The National News surely depicts an overall picture (so does NAR) of the housing market that is unrealistic. Why? How can anyone believe that this nationwide report will be the same for every state, county, city and neighborhood? It is unrealistic to report that 'nationwide' it is a beautiful market to buy or sell just as it is unrealistic to report that 'nationwide' it is a bad time to buy or sell. It depends on a wide variety of points doesn't it?
How about this?
- Your Realtor ® will give you a clearer
picture of the current market conditions in your specific area. Bad choice to have your loan officer, friends and family pretending they are the Realtor®. Might as well just watch the news right? - It depends on your circumstances if you are considering selling your home. Relocation to another state? Downsizing? Tragedy in the family?
- It depends on your circumstances if you are considering buying a home. Relocation to Hawaii? Benefits of ownership vs. renting? Retiring? Downsizing?
- It depends on the county, the city & the neighborhood for better market conditions to sell. Your Realtor ® will provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis for these specifics.
- It depends on the county, the city & the neighborhood for room for negotiations for the buyer. Your Realtor® can give you a breakdown of the areas that you are considering.
As of February of 2008 the Oahu Housing Market has slowed down 40% in NUMBER of sales.The Oahu Housing Market has increased in prices since last year BUT ARE NOW STABLE. The table below will show you an increase/decrease in sales and prices to give you a better idea of our market on our Island of Oahu in HONOLULU COUNTY. (These statistics DO NOT include new home sales)
|
MONTH, YEAR |
SINGLE FAMILY / # |
CONDO / # |
|
February 2008 |
$599,000 / 163 |
$335,000 / 321 |
|
January 2008 |
$600,000 / 228 |
$324,000 / 324 |
|
December 2007 |
$610,000 / 240 |
$320,000 / 353 |
|
November 2007 |
$610,000 / 245 |
$315,000 / 379 |
|
October 2007 |
$655,000 / 265 |
$322,500 / 423 |
|
September 2007 |
$650,000 / 255 |
$335,000 / 414 |
|
August 2007 |
$650,000 / 381 |
$325,000 / 495 |
|
July 2007 |
$640,500 / 339 |
$335,000 / 457 |
|
June 2007 |
$685,000 / 338 |
$334,000 / 547 |
|
May 2007 |
$650,000 / 357 |
$325,000 / 543 |
|
April 2007 |
$665,000 / 342 |
$325,000 / 527 |
|
March 2007 |
$643,500 / 330 |
$321,000 / 541 |
|
February 2007 |
$614,500 / 272 |
$320,000 / 402 |
|
Statistics: Year-to-Year |
-2.5% / -40.1% |
4.7% / -20.1% |
Our inventory on OAHU is still modest due to fewer homes/condos being listed on the market. For this reason it gives us a positive outlook because the inventory has NOT ballooned as in previous post-boom periods.
Just keep in mind that this too is an overall picture of our market in Honolulu County. (Which is the island of Oahu) and neighborhoods differ as well. For example, the prices for homes/condos in Mililani are stable whereas the prices in Ewa Beach have decreased a little and have a higher inventory overall. The number of Short Sales in Ewa are high whereas there are very few in Mililani. Newer, Older, Sq. Ft., Land Area and so forth are also to be considered.
IT JUST DEPENDS.
More Statistics on Neighborhoods:
- Relocating to Hawaii? Ewa Gentry & Ocean Pointe Communities
- http://activerain.com/blogsview/351247/Royal-Palm-Waipio-Gentry
- Ko Olina Resort & Marina: Can't Get Any Better Than This!
- Oahu, Hawaii Relocations: The Waipio Gentry Community, Oahu, Hawaii
- Hawaii Relocations: The Mililani Community on Oahu, Hawaii
FYI: Honolulu Board of REALTORS® was established in 1922 and is one of the largest of 1,600 boards of REALTORS®. With over 6,000 members on our island alone the Honolulu Board of Realtors ® is the largest trade organization on Oahu. The above statistics are from the Honolulu Board of Realtors ® and are taken from our Multiple Listing Service site.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate 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 Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
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.




