Ten Reasons to Consider Moving to Maui

Moving to Maui has a particular illusion that draws you to think of living on the islands. Living the island dream, trading in the old life of driving on crowded freeways, living in suburbia, or maybe getting away from the cold winter months.  These are all great reasons to want a lifestyle change in Maui. You can search all Maui real estate for sale that is actively on the market. Many dream of living with morning walks on the beach, Hawaiian sunsets, or maybe a part-time winter home or condo. Sure, why not? It has been my dream and reality.

Search all homes and condos for sale in Maui

 

There are many reasons people regularly decide to sell their home that they have lived in for many years say yes to paradise, and move to Maui.  Not a bad idea, so you’re going to take the plunge, go for the lifestyle change, and escape to paradise.  I have sold countless homes and condos to many clients who have found this to be a remarkable experience.  Maui is a very welcoming island, but you should do your homework to make sure Maui is a good fit for you.

So, I want to share with you some of my thoughts on what you should consider if you’re considering moving to Maui.

 

 

1. Selecting the right community in Maui is essential. What are your goals? to find schools, easy access to work, or living within walking distance to Maui beaches. Before buying real estate in Maui, you might want to get a feel for the different communities like Wailea, Kihei, Lahaina, or Upcountry Maui. Maui has a diverse geography, from the desert to lush tropical areas like Haiku and Hana. Different parts of the island are greatly affected by the weather. For example, if you don’t like wind and rain, Waiehu and Haiku might not be your cup of tea, then again, like me, I love living on the tropical side of the island.
2. On the leeward side of the island, places like Kula, Lahaina, and Wailea offer less rain and wind, so you need to do your homework. Do you want to live in a gated neighborhood in Wailea, or Kaanapali? Wailuku offers some neighborhoods close to town and hospitals.  Then again, you might want some land with acreage; Upcountry Kula has a lot of open space to build your dream home. Maybe you love the beach, surfing, and windsurfing at Hookipa Beach Park.  Maui’s Northshore community in Spreckelsville, Paia, and Haiku area have that laid-back beach town, North-Shore thing going on.

 

3. Another thing to consider before moving to Maui is the cost of living. One thing that I enjoy is when traveling to other destinations. Prices don’t affect me after living in Maui. So do your homework. Prices are a lot higher here in Maui than in many places on the mainland. Some great shopping options: Costco and Target offer close to mainland prices. You also develop a keen eye on sale prices at many local stores. I try to gas up my car at Costco, which saves money. All in all, that’s the price of paradise; it’s a trade-off: great lifestyle, but a little bit higher prices. In Hawaii, we buy fewer clothes, and no heating costs, and we live in one of the best places in the world. We also have great health food stores, like Whole Foods, Down To Earth, and Mana Food in Paia Maui.

4. The rental market can be challenging Unless you’re buying a home or condo before arrival. You might consider renting a VRBO when arriving in Maui or check on Craigslist to rent a home. Renting also gives you time to get a feel for the island. Maybe plan a Maui vacation real estate trip to get a feel for the island, talk to the locals, and chat it up with local real estate experts.  Visit the property tax office and call your local homeowner’s insurance company. They are a great resource.

5. That brings us to shipping your lifelong goods to Maui; I suggest keeping it light. Check out our local shipping companies; the prominent ocean shipping companies are Matson and Young Brothers.  You can rent 20 ft containers to load up whatever you pack to Maui.  Shipping your car can be a good idea. It’s pretty reasonable to ship a vehicle to Maui. I usually go to Oahu to buy my cars and ship them to Youngbrothers. Before you ship all your goods, check on Craigslist and a few local furniture stores to get a feel for what’s available on the island. Craigslist is an excellent resource for garage sales items with people leaving the island.

 

 

 

6.  If you’re entertaining to bring your pets to Maui, you should check with a local veterinarian and discuss what is the requirements. Do I have to get my pet vaccinated? It can take up to 6 months to prepare for your pet’s arrival to Maui.  My daughter returned to Maui with her service dog, so do your homework.

7. Okay, you have been checking all the above items on your research list. Next, are you thinking about buying real estate on Maui?  There is a good chance you will need to get a home loan and get pre-qualified.  There are many excellent local lenders. I recommend using a local lender, they are familiar with zoning on Maui, terms like Ag-land or hotel zoning that can create a red flag for lenders on the mainland. It would help if you shopped around for the best rates, and a local Broker usually has many options to fit your needs.  Several local banks like Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, and American Savings offer a variety of loan programs.

