When November arrives and we near the close of another year, we always reflect back on how thankful we are for not only being able to have lived on Maui for the last 40 years, but also because of the aloha we have learned to know as well as the people and ‘ohana that have come to mean so much to us. The ‘aina (land) with its beautiful beaches and majestic mountains, magical rainbows and incredible tropical ocean to surf, swim and enjoy the sea life – turtles, manta rays, monk seals, humpback whales and so much more – makes us feel incredibly blessed.

Every day when we wake up, we realize that and also that we are in a business we love. Real estate allows us to share our aloha and the incredible island of Maui with others in a very special way.

If you have thought of buying on Maui, the time could not be better – interest rates are incredibly low, and sellers who want to sell are realistic and motivated. We currently have a residential listing that there has been a $50,000 price reduction on. It is located on West Maui in Kahana. This exceptional property has four bedrooms and four baths with an attached ‘ohana cottage. Located across the street from the beach and some of Maui’s most famous surf and windsurfing spots, this location is ideal. 60 Kepola Place is easy to view to qualified buyers and priced to sell at $1,250,000. This fine property located on a cul-de-sac offers a three-car garage with lots of additional parking area.

If the agricultural lifestyle is more what you are looking for, the least expensive property with over one acre available on West Maui currently is 80 Kalai Place in Olowalu Mauka. This is the cottage side of a condominiumized property with two bedrooms and two baths. (Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are unfamiliar with agricultural condominiumized properties; I will be happy to explain it further to you.) The landscaping, orchard area and royal palm-lined driveway to the property make this a place fit for ali’i, or a king and queen. During the monarchy, Olowalu was a place where ali’i lived. It is no wonder with the perfect location in Olowalu Mauka; this lot backs up to the West Maui Mountains and has incredible privacy. With so much mature landscaping, this property would be costly to reproduce. Perfectly located between Lahaina, Kahului and Kihei, access to all parts of the island is easy. This property is priced to sell at $1,335,000 and does require an appointment to view.

For those of you who aren’t ready for such a big commitment but love Maui, the great alternative is to be able to buy a vacation rental condominium property. This allows you to be able to come and go from the unit as you would like, and you can also receive rental income to help offset your cost of ownership. A few very special investment properties on West Maui that are available and ready for purchase are at Maui Eldorado. Located on the Kaanapali Golf Course with views expanding to the north of Black Rock and Kaanapali Beach, this very low-density property has many amenities: underground parking, three different pools, an onsite convenience store, and the famous Maui Eldorado Beach Cabana that you can access by way of a golf cart ride from the bellman or a short stroll. Many will argue it is the best part of Kaanapali Beach. Maui Eldorado also has the public transportation access right in front for easy access around the island. A walk to Whalers Village or the Fairway Shops is a breeze. Many people who stay and own at the Maui Eldorado are pleasantly surprised, as the area square footage of the units is larger than many condominium properties you will see. Unit B102 and E206 have very motivated sellers who have outgrown the property and are anxious to see offers.

If a direct oceanfront property is something that is of interest, it doesn’t get closer to the beach than The Mahana at Kaanapali North Beach. Apartment #207 is the best priced one-bedroom for sale today. The location has the feeling that the beach and ocean are right in your living room, yet still very private. Apartment 701 is positioned in the most desirable location of the entire property. This large two-bedroom unit with two full baths was extensively renovated in 2007, which included redesigning the kitchen as well as both baths at a total cost of approximately $200,000. This unit is in the Aston Resorts vacation rental program and is a featured apartment for marketing used by Aston and rated A-plus. Priced to sell at $1,699,000, this is a property not to be overlooked.

Residential living in a condominium setting does not get better than in The Vintage at Kaanapali. Freestanding condominium homes with extensive grounds of 17 acres – and a community center consisting of barbecue area, heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi spa, along with the walking trails on-property – are part of what makes living at the Vintage great. This pet-friendly property allows you to enjoy the Kaanapali lifestyle by getting in your golf cart and taking a drive down to Whalers Village or your favorite restaurants and beaches. 108 Kualapa Place has excellent ocean views. This is a two-story home with the living and master suite on the upper level to maximize views. The property has a two-car garage and central air conditioning, and it has recently had updated appliances and refinished cabinets. It is being sold turnkey. There are three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Each bedroom has its own private patio lanai area as well as an extended patio lanai off of the living dining room. This exquisite residential condominium property in Kaanapali is easy to view and priced to sell quickly at $1,150,000.

Most of these properties are easily viewed on the spur-of-the-moment, and we are happy to help you. If you have questions about Maui properties, please call James M. Harris Inc., Broker, at (808) 280-1640 or toll-free at 877-Jim-Maui (546-6284), or e-mail JimMaui@Maui.net; and Mischelle M. Lawrence, R(S), at (808) 264-3337 or e-mail MischelleonMaui@msn.com. We love what we do, and we would love to help you. The best of the best just got better! Ask for Mischelle Lawrence and James Harris to accomplish your real estate needs! Happy Thanksgiving and aloha to all the Maui Invitational players and their ‘ohana!