Relocating 2 Oahu

Grading the Public Schools (2004)

How good are the schools in your neighborhood or the neighborhood you want to move to?  This report tells all.

*Please note that this report comes out every other year and a 2006 version should be coming out soon.

Click here for the article and here for the ranking.

5 Rules for Smart Home Buyers

Elizabeth Razzi, author of The Fearless Home Buyer, offers these rules worth sharing with first time and even repeat home buyers.  You can purchase her book by clicking on the link on the left-hand side of the screen.

Click here for the rules.

Don't Forget About the Sprinklers!

A sprinkler system may be low priority on a home buyer's list of amenities to have inspected before purchasing, but bad sprinklers could lead to big and expensive problems down the road.

We recommend consulting a landscaping professional to truly assess the sprinklers.

Here are a few tips for examining the sprinklers:

• Make sure the sprinkler power connection is in a dry and protected spot.  Shorts can wreak havoc on an automatic irrigation system.
• Turn the timer on manually.  If the water doesn't run, chances are there's trouble.
• Let the sprinkler system run a few minutes.  Look for evidence of cracks and inoperable sections.

Source:  REALTOR Magazine Online

Hawaii's Best Restaurants 2005 - 2006

Love dining out?  Or maybe you're new to Hawaii or possibly planning a trip here?  These are the places be!

Click here for the full dining guide from The Honolulu Advertiser.

Buyers Beware!

According to Greg Haskett, VP of HomeTeam Inspection Service in Ohio, don't get too enamored with the fashionable decor of a home.  Smart home buyers should pay attention to aspects a home that really count in the long run.

Click here for things to look for.

It's Time for Spring Cleaning!

If your wood floors are looking a little dull and no matter how much you dust, it keeps coming back, this is the article for you!

Also handy if you're moving into your new home in Hawaii and want to start with a clean house.

Getting Your Finances In Order

If you're trying to figure out if you have enough money for a down payment, we have some helpful hints for you.

Click here for the full article.

More on your credit score . . .

The 3 biggest US credit-reporting firms (Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion) have announced that they have partnered up to standardize the method of calculating credit scores.  The result of this will be no matter who you pull your credit score from, all 3 places will give you the same response, whereas in the past, you could have received up to 3 different scores.

It was also reported that this new scoring system will make it easier for consumers with limited credit histories to obtain financing.

New Elementary School In Ewa Beach

Ocean Pointe Elementary is a 12-acre campus that is scheduled for opening in the 2006 - 2007 school year.  But even with another 18-acre middle school campus in Ewa Makai due to start construction in the next few years, some say that there are still too few schools.

Click here for the full article (as well as a picture of the layout) from The Honolulu Advertiser.

Need to Improve Your Credit?

Does your credit need some improvement?  Not sure what you should do?  We have the answers that will start you off in the right direction!

Click here for the full article.