I just put into escrow Villages at Mauna Lani 217 for one of my buyer clients. We were the first to view the day it became available and the first offer. What happened next was the sign of the times. 6 offers or more came rolling in and everyone’s “highest and best” was countered to all offerees plus a price nearly $125,000.00 over the stated list. My clients offered that price and more and we were able to secure it for a quick closing in a week or so from now. Buyers now understand the value The Villages at Mauna Lani offer which has not always been the case. 5 years ago or so, Ka Milo units were selling for a higher dollar per square foot (+15%) even though they have a shared amenity center with Kulalani and are not as well appointed and do not offer large floor plans like The Villages. I attributed this to the fact that most of the KaMIlo sales were new, developer inventory where buyers will always pay a premium to be the first occupants. Traditionally, KaMilo’s Mahina plan (2400 SF) roughly sold for what the Villages Ma...

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 When comparing the first 9 months of 2020 and 2021 one has to consider that 2020 was a lockdown year and 2021 has seen explosive market conditions. A Better comparison is probably to the 2019 real estate market but for simplicity sake, here are some “fun facts” comparing September of 2020 vs. 2021 year to date. Watch the full video for more interesting stats! The market for Big Island condominiums continues to be strong with prices up island wide from a sales price average of $410,000.00 in September 2020 to $488,750 currently. Average Single Family home prices have escalated from $370k to $499,500 as inventory has lower priced inventory have been absorbed and possibly newer and more expensive homes have become the only options at higher prices. The number of land transactions also increased island wide, from 175 to 224 in September 2021. There were 107 condominium transactions in September 2021 vs. 29 in 2020 probably due to travel restrictions to the island. The volume of single family home sales escalate...

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From Big Island Video News: Kīlauea  volcano is erupting. Following a sudden increase in earthquake activity and an increase in the USGS Volcanic Alert Level from ADVISORY to WATCH this afternoon, lava is now filling the Halemaʻumaʻu summit crater once again. The alert level has been raised to WARNING. A synthesized voice was utilized in the narration for this story. (BIVN) – Scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are capturing the new eruption of Kilauea, and sharing the photos online. The summit eruption began on Wednesday afternoon. Animated thermal webcam images taken between 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. recorded the start of the eruption. Vigorous lava fountains formed in the middle part of the solidified lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu crater, filling the floor with new molten lava. Follow this link for more information from the USGS.  (https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2021/09/30/video-scientists-capture-first-images-of-new-kilauea-eruption/)

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 CoreLogic® reports the highest ever yearly price/value increase for all classes of real estate since they first started accumulating data in 1976, for the month of July 2021-18%.  Hawaii Island Real Estate continues the same trajectory.  See the stats highlighted below for emphasis.  I’ve always contended vacant land will be the last class of Real Estate to BOOM as buyers opt to build their dream homes versus buying a resale offering.  Our market is forcing the "Buy a lot and build a house"  option as there is very little speculative and resale home offerings being offered-see the stats highlighted in RED!  Fewer transactions tend to skew the monthly comparison stats but the Year Over Year stats tell the story!!! CONTACT ME TO LIST AND SELL YOUR PROPERTY QUICK!!!!!! Hawaii Information MLS Highlights: August 2020 VS August 2021 Transaction Stats Island Wide: 22.55% Increase in total number of transactions 33.86% Increase in Vacant Land transactions 38.46% Increase in Condominium transactions 9.13% ...

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I just listed then quickly put into escrow a GOLF COURSE FRONT townhome in the Fairways at Mauna Lani. The new owner will enjoy the Incredible course views from the Lanai, Living and Dining Room of the 4th Fairway of the Mauna Lani North Course. This well cared for property features 2 bedrooms and 2.5 Bathrooms with an attached 1-car garage, outdoor kitchen with BBQ, Laundry room with full size equipment and newer living room furnishings. All ceilings are 9'+ adding to this spacious floor plan. The Master bedroom includes an office or sitting room with it's own lanai over looking the golf course. Added extras include granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, outdoor built in Viking BBQ, walk in closet and soaking tub. The Mauna Lani resort is a world-class, 3,200-acre oasis featuring 29 ocean front acres & two miles of secluded shoreline, 2 world class hotels, and the Shops at Mauna Lani. Owners enjoy a private, Beach Club at Makaiwa Bay for incredible snorkeling and beach activities. Additional amenities incl...

