Sue Ann Lee, president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, had a lifetime of juggling many things to make her way in the working world. It started when Lee’s father took over management of Chock’s TV & Appliances, an old local company that finally closed in 2003.
“When you’re a kid in a family business, you do whatever they need you to do,” said Lee, 67. “When I could read, I filed. You clean toilets, you sweep up, you do everything.
“I get my work ethic from family,” she added. “You gotta do it. Who else is going to do it if you don’t do it?”
Lee got a degree in education from the University of Hawaii in the midst of a teacher job shortage. She worked in civilian personnel management for the Army, and then got a master’s in business administration at UH. She did day trading and financial planning before shifting to real estate in 2000.
She now balances board duties with her own sales at Forward Realty, mainly by starting in the wee hours and working late. The volunteer work for Meals on Wheels and all vacation time went to the back burner.
The board schools Realtors in ethics and provides advocacy on issues. For example, she said, it’s still studying the proposal to tighten fire regulations for high-rises, a topic that became controversial after the fire at the Marco Polo apartment tower in July.
The vacations will be back on the program once her term ends this month, she said, but retirement? Not so much. Lee said the path to home ownership is rockier now for most, but still possible.
“In metropolitan Oahu, the urban core, Kaimuki, Palolo, Saint Louis Heights, $1 million for a single-wall, old house that needs to be worked on,” she said. “It’s very discouraging for someone coming into the market. But that’s why it feels so good to help them get there.”
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the “monster houses” controversy? How big of a problem is it — if at all?
ANSWER: The monster houses, or “large residential structures,” are a concern as the landscape of our kamaaina neighborhoods change. The ambiance of the neighborhood changes when the large homes adversely impact demands on the aging infrastructure of sewage, water pressure, parking and city services. …
Yet, we must also realize there are definitely valid reasons for some large structures. Those reasons can be both affordability and cultural. Multi-generations living together is commonplace as we see many foreign cultures in-migrating into the islands. …
The Honolulu Board of Realtors is concerned about the violation of the intent, purpose and regulations of residential housing. We are in agreement that the City Council and the administration need to address the large structures in the planning and permitting stage. …
These concerns should be addressed now, otherwise violations will continue without proper direction and oversight. The city has taken the first steps with resolutions introduced by various Council members.
Q: What part can accessory dwelling units (ADUs) play in addressing the housing shortage? They don’t seem to be popping up all that fast.
A: ADUs certainly have a role in providing more affordable housing options for the community. Honolulu Board of Realtors has continued to support the development and sustainability of affordable housing on Oahu for working families through streamlining and reducing costly, ineffective regulatory barriers. The incentives to build ADUs include waiving wastewater fees, permit fees and plan review fees. The limitations are the size of the structure. …
When considering the limitations of the size of an ADU, homeowners may decide it may be less cumbersome to just build onto an existing structure.
I believe the ADU program may help to address the need for housing and gives a level of privacy and independence within a multi-generational family. …
The ADU is not a panacea for our housing shortage as many planned communities and associations may restrict more than one single-family home on a property.
There are also concerns that, like “monster houses” and transient vacation rentals, homeowners may not put these units into the local rental market pool.
Q: There’s a “tiny homes” trend that’s catching on elsewhere. Can that work here?
A: The idea of cheap, stand-alone tiny homes on their own lots probably will not work on Oahu due to the cost of land. The concept may work on the neighbor islands where there are potentially more affordable lots.
However, micro units in an apartment building or condominium could work with well-thought-out urban planning. When the living area is reduced, psychologically, the surrounding amenities and public spaces become even more important.
There are 150 micro-unit apartments planned in Kakaako at 630 Cooke St. (Nohono Hale) that envision 300-square-foot rental units. There is a community living room and back yard. Howard Hughes (Corp.) is planning to incorporate tiny studio units of less than 300 square feet at its new Aalii project.
The initial reaction to these small units should be positive as they will be new and in the center of the revitalized Kakaako neighborhood. Time will tell if adoption of these alternate housing options will be embraced by Honolulu residents.
Q: How has the affordability issue changed your business?
A: The median sales price of single family homes was $773,500 in November 2017. It is unlikely you will find a home in the Honolulu urban core selling at that price. The median sales price of a condo was $405,000. Condos at the price in metropolitan Honolulu are primarily studios and one-bedroom units. …
I have clients who are taking longer to save up for a down payment only to find out that an even larger nest egg is required as real estate prices continue to escalate.
My suggestion to buyers is to think of their first residential purchase as just a step in the journey of home ownership. The dream of living in town might have to be postponed as buyers head outside of metropolitan Honolulu to West Oahu or East Oahu where the homes are more affordable. Or, if town living is essential, perhaps a condominium would be that temporary stop.
My message to buyers is to jump in at whatever price point they can afford and participate in the pride that homeownership brings.
Unfortunately, some have decided to leave Hawaii with the knowledge they may never be able to afford to live and own in Hawaii. Others have resigned themselves to be life renters.
Q: What changes do you hope the Legislature and county councils may make to support housing goals?
A: Since land is finite and the most costly part of any housing project, it can be the greatest detriment to building affordable housing. Adopting a policy to use public land for affordable housing is a step in the right direction. Government is in the best position to partner with developers to build affordable housing by dedicating the most expensive part of most projects: the land.
The city is in the next best position to streamline the development process including reducing delays through planning/permitting, which can add years to projects and tie up capital. Housing at all price points is needed in order for the supply to meet the demand.
Rather than setting affordable housing regulation, we hope that lawmakers at both the state and city level will work toward setting production goals, secure financing programs, incentivizing production, developing public-private partnerships and streamline the planning and permitting processes, as well as address the infrastructure and increase capacities in neighborhoods in the urban Honolulu core that are ripe for development, such as McCully, Moiliili.
Q: Do you feel that this is still satisfying work?
A: Oh, yeah. Of course, you make a lot more money if you are selling on the high end. A lot of agents will aspire to be luxury agents, servicing the luxury client.
But I find, personally, that I get the most satisfaction when I’m dealing with someone that has never purchased before, or the regular old people, you know? It’s so rewarding to know that you helped them do this.
