For starters, a BlackBerry set up with Microsoft Exchange Server sports intelligent push email while the iPhone does not. When an email is sent to an account on a BlackBerry, the message is downloaded immediately and an LED on the phone notifies the user that he or she has a new message. The iPhone, on the other hand, recognizes new messages at most every 15 minutes and must be checked actively to see if anything has arrived. This deficiency makes handling email on the iPhone slower and less efficient; it also translates into wasted battery power as users need to perform the extra step of opening the iPhone’s email program every time they want to check for new mail.
addition to these major drawbacks of the iPhone, our venture capitalist cites the following as reasons to prefer the BlackBerry:
* The BlackBerry 8800 possesses GPS, which makes Google Maps much more useful, especially for turn-by-turn directions
* The iPhone lacks basic cut and paste capabilities
* Despite Apple’s reputation for superior user interface design, the BlackBerry possesses keyboard shortcuts that make navigation around and between applications a breeze
* The BlackBerry’s phone quality is better than the iPhone’s
* The Safari browser is certainly more stunning than the BlackBerry’s primitive browser, but the iPhone seems to load even text-only pages more slowly than the BlackBerry over the EDGE network
* The BlackBerry possesses a general contacts application that makes contacting people by any given method more convenient
* The battery runs out faster on the iPhone simply because it is used for more tasks. This makes it less reliable for when one must take the device somewhere overnight without the opportunity to recharge.
Despite all of these criticisms of the iPhone, our venture capitalist admits that he would switch over to the iPhone if only it supported push email, calendar and contacts synchronization, and GPS. For him, the prospect of ridding his pockets of a separate device for music (an iPod nano), as well as enjoying all of the iPhone’s slick features (such as full-featured web browsing, stocks and weather apps, and its YouTube program), makes the iPhone very tempting. However, until Apple resolves these shortcomings (and perhaps Google makes its applications, especially Gmail, work as seamlessly with the iPhone as Microsoft makes Exchange work with the BlackBerry), others are going to have to pry his BlackBerry from his cold, dead hands (his words, mind you, not ours).
Thursday, February 28, 2008
No-Fee Apartments
No-Fee Apartments
Fee vs. No-Fee
Real estate agents charge a fee for their services. The standard realtor fee in New York is 15% of the first year's rent. For a $1,000 / month apartment, that's $1,800 up front and out of your pocket. Given these sums, many people try to find no-fee apartments. No-fee apartments are apartments that are being rented out directly by their owners. Sometimes the owners are individuals and sometimes they are companies that own apartment buildings.
No-Fee Brokers
Given the current fervor for finding no-fee apartments, many real estate agents have jumped on the no-fee bandwagon. It is not uncommon for apartments to be listed as no-fee that are actually being rented by a realtor, who is being paid by the owner or landlord. As they say, there's "no free lunch": the presence of a broker will usually be reflected in a higher rent price.
Finding No-Fee Apartments
Finding a good no-fee apartment is not always easy. Backpage and Craigslist have large no-fee sections, as do many other online listings sites. There are also companies (many of whom lure in customers through online listings) that provide lists of no-fee apartments for a small ($100-$200) fee, which they claim will be refunded if you don't get your apartment through them. Some of these companies are legitimate, but there are many that are not, providing poor-quality listings and then refusing to refund your payment at the end. As always, be careful before handing over your money. One of the best ways to find a no-fee apartment is simply to find someone whom you know to be moving out of his or her apartment, and contact their landlord directly. Another option is to contact the companies that manage large apartment buildings. If you find a building that you would like to live in, look for the contact information of the building manager (usually right by the mailboxes in the entrance) and give them a call. There's a good chance that they'll know of an upcoming opening in that building, or in one of their other similar properties.
No-fee apartments are apartments that are being rented out directly by their owners. Sometimes the owners are individuals and sometimes they are companies that own apartment build
Fee vs. No-Fee
Real estate agents charge a fee for their services. The standard realtor fee in New York is 15% of the first year's rent. For a $1,000 / month apartment, that's $1,800 up front and out of your pocket. Given these sums, many people try to find no-fee apartments. No-fee apartments are apartments that are being rented out directly by their owners. Sometimes the owners are individuals and sometimes they are companies that own apartment buildings.
No-Fee Brokers
Given the current fervor for finding no-fee apartments, many real estate agents have jumped on the no-fee bandwagon. It is not uncommon for apartments to be listed as no-fee that are actually being rented by a realtor, who is being paid by the owner or landlord. As they say, there's "no free lunch": the presence of a broker will usually be reflected in a higher rent price.
