Category: Hawaii Real Estate by Jason Wong

Selling a property in Hawaii? There is one hidden line item that catches many sellers off guard at closing: the Hawaii Conveyance Tax. Whether you are trading a family home in Honolulu or liquidating a luxury commercial asset on Maui, the State of Hawaii imposes a one-time transfer tax on the seller. But here is…

If you live in Hawaii or are planning to invest in Hawaii real estate, you need to know the truth about our water. You probably don’t have a “hard water” problem—you have a Volcanic Silica problem. In this video, I break down why mainland water softeners are a complete waste of money for island homes…

Aloha everyone. If you ask around at a weekend barbecue, people will tell you that you can sell a house in Hawaii anytime. While the optimism is great, the data tells a entirely different story. In this video, we dive deep into the Honolulu Board of Realtors MLS data to uncover the exact times of…

Have you ever seen those aesthetic 200-square-foot tiny homes online and thought about living mortgage-free in Hawaii? As a Principal Broker navigating Honolulu’s real estate market, I see investors and hopeful buyers make critical mistakes when it comes to alternative housing in the islands. In this video, we dive deep into the reality of the…

Are you ready to stop renting your electricity and start owning your power? Welcome to Hawaii, home to world-class beaches, unmatched luxury living, and the undisputed heavyweight champion of high electricity prices. At roughly 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, running an air conditioner in the islands isn’t just a matter of comfort—it’s a massive financial decision.…

Selling your Hawaii luxury condo or beachfront estate should be an exciting milestone, not a stressful financial headache. But if you’re a non-resident or foreign investor getting ready to close, you need to know about a six-letter acronym that catches many sellers off guard: HARPTA. In this deep dive, we are cutting through the rumors…

The ocean views and luxury countertops of a Hawaii condo are stunning, but what is hiding in the building’s financials? If you are buying a luxury condo in Hawaii—especially if you are an out-of-state or international buyer—there is one boring, 100-page PDF that could save you from a $50,000 financial nightmare: The Reserve Study. Under…

Is it possible to buy real estate without the whole world knowing? In an era where a simple internet search reveals your address, purchase price, and mortgage details, protecting your privacy is more critical than ever. In this video, we break down the ultimate strategy for “Asset Protection by Obscurity.” If you are investing in…

Water is beautiful in the ocean, but inside the walls of your Hawaii luxury property, it’s an absolute nightmare. Water damage is the second most common home insurance claim in the US, costing homeowners an average of $11,000 to $17,000 per incident. If you own a vacation home, an investment property, or a luxury estate…

Buying a beachfront home in Hawaii is the ultimate dream, but the Pacific Ocean is changing the rules of the game. If you’re looking at coastal property in paradise, you need to understand the “Climate Penalty” before you sign a single document. In this video, I break down the cold, hard, salty truth about sea-level…