In a previous blog, we shared just how important it is to select a realtor with the right expertise, experience, and approach to help you and yours navigate an ever-changing, ultra-competitive real estate marketplace. The Big Island of Hawai’i is truly a place like no other, and that just might go double for its local housing market—after all, where else can you find such a wide variety of housing options, climates, and neighborhoods all in one place?

That’s why Karen Bail and Co. are the Big Island’s #1 choice for discerning buyers and sellers, from mauka to maka’i. Karen is a longtime Big Island resident with decades of real estate experience in just about every aspect you can think of: from sales and marketing to vacation rentals and investment properties, she’s got the skills necessary to help you and yours make all those Big Island real estate dreams come true. A Certified International Property Specialist, an ePro certificate holder, and the owner of a Trans-National Certificate from the National Association of REALTORS®, Karen has the know-how to make big things happen in your next quest to secure or sell that prime piece of island real estate here on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

And, speaking of the Company in Karen Bail and Company—let’s say aloha to a few of the other members of our exceptional team that help all the members of our island ‘ohana to secure the purchase or sale they’ve been dreaming of as well!

Kanoelani Alcordo

Kanoelani has been a veteran of the Big Island real estate scene for years now, first obtaining her real estate license back in 2014. She’s worked for several well-known companies in her career thus far, including some very well-known establishments for National Escrow, vacation ownership sales, and real estate sales here in Hawai’i. Kanoelani now works her craft alongside Karen and the team, assisting buyers and sellers alike to fulfill their realty dreams here on this absolute dream of an island. We’re certainly grateful to have her aboard!

Phone: (808) 990-6181

Email address: mailto:kanoelanialcordo@gmail.com

Tinei Makaiua

An Aloha State native, our very own Tinei Makaiau is a tireless advocate for all his clients, working hard to ensure all their needs are met and to secure the best deal possible. Tinei brings some serious aloha to all the little details, and he’s committed to making sure each of his clients feel comfortable, assured, and satisfied with each and every transaction. Aloha and mahalo to him for all that he brings to our office ‘ohana!

Phone: (808) 640-1007

Email: tinei.makaiau@corcoranpacific.com

And if you’re looking for a top-notch real estate team to help you close the deal, then let Karen Bail and Co. get you the results you’ve been looking for. We’ve been fortunate to help countless clients become members of our own island ‘ohana, and we’ve got the reviews to prove it!

As always—aloha and mahalo 🌸

There are countless things that make the Big Island of Hawai’i a place like no other: the ‘aina, the kama’aina, the aloha spirit, and the food, just to name a few of our favorites. Eager travelers the world over continue to make our island home one of the most sought-after destinations on the planet, and this fall will also see the return of a longstanding Big Island tradition bringing travelers and the local community alike together to bear witness: The Ultraman World Championships!

That’s right—40 athletes, making their way across 320 miles of often-rugged (yet always gorgeous) terrain, over three days this coming November 25th through the 27th on the Big Island of Hawaii...and for the first time in three years! The 2020 and 2021 races were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, which makes the 2022 race extra special for participants and spectators both.

The inaugural Ultraman was held back in 1983, soon becoming an annual event that tests the mettle of competitors the world over who come to the Big Island and seek its completion. According to the official website, the event was created not only for athletic competition but also to focus on the guiding principles of Hawaiian culture: aloha, ‘ohana, and kokua. As such, Ultraman has never offered its winning contestants any prize money, and the event has remained largely unchanged save for a course correction in 2001 which brought the challenge full-circle, literally, by having it begin and end in scenic Kailua-Kona.

The Ultraman World Championships requires that each participant complete a 6.2 mile ocean swim on Day 1, a 261.4 mile bike ride on Day 2, and a 52.4 ultra-marathon run on Day 3, with each day needing to be completed in 12 hours or less by the fearless competitors who take this challenge on (and in less than six hours for the swimming portion). Operating on an invitation-only basis, participants must be accompanied by at least two people over the entirety of the course for safety’s sake, as this often-merciless challenge is certainly not for the faint of heart (nor the faint of fitness!).