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(click image to open PDF) You may have noticed a large scale construction site on the south-side of Waikoloa Road, approximately, 1-mile mauka of Waikoloa Village. This will be the largest solar array on Hawaii Island by a long shot. AES Distributed Energy was approved, in the last 4 years, to build a 30 MW solar photovoltaic array and 120 MWh, battery storage system. The entire system will produce electricity that will be sold to the Hawaiian Electric Co.’s via its renewable project initiative. In 2018, the Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO) issued the largest ever Request for Proposals (RFP) for renewable energy in the state’s history. Through that process, eight projects were selected including AES Clean Energy's Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project. Waikoloa solar + storage project overview 30 MW ac solar photovoltaic 120 MWh containerized lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) Feeds into Hawaiian Electric (HECO) grid, providing power to Hawai‘i Island customers Located in South Kohala District of H...

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Sunset Ridge 3-Car Garage End Of Cul-De-Sac 1800 plus s.f. Hurry to see the largest, single Level plan in the newer section of Sunset Ridge. This home is located at the end of the cul-de-sac, and features heavy landscaping and rock walls. There is plenty of storage for cars and toys in the 3-car attached garage. Upgrades include Central air conditioning, completely insulated, and stainless steel, kitchen appliances. The home has never been rented by the current owner and has been rarely used in last 2-3 years. The left side and rear yard, behind the garage, offer plenty of room for expanding the landscape or for a pet area. The great-room plan allows for views to the landscaped back yard and 3 possible eating areas surrounding the kitchen including a breakfast bar and nook plus a dining room. Outdoor living and dining are easily accessible from the great room or the master bedroom. The guest bedrooms are large enough for queen and king sized beds and have wall closets for plenty of storage. The laundry room features a work...

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I just put into escrow this stunning, private, 5-acre, gentleman's estate is tucked away and bordered on one side by a seasonal stream in a forested setting. The property includes a mature landscape of organic fruit orchard, banana grove, blessed with a healthy strand of red flowering lehua ohia, and a large stocked pond, providing a relaxed, peaceful environment. The property is conveniently located to both the Historic Plantation town of Honokaa, 3 miles away and all the amenities of Waimea 10 miles away. The 2,714 sf plantation-style primary residence features two master suites with hardwood flooring and quartzite stone ensuites, both of which have french doors leading out to the 12 ft deep wrap-around lanai- indeed lending itself to indoor/outdoor living. The home has 20 ft open beam wood ceilings, eight skylights providing natural lighting, and a real cooks kitchen, with DeWills, soft-close, cherry wood cabinetry. The great room features a dining room with a built-in wet bar, wine fridge, along with the added ambiance of a wo...

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In May 2021, the Big Island continued to experience major movement in total sales and median sales prices when compared to last year's market, with the single-family home price up 35% to $499,500 and the condo price up 38% to $439,000. Homes this month sold on average 41 days faster compared to May 2020, and vacant land inventory increased by 29% with 61 new listings available on the market compared to the month before. A video presentation of the May 2021 monthly stats is now available on YouTube. The video highlights total sales, median sales price, news listings, and days on market for single-family homes and condos island-wide for May 2021 compared to 2020.

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I swim regularly at Hapuna Beach State Park. Its vast expanse of over .5 mile wide is easily accessible and a perfect 1-mile swim round trip. The bay is a virtual swimming pool and real-life surf break for open water swimmers, snorkelers, and bodyboarders. I've participated in the Hapuna Rough Water Swim race as well and viewed the start to the Honu, Half Ironman Triathlon there several times.  It’s the perfect location for both events even thought the Honu event is actually taking place this weekend entirely within the Mauna Lani Resort for the first time today.  The swim start was at The Fairmont with swimmers sent in a southerly direction toward our beach club.  More on that event in the next Blog Post. This week, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” named Hapuna Beach State Park “America’s Best Beach” for 2021. Dr. Leatherman is a coastal expert and a professor at Florida International University and has assembled a list of his favorite US beaches for 31 years. In the past, Dr. Beach has acknowledged n...

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