Mortgage Connects
PAL Kaua’i Founder Jim Edmonds on affordable housing and financial services in Hawai’i – Episode 30
Jim Edmonds, PAL Kaua’i Executive Director and Founder
PAL Kaua’i founder Jim Edmonds on affordable housing and financial services in Hawai’i
At MGIC we’re celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander, or AAPI, Heritage Month. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, our guest host Heidi Roberts, MGIC’s customer experience technology and delivery services manager, interviews Jim Edmonds, PAL Kaua’i executive director and founder. PAL stands for “permanently affordable living.” In 1988, Jim obtained his real estate license and founded Emerald Isle Properties, completing over 25 subdivisions and home projects. This experience in Kaua’i housing opened his eyes to the need for truly affordable housing and services for residents of Kaua’i and led him to form Permanently Affordable Living Kaua’i, or PAL Kaua’i, in 2015.
Episode breakdown:
- Can you explain the PAL Kaua’i mission? (3:01)
- What is the difference between affordable housing and affordable living? (8:04)
- What changes have you seen in affordable living due to COVID-19? (16:41)
- What is the difference between fee simple home ownership and leasehold homeownership? (22:53)
- Can you talk a bit about housing inventory and population in Hawai’i? (31:27)
- What are some opportunities for the AAPI community in Hawai’i? (36:50)
- What takeaways can you give us about affordable living? (45:19)
The opinions and insights expressed in this Q&A are solely those of its interviewee and do not necessarily represent the views of either Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation or any of its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries (collectively, “MGIC”). Neither MGIC nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents makes any representations or warranties of any kind regarding the soundness, reliability, accuracy or completeness of any opinion, insight, recommendation, data, or other information contained in this blog, or its suitability for any intended purpose.
Jim Edmonds, PAL Kaua’i Executive Director and Founder
Jim has called the island of Kaua’i home since 1985, where he and his wife have raised a family and started several businesses. In 1988, Jim got his real estate license and founded Emerald Isle Properties. Jim's experience includes completing more than 25 subdivisions and projects, personally and for clients. Jim's belief in the need for truly affordable housing and services for residents of Kaua'i led him to form Permanently Affordable Living Kaua'i in 2015 with a dedicated team of staff and board members. He is an innovator in sustainable approaches to affordable housing on Kaua'i, and he’s passionate about making a difference for Kaua’i’s local, generational residents.
Heidi Roberts, MGIC Delivery Services Manager
Heidi has over 20 years of experience in the mortgage banking, technology and digital marketing industries. She started her career at MGIC where she held a variety of positions in technology and web development. During her 12-year tenure at MGIC, she was also an adjunct web design and development instructor at Waukesha County Technical College for 6 years.
In 2013, Heidi joined Waterstone Mortgage Corporation as the Web Applications Manager where she built out the web development team. Shortly after she was promoted to Vice President of Information Services where she led their software engineering initiatives, Encompass LOS development projects, ServiceNow support team, technical training and played a key role in building out the business intelligence and data analytics initiatives.
After 10 years at Waterstone Mortgage, she found her way back to MGIC where she is responsible for the customer experience technology and B2B teams in the Information Services department.
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication and Marketing Management from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). In her spare time you can find Heidi spending time with her husband and three kids skiing in the mountains, golfing or traveling.
In 2013, Heidi joined Waterstone Mortgage Corporation as the Web Applications Manager where she built out the web development team. Shortly after she was promoted to Vice President of Information Services where she led their software engineering initiatives, Encompass LOS development projects, ServiceNow support team, technical training and played a key role in building out the business intelligence and data analytics initiatives.
After 10 years at Waterstone Mortgage, she found her way back to MGIC where she is responsible for the customer experience technology and B2B teams in the Information Services department.
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication and Marketing Management from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). In her spare time you can find Heidi spending time with her husband and three kids skiing in the mountains, golfing or traveling.
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