Buyer Resources

Services for Buyers

The Hawaii Real Estate Organization provides a fresh alternative to the traditional real estate search process of locating that perfect property and the right real estate agent in Hawaii. We believe that buyers should be able to locate the best of both, at the same time. In the end, most buyers need just one knowledgeable agent or Brokerage Company in Hawaii to represent their interests (and not those of the seller), assess the local market and zero in on that single property that meets their needs. There are thousands of real estate agents in Hawaii and there are tens of thousands of real estate listings for sale across the islands of Hawaii, so how do you find the best of each?  Let’s say that you would like to buy a piece of land in Maui or a farm in Kauai or you want to run a small eco-friendly agricultural-tourism business on the coast of Maui, you might want to consider contacting an agent or land broker that specializes in land acquisitions or farm and ranch properties. The HawaiiRealEstate.org website automatically connects buyers with that optimal agent to represent them for that specific and optimal property type all in one search. Click here to learn more about our Hawaii Broker, Mr. Eric West, and many testimonials from satisfied customers.

(Here is an example):  John from Cincinnati, Ohio has always dreamed of having a small farm in Kauai. Because John has the ability to search every Hawaii MLS listing for every property listed for sale on each island of Hawaii, he quickly zeros in on what he thinks might be the perfect property for his small farming dreams. John is even more excited when he sees the contact information for one of only a few accredited land brokers living and working in Hawaii. Furthermore that broker happens to be a THREO Real Estate member operating in Kauai so John knows that this broker is the best of the best in the location and field that they specialize in.

Our multiple Island property search allows visitors to find any listing for any property for sale in Hawaii and connect with quality buyer representative simultaneously. Hawaii is versatile and dynamic island chain offering a vast variety of terrain, landscapes, geography and topography. Real estate brokerage companies in Hawaii are just as diverse as the real estate they sell and specialize in.  The Hawaii Real Estate Organization participating and in house brokers specialize in property ranging from, Condos for sale in the city of Honolulu to farms and ranches for sale on the big Island and Kauai. The THREO group is an organization made up of multiple agents from multiple brokerage companies across Hawaii, providing the most comprehensive base of knowledgeable “buyer” representatives that Hawaii has to offer. When buyers find that perfect property in Maui or that Luxury home in Oahu, they can instantly connect with the premier agent(s) on those particular islands.

The Hawaii Real Estate Organization website search tools provides quick access to competent and reputable “BUYER” agent representation on Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Our dynamic MLS search leads, links and funnels each Hawaii property listing to the leading “BUYERS” agent on each of those individual Islands. There are direct contact links with email and phone numbers for each THREO office on each island of Hawaii. We hope the HawaiiRealEstate.org MLS search, allow visitors to get more time to play in Hawaii and less time searching and researching for real estate and agents in Hawaii.

 

by Hawaii's Best Real Estate Eric West
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Getting Your Home Possessions and Automobile to Hawaii

Okay, so you are moving to Hawaii. What can you take and how do you get it there?

Household Items

When packing items for your move to Hawaii consider how long you anticipate you will live there. Are you being stationed there with the military? Are you going for school or for something more permanent like a job in which you may need to move your whole family? If you know you will only live in Hawaii for a year or two perhaps putting some of your possessions in storage on the mainland would be a good option for you since shipping can be costly. However, if you are going to live there indefinitely, perhaps downsizing unnecessary and unwanted items is a good starting point. For example, you wouldn’t need a snowboard or an extensive cold weather wardrobe in Hawaii. However, a light weight rain jacket and rust proof items would be keepers. Once you have identified the items you will need and want you can begin packing. Now days you can reserve an oceanic approved shipping crate and have it dropped off at your house and as long as everything fits in the container it can be shipped to Hawaii.  Containers range in size from 20 feet to 45 feet or 1100 cubic feet to 3000 cubic feet. Some full service moving companies will pack your belongings, arrange for the shipping, and help you unpack your items once they arrive. Check with your moving service to see what services they can provide to your location. You may be able to share a container with another person and reduce your costs. Keep in mind the cost of moving your stuff typically increases when you ask more of movers (i.e. packing), so if you are trying to keep costs down, do as much as you can yourself.  Costs will vary depending where in the mainland you are moving from and the amount of stuff you are moving and the size of the shipping container. Expect costs to be anywhere from as low as $2,500 to $25,000 or more.

