We want to pass along greetings to our blog readers from the Great White North. We just got back from dinner with some Canadian friends to celebrate Canada Day. After a lot of Canadian buyer activity in 2007 and the first half of 2008, the last 12 months have seen fewer purchases by our friends to the north. The heightened activity corresponded with currency exchange rates for the Canadian dollar that were on par or better than the U.S. dollar. In addition to the global economic slump over the last twelve months, the Canadian dollar retreated in value to around .70 cents on the U.S. dollar. For Canadians that have been waiting for rates to improve, things are looking up as the rate today is just under $.86 on the U.S. dollar. If you are a Canadian or another International buyer interested in property in Maui, you might appreciate the International buyer’s guide that we created. Of course you can also contact us directly with any questions.

Pete Jalbert