A few weeks ago, I started hearing loud construction noises near my office.  It’s an unavoidable part of urban life, and with all the road construction in this area, I didn’t really pay attention to it.  Just when I’ve grown acustomed to the construction sound, I realized where it was really coming from… One Ala Moana!

This is the view from my office.  One Ala Moana will be right next to our building.  My office is located on 15th floor and this photo gives you some ideas of what the views will be from One Ala Moana.

If you zoom into the photo, you can see a white line on the roof top.  I believe it’s the projected building’s footprint.  Am I the only person who thinks it looks a bit small?

What do you think?

ワンアラモアナ工事風景
アラモアナショッピングセンター　ノードストローム駐車場上に出来るワンアラモアナの建設風景。
１ヶ月程前から作業が始まり、毎日ドリルの音が絶えません。ガラス越しですが、私の事務所から撮った物です。事務所は１５階なので、このプロジェクトの１５階辺りを購入された方は左に少し見える海の風景が想像できると思います。
写真をズームしていただくと分かると思いますが、太い白線が引かれています。それが建物が建つ場所のようです。意外に小さいと思ったのは私だけでしょうか？

Luxury travelers and homeowners will have more choices of where to stay in Waikiki in 2016. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is set to make a splash with their first property on Oahu with what will be the tallest building in Waikiki.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach will be located at 2121 Kuhio Avenue, next to Luxury Row (Tiffany & Co.). All rooms will be oriented toward the ocean while offering studios to three-bedroom suites. Sales have been already begun and it’s selling at a steady pace. Prices start at $500,000. After the purchase, you can either live in your unit, or you can rent the room through Ritz-Carlton for their hotel guests. If you are interested in living in a tower that will change Waikiki’s skyline, please contact me.

ファーストクラスの滞在をワイキキで求めている人に朗報。2016年にリッツカールトンホテル社よりオアフ島初、そしてワイキキで最も高い建築物ができることが決まった。リッツカールトン レジデンス ワイキキビーチは2121クヒオ通りに位置し、ラグジュアリー ロー（テファニー）の隣にあたる。　すべての部屋は海側に面しており、スタジオタイプのお部屋より３寝室あるスイートまで用意されている。部屋の販売はもうすでに始まっており、着々とした売れ行きを見せている。価格は$50万より。購入後は、住居用に利用したり、リッツカールトンに委託してホテルの一室としてホテル客に貸し出しすることができる。リッツカールトンの部屋購入にご興味のある方は、私までご連絡ください。

  新しく出た物件紹介です。ホノルルの街中で1,500＋平方フィートもある２寝室２浴室２駐車場の土地つきのコンドミニアムが＄５０万ドルを切った＄４８万ドルで売りに出されました。内装は次の人が気持ちよく住めるように、バーバーカーペット、照明、フォーセット、冷蔵庫、食器洗い機、シャワーガラスドアなどを先週新しいものに取替え、古い壁紙や取り付けのものをはずしきれいにペンキを塗り、とてもきれいに仕上げてあります。 このコンドミニアムはワイキキ、アラモアナショッピングセンター、レストラン、スーパー、ダウンタウン、州各機関、主病院機関などが車で５分から１０分の範囲で行けるロケーションにあります。H1フリーウェイへの乗り降りにも非常に便利な立地条件です。 アメニティーはプール、ジャグジー、レクリエーションエリア、洗車エリア、ラウンジエリア、ゴルフパッテングエリア、テニスコートなどがあります。セキュリティーがしっかりしていて、ゲストパーキングもガレージ内にあります。また、スーツケースやつり道具等をしまうのに便利な小さな倉庫も地下にあります。    

These aren’t photos of a hip five-star hotel room, these are virtual image renderings for a residence with a new feature. The designer of this project focuses on adapting universal design principles – that is, the creation of environments everyone can use – to the challenges of specialized senior-living design. The virtual image photo is the designer’s signature design but can fit individual needs and budgets for the seniors who would like to redefine their retirement by taking up new activities and interests.

Packed with special features, the designs combine elegant forms with function. You won’t see the bulky grab bars bolted to the walls, but the function is still there.

This home of the future was created by Ventus Design LLC, a local design firm that I’ve been impressed with for some time. Known for creating bold contemporary designs, Ventus is also sensitive to the needs of our aging population. Seniors, or those 65-years and older are an ever increasing part of our population, but just because we’re all getting older doesn’t mean we have to eventually give up our lifestyle and taste. Ventus Design has the perfect solution for those who want to downsize, but still want to enjoy the modern amenities they experienced in their home.

If you want to learn more about how you can enjoy the next phase of your life, please contact me and I can set up a consultation.

Although we technically have seasons in Hawaii, it’s difficult to see the transition from one season to another. There’s no drastic change in temperature, no falling leaves, and no snow. Here we have rain and sun, and sun and rain.

One obvious difference is the change in traffic.

Spring in Hawaii means less cars on commuter roads and more traffic at shopping malls and beaches. School children are out for spring vacation and their parents take time off from work.

After this Easter Sunday, things should get back to normal (meaning more traffic).

Happy Easter!

Image credit: virynja / 123RF Stock Photo

Oahu’s north shore draws surf pros from around the world each year during the winter surf season. And as the swell gets larger, so do the crowds, who make the trek to the north shore to get a glimpse of the spectacular surf, and the world-class surfers riding them.

But the surf isn’t the only thing that’s going up on the North Shore. With Hawaii’s winter surf season in full swing, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the real estate fronting Hawaii’s most famous surf break: Banzai Pipeline.

