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If you're thinking of relocating to Hawaii you find yourself wanting quite a bit of information. Making a move here is more than just making a move to another state. There's something significant about separating yourself by 2700 miles of ocean from friends and family, even if it is a move to paradise. You don't just jump in the car and go for a visit.
However, it is truly paradise! In my opinion, there is no better place to live than Hawaii and no nicer place in Hawaii than on the Kona Coast. To successfully relocate you will need information, you'll need questions answered that you haven't thought of yet and you'll need access to local information. That's where I come in. With a relocation, my task is to make it as simple and worry free as possible and that is done with information, lots of information which is really nothing more than answers to questions, questions you may not even know enough to ask right now.
Normally, the first step is to sell your existing home. If you don't have a Realtor I will be happy to refer you to a qualified, full time, professional Realtor in your area to get started.
Next is arranging for the move, physically. I can help with this part, the emotional preparation is probably more in your court. Below are some phone numbers that you may need. If you find that there are others and they aren't readily available just e-me and I'll find them for you.
SHIPPING YOUR BELONGINGS
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QUARANTINE
Recent legislation has made bringing pets to Hawaii a relatively easy process. go to:
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LEASEHOLD VS. FEE SIMPLE
The ownership of land in Hawaii is held in two ways; lease hold and fee simple. With lease hold land, you purchase the improvements on the land, the buildings, but not the land itself. Consequently, you pay a lease rent to the land owner, usually monthly, there is a time when the lease is renegotiated so the rent is equitable with the land value and an expiration date on the lease.
Most Hawaii leases were given for 55 years. In most cases there was a fixed period for the lease rent with 10 year increases over the first 30 years of the lease. After that, there is the renegotiation so for 30 years you know exactly what the rent is going to be. Upon renegotiation, the final 25 years of the rent is determined usually by appraisal.
There are different options when the lease expires. In some cases the improvements remain the property of the owner(leasee), in other cases the improvement become the property of the leassor. In either case the value of the property decreases over the life of the lease becoming zero for the leasee at the end of the lease period when it reverts back to the leassor.
Why would anyone buy lease you may be wondering. In some cases, the leased property is much less than a comparable fee property. If the property is for investment purposes, the investor looks at the potential return during the lease period, knowing the property reverts to the leassor, to decide if the return justifies the investment.
Fee Simple ownership is what most people think of when purchasing property. With fee ownership, you own the land and the improvements on the land. There is no lease rent to be paid; the only thing you don't own are the mineral and gas rights, those are reserved for the state.
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CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIME (CPR)
There is a considerable amount of land that has been "CPR'd" here in Hawaii. That means that the property has been divided such that there can be more than one home on it; however, the land is treated as a common element shared by the homes.
This comes from the laws allowing the building of condominiums; the purchase of one piece of land then building many condo units on that land. Each condominium owner has marketable title to their unit and a shared interest in the land the building sits on called a common interest in a common element. Normally this is an undivided interest meaning you can't cordon off your 1/128th share of the property but it is equally shared by all.
Somebody got the idea that if I can't subdivide my land because of zoning restrictions maybe I can pretend I'm going to build a condominium, divide the property that way and build two homes on one lot. Well, it worked so now you'll see many properties offered for sale that are "CPR'd".
There's nothing inherently wrong with CPR'd property but keep in mind that the water may be going to one meter only so looking into how the water is metered is just one of the details to be looked into when purchasing CPR property. There is complete documentation available to the buyer about the property and the CPR. You, as a buyer, will be provided with all that information before you're committed to making a purchase.
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CATCHMENT WATER
Another commonly asked question is "what is catchment water?" When going south from about the Captain Cook area you begin to see large water tanks on the land. These are catchment tanks; they're used because there is no county water service to these areas.
Catchment has been around and successfully used here for a very long time. Those areas where it is used normally have enough rain to provide water for regular usage. The gutter system of the home runs into the tanks to take full advantage of the rain. If there is a long dry spell, you may have to have water brought in or haul it yourself.
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MORE INFORMATION LINKS
Below are some other numbers you may find need of. If you'd like additional information on any of these subjects please e-mail or contact the agency that deals with your question. The Chamber of Commerce is also a good source of information and offers relocation packets.
Other links that may be of assistance:
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