Several cesspool-related bills were introduced during the 2026 Hawaii legislative session, as the state continues working toward the 2050 deadline requiring cesspool conversion. These bills focused primarily on helping property owners with conversion costs, improving long-term planning, and proposing changes that could affect future real estate transactions.Here is a clear look at where things currently stand.Bills that made Third Reading and continue moving forward (not yet law):✅ HB2079 – Cesspool conversion tax creditsThis bill reestablishes and expands tax credits to help homeowners offset the cost of converting cesspools to septic systems or connecting to sewer. Conversion costs can be significant, so financial assistance like this can make a meaningful difference for property owne... 02/20/2026

I just realized something this week.I published my first North Kona market report in July of 2007.That was before the financial crisis, before YouTube became mainstream, and long before most people were tracking housing data the way they do today.Since then, I’ve reported through the crash, the 2011 tsunami that impacted Kona’s coastline, the 2018 lava flow that destroyed over 700 homes on the Big Island, the pandemic surge, and now the current market shift.Some things change. Some things don’t.What has never changed is the importance of understanding the numbers and helping people make informed decisions.My latest market report is now available on YouTube, and I plan to continue sharing these updates as the market evolves. If you are really bored - here was my very first market report ... 02/16/2026

North Kona Inventory Is Recovering, But Still Below Historic NormsNational housing inventory has been making headlines as it continues to recover from the pandemic lows. According to Realtor.com, active listings nationally are approaching levels not seen since 2020, and projections suggest the U.S. could be close to pre-pandemic inventory levels by the end of this year.That’s the national trend. But here in North Kona, the recovery is real, though still incomplete.Looking at selected 12-month benchmark periods illustrates the shift clearly: 2015–2016: 764 active listings 2018–2019: 641 active listings 2021–2022, Peak Frenzy: 153 active listings 2025–2026, Current: 432 active listings Before interpreting those numbers, an important clarification. The data includes all property types in N... 02/12/2026

We’ve launched a new video series focused on Hawaii real estate, current market conditions, and the issues homeowners should be paying attention to right now.This series isn’t just about prices and statistics. Those numbers matter, but they rarely tell the full story. Hawaii is not one market, and what’s happening in condos, single-family homes, and different price points can look very different depending on location and timing.In each episode, we walk through current market data and trends, then spend a few minutes on topics that often get overlooked, things like insurance costs, taxes, HOA and maintenance fee pressures, zoning changes, and pending legislation that can affect homeowners long after a sale closes.These are the issues that buyers, sellers, and long-time owners often don’t... 02/03/2026

The National Association of REALTORS recently released a consumer guide titled How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient. While the guidance is solid, much of it is written with mainland housing conditions in mind. Hawaii homes live differently, and energy efficiency here requires a localized approach that accounts for climate, airflow, and how homes are actually designed and used.Energy costs in Hawaii are among the highest in the country. Many homes rely less on sealed construction and constant air conditioning and more on natural ventilation and passive cooling. As a result, energy efficiency in Hawaii is often about working with the environment rather than trying to control it.Design and airflow come firstOn the Big Island especially, many homes are designed to take advantage of M... 01/07/2026

I was running comps for a client today and needed to isolate sales by floor inside the same complex. I used to manually pull them out, but found a new filter that made it much easier. Since I already had all the data in front of me, I might as well throw this article together. When I have more time, I will run the same pull on other complexes.Even inside the same complex at Kona Coffee Villas, the median closed sale price changes a lot depending on which floor the unit is on (condition plays a factor as well):• 1st floor: $460,000• 2nd floor: $565,000• 3rd floor: $569,950If you look at how the buildings sit on the hill, it makes sense. Many second-floor units are “bridge units” where you walk straight in from the parking level with no stairs but still get elevation and a view. Third-flo... 10/24/2025

North Kona single-family housing is still tight. We’re sitting at 3.54 months of inventory - that is a seller’s market. Inventory is down 21 percent from last year and dropped again month to month. That tight supply is why prices have not “crashed,” regardless of what people keep predicting.Median sold price in September came in at $1,297,000. That 15 percent jump from last month is more about the mix of homes sold, the bigger and nicer homes closed this round - not a runaway surge. Homes are still selling around 96.5 percent of list price and the median time to sell dropped to 51 days. The good homes, when priced correctly, are still getting taken off the table.Only 29 new listings came on in September with a median list around $1.3M. Pending activity jumped — 28 new contracts opened a... 10/20/2025