8. Now, you’re ready to search for a home or condo in Maui. I would suggest finding a Realtor on Maui who knows his way around the block. Find a Realtor who understands the local market and trends and can educate the buyer about local communities.  A good Realtor will ask you questions and listen to the buyer’s needs so he or she can guide them in assessing the buyer’s needs.  A qualified Maui Realtor can guide you through the process to help you realize your dream of owning real estate on the island of Maui.

9. There are different ways to buy real estate in Maui. Cash is always nice; it can be clean and easy. If you’re selling an investment property to defer taxes, then a 1031 exchange might be a good option.  You will want to talk to your tax account. Just maybe doing a 1031 exchange is a great way to purchase an investment property.  Suppose you are looking at doing a 1031 exchange. In that case, I can recommend an exchange company working through a local escrow company that can make it a smooth transaction and successful closing with your next real estate purchase.

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    You also want to have a loan pre-approval in your hands for three reasons. #1 you know the loan amount that you can borrow. #2 to make sure the monthly mortgage payments fit your budget, and #3 will make your offer to purchase a Maui property much stronger when presenting an offer to the seller.

So you have done your homework; many buyers search online before even talking to a Realtor on Maui.  The next step is to start the search. If you still live on the mainland, you must start your search online.  That’s where a good Realtor’s work begins.  You must identify the property type you’re looking for: a home in Kaanapali or a condo in Kihei Maui. Maybe a house on a small lot with a view or a 2-acre estate in Kula so you can enjoy open spaces. Once you figure out what part of the island you want to purchase Maui real estate, then the search begins.

If you are looking for an investment property, a condominium can generate income and give you use of your investment to visit the island.  Finding the perfect community to suit your needs is essential. There are many options, from Wailea, Kihei, Lahaina, Kaanapali, Wailuku, and Upcountry Maui, to Maui’s Northshore. So you have arrived in Maui, done your homework, and are ready to search for the perfect Maui property.

It’s time to jump in the car with your favorite Maui Realtor, and you’re off to view real estate on your list of potential properties.  Sometimes, you get lucky and find the right property right away. If that isn’t the case, a patient Realtor can use his local knowledge to check around for properties they might know of that will be coming on the market or talk to some of his fellow seasoned Realtors who might have properties coming online. Then, there is submitting offers and negotiating with the sellers to come to acceptable terms and conditions to purchase your new property on Maui.

 

So, let’s say you found your perfect home, submit an offer, and it is accepted.  At this point, we shift gears to hire a qualified home inspector to provide you with a detailed report of the property’s condition.  There are also condo docs to review and termite inspections; it must be surveyed if it lands.   You will also receive a property disclosure revealing the home’s history.  So it’s a Realtor’s job to guide you through inspecting the property and all pertaining facts associated with the property, like checking to see if all permits have been finalized.

Okay, now we are heading into the closing process.  All the inspection has been completed. Before closing, you must set up your homeowner’s insurance policy schedule and turn on your utilities and trash service. Your lender gave you the green light. You have your final loan approval ready to close.  Again, this is where a local, seasoned Maui Realtor can walk you through the closing process to a smooth closing at the end of escrow.

So it’s a journey from start to finish, starting with doing homework.  Very important, getting educated about market trends and values.  My job is to make your real estate experience buying a home or condo in Maui as smooth as possible.  I work with Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers #1 in luxury home sales in Hawaii.  Once you commit to working with me, you have 100% of my undivided attention from the beginning of looking for the right property to close your new home or condo successfully.

So, if you’re looking for a Maui Realtor, I have been selling real estate on Maui for 30 years, calling Maui home for 50 years.  I have worked on some of Wailea’s finest developments, like Wailea Beach Villas, Hoolei, and Papali Wailea. I have sold real estate from Kaanapali, Kihei, Wailuku, and Upcountry Maui to Maui’s Northshore in Paia and Spreckelsville Maui. I also have a building background, having been a contractor on Maui for 16 years.

 

So let me know when you’re ready to start buying a home or condo in Maui.  I look forward to beginning the journey of working for you to help you realize your dreams of owning a house on the island of Maui. So, if you’re moving to Maui, give me a call.  I know Maui very well and would love to help you find that perfect piece of Maui real estate- a home or condominium.

 

Steven Nickens RS-54097 GRI ABR

Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers

Offices in The Shops at Wailea and Kihei

Cell: 808-280-2208

Website: nickensmaui.com

Email: nickensmaui@gmail.com