info@sesamerealty.com
    (808) 628-0331

Sesame RealtySesame Realty

"We Open Doors for You!"

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    • RENTED PROPERTIES
      • 1060 Kamehameha Hwy, #1602A, Pearl City
      • 1120 Kakala St. #507, Kapolei, HI 96707
      • 91-1775 Paeko St. Main House, Ewa Beach, 96706

        Rental applies to main house with exclusive use of garage and driveway. Central A/C. Small side yard only.

      • Kaleo Way, Kapolei 96707
      • 91-1008 Hooilo Place, Ewa Beach, HI 96706
      • 92-838 Puhoho St, Kapolei, HI 96707
      • 94-100 Anania St., #227, Mililani
      • $1000 91-1775 Paeko St., Ewa Beach – One BR apt
      • $2500/mth PET FRIENDLY 3BR/1.5BA 92-1323 Panana St., #44, Kapolei

Buying in Hawaii

Why Buy With Us?

What makes working with Sesame Realty different is that the process of searching & buying a home doesn't feel like work. We're committed to easing our clients through the process and negotiating the best terms at the best price for them. We are a patient, empathetic, caring & experienced real estate company that utilizes technology to enhance the experience increasing your competitive edge while maintaining the old fashioned personal touch throughout the process. When we say "We Open Doors For You! it shows our appreciation for the warm feeling of having someone greet you at the door and welcome you into their home. You are truly welcome at Sesame Realty,LLC! And did you know, buyers don’t pay us, sellers do!



Pre-Approval

What is the importance of getting pre-approved for a mortgage? How do you go about getting pre-approved?

The importance of getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the equivalent of choosing where to go on vacation based on your budget and multiply that by 250 times. Making plans for a trip without knowing what your budget ends up being hours wasted on the computer and being very sad faced, shoulder dropping disappointed. No beaches for you in the tropics this year (unless you already live in the tropics near a beach). Rather than spending time searching for homes before knowing what your budget is, it is far more rewarding and practical if you know your budget, choose your REALTOR®, and then search for homes. I write that, knowing that homes have been found the other way around and buyers have been fortunate enough to be able to afford the home....however, with something this expensive and life changing as a home...leaving the search to luck...eh, might be better when you're in search of the perfect pair of shoes.

The process of getting pre-approved is to ask recommendations from friends, family and a seasoned REALTOR®. You may be getting ready to make one of the biggest purchases of your life or you've already bought property a few times, either way recommendations are generally the best approach. Be careful of online promises of bargain interest rates as if its too good to be true, it most like isn't..true. The lender will need to pull your credit report and you can shop around for a mortgage lender, but don't let more than three companies pull your credit. It does impact your credit but in this case its worth it, but be sure not to apply for any other credit, like buying a car, large items like furniture, expensive trips, etc. Everything you share with your mortgage lender is confidential as they are licensed by the state. Initially, the lender will get a computerized opinion of your buying power based on your verbal representations of debt & income (pre-qualification is based on verbal representations), along with your credit score and then after you supply your documents to verify the the information you previously provided they'll provide you with a pre-approval which will assist your very qualified REALTOR® to start the search with you.

Escrow and Closing Costs

What is escrow? Are there any closing costs that buyers should be aware of? What is the process of purchasing a home?

While there's nothing glamorous or mysterious about the escrow or title company as it is a neutral third party that holds & disburses funds until the escrow closes or terminates, they are very important in the transaction process of buying or selling real estate. In some states, like NJ, real estate attorneys are used in lieu of escrow companies. They serve as reassurance to the parties and a kind of insurance as well, that the transfer of monies will be handled in a fair, legal & ethical manner being independent of either side. Monies cannot be disbursed from the escrow account without both sides being in agreement. Another function escrow/title companies serve is to do a detailed background check on the the title history of the property in question to ensure no surprises in ownership or liens appear later once the title changes hands.

The lender will review closing costs with buyers during their free consultation with them. Closing costs depend on the type of loan a buyer is using and oftentimes are rolled into the loan amount allowing buyers to finance them and pay them off over the life of the loan. When cash is tight, or interest rates are so low (like now, comparatively speaking), it may make more sense to a buyer to save their cash and finance the closing costs.

The process of purchasing a home depends on the individual situation of the buyer. If a home needs to be sold first, then the process changes to accommodate the buyer's need to coordinate the two. If the buyer doesn't have to sell anything first, the process is fairly straight forward with getting the pre-approval, interviewing agents for the best fit, working with the agent to find the right home, submitting the offer, doing due diligence to make sure the house

is sound and has a clean title, and then moving in...did I forget something? Part of what we do at Sesame Realty is a Buyer Consult which is 100% free and no obligation to use us, where we answer your questions and walk you through the process over a cup of coffee. We believe if buyers know what to expect, they can then focus on what they need to focus on, which is "Is that the right home for me?" Its like having a driver in a city you've never been to before, that knows the best routes to take and lets you tell them where you want to go, "To the coliseum, James!" No one but you knows which house will work best for your family, so we leave that decision to you. But, like a good driver, we know how to get you there in the most effective way and as we say, "We'll Open Doors For You!"