It’s an annual tradition for Big Island citizens to gather along parts of the path to watch and cheer on the challengers who dare to take on such a Herculean task, and several outposts are designated along the island-wide course to welcome them. We’re certainly glad to welcome these athletes back after such a long time away, and we wish the best of luck to all the competitors this coming November!

For more information on the Ultraman, check out the following links:

• Ultraman World Championships home page

• Triathlete.com’s recent article on the near-40 year history of the event

• Active.com’s official Ultraman listing

Oh, and should you spot the perfect home there in the distance as you watch all the athletic drama unfold, then give Karen Bail, the Big Island’s reigning champion in customer satisfaction, a call today to get started on making that new neighborhood your ‘ohana’s next home. Aloha!

Have you been thinking about finally wading into the waters of purchasing real estate as an investment for your financial future?

If so, you’re in good company!

We all know investments are critical to your financial well-being and bottom line, and real estate remains one of the most lucrative and satisfying investments that you can make. As highlighted by several other sources, prospective owners can often utilize leverage to buy their properties (by paying a portion of the total costs at the beginning), and then paying the remaining balance and accruing interest over time.

Indeed, investing in real estate allows owners to utilize their new properties in several different ways, including:

• As short-term or vacation rentals

• As long-term/tenant-based rentals

• As a property to be improved and later sold at a profit (aka ‘flipping’)

Adding real estate to your investment portfolio can be an invigorating and profitable move—and there’s no place like the Big Island to secure your financial future! This island is blessed with a multitude of desirable land and properties, particularly in many of our most sought-after areas and neighborhoods. From mauka to maka’i the Big Island is chock full of some of the world’s absolute best real estate investments, just waiting to be seen and sold to a discerning buyer of choice.

Are you looking to make your way into a complex and changing marketplace to forever alter your financial future for the better? Then you’ll need to draw upon the expertise of a true professional like one Karen Bail. She’s just about done it all in her real estate career to date, and she still loves nothing more than helping her clients bring their real estate dreams to life. And if you’ve been wondering why Karen is the pluperfect realtor to help you make it happen, then read on to learn a bit more about the Big Island’s very best real estate professional 🤙

Talking a little story about Karen Bail

A Big Island resident since 1977—and a Hawai’i resident since 1967—Karen became a licensed Realtor in 1989, bringing over 33 years of experience, know-how, and knowledge to an impressive array of clients. What’s more, as an e-Pro certified realtor, she’s well-versed in leveraging cutting-edge technology to help you and yours secure your next home or sale.

Karen Bail can help you and your ‘ohana to secure:

• Your first home

• A vacation or short-term rental

• An investment property

• Agricultural lands

And many more types of properties to boot! So no matter if you’ve got a lock on the kind of investment property you’re looking to buy or just need someone to help you navigate all the different options, Karen Bail is definitely the Big Island’s top choice for all your real estate needs. Do yourself a favor and get in touch today to get started!

Mele Kalikimaka, everyone! We hope you had an excellent Turkey Day, and here’s to one of our favorite times of the year 🎄

It seems like just yesterday that we were welcoming in 2022, doesn’t it? And what a year it’s been! From record-setting numbers to interest rates exponentially rising—and thus causing a slowdown of sales both locally and nationally—this year was a year like no other, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2023.

But we’ve still got to close the books on 2022 before that can happen! What’s say we check in with our good friends over at Fidelity National Title & Escrow of Hawai’i to see what’s shaking for the overall numbers and trends in the month of November, shall we?

Medians rise, dollar volume falls

As we’ve seen over the past several months, the median prices for single-family homes ($500k on the nose), condominiums ($570k), and land ($45,000) have all risen year-over-year by way of comparison to last November, by 5%, 19%, and 13%, respectively, keeping in line with the numbers we’ve seen since April. Meanwhile, the total dollar volume through eleven months of the year is currently at $3.29 billion in sales, which is down 18% from last year’s landmark tally of over $4 billion and counting in November of 2021.

