Big Island

Market Update: Puakea (Ranch) Communities

Last week there was a very confusing article in Pacific Business News suggesting that a Mainland investor had chosen to pull out of some big oceanfront real estate development. A little exaggerated way of saying an oceanfront lot has been put back on the market by an owner who decided not to build on it after all. It happens. Getting permits to build on the North Kohala oceanfront is not for the faint of heart.

And the journalist should probably have read my blog post about the difference between Ranch at Puakea, Puakea Bay Ranch, and Puakea Ranch first. If you aren’t sure, that’s a good place to start before reading this market report on these three communities near Hawi on the Big Island.

Ranch at Puakea oceanfront lot for sale

One of the three oceanfront lots at Ranch at Puakea is back on the market, listed at $3,600,000 (MLS# 289479)

Ranch at Puakea Lot Sales Pick up in 2015

Recall that Ranch at Puakea is a thirteen-lot oceanfront subdivision next door to the larger and better known Puakea Bay Ranch community. It has larger lot sizes (averaging 20 acres rather than 10 acres), both County and private water installed to each lot, and access to a beautiful oceanfront cove.

Asking prices of $1.2 million on the non-oceanfront parcels were not being received by the market, despite a couple of Kukio-quality homes already built in the Ranch. The developer recognized the market reality and sold two lots in 2015 for $850,000 (Lot 4) and $902,500 (Lot 9).

Currently, three non-oceanfront lots are listed at prices ranging from $769,000 (MLS# 280584) to $900,000 (MLS# 284490). Since the $769,000 is adjacent to the $900,000 parcel, it looks to me like the “screaming deal” at Ranch at Puakea.

Ranch at Puakea best buy

Ocean and Maui view 20-acre lot listed at $769,000 is the best buy at Ranch at Puakea near Hawi

Puakea Bay Ranch – Ocean View Homes and Lots

Unusually, there were no sales at all in 2015 in Puakea Bay Ranch. One lot has sold so far this year, 10 acres for $325,000 (all the lots in Puakea Bay Ranch are 10 acres). I often have sellers ask me how to move their property in 60 days or less. In this market, the answer is “price like the motivated seller you are.” In this case the lot had previously been listed for $489,000; once the price was dropped below the competition, it was the first to sell. By the way, the seller paid $575,000 in 2008.

There are three lots on the market at Puakea Bay Ranch. Two are priced right around $450,000. The third, which is one of the “near oceanfront” lots, is asking $1,250,000.

The range of residential listings is interesting. The CC&Rs and design guidelines allow for flexibility in design, but require a minimum of 4,000 sq. ft. on the horizontal lots. These are good choices for a buyer looking for an ocean view home with 4-5 bedrooms, and possibly a guest house, on acreage in a gated subdivision.

The oceanfront home listed for $10,500,000 (MLS# 292652) is still on the market despite my prediction a couple of years ago that it was about to sell.

Barn at Puakea Equestrian Estate

One of the few true Big Island equestrian estates, with main house, guest house, pool, and view (MLS# 289333)

The next most expensive and expansive listing is mine (MLS# 289333): a true equestrian estate on 40 acres (four lots) with a three bedroom main house, two bedroom guest house, three barns, fenced horse pastures, arena, and round pen. The asking price of $3,495,000 is below replacement cost, and horse properties of this caliber this near the ocean are rare.

Three more residential options are listed, priced at $1,498,000 (MLS# 290036), $2,675,000 (MLS# 291772), and $2,980,000 (MLS# 283238). Obviously there is one seller who might be called “motivated,” but the home may not be to all tastes. I like the one in the middle, which at just over 5,000 sq. ft. has both a 4 bedroom main house and a 1 bed guest house, built in 1990, but with an updated kitchen and recently installed photovoltaic system.

5 bedrooms and a pool

Not a bad view from the pool of this 5,000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom plus guest house at Puakea Bay Ranch

If you want more details on any of the listings at these Puakea two gated communities near Hawi, give me a call. Whale watching season is almost over, but the “ball drop in the ocean” sunsets are year-round.

A hui hou,

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
Direct: 808.443.4588
Email: beth@hawaiilife.com

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Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)

March 3, 2016

OH–and there was just another price reduction yesterday on the Ranch at Puakea lot, now asking only $749,000!

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)

March 3, 2016

OH–and there was just another price reduction yesterday on the Ranch at Puakea lot, now asking only $749,000!

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