Oahu Real Estate and Community News

April 2, 2021

West Oahu Ho'opili Development

Ho’opili is the newest state-of-the-art community in West Oahu, Hawaii. It will bring with it a huge number of townhomes, condominiums, as well as single and multi-family homes. It is being developed by D.R. Horton Hawaii, which is one of the most trusted local developers. This is because of the quality homes they have been delivering to homebuyers since 1978. Ho’opili is on the West side of Oahu. Therefore, it will serve as a bridge between Kapolei and Ewa Beach, which are thriving communities in the area. Ho’opili will be a 12,000 home community upon completion. 

Amenities

It will encompass roughly 1500 acres. This will feature a display of activity spaces such as playgrounds, seven recreation centers with pools, and wide sidewalks. It will also have five new schools (3 Elementary, 1 Middle, and 1 High School), entertainment on-site, as well as restaurants and grocery stores. The homes will feature modern interiors with a variety of countertops, cabinets, and flooring to choose from. Some of these include;

  • Soft close cabinets
  • Dark cherry cabinets
  • Soft close drawers
  • PV Solar ready
  • Split air conditioning
  • Tankless gas water heater
  • Stainless steel appliances
  • Pre-wired for ceiling fans

Neighborhood

Ho’opili is being created with the vision to bring togetherness for the inhabitants in this neighborhood. Residents will have access to an impressive assortment of new restaurants, entertainment, and shopping opportunities. This is thanks to the Ka Makana Ali’i Mall, one of the commercial retail additions to note. This shopping mall is just a few meters south of the Ho’opili development. 

The White Plains surfing beach is just a few minutes away from the development. So if you fancy surfing on a bright sunny day, be sure to check that out. 

For homeowners who may like to venture into the city, the Ho’opili station is their getaway location. This is where you can find the Honolulu Rail Station. It offers a very convenient means to travel to Metro Honolulu and Honolulu Airport. 

No other regions on the island have more sunny days than the Ewa Region. So families can take a stroll along the wide sidewalks. There are also lots of jogging and bike paths for people to use. 

The Ho’opili Park named “Konane” happens to be one of the first parks to which residents of the neighborhood will have access. It features a vast amount of green space for kids and dogs to play, as well as numerous jungle gym equipment. 

Posted in hoopili, West Oahu
March 7, 2021

How to Buy a House with 0 Down

A zero down payment mortgage is a type of mortgage that doesn’t require you to put any money down at closing. Putting no money down and buying a home sounds appealing to the ears. However, it’s quite an uphill task to get a zero down payment mortgage in reality. Banks no longer offer this to a majority of people due to the present financial climate. Many persons won't qualify for this offer, but there are circumstances in which homebuyers can purchase a house with no money down—wondering how to go about this? Let's take a look at how you can qualify for a zero down payment mortgage. 

Nowadays, you can only get it if you go for a government-backed loan. The federal government insures these loans. This implies that if you don't pay your mortgage, the government will be liable for it. So now, let's take a look at these government-backed loans below.

i) USDA Loan: The United States Department of Agriculture backs a USDA loan. The government offers USDA loans in an attempt to promote development in rural and suburban areas. The good thing is that USDA loans tend to have lower fees than other loans. However, there are certain criteria to be met to qualify for this loan. 

- The home you want to purchase must be in a rural or suburban area. You should consider taking a look at the USDA's map of the eligible areas. 

- There are also some financial requirements to be met. The gross income in your household (combined) should be less than or equal to 115% of the county's median income where your home is located. You shouldn't have a debt to income ratio greater than 45%. Your FICO Score should not be less than 640.

ii) VA Loans

An active duty service member, a veteran, the spouse of a deceased veteran, or a member of the National Guard can qualify for a VA loan. The Department of Veterans Affairs backs VA loans. You get to pay 2.15% of your loan as a one-time VA funding fee. This goes in as mortgage insurance. You must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for a VA loan:

- Must have served 181 consecutive days of active service in times of peace

- Must have served 90 consecutive days of active service in times of war

- Must be the spouse of a service member who died from a service-related disability or in the line of duty. 

- Must have served in the National Guard for more than 6 years. 

In addition to one of the above requirements, you ought to have a credit score not less than 640. 

So if you are thinking of buying your new house with a zero down payment, you should meet the criteria to obtain one of these government-backed loans. 

Posted in 0 Down, Interest Rates
Feb. 16, 2021

The Effects of Low-Interest Rates on Real Estate Purchases

Interest rates have a vital role to play in property cycles. It is therefore important for potential homebuyers like yourself to always have an idea of how high or low the interest rates are at any point in time. This will give you a clue of what is going on in the market. 

 

Ever since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a decline in interest rates. Such low-interest rates present homebuyers with a huge opportunity which they can take advantage of. 

 

Now the question you may be asking yourself is, “how do low-interest rates favor a homebuyer like myself?” That's a great question, and we'll look at how advantageous it is below.

 

Firstly, low-interest rates tend to encourage prospective homebuyers to get into the market. This is because it is more affordable to obtain finance. So if you were on the fence about purchasing a home, you are more likely to buy it now by taking a loan at a low-interest rate.

 

Now you may be wondering if this is the perfect time for you to buy a home. Of course, it is. This is because, in this present economy, we are experiencing historically low-interest rates. The current financial climate, therefore, makes this a great time for homebuyers to purchase a property. 

 

Low-interest rates also allow you to put as little as 3% to 5% down. This means you stand a chance of getting more for your money with regards to your home. So instead of getting that tiny apartment, you had in mind, you can now get something bigger and better. So you tend to afford more home. This will be great in helping you plan your future. You may have considered starting a family or living together with your siblings. Now, with low-interest rates, that dream will come true.

 

Regarding your mortgage, low-interest rates help keep it lower than it would have been otherwise. This leaves you with more money to consider upgrade options, purchasing a better-built home, or saving up that extra cash. Buying such homes for less can give you a higher resale value, making it a great return on your investment. 

 

From every angle you look at it, low-interest rates will favor homebuyers. So with the interest rates as low as they are now, this is the time to buy that home you’ve always dreamt of. 

July 31, 2017

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