HAWAII'S HOUSING BOOM

To Our Readers

Frank Bridgewater

The talk of the town

It seems as if just about everyone is buying a home, or selling one, or thinking about buying or selling one. The repercussions have been enormous, creating economic and lifestyle changes throughout the islands.

Starting today, we, along with our partners at KITV4, begin a comprehensive report on Hawaii's housing market, looking at the good, the bad and, to some extent, the ugly.

We offer the numbers that tell the story, but also go deeper to put a face on them and explain how Hawaii's housing situation is affecting people in their daily lives.

Frank Bridgewater
Editor

Tell us your housing story

Tell us about your experiences -- good or bad -- with Hawaii's high-cost housing. The Star-Bulletin will print some of your stories Saturday. You can e-mail us your stories and comments to throughtheroof@starbulletin.com.

Hawaii's housing boom

The Star-Bulletin and KITV take an unprecedented look at Hawaii's high-priced housing market. Here's our lineup of stories for this eight-day special report.

Part 1 - Sunday:

ONE MARKET, MANY STORIES

Hawaii's skyrocketing housing market has left many winners and losers in its wake.

Housing: The talk of the town

Prices enrich some, burn others

Boom leaves some on street

Homes by the numbers

Part 2 - Monday:

THE VERY FIRST TIME

Venturing out into Hawaii's housing market can be daunting for the first-time buyer. But there's help available to seal the deal.

Bidding wars erupt in seller's market

Mortgage plans for first-time buyers

What can you afford?

On KITV:

First-Time Buyers Struggle To Find Homes

Part 3 - Tuesday:

COSTS OF SACRIFICES

Some homeowners are stretched to their financial limits to make their monthly payment.

Maxed-out mortgages risky, common

The 'hidden homeless'

On KITV:

Homeowners take drastic measures to live in isles

Part 4 - Wednesday:

WE'RE IN THE MONEY

With prices at record highs, thousands of isle residents are cashing in on the booming housing market.

Money flows to every facet of market

On KITV:

Housing market attracts more real estate agents

Part 5 - Thursday:

ENDANGERED LIFESTYLE

For the neighbor islands, the housing boom has meant some rural areas have become fair game for rich investors.

Vacation rentals tighten market

Calls for real estate tax relief grow

By the numbers

Part 6 - Friday:

NO PLACE TO CALL HOME

Renters are feeling the heat of the sizzling market as landlords jack up rents or put their properties on the market.

Renters hit by dwindling supply, rising demand

On KITV:

Neighbor Island Residents find tight housing market

Part 7 - Saturday:

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Readers share their experiences with Hawaii's high housing costs.

Couple chooses daughter over stability

Letters reveal simmering class divide

Part 8 - Sunday:

AN END IN SIGHT?

Has Hawaii's housing boom hit a plateau? What's next for isle real estate?

Boom-to-bust not inevitable

Tonight on KITV 4 News at 10 ...

... Paul Udell introduces you to people living the ride of a life-time: the Hawaii housing boom. For some, it's terrific; for others, terrible. From a young Makiki couple struggling to buy their first house, to an Aina Haina family sitting on a gold mine, there is not one person we did not admire or sympathize with, laugh with, shed a tear for, or were challenged or impressed by. We've all seen the numbers; we hope you take this opportunity to meet the people behind them.