Finding No-Fee Apartments
Finding a good no-fee apartment is not always easy. Backpage and Craigslist have large no-fee sections, as do many other online listings sites. There are also companies (many of whom lure in customers through online listings) that provide lists of no-fee apartments for a small ($100-$200) fee, which they claim will be refunded if you don't get your apartment through them. Some of these companies are legitimate, but there are many that are not, providing poor-quality listings and then refusing to refund your payment at the end. As always, be careful before handing over your money. One of the best ways to find a no-fee apartment is simply to find someone whom you know to be moving out of his or her apartment, and contact their landlord directly. Another option is to contact the companies that manage large apartment buildings. If you find a building that you would like to live in, look for the contact information of the building manager (usually right by the mailboxes in the entrance) and give them a call. There's a good chance that they'll know of an upcoming opening in that building, or in one of their other similar properties.
No-fee apartments are apartments that are being rented out directly by their owners. Sometimes the owners are individuals and sometimes they are companies that own apartment build
finding a rental property in Hawaii, New York, apartment, condo and single family homes
Apartment-Hunting Tips
Use word of mouth. Start any search with your friends, family, work, or school connections. Like jobs, the best apartments in New York City often come through personal connections and social networks. Email everyone you know and tell them when you are moving and what you are looking for. Ask them to email everyone they know. This approach takes some time, but is definitely worth it.
Give yourself some time. If you can move to the city and stay with friends, or sublet for a few weeks or even a month, do so. This will give you some time to get the lay of the land before deciding on a place to live.
Determine your budget. Your percent of rent in relation to your income in NYC could be higher than the standard 25%. Many New Yorkers spend between 30% and 40% of their post-tax income on rent, especially those making under $60,000 a year. A simple rent calculation is to double your income, and remove two zeroes. So, if your salary is $40,000 per year, the amount of rent you pay should very roughly be around $800 per month.
Look at the right time. The apartment rental market is most active during the summer, especially in August and September. The first and last week of each month are the best times to look. Usually tenants give 30 days notice at the beginning of the month. By the end of the month, owners are getting desperate if places are not filled.
Narrow your search. Form a picture of the kind of place you are looking for and can afford. Then stick to your guns and focus your search on that picture. That way you'll know when to pounce on a place, and when to walk. To keep from getting overwhelmed, try focusing your search on one or two neighborhoods.
Visit neighborhoods. Walk around each neighborhood and plan to spend some time there. Find a cafe or park and observe the environment to see if you like it. Try using the transit you would be using to go to work or school at different times of the day to determine if the commute will work for you.
Ask questions. When visiting apartments ask questions about noise, morning and evening light, neighbors, electrical and plumbing age, pests, as well as security. Also, be sure to ask whether or not the heating and utility costs are included in the rent. Heating costs in the winter can easily be as high as $300 a month.
Consider your commute. Easy travel to work or school should not be undervalued. As you will quickly realize, rent prices are almost always higher near subway stations, especially those in Manhattan. One common trade-off is between apartment size and commute length. You can get a much bigger place if you're willing to walk further or take a longer train ride.
Be ready to decide. Apartments do go quickly in this city, so come prepared to make a decision. It's a good idea to carry copies of your credit report and be sure to bring along any roommates who will be making the decision with you. All this being said, don't let people push too hard. If you need to think about it, take your time, but understand that the apartment may be gone by the time you decide.
Stick to your price. It is important to decide how much you can afford to pay for rent before you begin looking. When dealing with a real estate agent, it is a good idea to be clear about your budget, and to stick to it. If they offer to show you an apartment that is above your maximum, tell them that you're not interested. Remember: the higher your rent, the higher their fee.
Know your rights. Obviously, a lease is a legal document. Before signing one, you should know your rights as a tenant. Given all the things that can go wrong with an apartment (plumbing, leaky roofs, pests, noise, theft, etc), it's important to understand what your landlord is and isn't responsible for. Fortunately, the State of New York provides a great online Tenants' Rights Guide.
Use word of mouth. Start any search with your friends, family, work, or school connections. Like jobs, the best apartments in New York City often come through personal connections and social networks. Email everyone you know and tell them when you are moving and what you are looking for. Ask them to email everyone they know. This approach takes some time, but is definitely worth it.
Give yourself some time. If you can move to the city and stay with friends, or sublet for a few weeks or even a month, do so. This will give you some time to get the lay of the land before deciding on a place to live.
