Our Nohea at Mauna Lani homes features Texston's Ortex Color Coat over three cement base layers on most of our homes' exterior surfaces. This color coat resembles old world stucco with its mottled appearance. The Ortex final coat is a decorative, integrally colored finish for hard coat stucco systems. The Ortex Color Coat can create a rigid, smooth-trowelled finish or a gritty "old-world" look that emulates antique stone's texture. We like the smooth burnished surface that gives added character by including subtle pits and fissures. The material is formulated for strength and durability; Ortex contains a unique blend of dry polymer ad-mixtures and micro-fibers, contributing to superb adhesion, flexibility, workability, and durability. Most builders use an elastomeric finish commonly used that looks like thick paint with a rough aggregate. Dryvit and Sto branded materials are typical examples of final elastomeric coatings. These coatings are hard-wearing but eventually fade and applied like paint. Not the Ortex finish! We use t...

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Marketing of real estate has changed in many ways since I first started in Atlanta 34 years ago. I remember the first shoebox size cell phones that replaced the pagers. I remember the rate was $1.00 a minute and the rushed conversations after answering a pager notification. It beat finding a pay phone but it made for $6-$800 monthly cost as well. Drone videos and now Matterport virtual tours are adding to our ability to promote properties like we have never been able to in the past. Matterport technology enables a series of still photos, made with a proprietary camera, to take 360 degree images and blend them into a “tour”. They are now in Beta test mode to allow iPhones to capture the images instead of the special camera and also create the tours. I downloaded the app to my iPhone and created a tour of my own property. It turned out well but also illuminated how complex the software is and how much editing the photographer needed to do post image capture to create a great tour. Go to their website to check it out if interest...

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Positive News For Sellers!! The Island of Hawaii real estate market continues to churn out sales in lessor numbers than 2019 but Median Sales Prices have not declined, Year over Year, for the first 8 months of 2020 despite the virus pandemic which is limiting travel to Hawaii. This is positive news for sellers! Sellers who choose to sell to the limited number of buyers in the market are not experiencing any price declines. It is a seller’s market in the resort areas for condominiums +/-$1m. If you are reading this and want to discuss listing your property for sale, I look forward to hearing from you!! Summary Report: Island Wide The month of August, 2020 and first 8 months of 2020, year to date median prices are generally positive for home and condo values even though unit volume and sales volume are down compared to 2019. August 2020 Condominium median sales prices for the month of August 2020 compared to August 2019 were up +46.15% and +11.35% for Homes. Vacant land was down -10.83%. These median sales prices are positi...

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I just put into escrow Golf Villas at Mauna Lani unit O-4. This is a townhome style, end unit with 2-story windows on multiple sides of the home that allow plenty of SW facing light to stream into both levels. This unit features an upstairs master suite with Lanai and BBQ area, all facing Hualalai and the Mauna Lani golf course. Other features include 2-guest suites with their own bathrooms. An upstairs loft space allows an alternative to the downstairs great room and accommodates a sleeper sofa for additional guests. This particular unit includes an additional, deeded, parking space plus a one-car garage. My buyer client likes the furniture package as it’s tasteful and complete for owner occupancy or short-term vacation rental. This one got away but contact me for additional Golf Villas at Mauna Lani listing possibilities. Click here to Search Golf Villas at Mauna Lani Properties

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The Island of Hawaii real estate market continues to churn out sales and listings overall.  Call me for a more in-depth of analysis of your particular property. Summary Report: Island Wide The month of July, 2020 and first 7 months of 2020, year to date figures were generally positive for home and condo values. Condominium median sales prices for the month of July 2020 compared to July 2019 were down just -0.76% for Condos and -5.33% for Homes. For the first 7 months of 2020, Year over year, median sales prices, island wide, were down just -4.41%, for Condos, up +2.64% for Homes and down -21.88 % for Land. North Kona The month of July, 2020 sales volume was positive 21.71% but it was a single month “bright spot” as total sales volume and units declined. The first 7 months of 2020 produced -25.64% less unit sales in all categories and -29.79% less sales volume. As in the South Kohala district reduced inventory and plenty of buyers produced higher median prices for the month of July,2020 and the first 7 months of 2020. S...