 

Home Warranty

What is a home warranty? Is it worth purchasing? Do you provide a home warranty as a closing gift?

We at Sesame Realty, find real value in home warranties and we DO provide a American Home Shield Warranty as a closing gift. Nothing more stressful than having something break in your new home and unless it really is a "new" home, something is probably going to break within the first year. To know your out of pocket expense will be limited to the cost of your service call, is a tremendous peace of mind to most homeowners.

Relocation

Are you relocating to this area? Looking for more information to help you find the right city and neighborhood for your family?

Our relocation guide includes the most up-to-date and vital information for people looking to move to our area.

We are your personalized relocation guide, in the flesh. Its not about reading how to relocate here, its about having someone on the ground, who's been through the relocation process and will personally guide you through it. If we get overwhelmed, maybe we'll write a guidebook but right now, we like the personal touch. (If you click on the button, it won't work.)

First-Time Buyers

We specialize in first-time homebuyers as everyone has to have a "first time" sometime, we hope. There are many financing programs that lenders can guide you through, to determine the best fit for you and we'll work with with the terms of the program keeping your escrow on track to close.

Seniors


I am Senior Real Estate Certified, which means we know how to work with seniors and the challenges that they may face in buying or selling their homes. My Mom, 91, lives with us in Makakilo and my very first job was working in a nursing home. Hawaii is very kind to our seniors, however, housing can be truly a challenge with the cost of real estate here.

Moving Van

At this time we don't have access to a moving van but hope to in the future. We'll let you know when that happens.


About Us

“My services are free, my experience & guidance are priceless and my caring is real.”
Lydia is a top-notch real estate professional who won the designation of WEBOR REALTOR of the Year Award for 2008 and earned the distinction of NJAR Million Dollar Sales Club for the years 2000,02,04,05,07,08 the Burgdorff ERA President’s Club in 2001, & the RE/MAX 100% Club 2004-2008. She’s been an Aloha Aina Award nominee every year since 7 years. Her clients included such notables as a well known Sports Illustrated writer & his editor, Broadway stars, corporate VIPS, college professors, CPA’s, investment advisors, first time home buyers, seniors (parents of other clients referred to Lydia), just to name a few. In addition, Lydia was quoted in the New York Times, January 9, 2005 issue in an article titled, ‘Incredible’ Houses, Limited Demand, which discussed the luxury contemporary housing market. Having a diverse professional background including Labor & Delivery, RN in Washington D.C. & Castle Hospital in Kailua; securities regulator and public arbitrator on Wall Street; home renovator and landlord, Lydia has insights and skills that directly benefit her clients throughout a transaction.
Lydia is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. with a BA in Finance. She paid her way through GWU by working night shifts in the Delivery Room as a Registered Nurse in Washington D.C. area hospitals on weekends. Lydia worked on Wall St. auditing brokerage houses and served as a Public Arbitrator. She opened up her brokerage, Sesame Realty, LLC in January 2018. She has earned the following certifications & designations during her career:CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) Graduate Realtor Institute GRI, Certified Military Relocation Professional, Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES); Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR); REOTrans Platinum Certified; Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE); GREEN Certified, Residential Construction Certified (RCC) & is the incoming President for the Hawaii chapter of the Residential Real Estate Council.

 

“What impressed me the most was her honesty, integrity and strong sense of right and wrong. “

Buying and selling a house can be a stressful and confusing experience. But Lydia took the time to thoroughly understand what we needed and wanted, and explained the entire process so that we knew exactly what was happening. As we [Continue Reading]

Annette D. September 30, 2016

“She is honest, forthright, and willing to do whatever research is needed.”

Lydia Bishop has been our agent on several properties. She is hardworking and does a wonderful job in following through on questions to make sure all information is available. Her focus and attention to detail have insured that items do [Continue Reading]

Nikki P. November 23, 2016

“Lydia is the best Realtor out there”

Lydia always was answering our phone call, even after hours. She explained very well, all our concerns and answering all our questions. Lydia is the best Realtor out there, she deserves the best cos she is the BEST! Thank you [Continue Reading]

Manu L. December 16, 2016

“Lydia & her team are all about customer service and she’s the agent you want on your side!”