Determine your budget. Your percent of rent in relation to your income in NYC could be higher than the standard 25%. Many New Yorkers spend between 30% and 40% of their post-tax income on rent, especially those making under $60,000 a year. A simple rent calculation is to double your income, and remove two zeroes. So, if your salary is $40,000 per year, the amount of rent you pay should very roughly be around $800 per month.
Look at the right time. The apartment rental market is most active during the summer, especially in August and September. The first and last week of each month are the best times to look. Usually tenants give 30 days notice at the beginning of the month. By the end of the month, owners are getting desperate if places are not filled.
Narrow your search. Form a picture of the kind of place you are looking for and can afford. Then stick to your guns and focus your search on that picture. That way you'll know when to pounce on a place, and when to walk. To keep from getting overwhelmed, try focusing your search on one or two neighborhoods.
Visit neighborhoods. Walk around each neighborhood and plan to spend some time there. Find a cafe or park and observe the environment to see if you like it. Try using the transit you would be using to go to work or school at different times of the day to determine if the commute will work for you.
Ask questions. When visiting apartments ask questions about noise, morning and evening light, neighbors, electrical and plumbing age, pests, as well as security. Also, be sure to ask whether or not the heating and utility costs are included in the rent. Heating costs in the winter can easily be as high as $300 a month.
Consider your commute. Easy travel to work or school should not be undervalued. As you will quickly realize, rent prices are almost always higher near subway stations, especially those in Manhattan. One common trade-off is between apartment size and commute length. You can get a much bigger place if you're willing to walk further or take a longer train ride.
Be ready to decide. Apartments do go quickly in this city, so come prepared to make a decision. It's a good idea to carry copies of your credit report and be sure to bring along any roommates who will be making the decision with you. All this being said, don't let people push too hard. If you need to think about it, take your time, but understand that the apartment may be gone by the time you decide.
Stick to your price. It is important to decide how much you can afford to pay for rent before you begin looking. When dealing with a real estate agent, it is a good idea to be clear about your budget, and to stick to it. If they offer to show you an apartment that is above your maximum, tell them that you're not interested. Remember: the higher your rent, the higher their fee.
Know your rights. Obviously, a lease is a legal document. Before signing one, you should know your rights as a tenant. Given all the things that can go wrong with an apartment (plumbing, leaky roofs, pests, noise, theft, etc), it's important to understand what your landlord is and isn't responsible for. Fortunately, the State of New York provides a great online Tenants' Rights Guide.
AMAZON MP3 VS ITUNES MP3
Nowadays Amazon launched a beta version of a music store that breaks this lock-in. All of Amazon's tracks are sold as unrestricted MP3s, free of Digital Rights Management, or DRM. And they will work on just about any music player in the world, including an iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune. The store marks iTunes' first real competition. In fact, I think it kicks iTunes' buttons.
ong quality
Amazon: MP 3, encoded at a 256 kbps variable bit rate
iTunes: encoded as AAC files with a bit rate of 128 kbps
Price
Amazon: Tracks $0.89, full albums $8.99
iTunes: Tracks $0.99, full albums $9.99
Easy of use
Amazon: download a small companion program (works on Windows and Mac), you can reproduce
iTunes: buy a song with one click, it's integrated into your music player(you never have to fiddle with files on your hard drive to get the songs into your iPod)
selections
Amazon: 2 million songs (EMI and Universal)
iTunes: 6 million songs
restrict
Amazon: everything is unrestricted, everything will word for ever
iTunes: copy-protection scheme (put your songs on just five computers at a time; make only seven CD copies of a particular playlist), DRM protected
1. Song quality: Audiophiles can argue forever on the merits of higher-bit MP3s versus lower-bit AACs
listening to the same song purchased from each store they are almost the same
2. I found that "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Smashing Pumpkins' 1995 double album, is just $8.99, DRM-free, on Amazon. On iTunes it's $19.99.
