Moving to Hawaii - Want an Island Feel

question
Hi Lisa, My name is ***** and I am looking to make a big move in my life to Hawaii (big island). Currently I live in New Jersey and I was a first time home buyer, now I am looking to finalize my life in Hawaii and most possibly in Puna. What can you tell me about that area the do's and don'ts do you have any suggestions or any watch out fors. I heard about the zone 1, 2, and 3. How hard is it to get a bridge loan? These maybe really out there questions but if you have any suggestions or advice to whom I could really trust to talk to please email me.

answer
Well I wish I could refer you to someone, but I don't know of anybody in the business of real estate that I could say "you can trust this person". I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have about any areas I know something about. I live in puna so I'll probably know something about most of them. The biggest thing that you should know is there it is little to no infrastructure in Puna. Some places don't have electricity, most places don't have city water -- we have catchments, some places don't have phone or cable. The roads are bad, the ambulances and police have to cover huge areas. Plus, prices just keep going up for real estate, so some places it's not even worth it to live out here without the infrastructure.

As for the bridge loan and I don't know I've never tried to get a bridge loan -- sorry.

followup question
So if you could pick on any island of hawaii and on any part where would you live and why?

We are looking for island feel, clean air, ocean views/mountain views. . we want that very island feel.....
Something that isn't to far from the city for work..... Also, we are looking for a substantial amount of land at least an acre. I want to raise kids there so I am looking for a good community, schools, modern features (plumbing, electricity, phones, internet)

followup answer
Personally, my husband and I want to move to Waimea on the big island. If it were just us we would probably stay in Puna forever. However we have a three-year-old and the schools in this area are not great, and the selection of private schools is limited. He will start this summer at the local Waldorf for preschool, but I don't really want to leave him there after about first grade.

Waimea is really nice. The town area is not big, there are not a lot of jobs, but it's an hour's drive to both Kona and Hilo if you wanted to commute. Its farm and ranch and cowboy country with mild weather. A lot of wealthy people are moving into the area and hence the school selection is pretty good. I think there are two Montessori schools there. Land is normally sold in bigger lots out there.

I would not to say that waimea has an island feel -- it is more like a ranch area, but and a half hours drive or less will get you to the Kohala Coast and Hapuna Beach -- the best beaches on the island.

For more of an island feel you might wanna look into South Kona - Honanunau or Kealakekua. I can't comment on the other islands -- I would not want to live on any of them. Maui and oahu are too crowded, kauai is okay, and Molokai and Lanai are just too small and simple.