Checking in on our favorite neighborhoods

And what of our favorite spots around the Big Island, how did they fare? Let’s take a look!

Single-family homes (totals in the year to date)

• North Kohala: 68 homes sold, median of $1.01 million, $99 million sold thus far

• South Kohala: 201 homes sold, median of $910k, $316 million sold thus far

• North Kona: 441 homes sold, $1.07 million median, $815 million sold thus far

• South Kona: 95 homes sold, $760k median, $90 million sold thus far

How about condominiums?

• South Kohala: 249 condos sold, $1.08 million dollar median, over $383 million sold thus far

• North Kona: 399 units sold, $550k median, over $340 million sold thus far

Looks pretty good, right? That’s because it is—but note that, other than the median sales prices listed above, all the other figures are down anywhere from 4% all the way up to 50% across the island in either number of sales or total dollar volume. That’s because, as we’ve been sharing quite frequently as of late, both the Big Island and the national markets are going through a slowdown that’s correcting to 2019’s more-normative (read: slower-paced) rate of growth.

While there’s still one month yet to go before the year is out, we’re quite certain the above trends will continue, and will likely tell the story for the early-goings in 2023 as well. Stay tuned for all the latest—and if you need help navigating a marketplace in constant flux, then let Karen Bail and co. help you and yours with all your ‘ohana’s real estate needs!

Local landowners Ed and Rhonnia Rapoza are big believers in the power of community—which is why they sold a large swath of beachfront property off Ali’i Drive to the County of Hawai’i fifteen years ago instead of selling it to developers. All the people who now enjoy the views at Honl’s Beach have them to thank for their stewardship of the ‘aina.

“I’ve been an advocate for community and open space for years,” said Mr. Rapoza, himself a graduate of Konawaena High School. “And we have very little of it in Kona...This is our way of giving back to the community we grew up in, we live in, and we raised our family in.”

Keeping with their values and aspirations for public spaces, Mr. Rapoza and his wife are currently in the market to sell another slice of prime land in Kailua—well over 26,000 square feet, to be exact—to Hawai’i County, and all with the intention of creating another public space for the community to enjoy, according to a recent report appearing in Big Island Now.

The land in question, which sits upon two different parcels, sits upon the north side of Keauhou Bay, and even comes with a certified boat ramp to boot. Each parcel is located across from the area’s other boat ramp (which is not in use), and is also near to the onsite facilities owned and operated by Kamehameha Schools.

The deal has been kicking around since around 2020 or so, when the couple first approached County officials about purchasing the property. Last week, the Hawai’i County Council’s Finance Committee recommended that the Council authorize moving forward with the purchase, which means that negotiations can begin in earnest should the measure win full approval later this fall.

The Council noted that the site could “provide easy access to old and young for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding and a host of water activities”—and who among us doesn’t like the sound of that!?

“It’s quite a jewel,” Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz said when asked about the potential property.

Money for the potential purchase would come from the Big Island’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resource Commission (PONC) fund, in which 2% of collected property tax revenues are placed.

Furthermore, should the deal be completed it may well dovetail quite nicely with Kamehamena School’s recent plans to renovate around 30 acres of Keauhou Bay, planning to improve the overall flow of traffic and create new commercial and cultural attractions, including the birth location of Kamehameha III.

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? We sure do—and we’d love to help a plan come together for you and yours to lay down new roots here on the Big Island in your next home! Give Karen a call so we can help you and your ‘ohana become a member of our island ‘ohana and start enjoying all the new plans for Keauhou Bay today.

You might have heard that there’s an old adage about the economy and the state of Hawai’i, which also recently appeared in Big Island Now:

‘When the economy goes in one direction, so shall Hawai’i follow suit…around six months later or so.’

However, according to a recent article, that may not actually be the case—or, in the words of Carl Bonham, the executive director at the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization (UHERO), “that’s not true.”