So true!!! NAR is NOT doing us any favors by spreading this. We have been in difficult times for a FEW YEARS NOW. Our sellers are understanding this is true and pricing correctly now. It is a great time to buy in MI, especially Ann Arbor! Phew. thank you for letting me get that off my chest. ;-)
I feel better now. Thanks.
Well said Sis, I spoke to another prospective client today that cited The Media as their source for Real Estate Info and insight. I hate to beat a dead horse but people need to start taking some 'News' with a grain of salt. There is a big difference between 'News' & blatant ploys for ratings.
Sally- An excellent way to show that your area in Hawaii is different from my area over by Palm Springs, CA, We aren't similar at all.....so as you said those Media Stories aren't right !!!!! Hopefully when people see this, they will give some serious thought into THEIR situation, and where they want to live. Then ask a Professional, like yourself how the Market is.
Wonderful Job....
Sally - Very wise words and this can not be stress enough..Real estate is local, local. local! What is happening in your market might not be true in mine. Sellers and buyers alike need the services of a local professional REALTOR to give them the up to date information they need to order make informed decisions.
You're so right Sally. The national stats are totally unrelated to and provide a false impression of our market.
Geez. Most of the stats mix Mont/DC and areas of southern MD or Hagerstown in the same group.
All I want to do is scream, "HEY, HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT A MAP?"
Hi Sally,
You are a great source of information for consumers, real estate is local! :)
Woo-Hoo: RIGHT ON! NAR clumps every state into one pile and they might as well be pulling stats out of their ...well...out of something. Most states are suffering, to be honest. However, the numbers still vary greatly state to state and in fact, county to county.
OH...and don't get my started on the media with their gloom and doom.Talk about not helping the housing situation. They are clobbering us!
Good post!
Kathy: I just irks me to see all this stuff while watching the news....5:30..national news and announcing that "nationwide"....then our local news comes on to clean up that act.....but it's 'island wide' or state wide....in any case...only the Realtor® can give up to date and accurate info to match the individual circumstances and needs of the client.
Hi Suzanne! It sure is local! Thanks..hope you're doing well!
Kat; You're funny...you came back swinging all right! Good for you and glad you're doing well with your new life!
Marc: I know one thing...I deal with it with more facts...like my post :) The fact of the matter is....it depends... :)
Kelly: The LO needs to just do his figures ...or else go get his RE licens lol!
Well done, Sally. Many of us continue to talk about how the market is so local and looking even regionally can distort, one way or the other, what is actually going on. And it keeps changing as well. Making sweeping generalizations is rather risky, as we all know.
Jeff
Sally,
What a responsible post, keeping it real, keeping it local, telling it like it is.
Love it!
Audrey
Sally, you are right on with this analysis! Now, if only consumers would listen, really listen!
P.S. - I'm watching the Military Relocation contest for some of those awesome Hawaii relo posts you do,
George: Yup...and listen to their appropriate professional as well...(i.e. LO, Escrow etc.)
Jeff: Sure is....so why does the media and NAR keep doing it?
Lisa: I thought so too....it's good to give the public insight that not all they see and hear on tv etc. is fact.
Thanks Audrey!
Why thank you kind Dan!
Margaret: Been busy the last few days but not to worry....Been working on it....it will be a part 2 if not 3 series :)
Hey Pete...you're cute. Copied and pasted from my website program :)
Joan: Beats me....all I can do is paint the TRUE picture in my own market just like the rest of you. Doesn't it just want you to go 'harumph"?
James: Yes it is!!! Neighborhoods, town, complexes and the like. Bottom line...a Realtor ® can and will give them the correct comps in whatever area.
Sally... we both agree on this, that every market is different. It is about local market and you would think NAR would understand this and stop with the national references.