Real estate speculators buy three Kaaawa foreclosures

A real estate group specializing in buying and “flipping” depressed properties recently purchased three foreclosed homes located behind the Kaaawa post office and has an eye on two more homes in the neighborhood.

ForeclosuresGet Tubed LLC, owned by investors Travis Wittmeyer and Kanoa Bristol, closed the deal on the three foreclosed homes on November 25, 2011, real estate records show.

Wittmeyer and Bristol are also partners in Blue Wave Investment Solutions LLC, according to state business registration records.

Wittmeyer, in a telephone interview, said Blue Wave is their primary company, which then sets up spin-off companies for each deal involving a set of properties.

Two of the Kaaawa houses are on Kekio Road, just behind the Kaaawa Post Office. The other is just around the corner, at the intersection of Lihimauna and Hiiaka.

The homes were built in 2007-2008 by the former owners of the properties, Michael and Daniel Sessions, and were taken back by the lender in 2010.

The original lender was IndyMac Bank, which later which was reopened as OneWest Bank after being shut down by federal regulators. None of the homes has ever been lived in, and reportedly need substantial repairs before being ready for occupancy.

The houses are on portions of two larger lots that were registered as condominiums in order to build multiple structures in an area zoned for single family homes. Wittmeyer said they found a number of problems with the original CPR, including confusion over exact property lines and differences in property records between various agencies.

Wittmeyer and Bristol were able to buy the three homes together for a total of $861,520.

According to real estate records, the three properties are:

1-5-1-11-19-1
Kekio Road Estates II, Apt. 1
2 bd, 2 bath
7,442 land area
1,442 living area
$267,368

1-5-1-11-19-2
Kekio Road Estates II, Apt 2
3 bd, 2 bath
8,083 land area
1,582 living area
$297,076

1-5-1-11-20-1
Kekio Road Estates I
2 bd, 2 bath
12,487 land area
1,442 living area
$297,076

Private financing for the deal came from ITI Enterprises LLC, formed by three local real estate investment groups just a week before the closing of this deal.

ITI is made up of Turtle Bay Land Company, headed by Michael Mazzella; Intelligent Investments LLC, with members Christopher Jay and Tiffany Jay, who in an online video says she is also vice-president of Turtle Bay Land; and Ionsolutions LLC, controlled by Raymond WM Kong.

Mazzella’s profile on LinkedIn describes him as “Millionaire Mentor & Best-selling Author of the book “Win!”

Mazzella also markets intensive training courses in real estate through another company, Honolulu Mentor.

Wittmeyer said the company often buys several homes in an area, and he is already looking to buy two additional Kaaawa homes, with one already in escrow. Last year, the company turned over ten homes in Wahiawa, he said.

Wittmeyer said his company specializes in finding under-market values, “something we can improve and put back on the market.”

He said the Kaaawa homes are “pretty typical” of what the company looks for.

The company will do necessary repairs and improvements on the three homes in phases over the next several months, and put each on the market as repairs are completed.

“We don’t want to put all three on the market at one time,” he said.

Wittmeyer said they will be addressing several issues, including drainage problems in the area. Owning the three properties will aid them in making necessary adjustments, Wittmeyer said.

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Meet some of Kaaawa’s dogs

Good DogWe’ve been seeing a lot of our Kaaawa dogs in recent days. This morning, for example, we had just said hello to Mr. Zeno when one of our favorite packs of friendly dogs approached from the rear. There was a moment of uncertainty, but then the dogs took over and all was well.

–>See all of today’s Kaaawa morning dogs

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October in Kaaawa

Swanzy Beach ParkOctober is the month when we catch up with the sunrise, as these photos make clear.

During most of the summer months, the sun comes up well before 6 a.m., before we even leave the house on our daily walk.

But by October, we can get down to the beach and catch the full colors of dawn.

Click on the photo to enjoy my selection of October photographs from our little community of Kaaawa.

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Living in Kaaawa

Yes, we’re about 25 miles from the University of Hawaii, a little less to downtown Honolulu, and yes, we pay the fuel bill every month for the commute. Peak oil looms.

On the other hand, this is the way we are able to start each day.

Everything is measured in tradeoffs, I suppose. This is ours.

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Meet more Kaaawa morning dogs

dogsWith 2011 drawing to a close, it’s time to enjoy a few more of the dogs we see on our morning walks to the beach at dawn.

This is Mr. Yeats, a well-mannered gentleman who keeps an eye out for us in the morning. If he sees us, he ambles down the stairs from his spot at the front door of his house, and heads over to the fence to wait for a treat. As you can see, he’ll accept a dog biscuit without much hesitation!