According to Bonham, in two of the past four recessions—defined as a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research— “Hawai’i basically grew right through the U.S. recession, or at least grew much more than the U.S. economy did, which was shrinking.”

We certainly like the sound of that!

Accordingly, the UHERO program’s latest forecast for the Aloha State predicts that the economic outlook has indeed worsened overall, likely resulting in a mild recession during the first half of 2023. However, it also states that Hawai’i could likely come out of thing far better than the mainland, even as inflation continues sending interest rates toward the sky via the Fed’s ongoing hikes.

“[T]here is a possibility that Hawai‘i could get through this without much of a downturn,” said Bonham. “It’s mostly because we’re still in recovery mode; we still have a way to go. We are talking about a much slower rate of job creation throughout 2023.”

Per Bonham’s words, the state continues to benefit greatly from the ongoing recovery of our tourism industry, which could serve to shield the state from more-severe job losses as our international visitors from places like Japan have returned since the early summer.

Furthermore, UHERO is reporting that, likely by the first part of next year, the state will return to around 50% of our Japanese tourists from the averages seen prior to the pandemic. Currently, Japanese tourists account for only around 10% of their historic levels, leaving much room for growth in the remainder of 2022 and into 2023.

What’s more, according to Bonham, it turns out that all islands are not created equal—when it comes to feeling the impacts of a recession, that is! (emphasis ours)

“The negative impacts of the U.S. recession are going to be felt most acutely on Maui and Kaua‘i, on the two markets that are predominantly U.S. markets,” Bonham said. “In contrast, because of our anticipated relatively strong return of Japanese visitors and spending, the smallest effects and the best growth will be seen on O‘ahu and the Big Island, where you can actually imagine starting to see businesses that cater to Japanese visitors starting to come back.”

So folks, you heard it here first! The Big Island is poised to continue along the comeback trail for the rest of this year and beyond, hopefully signaling a true return to form in the coming years ahead. Of course, Karen Bail and co. will continue to track things here as they happen, helping you and your ‘ohana to navigate the challenges as they arise and providing you with one-of-a-kind realty services here on the Big Island.

Aloha, and welcome back! We hope you’ve been enjoying the fall season, and if you’re not enjoying it here on the Big Island of Hawai’i…then we’ll bet you’ve been thinking about packing up and making the move to paradise as temperatures drop across the mainland! 

But whether you’re thinking about relocating to the island or simply looking for an upgrade here in Hawai’i, you might be wondering which Big Island neighborhood is right for you? 

Today Karen and her team will share some of our favorite island neighborhoods and communities to help you find the slice of paradise that’s just perfect for you and yours!

North Hilo: If spectacular ocean views and rich, fertile grounds are your thing, then North Hilo just might be the neighborhood for you! This area sports some of the Big Island’s most spectacular natural beauty – wait until you see those waterfalls! – and has recently seen some of our favorite luxury dwellings come up for sale. Trust us: this is an area that has to be seen to be believed!

South Kona: Also known as Kona Hema, this leeward-facing community is renowned for its hospitality – not to mention all the upscale living options. Sporting some of the clearest coastal waters anywhere in the state, fans of outdoor recreation and exclusive, one-of-a-kind properties are sure to find something to their liking in this historic region.

Hamakua: Located just north of Hilo on the west side, this positively gorgeous area contains some of our most breathtaking scenery on the Big Island – or any other island, for that matter! The beneficiary of far more rain than many other spots on our list, Hamakua is thus able to provide the kind of natural abundance that would suit any nature lover (not to mention any aspiring gardeners and planters) to a ‘T.’ 

North Kohala: Surrounded by eye-popping, lava-formed landscapes, North Kohala is home to many of the island’s most desirable resort-style living spaces: this sunny spot accumulates less than ten inches of rain per year, making it the perfect landing spot for those who are looking for spend most of their time luxuriating in the sun’s rays. If you’ve been hoping to escape a frigid, mainland winter, then North Kohala has what you’ve been looking for. 