I spoke to two other agents before Lydia Bishop, and knew immediately she was the one. A gun-shy, 2nd time buyer, Lydia was patient with me throughout the entire process – explaining everything and answering all of my questions. When [Continue Reading]

Greg Bevil February 21, 2017

“We would definitely recommend Lydia to anyone buying a house. It was a great experience, and we have become good friends.”

My wife and I move to Hawaii last year (2016), and were renting. However, we felt we were throwing money away, paying too much in taxes, and not investing. We reached out to Lydia who so kindly sat down with [Continue Reading]

Robert B. March 31, 2017

“My family has a home because of Lydia’s professionalism, hard work, and attention to detail.”

Lydia Bishop was invaluable to helping me secure my home. Without her help I doubt it would have gone through. There were multiple oddities that kept getting in the way and aggravated me beyond reason but Lydia kept her eye [Continue Reading]

Max J. May 24, 2017

“I was glad that she was on my team.”

Buying a house is a stressful process that doesn’t get easier with time. This is the 3rd house I’ve purchased and each has been a trying process. The first and most recent purchases were much better than the second. Lydia [Continue Reading]

Kenneth K. May 26, 2017

“She’s the kind of person you hope to meet when you are moving to a new place and looking for a new home.”

Let me start by explaining that Lydia helped us with the purchase of our first home and we were so pleased with our experience that we asked her to help us again when we decided to sell the home and [Continue Reading]

Jason C. July 5, 2017

“We bought the property remotely from New York and she took care of everything for us.”

Lydia was an exceptional buyer’s agent as we purchased our first property in Hawaii. I’ve bought and sold properties before and I can say that Lydia is the most competent realtor I’ve ever worked with. She explained the entire process [Continue Reading]

Aidaliz P. July 14, 2017

“Superbly Awesome. “

Superbly Awesome. Worked continuously hard for me throughout the entire purchasing process.

Farrel B. July 24, 2017

“She’s incredibly caring and will always have your best interest in mind.

Lydia is hands down the best agent you’ll work with. She’s not only professional and knowledgeable, but she’ll go above and beyond to ensure you’re kept abreast of the current situation so that you can make the best decision possible. [Continue Reading]

Kieu Van Vo August 30, 2017

“She will be my realtor for life. And you are missing out if she is not yours also. “

Thinking about buying a house was a little overwhelming for me. In fact I reached a point where I told Lydia that i’m not interested anymore. Not knowing who I was and I surely had no idea who she was, [Continue Reading]

5/13/17 Taylor & Juvy August 31, 2017

“That’s one of the important things we liked about Lydia. No pressure.”

If you want a personal touch, someone who listens, and goes above and beyond to find “YOUR” house. Lydia Bishop is your Realtor. We would recommend her to everyone we know! Why we liked working with Lydia: * Lydia was [Continue Reading]

July 12, 2015 Joelle & Rocky Kahiwelo in Kapolei June 27, 2018

“Lydia was there for us keeping us informed and included in all activities during negotiations up  to closing day.”

Lydia from day one had our confidence and we felt Lydia had our best interests in mind. Her experience had us completely feeling as though she totally understood our wants and keep the search “real”. Lydia was there for us [Continue Reading]

10/26/15 Paul & Lori Christensen Oceanridge in Makakilo June 27, 2018

“She was open and honest during the whole  process and had our best interest in heart.”

When we first met Lydia, she provided us with a detailed binder and spent a few hours explaining the process of buying a home from start to finish. We appreciated that greatly because we are new home buyers and it [Continue Reading]

12/2/15 Joe & Jennifer June 27, 2018

“I would highly recommend Lydia for anybody  not only to get the best deal but also to have a less stressful ride throughout the entirety of your home buying experience.”

Overall very helpful for me and my wife. Very understanding and professional for us as first time home buyers but also very specific and knowledgable. Also had plenty of references for lenders and renters agencies that also turned out to [Continue Reading]

3/1/16 Nico & Anna Mary June 27, 2018

Lydia is not only a competent realtor, but also a compassionate person.

Lydia is not only a competent realtor but also a compassionate person. We moved from NYC to Hawaii without any understanding of the Hawaiian real estate market, the unique idiosyncrasy of each neighborhood, and the climate impact on personal properties. [Continue Reading]

H. Peng & K. Lucas August 2, 2018

She is an expert in her trade, goes above and beyond…

“Lydia Bishop is by far one of the most professional, competent people I have ever met. I went with Lydia to both buy, and sell my house. She is an expert in her trade, goes above and beyond, and will [Continue Reading]

J. Clayton August 2, 2018

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Contact Us

Lydia Ou Bishop
Mailing Address: 590 Farrington Hwy., #524-434
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 628-0331
info@sesamerealty.com
Call, text or send an email anytime and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 · Lydia Ou Bishop
 SESAME REALTY "We Open Doors for You!"