From now on when I look for music, I'm going to go to Amazon first. Only if I don't find something there will I think about buying from iTunes. If you value your freedom, I may accept my way and follow someday.
ong quality
Amazon: MP 3, encoded at a 256 kbps variable bit rate
iTunes: encoded as AAC files with a bit rate of 128 kbps
Price
Amazon: Tracks $0.89, full albums $8.99
iTunes: Tracks $0.99, full albums $9.99
Easy of use
Amazon: download a small companion program (works on Windows and Mac), you can reproduce
iTunes: buy a song with one click, it's integrated into your music player(you never have to fiddle with files on your hard drive to get the songs into your iPod)
selections
Amazon: 2 million songs (EMI and Universal)
iTunes: 6 million songs
restrict
Amazon: everything is unrestricted, everything will word for ever
iTunes: copy-protection scheme (put your songs on just five computers at a time; make only seven CD copies of a particular playlist), DRM protected
1. Song quality: Audiophiles can argue forever on the merits of higher-bit MP3s versus lower-bit AACs
listening to the same song purchased from each store they are almost the same
2. I found that "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Smashing Pumpkins' 1995 double album, is just $8.99, DRM-free, on Amazon. On iTunes it's $19.99.
From now on when I look for music, I'm going to go to Amazon first. Only if I don't find something there will I think about buying from iTunes. If you value your freedom, I may accept my way and follow someday.
HD VS BLUE RAY- BLE RAY WINS
Blu-ray wins
That's all, folks: it's safe to stick your head above the technological parapet. The next-generation DVD format war is officially over.
With the news this week that Toshiba was raising the white flag of surrender for its preferred format, HD-DVD, the victory for rival disc Blu-ray was complete.
In truth, the rot set in some time ago, but the pace of HD-DVD's demise accelerated dramatically and irreversibly when Warner Bros announced in January that it would only be releasing DVDs on Blu-ray.
advertisement
Support for HD-DVD began to fall, with US firms such as Netflix, Wal Mart and Best Buy throwing their weight behind Blu-ray.
It's a sweet victory for the Sony-backed Blu-ray format. Sony's technically superior Betamax video format lost out to JVC-backed VHS when those formats went head to head in the 1980s.
The battle between HD-DVD - backed by Toshiba and Microsoft, and ultimately just two film studios, Paramount and Universal - and Blu-ray - championed by Sony, Dell, HP, Philips and most of Hollywood's major movie makers - has been rumbling on for about two years. Sales of standalone Blu-ray and HD-DVD players have been relatively low, with only early adopters willing to hedge their bets and part with their cash on technology that could soon become obsolete.
Most ordinary consumers' only contact with the next-generation formats has been through games consoles - Sony's PlayStation 3 has a built-in Blu-ray player, while users of Microsoft's Xbox 360 have been able to buy an HD-DVD player for their console.
Sony's decision to incorporate Blu-ray playback into the PS3 is thought to have been a decisive factor in the format emerging victorious. According to industry statistics, 3.2 million PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold in Europe, plus 34,000 standalone Blu-ray players. But only 55,000 HD-DVD players, including the HD-DVD player add-on for the Xbox 360, have been sold in Europe. And once several big film studios began to release their films solely in Blu-ray, HD-DVD was always going to be on the losing side.
Interestingly, despite Apple giving its backing to the Blu-ray format, it has yet to produce a single computer with a Blu-ray drive. Instead, Apple seems to be concentrating on movies delivered across the internet, through iTunes and the new Apple TV, rather than on physical discs.
So although Blu-ray has won this battle, it may not have won the war. As home internet speeds become faster and consumers get used to video on-demand services, the movie market could undergo a similar change to the music sector, with films downloaded rather than physically bought.
That's all, folks: it's safe to stick your head above the technological parapet. The next-generation DVD format war is officially over.
With the news this week that Toshiba was raising the white flag of surrender for its preferred format, HD-DVD, the victory for rival disc Blu-ray was complete.
In truth, the rot set in some time ago, but the pace of HD-DVD's demise accelerated dramatically and irreversibly when Warner Bros announced in January that it would only be releasing DVDs on Blu-ray.
advertisement
Support for HD-DVD began to fall, with US firms such as Netflix, Wal Mart and Best Buy throwing their weight behind Blu-ray.
It's a sweet victory for the Sony-backed Blu-ray format. Sony's technically superior Betamax video format lost out to JVC-backed VHS when those formats went head to head in the 1980s.
The battle between HD-DVD - backed by Toshiba and Microsoft, and ultimately just two film studios, Paramount and Universal - and Blu-ray - championed by Sony, Dell, HP, Philips and most of Hollywood's major movie makers - has been rumbling on for about two years. Sales of standalone Blu-ray and HD-DVD players have been relatively low, with only early adopters willing to hedge their bets and part with their cash on technology that could soon become obsolete.
Most ordinary consumers' only contact with the next-generation formats has been through games consoles - Sony's PlayStation 3 has a built-in Blu-ray player, while users of Microsoft's Xbox 360 have been able to buy an HD-DVD player for their console.