Condo sales are up 172% over last September. That’s right, 172%. Don’t let headlines fool you. This is where local experience matters.   I’Everyone is talking about condo sales being up 173% from last year — 30 sold this September versus 11 in September 2024. That sounds huge until you remember last year was one of the slowest years we’ve seen in a long time. This is a rebound, not a runaway market. And even with that jump, we’re still about 14% under 2019, which was our last “normal” year before everything got distorted. North Kona Condo/Townhouse Market, September 2025 Median sold price: $550,000, down 3% from last month Sold-to-list: 97.09% Median days to sell: 87, 34% faster than last month Median days pending: 100 Months of inventory: 11.62, a buyer’s market Inventory trend: down 2... 10/16/2025

 Thinking about buying a home in Kailua-Kona? Here’s where the market stands right now: Seller’s Market – Only 3.4 months of inventory. Not a lot of homes out there, so buyers face some competition. Inventory Keeps Dropping – Down 6% in the past month and 22% compared to last year. Fewer choices means more competition for what’s available. Pricing – Homes are closing at about 96% of list price. Sellers are holding firm, so don’t expect steep discounts. Days on Market – Median is 62 days. Homes aren’t gone overnight, but the good ones don’t sit around long. Median Price – $1,135,000. That’s your benchmark for planning a purchase. The bottom line for buyers: come prepared. Get financing in order, know what you want, and move quickly when the right property comes up.I’ll keep breaking down... 09/09/2025

If you’ve been thinking about buying a condo in Kailua Kona, HI 96740, now is a good time to pay attention. The numbers show that we’re firmly in a buyer’s market, which gives you more options and leverage than we’ve seen in a while.Here’s what’s happening right now: 14.29 months of inventory – More condos on the market than buyers. That means choices and negotiating power. Inventory trends – Down 28% in the last month, but still up 5% from a year ago. Condos are moving quicker than before, so don’t wait too long when you see the right fit. Pricing – Condos are selling at about 95.05% of list price. There’s room to negotiate, but sellers are still landing close to their asking numbers. Pace – Median days on market is 65. That’s steady, giving you time to think, but the best condos won’t... 09/07/2025

Discover Your Hawaiian Sanctuary: A Coastal Gem in Captain CookTucked into the scenic Milolii Beach Lots, just an hour south of Kailua-Kona, this beautifully maintained single-level home blends tranquility with true island living. Priced at $539,000, it features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 1,056 sqft of living space on a 10,000 sqft lot. The sale includes the parcel directly in front of the home, increasing privacy and long-term flexibility. Ocean Views and Thoughtful DesignCrafted to embrace island life, the home offers: Wide ocean and sunset views from a generous lanai An open plan with cathedral ceilings and Ipe hardwood floors for airy, warm interiors Fully owned PV solar, UV water filtration, propane stove and water heater, water catchment, septic, and fiber-optic internet for com... 09/05/2025

If you are attempting to market on your own these days it can be a daunting task.  You have a website, which is a project in itself keeping content up to date as well as making sure all your SEO stays up to date with Google's everchanging algorithms.  Then on top of that you have the growing popularity of social media and the dozens of popular platforms.  We will take a brief look at which platforms may be best for you.While this graph outlines which social media sites are the most popular it does not necessarily mean as a real estate professional they will generate business.  For example, LinkedIn is a popular site and is probably better used for networking with other agents or companies, but not as much for generating direct business traffic.On the other hand, YouTube still is probabl... 04/25/2025

Today’s Inman News headline reads:“Existing-home sales fall to slowest pace since 2009 amid rising costs.”That may be true nationally—but not here in North Kona.While the mainland sees pullbacks, our local data paints a different picture. From January through March 2025, both home and condo sales in North Kona are up—eclipsing 2024, 2009, and even 2008 numbers.📊 North Kona YTD Sales (Jan 1–Mar 31): 2008: 69 Homes | 47 Condos 2009: 42 Homes | 33 Condos 2024: 104 Homes | 67 Condos 2025: 107 Homes | 82 Condos This isn’t just a rebound—it’s sustained confidence. Buyers are still buying. Sellers are still selling. And the market is still moving.It’s a powerful reminder that real estate is local. National headlines don’t always reflect what’s happening in our neighborhoods, our communities, o... 04/24/2025

