Hawaii Homeowners Must Tell Prospective Buyers If Sea Level Rise Threatens Their Property … This week Hawaii became the first state to require real estate sellers to disclose to potential buyers if their property is threatened by sea level rise.
Years ago Maui real estate agent Keone Ball represented a homeowner in the sale of a property that showed up on the county tax map as the second lot back from the sea.
But when he showed up to view the Paukukalo property in person, the house didn’t look right. He walked around until he found the correct house nearby, ensconced directly on the oceanfront.
Puzzled, Ball asked the owner, “There’s supposed to be a house in between yours and the ocean, right?”
“Yeah,” the seller replied. “It’s been underwater for decades.”