Sony's decision to incorporate Blu-ray playback into the PS3 is thought to have been a decisive factor in the format emerging victorious. According to industry statistics, 3.2 million PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold in Europe, plus 34,000 standalone Blu-ray players. But only 55,000 HD-DVD players, including the HD-DVD player add-on for the Xbox 360, have been sold in Europe. And once several big film studios began to release their films solely in Blu-ray, HD-DVD was always going to be on the losing side.
Interestingly, despite Apple giving its backing to the Blu-ray format, it has yet to produce a single computer with a Blu-ray drive. Instead, Apple seems to be concentrating on movies delivered across the internet, through iTunes and the new Apple TV, rather than on physical discs.
So although Blu-ray has won this battle, it may not have won the war. As home internet speeds become faster and consumers get used to video on-demand services, the movie market could undergo a similar change to the music sector, with films downloaded rather than physically bought.
finding a rental property in Hawaii- living in Hawaii
The Cost of Living in Paradise is High!
If you are thinking of making Hawaii your home, consider the following facts:
Sources indicate a cost of living ranging from 30%1 above the national average to well over 60%2 for certain family sizes.
* In 2006, a family of 4 renting accommodation in Honolulu needs to earn $111,695 or 55% more income to maintain a lifestyle similar to a comparable family earning $72,000 in the continental United States.2
* Although the 2003 median income of $71,320 for a family of 4 in Hawaii was higher than the national figure of $65,093, this is still below the amount required to maintain the same standard of living for a family of 4 in Hawaii as elsewhere in America.3
Hawaii's High Cost of Housing and Low Income
A major component of Hawaii's high cost of living can be attributed to its high cost of housing and low income.
* In 2005, the State of Hawaii ranked number 10 out of 47 States surveyed (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were excluded) for having the most expensive housing market based on a 2200 sq. ft. (approx.) single family dwelling with 4-bedrooms, 2.5 baths, family room (or equivalent) and a 2-car garage in a corporate middle-management neighborhood. Hawaii ranks number 47 (bottom of the list) for the most affordable housing market! 4
* The national average of the markets surveyed in the above study was $401,767. The survey showed that the 2005 Average Sales Price for the most expensive Hawaii market was $745,454 (Kihei, Maui) and the most affordable was $737,625 (Honolulu, Oahu) - well over the national average.
* 2005 set record high prices for single family dwellings on the Island of Oahu. The 2005 median resale price of a single family home was $590,000. The 2005 median resale price for a condominium was $269,000.5 The cost of housing on neighbor islands was even higher and higher incomes were harder to obtain.6
* In 2004, Hawaii's home ownership rate (proportion of owner households to the total number of occupied households) was only 60.9%, ranking Hawaii as 48th (one of the lowest) in the nation - indicative of widespread speculative investment.7
* In 2005, Hawaii's total personal income grew by 8% - the biggest increase since 1990 and the third largest increase in the nation.8 However, Hawaii's 2004 Per Capita Personal Income of $32,606 ranked 20th in the United States, below the national average of $33,041.9
For salary and cost of living comparisons between Honolulu and other U.S. cities, see the Cost of Living Wizard.
Even with 2 adults working full time, rental housing and home ownership are becoming increasingly unaffordable, if not impossible, for the average family in Hawaii.
Cost of Food
Amazingly, Hawaii has less than a seven day supply of many foods, especially perishables. Some 90% of our food is still imported.
In recent years, the cost of food in Hawaii has been offset to some degree with the arrival of major warehouse outlets throughout the Islands (e.g. Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart). However, the Economic Research Institute's 2006 Cost of Living Analyses for Honolulu shows that the cost of consumables weighted to pricing patterns of grocery and drug store chains is as much as 66% more than the U.S. average depending upon family size, earnings level and spending patterns.2
Perhaps 10,000 acres could grow all the perishable food Hawaii needs. Unfortunately, key factors in utilizing these acres are the high cost of some land, tax laws and leasing difficulties, water, labor and transportation.
You just can't grow cucumbers on $95,000+-an-acre land!
Land Availability
Nearly half of Hawaii's 4.1 million acres are managed by the State or Federal Government and of the remaining 50% in private ownership, approximately 20 percent is controlled by seven private landowners.10
Of the total acreage, the State Land Use Commission classifies 95% as belonging to either Agriculture or Conservation Districts and only 5% to Rural and Urban Districts.11
Increasing urbanization and growing pressure from developers to use agricultural land for resort and large subdivision development is likely to continue fueling the high price of housing, food, and cost of living in Hawaii.
