TRUSTED BIG ISLAND RESOURSES
1 search MLS Listings www.alohaliving.com
2) About Volcanoes and Lava zones: There are now A few properties for sale in the areas near the active lava flow.
Recent lava flow activity has been in or near Leilani Estates, Pohoiki and Kapoho areas.
Somewhere around 15 square miles were covered with fresh lava, and we lost approximately 700 structures.
From destruction comes creation, and a new black sand beach and Enchanting new Swimming Spots. Hawaii County Civil Defense USGS Volcano Information Questions and Answers about Hawaii Lava Flows
The danger associated with living near an active volcano is a matter of perspective. No matter where you live there is risk of some kind of natural disaster: Earthquake, Tornado, Hurricane, Blizzard, Flood, Landslide, Sand Storm, Sink holes, Fire, Volcano... It's a matter of which risks you are willing to live with. Our volcanoes tend to ooze out a stream of lava and not explode quite like you see in other parts of the world. When the lava is flowing, we literally can get hundreds, or even thousands, of people who want to come see the flow and to visit our national park.
It is true that Hawaii Volcanic Lava Zones 1 and 2 can be more difficult to get mortgage loans on homes, while most permitted homes can get insurance through the HPIA program (Hawaii Property Insurance Association) or Lloyds of London. Many residents love these areas in Puna, Kau, and South Kona because of the weather and scenic beauty. If "being as far away from the lava as possible" is an issue to you, then we have areas in our North Hilo, Hamakua, and Kohala districts to search for property. Big Island Lava Hazard Zones
4) Coqui Frogs (Koki Frogs) information Coqui Frog Information
5) Hawaii Rain water information If you have a metal roof on your house, and use the rain gutters to catch the water where it goes into a large steel or plastic water tank. There is a filter system and water pump to bring the water into the house and sometimes A Ultra Violet Light that Purifies the Water usually found under the kitchen sink. Catchment Water Hawaii Island Weather
6) Big Island Hawaii Flood Zones: All of Hawaii County is mapped with a flood zone code. (The County has recently revised flood zone maps.) Unless you are near a stream or low elevation shoreline area, chances are your Hawaii property will be located in Flood Zone "X", which is the lowest level of risk area (less than 1% annual risk from surface flooding). Some properties may have localized ponding during a heavy rain, which is not reflected in the flood zone designation.
7) SSPP? Special Subdivision Project Provision.
This is a cost share between HELCO (Hawaiian Electric Light Company) and land owners to bring electricity to some of the rural subdivisions. When you hook up to the electric lines you pay a share of the cost of the power poles. I've seen SSPP range from about $500 to over $6000. Depending on the amount, you may be able to qualify for a payment plan with Helco. For specific details you will need a tax map key number of a particular property, then contact HELCO Engineering (808) 969-0311
8) Hawaii Land Tenure: Fee Simple or Leasehold. Fee Simple is when you buy the land, with the package of legal rights that come with it. Leasehold is when you rent the land, usually on a long term lease. For most people, fee simple better fits their long term goals, while for income investors, leasehold is an option worth looking at.
9) What is a Cesspool? Basically, a cesspool is just a well in the ground. It differs from a Septic System in that there is no tank that needs to be pumped every so often. Hawaii Cesspools Septic Systems
10) HARPTA - FIRPTA. Hawaii Real Property Tax Law (HARPTA) allows for income tax withholding from the proceeds of a sale. The State of Hawaii Department of Taxation generally requires that 7.25% of the sale price be withheld for taxes from an out of state Seller, unless you qualify for an exemption. Likewise, the US Government has the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) which requires that federal income tax be withheld on a sale for non-US residents. The Seller will get credit for the amount withheld towards any income tax owed on capital gain when the sale is reported on their Federal and/or Hawaii non-resident income tax return.
11) How many square feet are in an acre? 43,560 feet are in one acre. For most people, an acre of land is plenty to take care of. 12,000 sq ft is enough to give you a nice front yard and a back yard, while 8,000 sq ft gives you one or the other.
12) Can I use a Mainland lender to buy property in Hawaii? Yes - BUT! Off-Island mortgage agents may not familiar with some unique details in making loans in our local market, such as volcanic zones, agriculture zoning, catchment water systems, or which type of loans work in the various districts and subdivisions. I'm glad to work with whomever lender you choose, but I would like to encourage you to check out the recommended local lenders and mortgage brokers on my Hiloagent.com website, if just to compare loan options.
13) Where is the best place to live on the Big Island of Hawaii? Well... it all depends on YOU. What I have found is people generally like where they live, and for that reason, recommend that area or subdivision, and they do not always recommend where someone else lives. Some people like the warm dry sunny Southern California like weather of our Kona coast on the west side of Hawaii Island, with nearby golf and beach resorts, condos and timeshares, tourist shops and restaurants, sandy beaches of South Kohala and green pasture landscape around Waimea. Others prefer the cooler, more tropical and greener Hilo side of Hawaii Island, with its sunny mornings, partly cloudy afternoons, and rain most evenings as the clouds pass high around the mountains. Hilo has a "local Hawaii" small town atmosphere, scenic but rockier coastline with parks along Hilo Bay, or the developing Puna district from Artistic Town of Pahoa to cool and Clean Volcano, rural and Aloha Living by nature, with relative privacy in the Ohia forest. I have worked with clients who have moved from one side of the Big Island to the other saying "it was so different than what everyone told us!
Useful Links Below BIG ISLAND HAWAII SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES
OAHU HAWAII PROPERTY SEARCH
MAUI OR Kauai Hawaii PROPERTY SEARCH
HAWAII MAPS AND INFORMATION
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WORLDWIDE
ohttps://www.bestplaces.net
TO BUY OR SELL PROPERTY TEXT OR CALL 808-987-0793 CHARLIE RAY CRITTENDEN PB HAWAII INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES HIPHAWAII@YAHOO.COM
OR 808-542-2244 PAMELA CLEERE BIC ~ EMAIL PAMELACLEERE808@GMAIL.COM