In this article featured on Surfer Today, most of the properties fronting Pipeline are owned by surf companies. Some of the properties appreciated in value by 300% in the past five years alone.

Instead of renting homes each winter for their surf teams as they did in the past, brands like Quicksilver, O’Neill, and Volcom saw the investment opportunity of owning a home fronting Pipeline and bought the homes on this prime stretch of real estate. Pro surfers like Bruce Irons and Kelly Slater practically live in these houses during the winter surf season.

I checked the last two homes sold in the area and did a quick comparison. Both homes closed on December 14, 2012, and both have ocean views. The first home sold at $2,225K, it was originally purchased at $1,290K in 2000. The second home sold at $3,525K, it was originally purchased at $1,750K in 2002. Not bad.

Here’s a full list of available oceanfront properties in Haleiwa for sale.

Image credit: joshuaraineyphotography / 123RF Stock Photo

I normally purchase stamps my at the post office, but I’m ashamed to admit that I never really paid attention to the price of postage for international mail. My international volume is low, compared to my domestic mailings so I never paid close attention to it.

After learning of the new postage rate increase, I decided to check if there was such a thing as “forever international stamps.” I googled it and learned that it doesn’t exist… yet. But the first ever global forever stamp will be introduced on January 27th (the same day as the postage rate increase).

I wonder how many I should buy?

Just another thing to consider.

I don’t remember the last time postage rates increased, and I don’t even know the current postage rates. Since the “forever” stamp was introduced in 2007, that’s what I used exclusively. It seems like I’ve been using “forever” stamps… forever.

Forever stamps are only available in bulk. When I purchase forever stamps at the post office, my focus is to strategically figure out what format (book, sheet or roll of stamps) would be the most economically makes a sense to my needs. I do a lot of mass mailings so I could use a lot of stamps. In reality, you don’t realize the value of the forever stamp until the next rate increase. The more you have at the cheaper rate, the better. But that would mean making a big upfront investment.

I realize that postage rates increase each year. I also realize that I use a lot of stamps every year. Why can’t I just be smart and purchase forever stamps by the thousands? I should have bought thousands before and I should buy thousands right now, before the next rate increase in a few days (January 27th).

I think that there’s a part of me that wants to cut down my mailing volume and switch to email. It’s much more economical (and faster). But, stillI value the personal touch that a physical mail piece can offer.

What do you think I should do?

It doesn’t surprise me that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg invested some spare change to hold several units in Oahu’s next ultra-luxury condo. Dubbed “the next Hokua,” ONE Ala Moana offered 103 units to owner-occupant buyers last month and all 103 units were sold out in less than two days. There were a bunch of units offered to exclusive clients in Tokyo, Japan before this project was made public. If it’s true that Zuckerberg purchased several units, then there were other unpublicized sales.

The project is officially sold out, which is good for the project, but not good for the many frustrated buyers who are probably out there hoping to get in on the action.

I personally have mixed opinions on this project. I wonder if the project’s sale performance will be able to match it’s expectations.

フェイスブック創立者のマーク・ザックバーグ氏が　オアフ島の次のホクアと騒がれている高級コンドを幾室も押さえてる　と聞いても大富豪の彼だからちっとも驚きのニュースではない。”次のホクア”とはワンアラモアナのことで、先月、主住居目的者のみの購入者を募り、出した103室は2日で完売した。この物件発表がオアフ島でされる前に　実は東京ではもうすでに限られた人を対象に売出しが始まっていた。このザックバーク氏の購入が本当の話であれば、一般に公表されてない販売は東京以外にもあった事になる。

このプロジェクトは完売と言われている、販売としては非常に成績の良い事であるが、購入にありつけなかったローカルや　残念ながらザックバーク氏のように特別連絡を貰えなかった多くの投資家は　この完売というニュースに苛立ちを覚えているにちがいない。

個人的にはこのプロジェクトに対して色々複雑な意見。とりあえず　こんなに優等生販売を終えてしまって　この先のプロジェクトパフォーマンスも優等生で続けられるのだろうか？楽しみだ。

Can you guess what’s special about $86,300? $86,300 is the new Honolulu median income for a family of four, an increase of four percent over last year according to this article in Pacific Business News.

What does this mean for you?

According to Craig Nakashima, loan officer at Pacific Access Mortgage, it means you may be able to afford a purchase of *$550,000.

If you’ve never thought you would be able to own your own home, think again. In addition, there are many government assistant programs and non-profit organization out there to guide you through your first transaction.

*Based on a 740 FICO and no other monthly debt for a 30 year mortgage (3% down payment; loan amount of $533,500; Rate of 3.5% (APR of 3.622%) with mortgage insurance payment of $511.27 and property tax and insurance estimate of $300 per month.

$86,300。この額は何だと思いますか？　$86,300は新しく出された　ホノルルでの４人家族の中央的収入額で、パシッフィックビジネスニュースの記事によれば、前年に比べて４％増。

皆さんにとってどういう意味でしょうか？

パフィシックアクセスモーゲージ社のローンブローカー　ナカシマクレック氏によると、*$550,000の物件が買える経済力に値するようです。

家を買うなんて夢のまた夢と思っている方、もう一度見直してください。それに、連邦政府並びに州、そしてノンプロッフィットグループからの援助やガイダンスがあるんですよ。

*740 FICO スコア、他負債無し、30年ローン (3%の頭金; ローン額 $533,500; 金利3.5% (APR of 3.622%）ローン保険$511.27 そして固定資産税、住宅火災保険推定月$300の場合