It is no secret that I am drawn to living in beautiful places. Growing up in both Hawai'i and Colorado, instilled in me the desire to plant myself amongst awe inspiring surroundings and in places where living a healthy outdoor lifestyle was a valued part of life for my community.
Moving is hard. Uprooting yourself and saying goodbye to wonderful memories, friends and careers is really tough. Trans Pacific moves are insanely hard, but my family and I pulled it off by moving from Aspen, Colorado to Lawai, Kaua'i and then back again to Castle Pines, Colorado. Luckily, we still have amazing friends in all communities and can still call each place our home because we left a piece of our hearts in each of them. Needless to say though, after five moves in five years (rental houses included), we are happy to stay putt for awhile now in Colorado.
A benefit to the moving has been the ability to work as a licensed professional in real estate in two states, Hawaii and Colorado. While there are many parallels in lifestyle such as passion for the outdoors and environment, devotion to family and community, and an overall appreciation of the beauty of life, when it comes to real estate - the two states differ significantly. From overall mindset to broker protocol, the differences have created a greater awareness of my contract knowledge and opened my mind to alternative ways of achieving results for my clients.
For instance, while Kaua'i is well known for being extremely thoughtful and resistant to development, Colorado is booming with new projects and builds on nearly every horizon. In Kaua'i, I enjoyed fostering relationships with County officials in the planning and building departments as well as taught myself how to research through recorded documents in the archives and in County records. This experience has helped clients in Colorado. Recently a client wanted to purchase a property on "open space". Rather than assuming the marketing in place was accurate, I did a deep dive into county records and spoke with the Planning Commission and Recorder to determine that the land was in fact held by a private entity who had been trying to develop it for many years. However, because they did not possess any water entitlements, and the City was not planning to grant any to the family, there was no ability for the zoning to be changed from agricultural to residential. (No water = No build) However, there is a risk potential if the City changes its position which was relayed to client. This information helped my clients make an informed decision on their purchase and is part of the due diligence I take very seriously in my representation on their behalf.
Both Colorado and Kaua'i contracts are heavily weighted to protect the buyer. The Colorado purchase contract has 16 contingencies for the buyer to cancel, many in their "subjective sole discretion". The Kaua'i purchase contract has over 20 contingencies for the Buyer to object to and also requests written waiver from the Buyer once terms have been agreed to by all parties. Using an attorney is not common practice nor is it required in either state, however it is always an option for all parties. Thus, understanding these contract points and being advised accordingly is exceedingly important by your real estate representative.
For instance, key contract deadlines for both states are the inspection objection deadline, appraisal deadline date, and conditional loan approval deadline. However, the expectations and levels of communication and the expected level of Broker involvement vary widely. An adverse material fact is consistent across state lines, however disclosure and how to handle newly discovered information varies widely. Other variability exists on who chooses the Title Company, who pays what closing cost, and who will be present at showings and property visits. Broker protocol is an entirely different topic and subject for another article in and of itself!
While multiple variations exist, the takeaway is that there is more than one way to do things and experience and knowledge provide more opportunity and choice for my clients. I can advocate for my clients in a way that helps follow the rules, but will thoroughly protect their interests and increase their negotiating power.
So whether you are looking to buy your first home, your dream ranch, your beach getaway, or your 2nd or 3rd investment property, my breadth of experience will provide you clarity for confidence from start to finish.
Experience. Knowledge. Ingenuity for Results.
Na Pali Coast Family Hike
Chairlift in Beaver Creek
Settled in Colorado... with the regular visits to Kaua'i of course!
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