Remember,  "You can choose your choices, but you can't choose the consequences.   Choose LIFE! "

Congratulations graduates!

Do you need to replace your refrigerator, freezer or washer?  You may qualify for a rebate from our local electric company, KIUC when you purchase the replacement appliance.  For more info....

To find out if you qualify for a Hula Mae Loan ....

Deadline is March 30, 2012. 

Go to:  Kauai Board of Realty 2012 Scholarship Application.        Best wishes students!

Koloa Landing Resort, Poipu's newest luxury condo villas will be releasing Fractional Ownership opportunities this summer.  For more information:  http://www.poipuproperty.com/2012/03/koloa-landing-resort.html

http://now.msn.com/money/0227-buffett-houses.aspx

• Increased the Additional Home Use Exemption (Low-Income) amount from $55,000 to $120,000 for Households with GROSS INCOME of $56,400 or less based on the 2010 Tax Returns. Extended application deadline until February 29, 2012
• “Grandfathered” the Circuit Breaker tax credits into the Permanent Home Use credits for taxpayers that received these credits in 2011 and removed the requirement to apply annually. This tax relief program is no longer available.
• Changed the Permanent Home Use cap from a flat 2% to the annual Consumer Price Index-Urban for Honolulu with a floor of 0%. The annual CPI-U Honolulu is released in February.
• Advanced the Notice of Assessment to February 15, 2012 (one month earlier).
• Advanced the Appeal deadline to March 10, 2012 (one month earlier
• Standardized the adjustment period for Refunds, Omitted Properties, and Exemption Rollbacks to 3 years.
• New exemption created for Commercial Alternative Energy Facilities that sell more than 25% of their energy to Kaua'i’s public utility company (KUIC). The applicant has the option to pay 1% of the gross revenue received or have the land valued as Industrial with a 50% exemption to land and a 100% exemption to energy improvements. This was adopted retroactively to 2011.
• Privately held properties that are leased to federal government agencies shall now be exempt from property

         Copyright County Of Kauai. All Rights Reserved.

The Kauai Bus is offering FREE rides from February 20 through March 10 to EVERYONE on Kauai. 

Along with the "free" bus rides, you will have an opportunity to enter a Kauai Bus Contes to win  a 1-month, 6-month or 12-month bus pass. 

There are 2 ways to win a FREE bus pass:

1. Complete an entry form located near the bus fare collection box (on the bus) 

-OR-

2.  Take a photo of your bus experience and email it to: sblane@kauai.gov. 

• Provide a short description about the photo, such as where and when you took it.
• Provide your contact information
• Photos may be featured on the county website or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/countyofkauai.

Click here to see Kauai Bus Schedules: http://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments/TransportationAgency/BusSchedules/tabid/208/Default.aspx

GOOD LUCK!!

If you are a legal resident of Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon or California here's your chance for a FREE trip to  Kauai!!  Win a 6 night/7 day vacation to Kauai compliments of RC Willey.com.  No purchase is necessary.   See link to enter:  https://www.rcwilley.com/dp/Hawaiian-Vacation-2012.jsp

This sweepstake travel package for 2 includes airfare, car rental and Wyndham Grand Koloa Landing Resort accommodations (see picture above).  Three (3) grand prizes will be awarded.  If you have family or friends that are legal residents of those 6 states mentioned above, you might want to forward this article to them! 

Deadline to enter is:  January 31, 2012. 

Represented the buyers of Poipu Sands #115, and we recorded a closing on this oceanview condo today.  This bank owned property was sold for $485,000.  Transaction went pretty smoothly. 

Brand New Home in Poipu Beach Estates! This is your chance to move into a beautifully constructed vacation home in the heart of Poipu! Walking distance to Kukuiula Shopping Village and its many eateries, and an easy stroll or bike ride to white sand swimming beaches. Enjoy a round of golf at our neighboring course at Kiahuna, or take in more views 5 minutes away at the Poipu Bay Golf Course. This property is situated within the Visitors Destination Area, allowing short term vacation rental. Poipu has it all! Brand New Home in Poipu Beach Estates! This is your chance to move into a beautifully constructed vacation home in the heart of Poipu! Walking distance to Kukuiula Shopping Village and its many eateries, and an easy stroll or bike ride to white sand swimming beaches. Enjoy a round of golf at our neighboring course at Kiahuna, or take in more views 5 minutes away at the Poipu Bay Golf Course. This property is situated within the Visitors Destination Area, allowing short term vacation rental. Poipu has it all!

Again, despite the distressed economy,  residential home purchases continue to increase. (See article below to compare with October report.)   Although Kauai land sales continue to struggle because of the difficulty  to obtain financing for vacant land, November sales increased, compared to last month .  Kauai's condo market sales continued to do very well. 

Below are the percentage of sales (by district) based on the total number of Kauai real estate sales for the month of November 2011:

Kauai residential  homes:  Koloa & Kawaihau districts  (tied at 31%),  Hanalei district 21%,  Waimea district 12% , Lihue district 5%

Kauai vacant land: Koloa district 33%,  Lihue & Kawaihau districts (tied at 25%), Hanalei district 17%

Kauai  condos:  Koloa district 43%,   Kawaihau district 24%,  Lihue district 19%, Hanalei district 14%

As you will notice, the Koloa district (which includes Poipu)  leads or shares the lead with the number of sales for  November.

Percentages are based on data provided courtesy of the Kauai Board of Realtors.

Despite the distressed economy,  Kauai's increase in home purchases seem to be due to the availability of  the many homes that are unfortunately being sold via short sale or because of foreclosure.    Kauai land sales continue to struggle because of the difficulty  to obtain financing for vacant land.   On the other hand, Kauai's condo market seem to be doing very well.  Kauai's second home market has seen an increase in activity also due to the low prices generated by the many preforeclosure and foreclosure condos on the market.  In this situation as well, despite the distress economy, Kauai's second home market  seems to be priced right and very favorable for those who find Kauai a treasured vacation destination.  

Below are the percentages (by district) based on the total number of real estate sales for the month of October 2011:

Kauai residential  homes:  Hanalei district 38%, Koloa district 20%, Kawaihau district 15%, Lihue district 15%, Waimea district 12%

Kauai vacant land:  Hanalei district 40%, Kawaihau district 30%, Koloa district 30%

Kauai  condos:  Hanalei district 30%,  Koloa district 30%,  Kawaihau district 20%,  Lihue district 20%

Four new homes at Poipu Beach Estates are finally bringing life to this new Poipu community.  Poipu Beach Estates is situated between Koloa Landing Resort and the Kiahuna Golf Course. See my "Top Picks" for the lots that I think are priced right.

Good morning Kauai!  Just reminding myself of what a blessing it is to be living here.  Have a great week!

 This is for those of you who never read the leaflets that accompany your utility bills: