Kauai Homes and Land Blog

What is Escrow?

Escrow is a Safeguard for Your Real Estate Transaction
Posted by Dani Dooley on August 05, 2023 in   Hawaii  Buyer Tips  Dani Dooley  Escrow  FAQs  First Time Home Buyers  Frequently Asked Questions  Homeownership  Seller Tips  Selling Your House  Tips
We're back with another answer to one of our frequently asked questions. If you missed the others you can find them here. Today's question is about defining escrow and it comes from a client in Kalaheo. They ask:Hey Dani, I see your posts that say “In Escrow”, or “Let's Open Escrow!” It sounds like it’s probably a good thing, but what is escrow? Thanks in advance, ~A.S.Yes! Escrow is a very good thing! Escrow is an arrangement used in real estate to protect the interests of parties inv... read more

What is a Leasehold Property?

Leasehold is a form of ownership in which you own the building but not the ground underneath it.
Posted by Dani Dooley on March 01, 2021 in   Hawaii  Dani Dooley  FAQs  Frequently Asked Questions  Kauai  Kauai Resorts  Kiahuna Plantation  Leasehold Properties  Poipu
We're back with another answer to one of our frequently asked questions. If you missed the others you can find them here. Today's question is perhaps our most asked question: What is a Leasehold Property?If you've been looking for smoking deals on Kauai it is likely you keep running into listings that say "This is a leasehold property".  One of the places I get the most questions about is Kiahuna Plantation in Poipu, a leasehold property where the prices start under $100,000. The price tag sounds tempting... read more

What is a Condotel?

Also known as a Condo-hotel, Condotels are operated like hotels but each room is individually owned like a condo
Posted by Dani Dooley on March 01, 2021 in   Hawaii  Condominium  Condos  Condotel  Dani Dooley  FAQs  Frequently Asked Questions  Kauai
We're back with another answer to one of our frequently asked questions. If you missed the others you can find them here. Today's answer defines what a Condotel is.The Kauai Beach Resort on the East shore of Kauai is an excellent example of a condotel. From the moment you drive on site you feel like you are at a resort hotel (because you are) and not the typical apartment complex style condominium. Kauai Beach Resort has a grand palm-lined front driveway, valet parking, a front desk and lobby reception area, and al... read more

Focus on Curb Appeal to Sell Your Home For More

Improving curb appeal is the number one thing a homeowner can do to boost the marketability of their home.
Posted by Dani Dooley on February 23, 2021 in   Hawaii  Curb Appeal  Dani Dooley  FAQs  For Sellers  Frequently Asked Questions  Kauai  Seller Tips  Tips
Curb appeal describes how your house looks from the curb; is it attractive, welcoming and enticing to potential buyers? For buyers your home's outdoor appearance can be a huge factor in whether they pursue the property and make an offer. If you do nothing else to get your home ready to sell, at least make the outside look great.Curb appeal is about making a great first impression. A Princeton research study found that people's first impressions of people and objects are made within 1/10th of a second, and... read more

Do Your Due Diligence: Get a Home Inspection

Congratulations, your offer has been accepted! Here's what happens next . . .
Posted by Dani Dooley on September 01, 2020 in   Hawaii  Dani Dooley  FAQs  For Buyers  Frequently Asked Questions  Home Inspections  Kauai
Your offer has been accepted and now it is time to do your due diligence. One of the first things I recommend is to get the property inspected by a professional home inspector. Your inspector will help you identify potential hazards or problems that you were not aware of so you can make an informed decision on the purchase of your new property.Most real estate contracts in the state of Hawaii are written up to include an inspection period. During the inspection period you are allowed and expected to thoroughly insp... read more