We live with eight cats at home, but enjoy meeting lots of friendly dogs across Kaaawa. We now have to buy dog biscuits in Costco-size boxes to keep up with all our canine friends.

In any case, just click on the photo to see all of today’s Kaaawa dogs.

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Some mornings it rains

We didn’t escape that rain, although it took longer to reach us than I expected.

We almost made it home before it hit. We finally had to deploy our umbrellas just a block or two from home.

Rain

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One December Morning in Kaaawa

I just wanted to share a bit of this beautiful morning in Kaaawa, less than two weeks before the winter solstice.

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Kaaawa burglaries up in November

There were four burglaries reported in Kaaawa so far during November, according to statistics provided by the Honolulu Police Department. There was also one motor vehicle theft, and two reports of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

crimes

The stats show only one burglary in Kaaawa reported in September, then two in October, and four in November. Click here to see the reported crimes for the period from September 1 through November 27.

It isn’t clear whether any of these were related, although there’s a good chance that crimes occurring on the same day and the same general area were linked.

The burglary on Huamalani Road on Nov. 16 brought a team of Navy investigators out to Kaaawa. Several members identifying themselves as agents with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service were going door-to-door seeking any information about the break-in. That’s certainly more investigating than HPD ever does on routine property crimes.

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2012 Kaaawa Calendar now available!

Give yourself or someone you know a holiday gift from Kaaawa!

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Occupy Kualoa Park!

Apparently Kaaawa and the rest of Koolauloa will be a prisoner of APEC tomorrow.

I understand Kamehameha Highway will be closed in advance of the arrival of the entourage led by Michelle Obama. They’re heading for lunch at Kualoa Ranch. Congratulations to John Morgan, who deserves the attention the visit will bring to Kualoa.

But closing off our only road towards Kaneohe is going to create a bit of a mess for residents, to be sure. It also creates an opportunity to let the public know about the development pressures threatening the area.

It has spawned an “Occupy Kualoa Regional Park” protest.

SIGN-HOLDING PARTY!

(Bring your own pupus. Water will be provided.)
OCCUPY KUALOA REGIONAL PARK (Chinaman’s Hat)
Ka’a'awa, Windward Oahu

Sunday – November 13, 2011
Please come BEFORE 9:30 AM (Road will be blocked after that).

Come! Enjoy the country with your family. Bring your own signs or just come enjoy this scenic coast of Windward Oahu that we must save from massive developments.

Our objective is to share with the First Lady Michelle Obama, APEC leader’s spouses, and the media the importance of preserving the rural charm of Ko’olauloa and North Shore from mega developments for all to enjoy. (Somebody must know! They are coming to enjoy the country!) . “KEEP THE COUNTRY COUNTRY” & “protect our farm lands for food security” is critical to the long-term sustainability of our small island. DIVERSITY IS GOOD BUSINESS too.

Mega Developments = mega traffic = inevitable two-lane Kamehameha Hwy widening = displacement of homes/businesses from Kahalu’u to Haleiwa = ousted kama’ianas!

CONTACT:

Keoki “Kaloman” 554-7650. keokikaloman@aol.com.

Choon 293 9111 ChoonJamesHawaii@gmail.com

Evern 721 3866 evernw@aol.com

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Background Information:

November 12, 2011 Saturday: “Students will guide the First Lady on a tour of the farm and then sit down with her for a conversation about youth leadership, engagement and community responsibility as well as access to healthy, affordable food. Joining Mrs. Obama will also be Ed Kenney, Chef of Town restaurant, who has been a longtime supporter of MA’O Farms, has purchased the majority of his restaurant’s produce from the farm and regularly visited with students. http://www.StopHoopili.com and Friends of Makakilo will be getting a contingent to hold signs on Saturday as the First Lady passes to go to Ma’o Farms.

November 13, 2011 Sunday: At the First Lady’s request, Chef Kenney will prepare the luncheon meal for APEC leaders’ spouses on Sunday using local ingredients from MA’O. This Luncheon will be held at Kualoa Ranch at 11:30 AM. in Kaaawa.

Windward residents are inviting others to join them at Kualoa Beach Park BEFORE 9:30 am as the road will be closed after that. Turn it into a family day!

Free “KEEP THE COUNTRY COUNTRY” bumper stickers while it lasts.

http://www.DefendOahuCoalition.org

http://www.KeeptheNorthShoreCountry.org

We’re sorry to be missing this one!

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