In Hawaii you hear it every day, “the Chinese are coming…with bags of money to buy up our real estate!”

Well, the reality is, Chinese buyers do buy, but still only represent an small part of the market here on Oahu, In 2012 Chinese investors made up five percent of all of Oahu’s international investors. But oftentimes when the Chinese do buy, they are selecting trophy properties in Kahala and along the ridges of East Honolulu - and they’re paying cash.

Following an Internet lead from China, I had a family that flew in specifically to purchase property. Within days, they had selected a million dollar-plus home in Kahala to use as a second home – of sorts. They paid for the property and then bought a car and other items for the home… all with cash. During their first year of ownership, the family returned to Hawaii only twice and eventually decided to sell and buy in Los Angeles where "the Chinese food was better.”

Back in early 2010, my clients were searching diligently for the perfect location for their next home – they researched Phoenix and Florida, but ultimately decided on Hawaii.

Why? Because the weather is perfect here!

They are very active people interested in buying a home where outdoor activities are easily accessible. They love to walk and swim every day and needed a location that emphasized that lifestyle.

I suggested we look at homes in Ko Olina with its two miles of white sandy beaches, four lagoons connected by over a mile and a half of seaside paths, a marina and private roadways with bike and golf paths. Ko Olina also has a challenging 18-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course, sports fishing charters, and snorkel and dolphin adventures. It seemed like a perfect fit for their needs. 

We spent time walking around the area, touring the grounds, the paths, shops and beaches. They fell in love with calm water of the Ko Olina lagoons and decided this is where they wanted to live.

Green Sea Turtle (Honu) sightings are plentiful in the waters at Ko Olina

Kailua Bluffs is located on the south end of Kailua, closest to neighboring Waimanalo. It’s a small community comprised of young families and empty nesters. The area was originally developed as tract housing (Lone Star Hawaii Properties, Inc.) in the mid-1980s and later converted to custom, single-family homes in the early 1990s. In addition to the homes, there’s also a small cluster of townhomes located on Kahako Street. 

My associate, Lauren Sanchez and her family are from Kailua Bluffs. Here is a photo of her father Carlos Sanchez in 1986, standing next to their home which was under construction. The photo below is the same home today.

You’ve found your dream home and made an offer. What’s next? Well after getting a mortgage, the most crucial item of the home buying process is the home inspection, and it’s often the one item that gets the least attention. This is your chance as a buyer to kick the tires and check under the hood, so to speak.

Why Get a Home Inspection

When I’m working with buyers, I like to give them a heads-up on the process, what to expect and what the results from the inspection mean. The purpose of the home inspection is to educate the buyer on the condition of the home they are buying.  

When I make an offer on behalf of my client, I always include an inspection contingency. If something does arise, I usually go back to the negotiating table so the buyer can ask the seller to take care of necessary repairs. The inspection contingency also gives them the right to back out of the deal if the inspection uncovers major flaws. Keep in mind, the home inspection is the buyer’s opportunity to find flaws that are deal-breakers, not necessarily a punch list of items for the seller to repair.

I usually insist that my clients are present for the home inspection. I tell them it’s much like buying a car. You can’t tell if it has problems unless you take it to a mechanic and have them explain what needs to be fixed, the long-term effects and the costs.