Big Island of Hawaii - 3rd Quarter Residential Market Report For 2009

3rd Quarter Residential Market Report for 2009:Lower end homes in Hilo town have shown price
***source of data is from Hawaii Informationstability over the past few months in the $175k
Systems. 3rd Quarter 2009 Stats as of 10/2to $225k range. If the Federal Government
2009chooses to extend or create a new home buying
YOY - Residential Sales for the Entire Island rosetax credit then activity and sales could be
25.27% from 273 (2008) to 342 (2009)affected in a positive way.
YOY - Residential Median Price for the EntireSouth Kohala resort markets in general have
Island was down 18.75% from $320,000 (2008)shown some softness. While much of the market
to $260,000 (2009)is driven by the visitor count and a second home
Summary by District:demand from out of State, there are a few signs
Puna median home price has seemed to hit athat a recovery will occur over the short term (in
plateau and the short sales and REO's sales havecertain resort markets). The exclusive
been fairly consistent. New homes in Hawaiandevelopments of the Kukio and Hualalai node,
Paradise Park (REO) have been consistent overwhich services the higher end of the resort
the past few months in the high $100's. I tend tomarket, has experienced record sales volume
believe that specific neighborhoods such asover the past few months, but at a substantial
Hawaiian Paradise Park have performed fairlydiscount off listed prices. In some cases resales
stable.have reflected discounts of 20 to 40 percent off
As with all residential markets, outside of thethe listed and acquisition prices. We believe some
Resort areas, the main concerns are theof these sales to be a real value in this market.
continued loss of jobs and the furloughs (loss ofWhile the other districts are distinct in their own
income) for our many government employees.nature and the type of Buyer's who will purchase
These factors along with a prolonged slump inin these areas, the activity is too low to comment
tourism could have an ever increasing negativeon directly. From an overall perspective no district
effect on the overall residential market.lives in a vacuum and direct or indirect forces on
South Hilo has showed stability in activity over theour local and national economy will continue to
past 3 quarters, but overall median prices haveway heavy on the activity and values in these
continued to fall. The same concerns of job lossmarket.
and loss of income to the general workforce areThat being said, there has been a significant drop
overriding concerns for market performance.in prices over the last couple years and there is
There is some value in the market as somevalue in the market.
Seller's have priced homes effectively (to sell).