. If I ever hear of anyone moving to Hawaii (and there have been a few over the years), you are my gal!
This is great, Sally. I now know more about HI than I ever thought I would If I were to buy there I would know who to call.
Jeff
Excellent, Sally! Pointing out the benefits for veterans was very good and adding that you have lender referrals available might trigger a buyer to call for more info. Also referring back to your previous information posts was nicely done. I haven't been lucky enough to get to Hawaii yet but hope to someday. the videos make me hope that it's sooner rather than later.