Some banks suspending Hawaii foreclosures for the time being because overwhelmed bank officials have been signing off on foreclosures without ever reading the paperwork!

I’m always skimming financial news because it affects jobs, portfolios, consumer confidence and real estate prices…in other words, everyone and everything. Some recent news items caught my eye. The Dow closed over 11,000 the other day for the first time in 5 months. It has been a full 3 years since it’s high of just over 14,000 and at this point it is still 25% below that level. Markets have historically provided some of the best returns in November and December on average. As a result of the election, this year may turn out more political balance in Washington, which in turn produces the “gridlock” that markets tend to favor (less uncertainty). Since 1950, fourth quarter gains in the market average about 8% in mid term election years. (more…)

The Big Island has started off the summer by winning some big awards. First, the readers of Travel+Leisure magazine voted the Island of Hawaii as one of the Top 10 Islands in the World, making the list along with Maui and Kauai in the magazines August issue.

In the same issue, Travel+Leisure readers voted the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai as Hawaii’s #1 resort and spa in the region. Also making the list were the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Kona Village.

ISLANDS magazine’s August issue named the Big Island No. 1 on its “Top 20 Best Islands to Live On” annual survey. The magazine referred to the wide variety of weather, golf, surf, volcanoes, big and small towns alike as some of the reasons.

Finally, in last month’s Conde Nast Traveler they published the 14th Readers Choice Survey for to Golf Resorts. Of the Top 15 Hawaii Golf Resorts, six were on the Big Island: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, The Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Hilton Waikoloa Village.