Nationally, the sales of distressed properties has remained between 23% and 32% of all existing home sales for the last fifteen months or so. In some important Maui feeder markets, that percentage has been even higher. Often, mainland buyers bring a mindset with them that reflects their home market. One should be careful of that on Maui.

On Maui what distressed activity there has been has been heavily concentrated at the under $300,000 segment. In the resort areas distressed properties are few and in our view in any segment they don't necessarily represent the best values for buyers.

If a buyer is seeking an upscale or newer property, they would remain best served by looking beyond merely the distressed universe.