FAQ

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I Ready to Be a Homeowner?

Taking the leap from renting to owning is an important milestone in many people’s lives. Not only does it signify that your financial affairs are in order, but it also means you’re finally ready. You’re ready to be a homeowner when you have enough money for a down payment, are prepared to take care of a home, willing to stay in one area for a long period of time and you have good credit. Reach out to us and we can help you determine if you’re ready!

Is Renting or Buying Better?

There is no easy answer to this question as it depends on your personal situation and preferences. Your lifestyle, finances and personal goals are all factors in which is the right decision for you. If you’re looking for low maintenance, renting may be your ticket while if you want full control, buying is the better option.

What Is the Lender's Formula?

Lenders consider many factors when determining your credit worthiness – payment history, income, debt-to-income ratio are just some of the factors that play a role in their formula. If you’re considering taking the next step, we can refer you to lenders with lots of experience.

What Do I Look for in Homes?

Location, size, decor, features. It’s all about personal preference. We prefer homes that are well maintained, in good locations and with appropriate space for our clients.

Do I Need a Home Warranty?

A home warranty reassures a homebuyer that any unforeseen issues are covered. It reassures the seller that there is a measure of protection against complaints about defects in the home. Ultimately, it is up to you. We sometimes negotiate that the seller pays for a warranty as a part of the deal.

What Should I Expect at Closing?

On closing day, the property and its ownership is transferred to  the buyer. You’ll transfer funds from escrow, provide mortgage and title fees and the deed of the house will be updated to your name.

What Is Pre-approval?

Pre-approval is a preliminary evaluation of a borrower by a lender to determine whether they can be given a pre-qualification offer. It typically gives you an idea of what you can afford without running a credit check.

Am I Ready to Rent?

If you’re looking to move out or you want more control of your living space, you may be ready to rent. It’s important to consider the financial impacts – you should target properties where the total rent is approximately 30% of your monthly income.

What Should I Offer?

Part of this question can only be answered by you – how badly do you want this property? If you’re indifferent, offer the asking price or slightly below. If you really want it, be prepared to offer above ask and possibly include an appraisal clause. The market will also guide this decision – if demand is high, be prepared to pay more than what they’re asking.

Can I Ask You for Advice?

Of course! Reach out today and we can answer your questions to the best of our ability.

Contact Us

Let's Find You The Place You Deserve

Contact us to start your home buying journey

Read Our Reviews

Hawaii Home Group is rated 5 out of 5.0 stars based on 9 review(s).

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Jasmine and Kirsten went above and beyond what I ever expected or experienced from a realtor before! We were provided several different realtors by friends on island but Jasmine and Kirsten stood out. Before we arrived they were driving all over the island and FaceTiming us with houses that we were interested in. Getting to know our likes/dislikes so they could understand what we wanted in our perfect house. Once we arrived on island for a short house hunting trip we were greeted with a warm welcome and hit the ground running with houses lined up to see in person. Buying a house is definitely stressful in any situation, more-so in Hawaii with limited options and million dollar transactions. They eased a lot of our stress and never made us feel like we were a burden with our 101 questions. We closed a month ago and Jasmine and Kirsten still contact us to see how we’re doing and if there’s anything we need. Glad I found them as my realtors and even happier that I have found new friends. Above and Beyond Team!

- Heather & Derek

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The team of Hawaii Home Group has done an exceptional job in welcoming my family to the island of Oahu. They offer nothing but kindness to us by showing homes in many different locations plus sometimes even treated to lunch when time allowed it. Their advice a which home would fit our needs was essential in guiding our decisions on selecting our first home in Hawaii. They investigated every single possible home we looked even before we step into properties to assure, we were not blinded by any unknow factors. The digital products created by the team to assure all calendars and viewing were essential in making sure our closing date arrived smoothly. I can truly say this team treated as us family every step of the way making us feel welcomed to the island. We are grateful and thankful for everything your team provided to our family. Mahalo Sincerely, Alexander Fernandez

- Alexander Fernandez

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Jasmine and Kirsten, are great realtors. We started looking for a home when we decided to move to Hawaii. They listened to our needs and would always send us new and hot properties. When we finally found the right home they got our offer accepted. I strongly recommended that you work with them. They are definitely the agents that you want on your side during your home purchase!

- Rich Chavez

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We could not be happier with our choice to have Jasmine & Kirsten every step of the way. From open houses, to promptly assisting us with our 1st and FINAL offer(!!!), to sitting through hours of inspection, from advocating for credits we didn’t even think to negotiate, to tackling last minute hurdles from the HOA, these ladies were so responsive, detailed and dialed in. Every single question, doubt, worry was handled gracefully with ease, I felt like we had the best team assisting us in the biggest purchase of our life. It takes a lot of trust to listen to suggestions from someone new, but once we realized they were in this business to represent our best interest, recommending the best of the best, we put our faith in them and felt so well cared for. We were able to sit back and enjoy the home-buying process, crazy as it sounds, it was actually very fun! Our calls and communication were always collective- we loved that, we always felt included and listened to, we made the decisions, but we leaned on them for their advice and expertise- we were not disappointed. Time can be of the essence when purchasing a home, they worked nights and weekends pulling through details for us- their efforts really made a difference for us. We can’t thank Jasmine and Kirsten enough, they work so hard, they know their contracts and they know their contacts- they really shined through for us. Trust them, have fun, enjoy the unique and incredible opportunity to buy in Hawaii. Hawaii Home Group is 5 stars in our book- we were so lucky we found them!!

- Kayla & Ken

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- Test

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Kirsten is the best realtor I ever worked with. She earned my trust instantly by listening to me and helping me to figure out what I wanted. Her partner Jasmine was there to help and support as well, so we always felt informed and covered. I don’t use social media and never write reviews, but Hawaii Home Group is the exception.

- Jodie Austin

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Jasmine and Kirsten were incredible! They made the stressful process of selling a house an absolute breeze! When we decided to sell our house, we had low expectations for our outcome. BUT Jasmine and Kirsten greatly exceeded our expectations! The amount of care and effort that they put into a listing is made evident by the amazing results. If you want your best chance at maximizing your value in buying or selling a home, choose Jasmine and Kirsten! They know how to take care of their clients! :)

- Collin & Quinn Williams

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Everything was great from the beginning to the end process.

- Michael Kadwell

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Great team to work with. Knows what we looking for.

- Jenny Lin