Waimea: Sometimes known as Kamuela, this northside community was formed from Kohala, the oldest of the five volcanoes that comprise the island of Hawai’i. If you’re looking for the very best in hiking and horseback riding, right in your own backyard, then you’ve come to the right place: these rolling hills offer some of our favorite views in the entire state. 

Waikoloa: This coastal town is dotted with beaches and offers some of the Big Island’s very best in island living. Several resorts and exclusive communities are located within Waikoala, which means you’ll be in close proximity to some of the island’s most-renowned choices in shopping and dining. Oh, and did we mention those year-round tropical temperatures? Make no mistake, this cultural hub just about has it all!

Are you ready to make one of these gorgeous areas your home? Then you’ll need the expertise and the experience of a local realtor who knows this island like the back of her hand. Give Karen Bail a call today and let’s get started on finding you the perfect landing spot here on the Big Island. 

Aloha & a hui hou!

Buying (or selling) a house is truly one of those landmark moments in life – and certainly not something to be taken lightly. These days, information is power, and buyers or sellers never want to be left in the dark around the process. 

When it comes to finding a trustworthy and reliable real estate agent on the Big Island, it pays to do your homework! Today, we’d like to share with you a few questions that are important to ask yourself when looking for the right realtor to work with here on the island of Hawai’i: 

Are they experienced? 

It definitely pays to go with a real estate professional with experience – in more ways than one! Buying and selling on the Big Island will require a seasoned professional to see you through every step of the process – and it will also save you money in the long run. If you’re looking secure that dream home before someone else snaps it up – or looking to maximize the value of your current home in the marketplace – then you’re going to need a realtor known for delivering the goods, time and time again. 

Are they local?

File this one under funny but true: not every Big Island real estate agent is actually living here on the island! This might not be as big of a deal back on the mainland – a real estate professional who lives in Ventura can still be effective in the Los Angeles market – but here in Hawai’i, things are a little bit different. You need a realtor with the local connections and feel for the island to guide you into the neighborhoods that suit your needs, not to mention an understanding of the culture and the movements of our local marketplace. 

Are they renowned?

How a real estate professional has been reviewed can say a lot about their business – after all, if someone took the time to leave a review, then the services they received must have left an impression (good or bad!). A realtor’s social media presence and online consumer reviews speak rather loudly about their overall level of engagement and level of expertise in the field, and it’s vital to do your research when it comes to vetting your next real estate professional. 

When in doubt…always go with the best

Thankfully, this one is a no-brainer! Quite simply, when it comes to finding a top-notch realtor on the Big Island, Karen Bail fits the bill:  

• Over 30 years of experience as a real estate professional – right here on the island of Hawai’i

• Credentialed by the National Association of Realtors, a Certified Property International Specialist, the Transnational Referral Network, and a Previews International Specialist, among others

• She’s been a Big Island resident for over 40 years now (and a resident of the state since 1967!)

• A litany of five-star reviews from longtime, satisfied customers on Zillow, Google, and Facebook

Ready to get started on making those island real estate dreams a reality? Don’t delay – give a call today!

It’s a fair question, after all. Interest in relocating to paradise has never been higher – and really, who can blame anyone looking to get more aloha in their life? 

Bear with us…but it can be hard to say!

First off, let’s take a broad look at things:  as of September 2021, the median sales price on the Big Island clocks in at a cool $499,000 – which, in comparison to the rest of the state in September, sure sounds like a bargain:

• Kaua’i: $1,172,500

• O’ahu: $1,050,000

• Maui County (Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i): $996,500

However, a deeper dive into the numbers reveals that things are invariably a little more complex than that – and, when it comes to making the move to paradise, you truly get what you pay for. 

Why the median sales price? 

