Email: "Maui Home Ownership 101"
*To:		<--TO Email REQUIRED!
*From:		<--FROM Email REQUIRED!

Buying a new home can often be an emotional experience, especially for first-time homebuyers, who may not expect a variety of unforeseen expenses or obstacles. First-time homebuying seminars can provide participants with a comprehensive range of information that can ease the homebuying process and help avoid any potential stumbling blocks.


 On Wednesday, July 29, a group of prospective homebuyers gathered to hear the ABCs of Maui real estate from Keller Williams Realtor Randy Antonio, Title Guaranty Kihei Branch Manager Robyn Delapina and Windsor Capital Mortgage Loan Officer Craig Haueisen at the monthly 1st Time Homebuyers Seminar hosted by Keller Williams Realty Maui.


From securing a loan to navigating the escrow process, the trio of real estate experts demystified the homebuying process and provided some words of encouragement to the audience of potential homeowners.


“It takes belief that you can do it,” said Antonio. “All it really takes is an understanding of the process, and that’s what we are here for.”


It is essential to know the fundamentals of home ownership, he said, such as down payments, equity build-up, tax benefits and the differences between owning and renting a home.


Antonio reminded seminar participants that when it comes to real estate, all neighborhoods are different, from Pukalani and Ha‘iku to Wailea and Kihei. “You need to process information very carefully,” he said, “and prepare yourself with the facts.”


In addition, said Antonio, when drawing up a contract, first-time homebuyers need to learn the basics of negotiation—or know who to hire to help them negotiate a good deal.


“The goal is to be in a win-win situation,” he said. “That’s what negotiating is all about.”


Most importantly, Antonio said, new homebuyers must make the right decision. “Choose with your heart and your head,” he said. “It’s really like investing in a long-term relationship, so it’s important to make the right choice.”


As she explained “Escrow 101,” Delapina admitted, “Escrow can be like a foreign language.” She described a number of challenges that can arise, including dreaded scenarios of contracts “falling out of escrow,” and how to avoid them. While it may seem complicated, she said, the best thing to do is ask questions and “know what you’re getting into… there should be no surprises.” According to Delapina, escrow and title insurance are often regarded as mysteries and she hopes to simplify a complex process. “That’s why seminars like these are so important,” she said. “They give people clarification.”


Turning to the most prevalent element of real estate, mortgage expert Haueisen explained the common sense of dollars and cents in today’s real estate market.“You are in the driver’s seat,” he said. “This is a buyer’s market.”


As for securing the funds to buy a new home, Haueisen said, “The money is out there; it’s just a matter of what you qualify for.”


He dispelled a variety of “mortgage myths,” such as misconceptions that there is no money available to lend and no funding for the self-employed. “That’s simply not true,” he said. “If you qualify, they [loans] are out there.”


With historically low interest rates, reduced home prices and a large inventory to choose from, it truly is a buyer’s market, and Antonio, Delapina and Haueisen strongly encourage those considering a home purchase to move forward and make the dream of homeownership come true.


And with an $8,000 tax credit available to homebuyers who have not owned a home in three years, Maui’s real estate market is full of extraordinary opportunities. “We don’t know when these opportunities are going to end,” said Antonio. “The bell won’t ring when the market hits bottom.” For those who want to take advantage of a buyer’s market, attending a first-time homebuyer’s seminar is a step in the right direction, said Haueisen. From there, Antonio said, “Be patient [and] do your due diligence.”


“This was great,” said one seminar attendee. “You made everything very clear… and we get an appreciation for what’s going on in the market these days.”


Keller Williams Realty will host its 1st Time Homebuyers Seminars each month at the Keller Williams Realty office located in the Kukui Mall Marketplace in Kihei. For more information, contact Randy Antonio at (808) 276-6473 or email Randy@MauiRainbowHomes.com.

Share:

You must first login before you can comment.

Existing Member Login
Not a Member?	Create a Member Account
*Your email address:		<--Email REQUIRED!
*Password:	Forgot Password?	<--Password REQUIRED!
	Remember my email address.