America's Health Care - A System in Crisis
The Nation's health care costs in 2006 have hit the $1.9 trillion mark and now consume 16 percent of the gross domestic product.
Half of the people filing for bankruptcy in the United States cited medical costs as the reason. About 75 percent of those filing had health insurance when they became ill.
Currently, 46 million Americans are uninsured and millions more have inadequate health insurance. In terms of health indicators like life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, and obesity, the United States ranks close to the bottom of the list of Western countries.12
Health Care Costs in Hawaii
As at January 1, 2006, the average cost for HMO (Managed Care) for an individual in Hawaii was $437 a month - for a family $747 a month. The average cost for Indemnity (Non Managed Care) for an individual was $563 a month - for a family $936 a month.2
The 2006 U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Poverty Guideline for a family or household of 4 people in Hawaii is $23,000 a year.13 In Hawaii, approximately one in ten persons were living "at or below poverty level" in 2004. Of those below poverty, 12.4% were uninsured (compared to 4.4% of those above poverty).14
Hawaii Quest is a State program that provides health coverage through managed care plans for eligible lower income Hawaii residents. To be eligible for Hawaii Quest, you must have income not more than 100% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines.15
In 2004, the percentage of the Nation's population without health insurance remained unchanged, at 15.7% percent.16 Hawaii had a total uninsured population of 5.2% in 2004.17
Beginning in 2006, Hawaii intends to extend Medicaid coverage to an additional 29,000 people over the next six years.8
Many Hawaiians believe that health care is a precious human right that cannot be trusted to the vagaries of the profit-driven market model.
In spite of everything, Hawaii is still a better place to be.
We draw strength from our diversity.
Some of the best people in one of the best places in the world!
If you are thinking of making Hawaii your home, consider the following facts:
Sources indicate a cost of living ranging from 30%1 above the national average to well over 60%2 for certain family sizes.
* In 2006, a family of 4 renting accommodation in Honolulu needs to earn $111,695 or 55% more income to maintain a lifestyle similar to a comparable family earning $72,000 in the continental United States.2
* Although the 2003 median income of $71,320 for a family of 4 in Hawaii was higher than the national figure of $65,093, this is still below the amount required to maintain the same standard of living for a family of 4 in Hawaii as elsewhere in America.3
Hawaii's High Cost of Housing and Low Income
A major component of Hawaii's high cost of living can be attributed to its high cost of housing and low income.
* In 2005, the State of Hawaii ranked number 10 out of 47 States surveyed (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were excluded) for having the most expensive housing market based on a 2200 sq. ft. (approx.) single family dwelling with 4-bedrooms, 2.5 baths, family room (or equivalent) and a 2-car garage in a corporate middle-management neighborhood. Hawaii ranks number 47 (bottom of the list) for the most affordable housing market! 4
* The national average of the markets surveyed in the above study was $401,767. The survey showed that the 2005 Average Sales Price for the most expensive Hawaii market was $745,454 (Kihei, Maui) and the most affordable was $737,625 (Honolulu, Oahu) - well over the national average.
* 2005 set record high prices for single family dwellings on the Island of Oahu. The 2005 median resale price of a single family home was $590,000. The 2005 median resale price for a condominium was $269,000.5 The cost of housing on neighbor islands was even higher and higher incomes were harder to obtain.6
* In 2004, Hawaii's home ownership rate (proportion of owner households to the total number of occupied households) was only 60.9%, ranking Hawaii as 48th (one of the lowest) in the nation - indicative of widespread speculative investment.7
* In 2005, Hawaii's total personal income grew by 8% - the biggest increase since 1990 and the third largest increase in the nation.8 However, Hawaii's 2004 Per Capita Personal Income of $32,606 ranked 20th in the United States, below the national average of $33,041.9
For salary and cost of living comparisons between Honolulu and other U.S. cities, see the Cost of Living Wizard.
Even with 2 adults working full time, rental housing and home ownership are becoming increasingly unaffordable, if not impossible, for the average family in Hawaii.
Cost of Food
Amazingly, Hawaii has less than a seven day supply of many foods, especially perishables. Some 90% of our food is still imported.
