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        <title>Maui Real Estate &amp; Lifestyle News</title>
        <link>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/2018-05/</link>
        <description>Courtney M. Brown, Realtor (S) Blog: information on the Maui real estate market, trends, and listings. Homes, condos and land for sale.</description>
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    <guid>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/sothebys-international-realty-launches-curate-the-first-augmented-reality-app-of-its-kind.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/sothebys-international-realty-launches-curate-the-first-augmented-reality-app-of-its-kind.html</link>
        <author>cb@luxuryrealestatemaui.com (Courtney M. Brown)</author>
        <title>Sotheby's International Realty Launches Curate: the first Augmented Reality app for real estate</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
I'll admit it, most of us have trouble visualizing an empty room and how to make it our own.  While we find many Maui real estate listings offered furnished if it is a resort property/second home, it can be different if the seller is selling their primary residence.  Staging can be a challenge as we have so few stagers and storage options on island.


Enter Augmented Realty. Sotheby's International Realty has just introduced the Curate by Sotheby's International Realty App which allows you to furnish an empty room in a variety of styles.  The vision is to transform the home buying experience, making it easier for both buyers and sellers alike.







iPhone users: Download Curate by Sotheby's International RealtyAndroid users: Download Curate by Sotheby’s International Realty


One of the reasons I joined Sotheby's International Realty was that the brand continues to be at the forefront of technology as it relates to the display, promotion, and marketing of the brand's listings. 


In 2015, the partnership between Sotheby's International Realty and Apple TV formed to create an immersive real estate experience in your own home.  In 2016, Inman reported that Sotheby's International Realty had beaten Zillow and Trulia to 3D Virtual Reality in implementing 3D Virtual Reality on its website. In 2018, The Curate App by Sotheby's International Realty is an Inman Innovator Awards Finalist.


The Curate App by Sotheby's International Realty allows buyers to visualize a house as their own before purchase, thereby curating the home-buying experience. 


Why It Matters for Sellers✓ Showcase properties in multiple styles and functions✓ Minimize the need for physical staging✓ Transform a home during a showing to meet a buyer's tastes✓ Expedite and facilitate the process of showing a home


Why It Matters for Homebuyers, Renters and Homeowners✓ Overcome visualization barriers – a buyer can now see through a space’s current design and into the future✓ Avoid complex measurements and guesswork – see what fits and connect with your home like never before✓ Simplify the home furnishing, decorating and move-in process


How It Works✓ Open Curate by Sotheby's International Realty while touring a property and easily visualize an empty space✓ Scroll through and select from the room scene library, comprised of beautifully crafted interior designs, including traditional dining rooms, mid-century master suites, modern living rooms, and much more✓ View entire room sets in Augmented Reality with all furnishings to-scale✓ Hover over items for more information about the product and a link to shop on retailers’ websites✓ Screenshot rooms to save and share


Why it matters in general...it's just really fun to play with. Happy Decorating
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2018 21:05:00 -1000</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/the-kaanapali-coffee-farms-an-ocean-view-estate-set-amidst-an-active-coffee-plantation.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/the-kaanapali-coffee-farms-an-ocean-view-estate-set-amidst-an-active-coffee-plantation.html</link>
        <author>cb@luxuryrealestatemaui.com (Courtney M. Brown)</author>
        <title>The Kaanapali Coffee Farms: an ocean view estate set amidst an active coffee plantation</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Kaanapali Coffee Farms: introducing 2132 Aina Mahiai





The Indoor-Outdoor living allows you to enjoy the sweeping ocean and outer island views


2132 Aina Mahiai: a contemporary plantation home set amidst an active coffee farm


Modern design and clean lines allow the eye to focus on the lush greenery and spectacular ocean views.  This single level home opens to a spacious lanai for indoor-outdoor living.  The Fleetwood pocketing doors in the great room open up to an expansive covered lanai featuring an outdoor barbeque, conversational fire pit, and pool with spa all perfect for enjoying Maui's sunset year-round.  This 4 bedrooms, 4 bathroom home has an ocean view master suite with an inviting outdoor shower garden.  Throughout you will find high-end finishes, appliances, and fixtures. Rich details include solid walnut cabinets, doors, and casings.  The views from this property are breathtaking, from the verdant West Maui Mountains to the East, the rolling fields of coffee, the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean and the outer islands of Molokai and Lanai.  


The Kaanapali Coffee Farms


The Kaanapali Coffee Farms is a unique offering unlike any other on Maui.  Embracing Maui's rich agricultural heritage is what makes the Kaanapali Coffee Farms truly special.  Situated on nearly 500 acres mauka of Kaanapali, is the private agricultural community comprised of 50 homesites.  Lots range from approximately 4-7 acres, each a part of an active coffee farm.  






Each lot has a &quot;Farm Dwelling Site&quot; of about one acre that is set aside for your exclusive use and development.  The zoning is agricultural and the lot sizes allow a main home as well as an ohana of 1,000 sq. ft.  The dwelling sites have been staggered to preserve views and the design guidelines give a nod to the Plantation Style of architecture.   










