Live On The Big Island Top 5 Things You Need To Know When Buying A Home in Hawaii in 2020 As you are aware, 2020 has been unlike anything anyone has experienced in Hawaii. From the 7 months without visitors, to the rush to purchase homes here, many sight-unseen, and now a “new normal” of social distancing and face coverings. If you are purchasing a home right now, there are a few things I wanted to share with you for your consideration:   1. Be patient.  With the increased interest in buying a home on the island, there are fewer homes for sale, but homes ARE being released on the mar ..read more

Live On The Big Island Home Prices Continue Upward As Low Inventory Persists As historic interest rates continue to drive demand in West Hawaii, buyers are snapping up homes creating a marked lack of inventory and days on the market is dropping quickly. According to statistics from the Hawaii Information Service in September, the median price for single family homes increased by 13.48% year over year in North Kona from $688,000 to $780,750. Condo median sales prices have increased 16.50% from $339,000 in 2019 to $394,950, a 16.50% increase. For number of sales, 7 more single family homes sold ..read more

Live On The Big Island 5 Things You Need to Know About Buying Sight Unseen on The Big Island of Hawaii An interesting confluence of trends on the mainland are having a big impact on the housing market here on Hawaii Island and specifically in West Hawaii, where home prices have jumped over 14% year over year. Historic low interest rates combined with the trend towards buying homes in rural areas to capitalize on more space around the home and more private spaces in the homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed demand in the Hawaii housing market to levels not seen since 2005.  ..read more

Live On The Big Island What to Expect When you Travel To Hawaii Island With New Testing Program in Place We have heard many of our clients discuss wanting to come to Hawaii Island to vacation and quite a few wish to look at property in person instead of through video chat. The last few weeks have been rather confusing for residents and visitors alike with Mayor Kim choosing to opt out of the Governor’s plan to re-open the islands with pre-arrival testing. With new information just coming in on the policies, we wanted to share what we know to help you navigate a trip to our beautiful island suc ..read more

Live On The Big Island Neighborhood Spotlight-Kona Vistas When moving to West Hawaii, many people enjoy being centrally located to the beaches, shopping, and restaurants, while also enjoying elevation and views. Kona Vistas subdivision, in the heart of Kailua-Kona,  fits all those aspects and more!  All homes have ocean views in Kona Vistas Located conveniently only two miles from Kailua Village, Kona Vistas subdivision rests along the slopes of Hualalai between 400-700 feet elevation, providing cooler temperatures than oceanfront living. Tennis Courts at Kona Vistas Defining featur ..read more

Live On The Big Island Privacy, Serenity, and Simple Luxury Combine In This Holualoa Home High above the bustle of Kailua Kona, nestled into the flanks of Hualalai in Holualoa, is a five acre slice of serenity, peace, and simple luxury.  Located near the top of the Keopu Mauka subdivision is this idyllic three bedroom and three full bathroom Island-style home surrounded by five private acres. Enjoy a two-bedroom and two-bath master suite upstairs, as well as a den/office area and one bedroom and bathroom downstairs with nearly 700 feet of additional living space. The guest suite features ..read more

Live On The Big Island How to Sell a Home on the Big Island During COVID In these crazy times, I’m sure everyone’s wondering if they can buy and sell property on the Big Island. It seems our regulations and restrictions change weekly so it can be very confusing when you’ve been holding off wanting to sell and just don’t understand if you can even sell right now. Real estate has been declared an essential business service. People still need to buy and sell the property for work-related issues, family issues or even financial. If someone can no longer afford their home, it is essential for them ..read more

Live On The Big Island The Big Island New Restrictions Concerning COVID-19 There are new travel and basic lifestyle restrictions and mandates currently underway for the Big Islands. The most recent was posted at the end of August stating certain mandates and requirements for dining, recreation, shopping, and travel. Currently, any indoor and outdoor social gatherings of any type are prohibited, and most retail businesses, real estate firms, auto dealerships, golf courses, gyms, salons, bars, and clubs must be closed. All travel including not limited to foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, auto ..read more

Live On The Big Island Real Estate Market Update for West Hawaii September 2020   We have had a VERY busy summer in West Hawaii  with homes selling almost as quickly as they come on the market. With tightening inventory, we are seeing prices increase and more buyers purchasing homes sight unseen. According to statistics from Hawaii Information System, the number of homes sales in North Kona for August was 63, up 28.57% year over year from 49 last August. Condo sales dropped 15% from 40 sales in 2019 to 34 in 2020. The median price for a single family home dropped 5.77% year over year ..read more

Live On The Big Island Update On The Dining Scene in West Hawaiʻi  Have you been wondering which Kailua Kona restaurants and kitchens are open and where your favorite bartender is mixing up your favorite mai tai? The gradual lifting of life in lockdown has brought much needed relief to Hawaiʻi residents who were fortunate enough to be able to enjoy walking on beaches, but not able to enjoy their favorite restaurants earlier this spring.  Many island residents are dipping their toes in the post-lockdown waters amid a restaurant and shopping scene which looks a bit different than it di ..read more