According to the Pacific Business News Home sales on Oahu were up in January 2010, compared to January 2009. There were 162 single-family homes sold, compared to 122 homes sold last January… a 33 percent increase. Great news, but then again, everything is relative… according to a Star Bulletin article published a year ago, experts called January 2009 “very weak” for single-family home sales.
Here’s how the numbers stack up over a 3-year span:
For the first time in almost a decade, Hawaii home prices are the highest in the nation. According to experts, this is a sign that Hawaii’s real estate market is stable, compared to those on the mainland. In California’s Bay Area, the median price of single family homes dropped more than 40% compared to 1st quarter 2008 (Hawaii’s median price dropped 8% in the same period).
Luckily, we didn’t see the huge swings in our market, but economists warn that increasing interest rates may lower demand.
Back in 2006, people were lining up to purchase units at the Moana Vista condominium project. As the economy took a turn for the worse, people started backing out for fear that interest rates will climb before the project can be completed.
Today, the building stands half-finished as construction has been stalled since December. The developer is stuck without cash and reducing prices, but people are waiting for completion. And now, to make matters worse, the the contractor is suing the developer for $30 million.
Check out the KITV story here. Stay tuned for more on this development.
February’s 160 condo sales are exactly 50% of the 320 sales of February last year. Median prices fell as well, the median price of a single family home dropped 8% to $555K compared to $599K a year ago. Condo sales dropped 11% to $297K, compared to $335K a year ago. Hard to believe, but Hawaii median prices have remained steady compared to markets on the mainland.
The median price of a single-family home in Hawaii fell to $539,500 in January, the lowest price since 2005 according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors.“The current economic conditions are causing buyers to take a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude, as evidenced by the slow sales in Oahu’s residential housing marketing during January,” said Sandra “Sam” Bangerter, the board’s 2009 president.
Hawaii Realtors weigh in on Economy.com’s prediction. In this story by KGMB, realtors agree that a 30% drop is too drastic. It’s predictions like these that destroys consumer confidence and creates unrealistic expectations for potential buyers.
The Honolulu Advertiser article cites a national research study by Economy.com. The headline illicited response from Hawaii realtors who think this is overly pessimistic. Honolulu’s median price fell just 3% last year, and according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors, Hawaii’s inventory has remained stable. I think the most telling stat of all… In 2007, Economy.com forecast a 0.6 percent decline to Honolulu’s median home price. Instead, the median rose 2.1 percent that year.
Can the real estate market get so bad that banks are practically giving homes away? According to this article in Yahoo, foreclosures have turned banks into property management companies and it’s often cheaper for them to give these homes away rather than try to get market value for them.
A lot of these homes were listed and re-listed, or were previously put up for auction but didn’t sell. And many of them are “fixer-uppers,” and buyers will be required to make repairs and bring the houses up to code. But still… $1,000 is a great deal.
According to Honolulu Board of Realtors, the Oahu home prices in 2008 were fairly stable. If you compare the median price for single-family homes in 2008 and 2007, the median price in 2008 ($624,000) dropped only by 3 percent from 2007 ($643,500). When you do the same comparison by month, December’s median price in 2008 ($626,500) has actually risen by 3 percent from December 2007 ($610,000). Read Pacific Business News article
Based on the information from the Multiple Listing Service of the Honolulu Board of REALTORS active listings last updated on .
Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.