It’s important to keep in mind that real estate values tend to utilize the median price, or the value of the midpoint between all the available sales numbers for any given period of time, because it’s often far more indicative of the overall movement of the market than the average, as the average is more prone for outliers on either end of the spectrum to skew the overall numbers. By way of example, let’s consider the following five numbers: 

[ 1, 2, 3, 4, 99 ]

Figuring for the average (sum divided by total numbers), that comes out to 21.8! But is 21.8 truly reflective of the overall set? In this case, it could be argued that, since four of the five numbers are far lower than 99, the 99 is skewering the average because it is so far above the rest of our set. 

Along these lines, the median, or middle number of the set, is 3 – and utilizing the median not only lends a balancing point to the set (by landing in the direct middle, with equal amounts of numbers above and below), it is also not prone to influence by any unduly high or low figures at the tail end of the given set. 

What neighborhood are we talking about? 

Having said that, it still doesn’t mean the median sales price can’t be misleading…especially here on the Big Island. 

When it comes to assessing real estate, you know what they say: location, location, location! That goes double for the island of Hawai’i, as the general area and location in which a single-family home or condominium is located has a major effect on the typical sales price a buyer can expect to encounter.

For example, single-family homes in the Puna area had a median sales price of only $310,000 in September, whereas homes in the Kona region sport a median sales price of $887,000!

Ultimately, where you purchase your home will undoubtedly have an outsized impact on the expected sales price. Low inventory and high demand will continue to drive prices forward in the foreseeable future, especially in many of the Big Island’s most-desirable areas. 

Ready to get started?

Needless to say, when it comes to landing a big fish in the proverbial real estate pond, you need an expert to help you navigate all the changing tides of the season. Give Karen a call today and let’s get started on making all your island dreams come true.

If you were to ask around, most folks would easily agree that Hawaii is one of the most-desirable places to live in the entire world, and it’s easy to see why. Sprawling beaches, tropical scenery, and a never-ending supply of sunshine make the islands both easy on the eyes and a true delight to call home.

Having said that, many don’t realize that each of Hawaii’s islands have their own unique feel, culture, and vibe to them—and as a lifelong resident of the Big Island, I can safely say there’s nowhere else I’d rather be! Today, I’d like to share with you my top 5 favorite reasons to call the Big Island your home: 

The weather: We bet you saw this one coming a mile away! Even though it goes without saying, it still bears repeating: the Big Island is home to some of the most-hospitable climates in the entire world. Sure, most people already consider all the islands to be a tropical paradise… but what isn’t quite as well known is that the Big Island is also home to 10 of the world’s 13 total sub-climate zones, giving you an abundance of choice as to the kind of weather you’d like to experience on any given day!

All that natural beauty: Going hand-in-hand with our outstanding weather, Hawaii’ natural beauty is truly a sight to behold – and it makes for quite the scenic backdrop to your home or condo! Where else can you find pristine beaches mingling with awe-inspiring volcanoes, right in your backyard?

The culture: The state of Hawaii is famous for its vibrant culture and sense of aloha – and where better to find it than on the island that lends our state its name? Indeed, aloha serves many purposes to Hawaiian culture that are difficult to capture in just a few words. It’s a greeting, an expression of love and kindness, it's an encapsulation of the outlook for so many across this wonderful place. 

All that glorious space: They certainly don’t call it the ‘Big Island’ for nothing! With over 4,000 total square miles of splendor, you’ll never be in danger of running out of new places to discover on the island of Hawaii, from mauka to makai. Even as a lifelong resident I still find new places to explore almost every week – and I’m not in any danger of running out anytime soon. 

The magnificent homes: Last, but certainly not least -- get a load of some of these properties! The Big Island’s Northern and Western shores are home to some of the world’s most-desirable dwellings and luxury living spaces in the entire world. I’ve been living on the Big Island now for nearly 25 years, and Hawaii stands second to none when it comes to gorgeous spaces to call your home. 

Are you thinking it’s time to make the move to this sprawling island paradise? I’ve helped thousands of clients make their real estate dreams come true here on the Big Island and would love to help you do the same. Give me a call today and let’s get started on making those island fantasies a reality. Aloha!