The remaining acreage beyond the Dwelling Sites is planted in coffee, which is tended and harvested by a team of local farmers. Coffee plants provide a verdant landscape to highlight the incredible ocean views.


The unique design of the community and relationship with Kaanapali Farm Services, Inc. allows you to live on an active farm without the labor of tending to the crops. MauiGrown Coffee, Inc. processes and markets it under contracts with the community's Association. www.MauiGrownCoffee.com









A contemporary open kitchen with an ocean view





View from the Master Bedroom





An outdoor shower off the Master Bath creates a tropical oasis with a serene feel





The Second Master Bedroom Suite looks out toward the beautiful island of Molokai


 





The covered lanai provides shade during the day--the pool features a fire pit and spa


View Current Listings: Kaanapali Coffee Farms Homes for Sale



 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2018 18:31:00 -1000</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/thinking-of-renting-a-home-on-maui-for-your-next-vacation-how-to-tell-if-its-a-legal-rental.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.luxuryrealestatemaui.com/blog/thinking-of-renting-a-home-on-maui-for-your-next-vacation-how-to-tell-if-its-a-legal-rental.html</link>
        <author>cb@luxuryrealestatemaui.com (Courtney M. Brown)</author>
        <title>Thinking of Renting a Home on Maui for your next vacation? How to tell if it's a legal rental</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Homes and Short Term Vacation Rentals in Maui County





How can you tell if the vacation rental listing of a Home is a scam or a legal rental?


Updated 2.22.22


I often get calls from people planning their vacation here on Maui and considering a home instead of a condo or hotel. The calls sometimes come when it just seems too good to be true; at other times, it's after they've paid deposits and can't reach their contact; and some come after they google the address and see the home is listed for sale.  Unfortunately, in almost all of these cases, the property is not a legal vacation rental.  Photos are simply taken from websites and used in online ads in a rental scam. 


It breaks my heart to hear these stories--sometimes they call before they've wired money, but sometimes they've sent large deposits. It is distressing, as many of these callers have been saving for a long time for a trip, thought they'd found a great deal and are bringing several family members.  


The easiest way to check is to go to the Maui County Website Short Term Rental Home Permit Application Page.  Under resources, you will find links to lists of addresses homes legally permitted to be rented for periods of less than 180 days if they have either a Short Term Rental Home permit, B&amp;B Permit or Conditional Use Permit (note: homes built in the Hotel zone would not be listed). View the County Site


Some Questions to Ask:




What is their General Excise Tax number?  A short-term rental must pay the State of Hawaii both General Excise Tax (GET) as well as Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT)


What is their STRH, B&amp;B or Conditional Use permit number?


Who is their on-island rental manager?  


Does this seem too good to be true?  




Another is to book through a reputable luxury home rental management company with on-island representatives.  I'm happy to provide you with referrals.


What should you do if you have been a victim of fraud?




Report it to the website where the ad is placed


Contact Maui Police Dept. and file a report


If there is money transferred across state lines, it can be reported to the FBI


Report any such activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at: www.ic3.gov




More Information on the Short Term Rental Home Permit.


Very few homes are built on hotel-zoned properties--an exception,  for example, is Kai Ala Place where there are single family dwellings located on hotel zoned parcels.  There are just six parcels in this beachfront residential community in Kaanapali.  This is rare, as developers will typically build to the highest and best use of the property's zoning so it is rare to find a hotel zoned parcel that has just a single residence on it.  Maui County defines a short-term rental as anything less than 180 days. 


If a home is being rented for less than 180 days, it is considered a transient rental or vacation rental.  In order to be a legal rental, it an owner must have owned it for five years and the county requires the owner obtain a Short Term Rental Home Permit (STRH).  The county has imposed caps* in each area:




Hana 15


Kihei-Makena 45


Makawao-Pukalani-Kula 15


Paia-Haiku 48


Wailuku-Kahului 6


West Maui 50


Lanai 15




You can read more about that in my post on Maui Vacation Rentals and Property Management Requirements.


For Consumers booking a vacation rental:  &quot;Per Maui County Website, there are more than 16,000 units (i.e., apartments, condos, houses) that are legally eligible to operate as short-term (less than six months) rentals without requiring a Bed &amp; Breakfast Permit or Conditional Permit. These units are generally located in districts zoned for hotel use, but some are also located in apartment districts, or are covered by other pre-existing situations. The operation of short-term rentals in these zoning districts is consistent with current County of Maui zoning ordinances, Community Plans, General Plan, and State law. All short-term rentals are also required to pay State of Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) and Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT). It is recommended that you inquire with the owner as to whether they are operating in compliance with all current laws.&quot;  Lists of Permitted B&amp;B's, STRH's, TVR's can be found on the county website, as indicated above.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2018 17:04:00 -1000</pubDate>
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