Automobiles

Take into consideration your life style and proximity to work and family needs when making the decision to import a car to Hawaii.  Depending on what your needs may be you may find it more reasonable to purchase a vehicle on the island and sell your current automobile. Maybe a bicycle or a scooter would better suit your needs on the island. When shipping a vehicle to Hawaii you will need to have the original title and registration and emissions or at least three copies of each the originals. If there is a lien holder on the title you should expect to need a letter stating you are able to transport the vehicle off the mainland. Strict emissions policies may restrict your ability to ship some foreign and older cars ashore, so be sure your vehicle has passed emissions prior to booking shipment. Costs are generally around $1000 to ship an automobile from the west coast. If your vehicle can fit in the same container as your household belongings then they can be shipped together. If your container is full from your household items then your vehicle can be shipped in a separate container. However, vehicles can be no bigger than 21 feet 8 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 7 inches high. Vehicles must be empty when shipped and have less than half a tank of gas. Expect your vehicle to arrive in roughly three to four weeks once it has left the mainland port. Vehicle shipping can be arranged through a company specializing in automobile shipping and/or through a regular moving company servicing the Hawaiian Islands. 

Moving Your Pets to Hawaii

So you are moving to Hawaii. Now how do you get your beloved pets across the great Pacific Ocean? Well, we did some research and we have listed the key things you need to know when moving your pets to Hawaii.

Pets

1. You will need to get your pets (and or livestock) vaccinated within 90 of the time you wish for them to arrive on the island. You will need to show paperwork from your veterinarian verifying your pet was not only vaccinated for rabies, but was also treated for fleas and ticks within the last 14 days prior to your pet’s arrival at the Honolulu airport. If you fail to do this your pet will not be allowed to leave the airport quarantine area and could be sent back to the mainland until the proper paperwork can be provided. 
2. No puppies and kittens allowed! Dogs and Cats must be at least 10 months old in order to have had enough time to receive all of their vaccinations. So sorry, but you’ll have to re-think buying a kitten or puppy prior to moving to Hawaii. Pregnant pets past 40 days gestation won’t be allowed on the island either. A vet check-up can help you determine gestation if unsure.
3. Pets that are not allowed ever?...Alligators,  Bearded Dragon Lizards, Ferrets, Gerbils, Hamsters, Geckos, Snakes, Snapping Turtles, Toucans, Monk Parakeets, Land Snails.
4. Hawaii offers a 120 Day and a 5-Day-Or-Less quarantine program. The 5 Day program costs $224 and can be paid upon arrival. To qualify for the 5 Day program your pet must have an up-to-date health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and your pet must have had at least two rabies vaccinations in the pet’s lifetime (at least 30 days apart) prior to arrival. Pets must have a working microchip implanted and have obtained a passing OIE-FAVN Rabies blood test from Kansas State University . After receiving a passing blood test from KSU your pet must wait at least 120 days before arriving in Hawaii. Pet owners must bring the original veterinarian documents with them to the airport – copies are not acceptable. The 120 day program costs $1,080 and the requirements are the same as the 5 Day program except your pet can wait out the 120 days on the island in quarantine instead of on the mainland before you arrive. Because your pet is waiting out the 120 days on the island in quarantine, pet owners have to pay more to cover the costs of housing, feeding, grooming and for any vaccinations your pet still needs while in quarantine. The 120 Day program is a costly timely option and can be more stressful on your pet than the 5 Day program. Due to the length of stay a picture is required for pet identification and any persons whom are eligible for pet pick up must be registered with the quarantine station prior to pick up. Additional fees are charged for pets that are not picked up on time after quarantine is complete. Pets cannot be visited or groomed Mondays, Fridays or on State Holidays, but pets can be released to owners every day of the week if scheduled in advance. 
5. Flights. Pets can fly on a variety of airlines to the Honolulu airport and then fly in between islands on jumper airplanes thereafter.  Depending on where in the mainland you are traveling from costs can vary greatly, but most flights lead to a last mainland departure from Los Angeles or San Francisco California. Now days it is not recommended to sedate pets for flights as it is believed to create greater distress for the animals than the flight alone can induce. Getting your pet familiar and comfortable with their travel crate weeks before the fight is really the best way to ensure your pet has a good flight. Only food, water and bedding are allowed in crates. No toys or other items are allowed. Crates should display a label indicating the pet’s destination address and the last time they received food and water. Crates should be adequate in size to allow the animal to be able to turn around easily. Food and water should be secured to the crate using tape to ensure they won’t be knocked lose by the animal during the flight. Crates will have to pass through security screening (x-ray) and pets will need to walk through the metal detector prior to boarding. You will need to show your veterinarian paperwork possibly several times during the check-in process and again upon arrival.