B4 • Friday, November 5, 2021
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Got House?
Julie Black, Principal Broker & Owner (808) 652-6174 with daughter Kela Caspillo, Realtor Sales Person (808) 652-6173 kauaidreams.com
Featured Homes
Princeville 5520 Ka Haku Rd., #511
Emmalani Court 511 is a two bedroom, two bath ground floor corner condominium with golf course and distant ocean views. Features include a covered lanai, covered parking, secure covered bike and surfboard storage area, as well as a community pool, grilling area, and gathering room. Permitted for vacation or long term rental use. MLS # 655271; $849,900. Call Julie Black, RB (808) 652-6174, Kauai Dreams Realty
Average US long-term mortgage rate ticks back down this week ASSOCIATED PRESS SILVER SPRING, Md. — The average long-term mortgage rate in the U.S. ticked back down this week following several weeks of increases. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage fell to 3.09% from 3.14% last week. Last year at this time the long-term rate stood at 2.78%. The rate for a 15-year loan, a popular option for homeowners refinancing their mortgages, fell to 2.35% from 2.37% last week. Rates remain historically low, though limited inventory and rising prices are leaving many potential homebuyers on the sidelines. Last week, the government reported that the median price of a new home rose to a record $408,800 in September, up 9.5% from a year ago. The median price for an existing home jumped to $352,800, a 13.3% increase from September last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. “While mortgage rates fell after several weeks on the rise, we expect future upticks due to stronger economic data and as the Federal Reserve pulls back on its stimulus,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. As expected on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced that it would keep its main borrowing rate near zero but begin dialing back the extraordinary stimulus it’s provided since the pandemic erupted last year. The Fed said it will start reducing its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases in the coming weeks, by $15 billion a month, citing an improving economy and escalating concern that high inflation now seems likely to persist. The Fed’s announcement came as higher prices for just about everything — food, rent, heating oil, autos and other necessities — have burdened households. Also on Thursday, the government reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a pandemic low last week, another sign the job market is healing after last year’s coronavirus recession. Overall, 2.1 million Americans were collecting unemployment checks the week of Oct. 23 — down from 7.1 million a year earlier when the economy was still reeling from the coronavirus outbreak.
Upgrading your bath? BRANDPOINT If you’re one of the many homeowners renovating your house this year, you’re likely looking at a wealth of new products and features that could add beauty and/or functionality to your lifestyle. Thanks in part to our trend of spending more time at home, a significant 59% of U.S. consumers will reallocate part of their prepandemic budgets toward homeimprovement this year, according to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. For many, that will mean upgrading their bathrooms (or adding new ones) to add comfort, versatility and/or efficiency. One improvement to strongly consider if you’re designing or improving a bath is a switch to a tankless water heater. You may not be aware of these handy, compact and highly efficient appliances, but they’re already a staple in commercial spas and in homes across Europe and in Asia because they provide such a multitude of perks. Switching out your conventional, storage-tank-type heater could provide a number of attractive benefits you may not have considered, which is why these modern and highly effective new tankless systems are growing so much in popularity. Here’s a round-up of the top six advantages. Tankless heaters save energy. Rather than maintaining large, continually heated water supplies, tankless heaters are specifically engineered to heat input water
only on demand, as you turn on your hot-water tap or shower. Between uses, they automatically shut down and stop using energy. Impressively Thermalux, a new and fast-emerging tankless heater brand, is credited with helping reduce up to 118,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year. Tankless heaters ensure you never run out of hot water. Because you’re not storing your hot water supply, there’s no risk of running out if everyone in your household uses it at the same