In recent years, the cost of food in Hawaii has been offset to some degree with the arrival of major warehouse outlets throughout the Islands (e.g. Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart). However, the Economic Research Institute's 2006 Cost of Living Analyses for Honolulu shows that the cost of consumables weighted to pricing patterns of grocery and drug store chains is as much as 66% more than the U.S. average depending upon family size, earnings level and spending patterns.2
Perhaps 10,000 acres could grow all the perishable food Hawaii needs. Unfortunately, key factors in utilizing these acres are the high cost of some land, tax laws and leasing difficulties, water, labor and transportation.
You just can't grow cucumbers on $95,000+-an-acre land!
Land Availability
Nearly half of Hawaii's 4.1 million acres are managed by the State or Federal Government and of the remaining 50% in private ownership, approximately 20 percent is controlled by seven private landowners.10
Of the total acreage, the State Land Use Commission classifies 95% as belonging to either Agriculture or Conservation Districts and only 5% to Rural and Urban Districts.11
Increasing urbanization and growing pressure from developers to use agricultural land for resort and large subdivision development is likely to continue fueling the high price of housing, food, and cost of living in Hawaii.
America's Health Care - A System in Crisis
The Nation's health care costs in 2006 have hit the $1.9 trillion mark and now consume 16 percent of the gross domestic product.
Half of the people filing for bankruptcy in the United States cited medical costs as the reason. About 75 percent of those filing had health insurance when they became ill.
Currently, 46 million Americans are uninsured and millions more have inadequate health insurance. In terms of health indicators like life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, and obesity, the United States ranks close to the bottom of the list of Western countries.12
Health Care Costs in Hawaii
As at January 1, 2006, the average cost for HMO (Managed Care) for an individual in Hawaii was $437 a month - for a family $747 a month. The average cost for Indemnity (Non Managed Care) for an individual was $563 a month - for a family $936 a month.2
The 2006 U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Poverty Guideline for a family or household of 4 people in Hawaii is $23,000 a year.13 In Hawaii, approximately one in ten persons were living "at or below poverty level" in 2004. Of those below poverty, 12.4% were uninsured (compared to 4.4% of those above poverty).14
Hawaii Quest is a State program that provides health coverage through managed care plans for eligible lower income Hawaii residents. To be eligible for Hawaii Quest, you must have income not more than 100% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines.15
In 2004, the percentage of the Nation's population without health insurance remained unchanged, at 15.7% percent.16 Hawaii had a total uninsured population of 5.2% in 2004.17
Beginning in 2006, Hawaii intends to extend Medicaid coverage to an additional 29,000 people over the next six years.8
Many Hawaiians believe that health care is a precious human right that cannot be trusted to the vagaries of the profit-driven market model.
In spite of everything, Hawaii is still a better place to be.
We draw strength from our diversity.
Some of the best people in one of the best places in the world!
LIFE IN HAWAII
Life in Hawaii
When we left New York, Feb 28, 2007, it was about 25 degrees Celsious. It was in the low 80's. I took off my long-sleeved shirt at the airport and enjoyed the beautiful sights.
We were greeted in Honolulu by thick clouds that shrouded the mountains. They were the kind of clouds that would make us expect a thunderstorm. We soon realized that these clouds are always there - that it is always raining 'mauka' (toward the mountains) and that it is usually clear 'makai' (toward the ocean). The phenomena is called orographic precipitation and you don't get to see it in New York.
I was in Hawaii for a 2 week vacation.
Waikiki is the tourist hot-spot in Honolulu. Its tall buildings contribute to one of the highest population densities in the world. ecture from the elegant greek revival to the 60's factory look.
One of our favorite places to visit was Hanauma Bay, a beach and coral reef fish sanctuary near Honolulu. The Bay is filled with fish. Snorkeling is a favorite activity here and you can see many types of tropical fish.
The cost of living is high in Hawaii. Our apartment is $800 a month. Food prices are at least 1/3 higher than on the mainland (never refer to it as 'the states;' you'll be corrected). A gallon of milk is $4.65. Bulky items are particular expensive. Breakfast cereal varies between $5.00 to $8.00 a box. There are sales and we found one grocery store that sells milk regularly at $2.99 a gallon. Of course, the cost of housing is astronomical. They generally start at about $350,000. This house would be about $500,000.
The weather is almost always perfect and one wonders why people would choose to live in any other type of climate. Daytime temperatures are in the mid-80's. At night, it usually gets down to 70 degrees. One night, it got down to 59. People thought that was very cold.