Off-market listings — sometimes called pocket or private listings — have always carried big risks for sellers.While they’re sometimes pitched as a way to stay “private” or “in control,” the truth is simple: limiting exposure usually limits your results. Unless there’s a real need for privacy, keeping a home off the open market can cost the seller.Starting in May, Zillow — the country’s largest real estate portal — will permanently prohibit any listing that isn’t added to the MLS within 24 hours of public marketing.If a home is marketed to any buyer, it must be available to every buyer — or it won’t appear on Zillow or Trulia at all.(And yes — even those of us with a love/hate relationship with Zillow know that's where buyers are looking.)This change follows updates to NAR’s Clear Cooper... 04/10/2025

So you’re getting ready to sell your home and starting to interview agents.You might hear advice about keeping your listing “exclusive” — meaning only marketed within one brokerage — instead of putting it out freely to the open market.At first, it can sound appealing. Maybe it’s pitched as a way to stay “private” or “in control” of the process.But before you make that decision, it’s important to understand what’s really at stake — because how your home is marketed can make a big difference in how much you ultimately sell for.Imagine trying to sell your car by telling just a few people at your office — no ads, no internet, no real exposure. Would you expect to get the best price?The only reason I bring up the car example is because most of us have sold a few cars over the years. It’s som... 04/07/2025

While I do keep up with SEO in general, I do not keep up with it on an ongoing basis.  I just focus on making our site most usable to users and then figure the rankings will fall into place.  Recently I found some interesting trends and wanted to see if anyone was seeing the same.I manage vacation rentals on the Big Island of Hawaii so most of the content we put out there is built around things to do on the Big Island, vacation rentals on the Big Island, places to see, etc.  While we try to cover everything on the Big Island, our focus for content is primarily centered on things directly related to vacation rentals.One of our competitors uses a similar strategy, but has put more focus on the other items, which is return bring more traffic to their site and may be easier to rank for.  Wh... 03/06/2025

The real estate industry has seen plenty of discussion surrounding recent changes in National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) policies. Misinterpretations of these changes, particularly about written buyer agreements and compensation adjustments, have caused confusion. Let’s set the record straight: you can adjust the compensation terms in a buyer agreement, provided it’s done transparently and within the guidelines set by the NAR settlement and state law.What the Settlement Really SaysAt its core, the NAR settlement emphasizes clarity, transparency, and mutual agreement in all written buyer agreements. Here's what you need to know: Amendments Are AllowedWritten buyer agreements are like any other contract. If both the REALTOR® and the client agree to modify the terms, the agreement can ... 12/02/2024

Hawaii County's Bill 121 aimed to regulate short-term vacation rentals, also known as transient accommodation rentals (TARs). The proposed legislation sought to establish clear guidelines for owner-hosted, operator-hosted, and un-hosted rentals, as well as for platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. Its objectives included improving safety, ensuring consistent operational standards, and addressing concerns about housing availability and the broader impact of TARs on our island communities.While the bill had good intentions, it sparked considerable opposition from residents and stakeholders alike. Many expressed concerns that it could infringe on private property rights and harm the local economy. Nearly every council meeting on the matter drew strong pushback, with community members voicing the... 11/15/2024

This post is somewhat informative as well as asking for input of what has worked for you.  Each year at Waikoloa Vacation Rentals we try to support 2-3 nonprofits on the Big Island of Hawaii where we are.  Most nonprofits we support we simply support by donating money so that is relatively simple.  This year we are supporting DNA Basketball Academy, which is a basketball club in Waimea. I also help this organization so other than donating money have been trying to set up different ways to raise money.  The club has put together some of the best girls and boys basketball players on the Big Island of Hawaii and those teams have been invited to be a part of the UA Future National Circuit.  This circuit includes a trip to Seattle, Phoenix, and Cincinnati next year.  While on these trips, th... 11/08/2024

We all have that one friend who likes to brag—whether it’s about how much money they make, how big their home is, or how impressive their achievements are.The Ironman race in Kona can feel a bit like that friend. Every year, the event proudly claims to inject millions into the local economy. However, data paints a different picture, and a closer look at the numbers suggests those claims may be somewhat overstated. Overview of Visitor Data (Past 10 Years)Below is an analysis of visitor data from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, covering visitor days, arrivals, and expenditures over the past decade. Seasonal Trends Expenditures: Higher visitor spending occurs during winter months (e.g., December, January, February). December 2018: $228 million in visitor ... 10/26/2024