The Big Island of Hawaii, as it is known by the residents to differentiate it from the other islands that comprise the state of Hawaii, is home to eleven climate zones, from beautiful sand beaches to snow-capped mountains. If you are thinking of buying a home in The Big Island there are many important issues, such as this one, to consider. Before you head out to the Big Island real estate office, look at some of this issues to proper determine what you want.
The island has a wet side and a dry side, which one would you prefer. The wet side - Hilo - gets about 140 inches of rain yearly, while the dry side - Kona - only gets fifteen inches of rain approximately. Therefore, the humidity will be higher in the wet side, but you will also see more lush greenery. If the desert landscape appeal to you, then the dry side of the island will give you that.
You should also consider the elevation of the area where you want to live - the temperature is cooler in the higher areas. Nights become chilly, and you may require some heating.
Another issue to consider is city life. How far or close do you want to be from the main cities? This will affect price, as the closer to the city the more you will pay for a home. Consider the traffic and the tourist flow of the city. The rural areas will give you privacy and better pricing, but in some cases, you will have to drive more than 20 miles for markets or hospitals.
Consider the architecture of the house that you want to live in. Most recent construction is made of slab and footing - just as the regular homes in the main land USA. You may also like the appeal of the post and pier construction, which is traditional and raised from the ground. Both types will affect cooling and stability in a hurricane. The post and pier will be cool, but also not grounded to the floor. The slab and footing will be secured to the floor, but also more accessible to bugs, and less cool. If you are going to live in the dry side of the island temperature may be an issue to consider.
Do you want to own the land where your home sits or do you want to lease it, but own the home? This is something to consider. A leasehold home is harder to sell but you may have an advantage in negotiating the price lower. If you do not have much money but want to buy a home in Hawaii, leasehold may give you the opportunity. Later, you can sell and buy a home where you also own the land (known as Fee Simple).
Other things to consider are the square footage, room layout, the view that you will enjoy proximity to the beaches or touristic areas. All these issues will affect price.
Just as in the main land of USA, we have flood zones; in Hawaii, you also have lava zones. You need to consider the lava zone where the home is, as a 1-2 zone will mean that you are likely to see another lava flow and therefore, the insurance will be higher. The zones go from 1-6. This will affect a mortgage.
Other important issues to consider are availability of water and electricity in the home, and if the home was originally built without permits. If you are building on raw land, it could be costly due to availability of materials and other topographical considerations.
Before deciding on a home, make sure that these issues are clear to maximize your investment.
