As an agent representing buyers in West Hawaii for 15 years, Sharon Morris brings a world of professional experience and sound judgment to her clients.

With a thorough understanding of West Hawaii's diversity of climates, temperatures and communities, Sharon will call on her expertise and knowledge to find you the property to suit your needs.

Once you have found the perfect match, Sharon will utilize her knowledge and skills to assist you through every step of your transaction, and will commit to a Buyer's Services Guarantee.

Sharon's success can be greatly attributed to the loyalty of her clients who have returned to her to buy and sell another property. You are invited to view client testimonials to see what past clients have had to say about Sharon.

Sharon's Recommendations for Buyers:

• Get prequalified for a loan. From the seller's perspective, a preapproved buyer is a very serious buyer. Most sellers are more likely to want to work with such a highly qualified buyer. Additionally, by prequalifying you will have a clear picture of your purchasing power. It's easy to prequalify these days. A simple call will get you started. Contact Coldwell Banker Mortgage at 1-877-634-5676 or online at www.coldwellbankermortgage.com. A excellent local lender in Kona is First Financial Mortgage
• Determine your family's needs in a home. Take into consideration proximity to schools, shopping, the ocean as well as climate, rainfall and temperature. Also consider how much work you are willing to do to the property to make it your perfect home.
• Benefit from Sharon's Buyer Services Guarantee.

The following are some answers to questions frequently asked by buyers:

What do Leasehold and Fee Simple mean?

If you purchase a fee simple property, you buy the land and any improvements on that land. This is the most common type of real estate you will likely encounter.

If you purchase a leasehold property, you buy a "lease" for land and you may or may not own the improvements on the property. A lease rent is charged for the property in addition to the mortgage or monthly maintenance fee. Residential and land leases are usually set to expire on a specific date and may have a renegotiation date when the rate of the lease rent can change. When lending on leasehold property, lending institutions require a minimum number of years left on the lease. The typical term of loan would be to five years before the year the lease expires. For example, if there are 20 years remaining on a lease, the lending institution would probably only allow a 15-year loan term.

Why would anyone want to buy leasehold property? Leasehold property is often less expensive to purchase and the lease is depreciable, which may have tax advantages for you as a buyer.

You should always consult your tax advisor and your attorney before purchasing any property.

What about utility costs and services?

With year round temperatures in most West Hawaii areas ranging between the low 70's and mid to upper 80's, you will not likely have the cost of heating your home. However, if you utilize air-conditioning, your electric bill will be higher than usual. Utility costs include electric, water, sewer (if applicable), phone and cable. There is no natural gas source on the island. Many people choose to install propane tanks on their property. Solar water heating is becoming a great long term money saving option.

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