6 reasons to go tankless for heated water
closet to optimize the room you have for other amenities. Tankless heaters maintain cleaner water. Because tankless heaters provide your water only on demand, they serve up fresh, clean water only as you need it. If you have hard water, you can alleviate scale build-up and maximize the longevity of your tankless system through regular water treatment and a simple annual descaling. Tankless heater installation may come with tax credits or rebates. Since many local, state and federal agencies support the energyefficiency of these compact machines, they offer various rebates and tax credits upon installation (see energystar.gov for more info). That could add to the savings you can expect over time as a result of reduced energy bills. Tankless heaters are available for shipment now. In many cases, the materials and appliances needed for new construction and remodeling projects are on backorder right now due to supply chain issues. Happily, tankless water heaters are not subject to those hold-ups and are readily time. With the right-sized system available for your renovation for your home, you can access project; just go to Amazon or unlimited hot water all day, every Home Depot online to see the day. excellent selection offered by top Tankless heaters take up less space. Despite their added power, manufacturer Thermalux. With smart design, remodeling tankless units are significantly can add years of functionality and smaller than the large, bulky enjoyment to one of the most-used conventional tanks that may be rooms in your home. Consider taking up unnecessary space in your home. Sized and shaped like a how a tankless water heater might be part of your improvements as small suitcase, tankless water heaters are compact enough to be you move forward with your bathroom renovation (or bath hung on the wall in your utility addition) plans. room, garage, attic, basement or
Hawaiiana Management Company, Ltd. Serving Kauai’s Condo & Community Associations with award-winning service
H
awaiiana currently serves nearly 60 residential and commercial associations on the Island of Kauai. Kauai native Sunshine Ruiz Hatto serves as Hawaiiana’s Vice President RI .DXDL 2SHUDWLRQV IURP LWV RIŅFH DW WKH .XNXL *URYH ([HFXWLYH &HQWHU LQ /LKXH
Sunshine Ruiz Hatto Vice President Kauai Operations
• • • •
99% retention rate among clients Local (vs. mainland) banking All employees are in Hawaii Serving nearly 60 associations on Kauai
BOB WILSON SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
MIRISHAE MCDONALD MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
LUCY TAYLOR SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
RICHARD ROBERTS MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
AMY CAMPBELL MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
WHIT VAN BLARGEN MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
www.hmcmgt.com
KRISTEN KURZ MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
HINAHEA LANGI OFFICE MANAGER, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
RACHELE BURNS TOGUCHI ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Hawaiiana’s Kauai Properties: $OLKL /DQL Alii Kai at Hanalei Alii Kai II $OLRPDQX (VWDWHV Apopo Hale (PPDODQL &RXUW +DODXODQL &RQGRPLQLXP Hale Honu Halelani Village at Puhi Halemalu at Puhi Hanalei Bay Villas +RROXDQD &RQGR DW .RKHD /RD +RRNHQD DW 3XKL Kahala at Poipu Kai Ka‘iulani of Princeville .DNHOD 0DNDL 2FHDQYLHZ Kalaheo Pali Kai Kalihiwai Ridge
Kamahana Kauai Beach Resort Kauai Beach Resort Association Kawaihau Sports Villa . * (QWHUSULVHV &RQGRPLQLXP .RKHD /RD 0DVWHU $VVRFLDWLRQ .RORD *DUGHQ $SDUWPHQWV Kuhio Shores at Poipu .XNXLĢXOD /DH 1DQL 0DNDQXL 0DQXDORKD 0DUULRWWģV .DXDL 5HVRUW %HDFK &OXE $2$2 Pali Ke Kua Paliuli 3LNDNH Plantation at Princeville 3RLSX &UDWHU
Poipu Kai Association 3RLSX .DL 5DFTXHW &OXE Poipu Kai Water Reclamation Poipu Kapili Poipu Sands 3ULQFHYLOOH ,, &RPPXQLW\ Association 3ULQFHYLOOH ,, &RPPXQLW\ $VVRFLDWLRQ 4XHHQ (PPD %OXII 3ULQFHYLOOH 0DNDL 5DQFK DW Halele‘a
Princeville Paniolo Princeville Sealodge I Puamana 3XKL ,QGXVWULDO 3DUN Pu‘u Po‘a Regency at Poipu Kai Regency Hule‘ia Regency Villas at Poipu Kai Sandpiper Village I The Villas at Poipu Kai Villas at Puali
For more information about Hawaiiana’s services, contact Sunshine Ruiz Hatto at 792-0515 or email sunshine@hmcmgt.com.