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The real estate world on the Big Island continues to consolidate and my firm Clark Realty is in the middle of the shuffle as well as us agents associated with the firm. Locations, who bought the firm from the founding family of Putty Clark a year or so ago was re-sold to Coldwell Banker Island Properties we were informed today. The same firm purchased Coldwell Banker Maryl Realty several years ago, so I am assuming we will consolidate with their agents. Our firm is the largest by sales volume on the island with 4 offices. I would assume little will change other than our president Frank Goodale announced he was retiring-we will all miss him! Frank is a straight up guy with business ethics at the forefront of all decisions I’ve observed. I’m a “rules” guy myself amongst a sea of shifting ethics at times that can be challenging. All the best Frank-thank you for the guidance and support over the years!! This is part of Frank’s email today to us agents and staff: It is also my privilege and pleasure to announce that Locati...

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I just put into escrow this beautifully furnished four-bedroom, "Honua B/Plan 6" floor plan in Ka Milo at Mauna Lani. This is one of only six built of this 4 bedroom plan at KaMilo. Quality features include dual master suites with the additional master bedroom suite upstairs. Enjoy it's proximity to the best recreation center in the Mauna Lani Resort. This home is being sold turn-key and furnished for vacation rental. 2019 gross vacation rental income was $85,000.00. The four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, paired-home includes luxury finishes and an open floor plan with dramatic vaulted ceilings. The chef's kitchen includes Thermador appliances and cabinetry plus, granite countertops, and a large island and wine refrigerator. Both guest bedrooms have access to a private courtyard area. The master suites boast individual lanais, a large walk-in closet, dual sink vanity, soaking tub, walk-in shower, and plenty of space. Don't miss the views toward Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa over a lush greenbelt from the covered lanai. The luxury BBQ affords...

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The Hawaii County Council recently passed a new budget targeting “luxury real estate” valued at $2 million+. Most of these properties are located along the west side of the island near Kona and within the Kohala Coast Resorts. The County approved a budget and tax scheme raising taxes on secondary homes on the additional value, that exceeds $2 million, approximately 18.38% or $13.60 per $1000 in value. The first $2m will be taxed at the same rate as last year or $11.10 per $1000 in value. No additional taxes were passed for all other classifications even though gross taxes could increase as the County’s Tax Valuations continue to climb upward. As an example, annual taxes on a $10 million home will increase by $20,000 to $131,000. Source: Hawaii County Real Property Tax Office website.

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The May 2020 real estate sales market showed the full effect of the Covid-19 virus pandemic on Hawaii Island real estate sales and the positive June stats show the recovery off the May bottom. This is primarily because May closed sales were booked in March and April after the shelter in place, 14-day visitor quarantine and Short Term Vacation Rental ban were all in place. All negative for buyer and seller psychology. The June sales show the effects of multiple positive developments including the State’s lifting of local inter-island travel restrictions without quarantine and the announcement that as of August 1, out of State travel would be allowed without 14-day quarantine with a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of arrival. These positive developments didn’t change the low inventory numbers but it does have an effect on buyer behavior I believe. I put Kulalani at Mauna Lani into escrow yesterday and had 4 contracts submitted on KaMilo at Mauna Lani 214 all within the last week. None of the contracts were successfully ne...

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68-1118 North Kaniku Dr, Waimea, HI 96743 MLS# 635900 I just put into escrow one of the best values in condominium ownership within the Mauna Lani Resort at Kulalani at Mauna Lani #1902 listed for $899k. This home is offered fully furnished/turnkey with a successful vacation rental history. The floor plan offers over 2000 square feet of fabulous open, and private, luxury living with great garden views. This unit is located within a 4-plex building that offers spacious 2-car garages. The front entry experience includes a private courtyard which leads into a two story foyer that features a spiral staircase. This space is filled with light from the upper floor, clear story windows that pierces the lower level living and dining rooms. The ground floor master bedroom includes an on-suite bath with a jetted tub and separate tiled shower, walk-in closet and 10' ceilings. Two guest suites are located upstairs with their own private bathroom. Surfaces and kitchen features include granite countertops, tiled floors, GE built-...

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