Where on Maui can you live like you're on vacation at a world-class luxury resort 365 days a year?  Well, it just so happens, Maui has 5 condominium communities in the resorts of Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea that have received the recognition by Forbes or AAA as leaders in Luxury Lodging. 

These properties are desirable for many of Maui's second home Buyers who would like the amenities of a luxury hotel (hello, room service!).  For those who are looking for a part-time residence, they offer an added bonus: the ability to rent their residence through an on-site rental management program known for offering accommodations that are maintained to the exacting standards of a luxury brand.

The following Maui luxury condominium resorts have been

KAPALUA RESORT CONDOS: Market Update 2018 | Q3 

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kapalua: Residence 1614-16 offered at $2,250,000

KAPALUA VILLAS & THE LUXURY CONDOMINIUM SECTOR

KAPALUA RESORT CONDOMINIUM: Active Listings

Maui Real Estate Market Overview and Buyer Statistics: Quarter 1 | 2018

Many Buyers and Sellers want to know where buyers of Maui County real estate call home (in this case, their legal residence).  There is often a misperception that the majority of our foreign buyers come from Asia.  While this might be true for Oahu's market (particularly Honolulu), it hasn't been the case for Maui County, which includes the islands of Molokai and Lanai.  Each year, Title Guaranty, one of Hawaii's most reputable Title and Escrow Companies, provides us with Buyer statistics.  

MAUI BUYER STATISTICS: TOP FOREIGN AND US BUYERS

So far in 2018, we see a similar pattern of where Buyers of Maui real estate originate, both from abroad and the mainland US.

Canada

Veuve Clicquot and the Cliff House at Kapalua: a perfect pairing

Dates: Thursdays - Sundays through September 1 (excluding August 4)
Time:  4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
What: Rosé Celebration, Exclusive Pours & New Food Pairings

The Montage Kapalua Bay, is a five-star resort with private residences, situated overlooking Kapalua Bay.  The grounds are home to one of my favorite spots on the whole island, the Cliff House.  When I was growing up, I would accompany my father to meetings there.  In spite of being bored at the meetings, the journey always thrilled me, because I knew we would be swimming in the crystal clear waters below as soon as he finished.

The Cliff House is usually only available for private rental, so this pop-up bar and lounge provides one

Maui Property Tax Rates for 2018-2019 Fiscal Year

The Maui County Council approved the new property tax rates for the July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 Fiscal Year.

The figures below show the rates for each year.  Traditionally, the lowest tax rate is for Homeowner, where this is their declared primary residence.  The highest tax rate remains the Time Share Classification.   This is the first year the county has added the category of Short Term Rental for those condominiums that are rented for a period of time less than 180 days.  Read More on Maui Short Term Rentals.

Maui County assesses taxes based on the tax rate multiplied by the assessed value of the property.  The county assesses values each year based on the sales in the prior fiscal year. 

What is HARPTA, the new law, and are there any exemptions?

What is HARPTA?

HARPTA is the Hawaii Real Property Tax Act.  HARPTA is a Withholding Tax on Sales of Hawaii Real Property by Nonresident Persons.  The " withholding obligation is generally imposed on the transferee/buyer when a Hawaii real property interest is acquired from a nonresident person. This withholding serves to collect Hawaii income tax that may be owed by the nonresident person."*  This is similar to the withholding in California, often referred to as CalFIRPTA, and the federal withholding tax on the disposition of real property known as FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act)." Read More in Tax Information Release No. 2017-01

Per the State of Hawaii's

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 Realty
Android users: Download Curate

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

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

Troon, the management for Maui's famed Plantation Course in Kapalua, has announced plans to revitalize the course, as well as key components of the Bay Course and Golf Academy. 

The Plantation Course repeatedly receives accolades as one of the best courses in Hawaii.  Around the world, the course is best known as home to the annual PGA Tour Tournament of Champions, an invitation-only tournament, with a field comprised of only to the prior year's tournament winners.

The multi-million dollar enhancement project includes plans to have the original architects, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, work with the Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing, a long time Kapalua resident.  The initial scope of the project includes resurfacing the greens, renovating the bunkers, and