Don & Sylvia Leutz |
| Hawaii Realtor Brokers
Century 21 All Islands
5-4280 Kuhio Highway
Princeville, Hawaii 96722
808-652-9402 |
Also licensed in California and Nevada
Accredited Buyer Representatives (ABR)
Graduates of the Realtor Institute (GRI)
Members, Luxury Home Marketing Institute
Resort and Second Home Property Specialists
Don is a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
On the Internet:
KAUAI JANUARY STATS
Residential
21 Homes Sold
Median Price $630,000
Land
7 Parcels Sold
Median Price $855,000
Condos
20 Condos Sold
Median Price $586,000
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SEARCH THE MLS FOR KAUAI LISTINGS ONLINE:
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Greetings! 
This is one of our favorite months of the year! There's the Superbowl... Valentine's Day... Sylvia's Birthday...the President's Day Holiday... and this year one extra day to celebrate February on the 29th!
If winter weather is getting you down, why not try an escape to our beautiful "Garden Island" of Kauai? It's one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world! And of course, if you're looking for your own little piece of paradise, we would LOVE to help. Best wishes for a great month. We look forward to seeing you again on Kauai soon.
Aloha,
Don & Sylvia |
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 Don & Sylvia attend CRS "Sellebration" in Honolulu!
We were honored to be among the 800 top agents in the country who gathered in Honolulu earlier this week for the CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) annual "Sellebration". What an opportunity it was to meet agents from all over the country, "talk story" as they say here in Hawaii, and get oriented for a successful year in the new world of real estate. So what is there to "Sellebrate"? That the best properties are still selling! We learned so much about what it takes to provide the best service for our buyers and sellers in today's high speed high tech world.
But honestly, it wasn't all work. It was great to get the chance just to be a "tourist" in Honolulu... if only for a little while. First, we set out to explore Diamond Head. The guidebook calls it an "easy to moderate" hike. We were challenged, but we made the hike all the way up to the top. Wow, what a hike - but what a view!  There are no elevators, just lots and lots and lots of steps. Then you climb through a little opening and WOW... there's the view and you forget all about how hard it was to get there. We also had time to take in the Waikiki Aquarium. It is managed by the University of Hawaii students and full of the most unique and beautiful fish, shellfish and coral in the world. It's a great place to take the kids or just to get out of the hot Hawaiian sun for awhile. There is a nominal admission charge, but it is well worth it to see all the beautiful marine life up close without even having to get wet.  So, if you need virtual winter break, check out this link to a Virtual Tour of:
or check out the Live Coral Webcam at the Waikiki Aquarium's website: www.waquarium.org |
 Newsweek Magazine Online asks "What Housing Crisis?"
While the housing market is struggling in some areas - the luxury home market is not one of them. You can read all about it in this Newsweek article that explains why the very wealthy are putting more of their money into residential real estate. We weren't surprised because we are seeing the continued sale of some premium properties here on Kauai. Last month, we updated you on Kauai's Top 10 Residential Sales for 2007. And 2008 is also getting off to an amazing start with the announcement on Monday of this week that a Luxury Oceanfront Residence in Poipu listed at $5,995,000 has gone into escrow. The largest sale so far this year was a 194 acre North Shore acreage parcel that sold for $6,750,000. It's clear that the rich and famous have found Kauai. But unlike some of the country's Luxury Markets, Kauai has something for everyone - and that's what keeps it fun! Here's a link to the entire Newsweek article:
Reasons to Buy your Retirement House Now!
Buying a home while prices are sliding is not an easy decision. After all, you never know when things will bottom out. But if your goal is to retire in a vacation-like property in a decade or so, and you can afford to buy now, today's tepid housing market may offer a great opportunity to put your plans into motion early. Here's why. First of all, home prices won't weaken forever, and interest rates won't fall forever, and they will both almost certainly be much higher in 10 years. Waterfront and resort properties and those with spectacular views - just the features you dream of for a retirement home - can be expected to rise the fastest. Yet for even prime properties in today's market, competing bids are rare, and sellers are eager to deal. You have bargaining power. Mortgage rates remain low for those with good credit, and interest rates are especially attractive for 15 year fixed loans, allowing you to pay off your mortgage before you retire. Here on Kauai, people planning for future retirement sometimes rent their future home out in the meantime - either as a long term rental or vacation rental. Others just keep their home as a private getaway for themselves, friends and family.
If you have considered retiring to Kauai - or to the Tahoe/Reno area - we would be happy to help get you started on investing in your future now. Just give us a call at 808-652-9402 or email us at Leutz@Inreach.com . |
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NEXT MONTH - COMPLETE DETAILS ON KAUAI'S NEW VACATION RENTAL ORDINANCE! |
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