Kevin E. Lewis, Realtor® - Prudential Orchid Isle Properties, Hilo, Hawaii

NOBODY Knows the Big Island Like We Do!™ -  #1 Realty Sales Agency in East Hawaii Real Estate 2007

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Big Island of Hawaii Real Estate Buyer's Agent

Kevin E. Lewis is an Accredited Buyers Representative who can help as your Buyer's Agent anywhere on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I became a licensed Hawaii real estate agent in 2000 and have closed over 400 successful real estate transactions all over the Big Island.  I've helped investor clients, retirees, first time home buyers and everything in between in purchasing affordable Hawaii homes, condos, farm land and buildable vacant land.  I can help you search through our Big Island MLS Multiple Listing Service for properties in the districts of Hilo, Puna, Hamakua, Kohala, Kona and Kau.  If you have interest in Kauai, Maui, or Oahu real estate, I can refer you to excellent Realtors® on those Hawaiian Islands.

Below are some tips that will make our job easier to help you purchase your home or piece of land in Hawaii!  I look forward to working with you and having you as both neighbor and friend!   Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii  - Kevin     More About Kevin E. Lewis, Hawaii Realtor

1. Shopping for Property in the Right Order  -  The typical Buyer tends to search for property in the following order:  1) Search for the property they like.  2) See if it is in the right area.  3) Figure out how they will pay for it.  I have learned that the following order is more efficient:  1) Find out how much you can afford by getting qualified for a loan in advance.  2) Search for the right areas based on your price range and what features are important to you.  3) Search for the best real estate opportunity in the right area.

2. Searching the property listings thru our MLS Multiple Listing Service - BIG QUESTION:  Do we search for the best "Bang for the Buck" in your price range, or...  Do we search for the type of property that you really want,  even if it is a little more money than you hope to spend.  It will save both of us quite a bit of time if you decide this in the beginning.

          Properties searches can be filtered by:

• Price -  It's helpful if you let me know the absolute max that you would even dare consider.  To help determine this, I ask my clients to go to a HAWAII lender to get pre-qualified for a loan so that we know your financial limits and are prepared to offer just in case the right property shows up.  I have some recommended mortgage brokers and lenders listed on my Referrals page.  We can use mainland lenders, but they often are not familiar the peculiarities with Hawaii Island real estate and the types of loans that work here.  i.e., Waikiki is NOT on the Big Island of Hawaii.
   
• Location -  We can search for property by Hilo Hamakua Puna Kona Kohala Kau districts, Tax Map Key area, or by Subdivision anywhere on the Big Island.  Sometimes a client wants to search everywhere for the perfect house... but if we find it in the wrong area, it just doesn't work.  Clients have asked me, "Can't you just move this house to this other area?"  It's often better to decide on the right area first, (price and distance will narrow our search), and then look for the best bargain that works for you.  Mileage and Distance Chart
   
• Size of Land and Size of House -  I can filter searches by the minimum or maximum square foot of house or land, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, etc.
   
• Terms -  i.e., Does the property qualify for bank loan, is there a possibility of seller financing, etc.
   
• Utilities -  i.e., Is there piped water or rain water catchment, electric lines or off grid solar power, paved roads or graded gravel roads...
   
• Listing Remarks - I can sort for certain keywords such as "farm" "fruit trees" "privacy" "stream" "ocean view", "bank foreclosure" "piped water" etc.  However, this type of search is often limited to what the listing agent has input in the listing.

   

• If you just want an idea of "what is available for the money", you can start by checking out my listings!  View My Real Estate Listings.  You are welcome to search other Big Island of Hawaii properties for sale through our Prudential real estate website,  www. Real Estate Hawaii .com

I can put you on an automatic email list to receive the latest property listings that fit certain parameters.  If there are too many listings,  we will need to narrow our search.  If not enough interesting properties show up, we can increase our search by adding more price ranges or locations.  When one of the listings seem interesting, let me know so I can research additional information.

I suggest using these listings as a guide for what you get in the price range as I have seen a clients fall in love with a property online that sold before they arrived.  About 75% of my clients throw out everything they have looked at online once they are here and get an idea of what is what and where things are.  Usually it is the location that changes their mind.  Keep track of the MLS numbers that are the most interesting so that about a week or two before you arrive to the Big Island, I can check to see which listings are still available.

It generally works out best when we sit down at the computer together, I can give you maps for drive-bys so you can check out the area, then we get back together to start booking appointments.  Together we work as a team to help you narrow down to what you really hope to find as your place on our wonderful Island called Hawaii.

3. Additional Helpful Information

• Our Hawaii real estate "Buying Season" is generally January thru May.  If you are coming here during those months, please let me know so I can schedule quality time with you.

• Realtors are commission paid sales agents.  The MLS is where the member real estate agencies post their listings, so we generally all have the same inventory to show you.  I know that potential Buyers are also shopping for an agent that they would like to work with.  I certainly hope to be the one!  But that is my point.  I'm glad to answer quick questions to anyone.  However, at some point I need to know that you are working with me as your agent.  I get a LOT of email inquiries about Hawaiian real estate, and I need to be somewhat protective of my time so that I can be available to help my clients.  I dedicate my property showing time (or running out to preview a property) for the clients who have hired me as their agent.  Thank you for understanding.

   

• What about For Sale By Owner FSBO properties?  I can work with you as your agent though a Buyers Representation Agreement.  Sometimes the Seller pays my fee, sometimes the Buyer, sometimes it is shared.  This is how I get paid for spending the time with you to learn about the area, comparing to see if the property is a good value, help as your representative though the offer and escrow process.  I have generally found that a FSBO Seller does not say "I think I'll save a Buyer money and sell it myself.  What they are really saying is "I want more money that a Realtor says it is worth."  There have also been times that I have seen that there is something that a FSBO Seller does not want you to know.  ie, the home was built using owner builder permits and the timing of the sale may be against Hawaii State law.

• Prudential 2008 Buyers Guide of Listings

• Big Island Hawaii Real Estate Listings - See my Affordable Hawaii Hilo Puna Homes Condos Land for sale

• Hawaii Multiple Listing Service - Search the Big Island MLS for the best property listings

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Housing Predictor  Move Advocate Relocation Assistance  Owner Builder Permits  Why Use a REALTOR?

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Kevin E. Lewis, Hilo Hawaii REALTOR® - Prudential Orchid Isle Properties  (808) 969-7863 x130

Helping clients find great real estate values all over the Big Island of Hawaii™

Mahalo for visiting my Big Island Hawaii Real Estate Website!

www. HiloAgent .com