The Mililani real estate market, a primarily residential sector of the larger Oahu housing market, saw a slight decline in home sales and home prices compared to year-ago levels, although foreclosures declined somewhat year-over-year. According to information from the Honolulu Board of Realtors, prices and volume both declined in November 2010 relative to November 2009. This seems to indicate that demand decreased year-over-year, especially in the absence of the federal housing tax credit, which many economists have suggested was responsible for artificially inflating sales figures over several months. A total of 245 single-family homes were sold in November 2010, marking a decrease of about five percent from the 258 single-family properties sold in November 2009. On the other hand, condominium sales saw a much sharper decline in sales volume compared to year-ago levels. According to statistics published by the Honolulu Star Advertiser, 303 condos were sold last year, while 402 were sold in November 2009, meaning that condo sales fell by just under twenty-five percent. The average sales price for single-family homes fell by just under one percent, to $590,000, while the median price for condominiums actually increased by slightly less than one and a half percent, to $310,500. However, taking the first eleven months of the year as a cohesive unit, single family homes saw a 13.4 percent increase in sales volume and a 2.6 percent increase in median price, while 11.4 percent more condominiums were sold at a 0.3 percent higher price.

Slightly more Mililani and Oahu homes for sale were put on the market as a result of foreclosures compared to the previous month’s figures, although the number of foreclosure sales for the entire state dipped slightly. However, the foreclosure rate remained almost constant relative to the same time in November 2009. According to statistics compiled by RealtyTrac, Hawaii was ranked number 13 in the nation, with a total of 877 foreclosures over the month of November 2010. Taken proportionally, this works out to about one foreclosure for every 585 properties, a thirty-one percent decline from October 2010. On Oahu in particular, the number of foreclosures increased by about fifteen percent from November 2009.

Kauai has a rich heritage, living tradition, and strong customs to support the local way of life.  One thing that people will quickly pick up is the sense of family, community, and ‘ohana that is perpetuated throughout the island.  For people interested in Kauai homes for sale, becoming a part of this group is an esteemed privilege and not a right. To understand the Kauai of today, it is important to look at the background of the island. The daily life of Kauaians is largely based around Lihue, the seat of Kauai County and the second largest city on the island.  Kapaa, six miles away from Lihue, is about twice as large as Lihue and boasts a population exceeding ten thousand people.  Captain James Cook, a British explorer who arrived in the islands in 1778, first visited Waimea, the original capital of the Kauai, on the southwest side of the island.  More recently, Hurricane Iniki caused tremendous damage to the fragile ecosystem as beaches eroded, ridges collapsed, and livestock patterns changed.  However, such a catastrophe only strengthened the cultural fabric of the island that has since recovered.

The island has also hosted, in the wake of the hurricane, a number of Hollywood movies, including South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Six Days Seven Nights, King Kong, and Donovan’s Reef.  Disney’s popular Lilo and Stitch series is based on life in the village of Hanalei.