Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Wednesday Morning Coffee on Maui 10/09/13



Aloha & Good Morning!

Today's forecast for Maui will be sunny with highs around 85 degrees!

It is hard to believe that our economic situation was so tough just 18 months ago, because it sure has changed.  If you recall, 18 months ago the real estate market was moving slowly, the unemployment rate was worrisome, and a third of real estate sales involved either short sales or the resale of foreclosed homes. We were wondering if the great recession would ever end.
                                                                             
Today Hawaii boasts the 3rd lowest unemployment rate in the Nation at 4.3%, topped only by North and South Dakota which are experiencing an oil boom. Yes, Hawaii is #3 and that is fantastic and incredible news to share. Nationwide our unemployment rate is at a 6-year low, key economic indicators like auto sales are at a 6-year high, and nationwide we are experiencing the highest existing home sales since 2007.

Just 3 years ago
  • 35% of real estate sales Jan-Sept on Maui were distressed properties, either short sales or sales of bank-owned REO properties.
  • In 2012 the number of distressed properties was 27%
  • Today the percentage of distressed properties is down to 13%.
  • Overall sales for the same time period of Jan-Sept. are up by 14.5% last year to this year.
  • Median Prices of homes sold are up 16% to a median price for a single family home on Maui of $539,444 and a condo of $377,200.
Again we're ahead of the national average, but even nationwide real estate sales are up more than 10%, and prices are up over 8%.

If you've been following these weekly newsletters you probably started to see thi change about a year ago.  If this change and growth performs as it has, then the upswing of the cycle on Maui should last approximately 4-6 years. Every real estate market is different, but Maui's market runs in 10-12 year cycles. That means we're at the beginning of the upswing, and it's a great time to buy. For sellers this means a great time to sell because there is little competition. It's a unique situation for many to take advantage of.

The significant upswing in real estate sales is partly due to the exceptionally low inventory. Again, this is a nationwide phenomenon, but on Maui we are down over 50% in inventory since 2007. In other words, 6 years ago there were twice as many properties for sale as there are today.  Why is this? Because we have built very little new inventory over these 6 years and the population keeps growing. Better yet, Maui keeps growing  because people  want to be here. We have the highest quality of life and  we are continually rated the #1 Island.  That is why we can all say Maui is No Ka Oi!

Now is the time in the cycle of the market that you've been waiting for. The time is now. 


Don't forget to get your name in for this year's exciting iPad giveaway!  

Click HERE to see all the current listings with Real Estate Sales Maui!
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Looking for the current Bank Owned Foreclosures on Maui?  Click HERE. 

Lender Corner by Craig Haueisen                                                                                         
Last Week In The News
The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending September 27 fell 0.4%. Purchase volume fell 6%. Refinancing applications increased 3%.
Manufacturing activity rose to 56.2 in September after a reading of 55.7 in August. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the fourth consecutive month of expansion and the strongest reading since April 2011.
Motor vehicle sales fell 5.1% in September to an annualized sales rate of 15.3 million cars and light trucks. Compared to September 2012, motor vehicle sales have increased 3.4%.
Retail sales fell 0.2% for the week ending September 28, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index. On a year-over-year basis, retailers saw sales increase 2.1%.
Non-manufacturing activity fell to 54.4 in September from 58.6 in August. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 45th straight month of expansion in the services sector.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits for the week ending September 28 rose by 1,000 to 308,000. Continuing claims for the week ending September 21 rose by 104,000 to 2.925 million. The less volatile four-week average of claims for unemployment benefits was 305,000, the lowest level since May 2007.
Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on international trade on October 8, wholesale trade on October 9 and retail sales on October 11.
Craig Haueisen is a Loan Officer with Prospect Mortgage.  Please feel free to email him or call him for any of your Mortgage needs.
Office: 808-298-7549 or Email: craig.haueisen@prospectmtg.com
Click here to visit Craig's website and apply online: http://myprospectmortgage.com/CHaueisen

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