Two agricultural crops have been dominant in Hawaii - sugar cane and pineapples. Both are in decline. This sugar mill recently went out of business in Waipahu, near Honolulu. There is now only one sugar cane processing plant left on the island. By the way, only raw sugar is made in Hawaii. The raw sugar is sent to California to be processed (C&H Sugar stands for California and Hawaii).
Pineapples are also no longer canned on the island of Oahu. Pineapples are still grown in the central part of the island. They are consumed locally or exported as whole pineapples.
The North Shore of Oahu is particularly beautiful. Waimea Bay is a favorite spot for surfing and swimming.
There are many other beaches along the North Shore.
No, we haven't surfed. We did go to Sandy Beach one day and I went into the water in an area that has very high waves called 'The Gas Chambers' . Locals go out with their boogie boards (short surf boards used for body surfing). The power of the waves is amazing. I got caught under the curl a few times. Once, the curl put my face down into the sand and scraped it along the bottom for awhile. I may have done a somersault but I'm not sure. I lost all sense of orientation. I got back on the beach and walked-off in a daze.
Swimming isn't always possible at the beaches because the waves may be too high. In the winter, they're too high on the north and western side of the islands. In the summer, they're too high on the southern side. The waves are usually 1-3 feet. You can't go near the water when the waves are 3-5 feet. Winter waves on the north shore get up to 25 feet. The surf report is a major part of the weather forecast.
We will miss Hawaii. The people have always been very friendly. But, in many ways, it's easier visiting than living in paradise.
When we left New York, Feb 28, 2007, it was about 25 degrees Celsious. It was in the low 80's. I took off my long-sleeved shirt at the airport and enjoyed the beautiful sights.
We were greeted in Honolulu by thick clouds that shrouded the mountains. They were the kind of clouds that would make us expect a thunderstorm. We soon realized that these clouds are always there - that it is always raining 'mauka' (toward the mountains) and that it is usually clear 'makai' (toward the ocean). The phenomena is called orographic precipitation and you don't get to see it in New York.
I was in Hawaii for a 2 week vacation.
Waikiki is the tourist hot-spot in Honolulu. Its tall buildings contribute to one of the highest population densities in the world. ecture from the elegant greek revival to the 60's factory look.
One of our favorite places to visit was Hanauma Bay, a beach and coral reef fish sanctuary near Honolulu. The Bay is filled with fish. Snorkeling is a favorite activity here and you can see many types of tropical fish.
The cost of living is high in Hawaii. Our apartment is $800 a month. Food prices are at least 1/3 higher than on the mainland (never refer to it as 'the states;' you'll be corrected). A gallon of milk is $4.65. Bulky items are particular expensive. Breakfast cereal varies between $5.00 to $8.00 a box. There are sales and we found one grocery store that sells milk regularly at $2.99 a gallon. Of course, the cost of housing is astronomical. They generally start at about $350,000. This house would be about $500,000.
The weather is almost always perfect and one wonders why people would choose to live in any other type of climate. Daytime temperatures are in the mid-80's. At night, it usually gets down to 70 degrees. One night, it got down to 59. People thought that was very cold.
Two agricultural crops have been dominant in Hawaii - sugar cane and pineapples. Both are in decline. This sugar mill recently went out of business in Waipahu, near Honolulu. There is now only one sugar cane processing plant left on the island. By the way, only raw sugar is made in Hawaii. The raw sugar is sent to California to be processed (C&H Sugar stands for California and Hawaii).
Pineapples are also no longer canned on the island of Oahu. Pineapples are still grown in the central part of the island. They are consumed locally or exported as whole pineapples.
The North Shore of Oahu is particularly beautiful. Waimea Bay is a favorite spot for surfing and swimming.
There are many other beaches along the North Shore.
No, we haven't surfed. We did go to Sandy Beach one day and I went into the water in an area that has very high waves called 'The Gas Chambers' . Locals go out with their boogie boards (short surf boards used for body surfing). The power of the waves is amazing. I got caught under the curl a few times. Once, the curl put my face down into the sand and scraped it along the bottom for awhile. I may have done a somersault but I'm not sure. I lost all sense of orientation. I got back on the beach and walked-off in a daze.
Swimming isn't always possible at the beaches because the waves may be too high. In the winter, they're too high on the north and western side of the islands. In the summer, they're too high on the southern side. The waves are usually 1-3 feet. You can't go near the water when the waves are 3-5 feet. Winter waves on the north shore get up to 25 feet. The surf report is a major part of the weather forecast.
We will miss Hawaii. The people have always been very friendly. But, in many ways, it's easier visiting than living in paradise.
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