By Lisa Scontras For a growing segment of the real estate market, downsizing from a single-family home to a condo is a great way to have it all. Amenities are the deal makers and include everything from pools and tennis courts to the fancier sand-bottomed pool at the Beach Villas in Ko Olina, the biometric […]

By Lisa Scontras Capital gains tax laws are set to expire at the end of this year. And if you think the only people who care about this are wheeler-dealer real estate investors, you might be surprised to learn how capital gains may affect you. First, the basics: Capital gains is a tax charged on […]

BY LISA SCONTRAS Buying local. Supporting area businesses keeps money in the local economy, which strengthens the community. And considering the current state of the economy, buying local is more important now than ever. It’s no different when it comes to shopping for a home loan. By “banking local” with a financial institution that understands […]

BY LISA SCONTRAS In 2005, Money magazine named Mililani as one of the best places in the country to live. Oahu’s first master-planned community, Mililani was built from scratch after Castle & Cooke planners recognized the shrinking demand for pineapple and sugarcane had cleared the way for development of a neighborhood that had the best […]

Nothing splashes cold water on a home-buying plan like the realization you’re too short on cash to afford the down payment. This is especially true today when reduced asking prices and cheap mortgage money make buying a house more irresistible than ever. If the prospect of renewed conservative lending guidelines, or the perception that you […]