By Lisa Scontras Tourism is rebounding and the economy is improving. Consumer confidence is high. And while no one is expecting a speedy recovery, 2011 is off to a bullish start. “I think the worst is behind us,” says Jeff Bamer, vice president, secondary market at First Hawaiian Bank. Bamer characterizes the upcoming year with […]

By Lisa Scontras A strong finish to the 2010 Oahu housing market has analysts optimistic about a recovery continuing into 2011. Year-end numbers on Oahu show an increase in sales volume overall as well as an increase in the median home price. The strength in Oahu’s single-family home market comes after two straight years of […]

By Lisa Scontras If you think that money spent on upgrading your home will auto-magically translate to an extraordinarily higher sales price, you’ll likely be disappointed to find in many cases, that’s not the case. “It’s a very common misconception,” says Stephanie Chan, a top broker and partner at Prudential Locations LLC. “The good news […]

By Lisa Scontras First Hawaiian Bank wants to help you keep your electric bills from going through the roof in 2011 by making solar energy more affordable. “Our new loan product is called EnergySmart,” says Derek Wong, vice president retail product management at First Hawaiian Bank. “We are offering 5-year loans at 0-percent financing.” The […]

By Lisa Scontras Buying your first home can be intimidating at the onset. Let’s face it, it’s a big commitment. But for decades, homeownership has continued to be a goal for many – a stake in their future. Lots of people have done it and so can you. You just need to know how to […]