We Have Our Fingers on the Pulse of Real Estate

Latest News and Articles from Harcourts Island Real Estate

Sept. 12, 2023

Alfred Preis Home on Huelani Drive

It's a been over a year since an Alfred Preis home sold in Makiki Heights and almost 3 years since the last one sold in Manoa. In general, most of the ones in Manoa over the years have been located on Melemele Place. This past week, one hit the market on Huelani Drive in Manoa.

Alfred Preis Huelani Home

Alfred Preis Home (MLS # 202400774) at 3200 Huelani Drive in Manoa

Built in 1956, this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home was done during the classic mid century modern era of Alfred Preis' work. In addition to the open beam ceiling, what's nice about this one is the original woodwork is still exposed and not painted or drywalled over. Similar to Ossipoff, Alfred Preis was conscious of natural air flor through a home and jalousie windows were strategically used. Air Conditioning was not as common back then and Manoa in particular is naturally a bit cooler.

Preis Huelani Home Exterior Preis Huelani Driveway

Mid Century Modern Lines Typical of Alfred Preis Homes

What I love about the exterior of this home is the mid century modern lines. This style is harder to find around Honolulu these days. Given the architecture, style, location and price, I don't anticipate this listing sitting on the market long.

Contact a Mid Century Modern Agent

For more information on this Alfred Preis home or other mid century modern homes on Oahu, feel free to contact me for help with buying or selling one of these treasures.

Sept. 8, 2023

What Happened to Prices in August?

Well, I can't believe summer is already in the rear view mirror. This is David Buck with Harcourts Island Real Estate, here to report on the sales stats for homes and condos on Oahu in August of 2023. First, we're going to dive into the single family home stats.

Single Family Home Stats

We saw the numbers of transaction for homes were down 19.7% from a year ago. That was 314 sales in August of 2022 and this past month, we only saww 252 sales. Once again, that's a 19.7% drop. Meanwhile, the median sales price was down 1.4%. A year ago, the median sales price for a home on Oahu was $1,125,000 and now it's at $1,110,000.

In the meantime, it's taking things a bit longer to sell. The median days on market are up over 38%. That was going from 13 days a year ago to 18 days. It's still not bad. It's not "doom and gloom", but things are definitely slower. This is compounded on this time last year, which was slower than the year before.

Condo Stats

The transactions taking place diipped by 16.9% for condo sales on Oahu. A year ago, we had 508 sales. This past month, we only saw 422. Meanwhile, we saw an increase in median sales price for condos, which was up 3.3%. A year ago, that median sales price was $498,500 and today it's at $515,000.That's a slight bump up in median sales price. 

The median days on market followed the exact same trend as the houses. There, we saw a 38.5% increase as well, going from 13 days  on market to 18 days on market. To find out what's going on in your particular neighborhood, because this is all across the board on Oahu. Every neighborhood and every building is different. Give us a shout and we'd love to help. Mahalo!

Aug. 30, 2023

Ku'Ono Marketplace in Kahala 2 Years Later

Ku'Ono Marketplace in Kahala

Ku'Ono Marketplace in Kahala

It's been a little over 2 years since Kamehameha Schools had their grand opening for Ku'Ono Marketplace in Kahala. Since then, this has become a vibrant center on the mauka side of H-1 and Kahala Mall. With Kahala Market by Foodland, I think the only complaint is that it's not large enough. The commentary on the quality of produce and offerings has been very positive from everyone I've talked to. Et Al has also become a great option for those in Kahala looking for something a little more upscale.

J Dolan's has also been a winner for the locals with an affordable option of dining and an incredible selection of drinks. It's definitely giving another option to CPK and giving it a run for its money. Purve has also been a unique draw with donuts that are out of this world. Additional eateries include BB.Q Chicken, Daiichi Ramen, Lanikai Juice and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. 

For health and beauty needs, there's a Straub Clinic and Urgent Care, Drybar and Kahala Nails and Lash. You also can't forget Wholesale Unlimited for all your favorite local snacks. One of the later tenants was bringing back Kahala Shell to give locals another option for filling up their tank.

Nearby Real Estate

One of the cool things about Ku'Ono Marketplace is that it's walking distance from Kahala Towers (in the backdrop of the photo), the nearby town houses that include Tropic Gardens, Tropicana Village and Waialae Gardens. It's also right near Nohona Kahala

If you're thinking about making a move to or from Kahala, feel free to reach out our team. Our office is just on the other side of Kahala Mall. We're in Kahala Korner, right above Olive Tree Cafe.

Posted in Kahala
Aug. 24, 2023

Prayers for Lahaina, Maui 2 Weeks Later

Aloha, I'm just going to take some time here to comment on the Maui fires, in particular in Lahaina. It's been a heavy couple of weeks and it has taken me awhile to take everything in. I've stayed off the internet and social media talking about this because it hits close to home.

David's Lahaina Connection

For those of you that don't know, I was born here on Oahu, but grew up in Maui for elementary school. I lived in Lahaina Town. I went to Sacred Hearts there in the town for elementary school and both Sacred Hearts and Kamehameha III (the  two elementary schools in the town) are completely burnt to the ground. Our old home in Puamana Nui, where we used to ride bikes to school is completely leveled. That whole neighborhood is decimated. I've got countless, countless friends and family whose lives have been ruined by this fire... many without their homes and unfortunately some that have lost their lives.

In any event, you see everything that's happening on the news right now. Everyone is pointing fingers at each other. Whether it be the electric company, not releasing water. Having been a firefighter myself, I couldn't even imagine not being able to fight the fire, by having a lack of water. Everyone is talking about the civil defense people not doing the sirens... It's just awful. 

Commercial Properties Destroyed

The town is not going to be the same. From a real estate perspective, a lot of that commercial real estate will most likely not be able to be rebuilt. I've heard some of it is uninsurable. It was not insurable prior to the fire. A lot of those trophy properties along the water like Kimo's and Lahaina Yacht Club. I highly doubt the state will let them rebuild with the new shoreline setback regulations. It's never going to be the same town. There's just so much history there. It's sad between the life, property and history that's no longer there...

Residential Real Estate Gone

Most of the residential single family home products, I've mentioned Puamana Nui is gone, most of Lahaina town and Wahikuli. As far as condominiums go, There's some that made it. Lahaina Shores along Front Street is still standing. However the retail property - 505 Front Street next door is completely gone. You've also got another concrete building along the water - Lahaina Roads is still standing from what I can see. I'm not boots on the ground. You've got some of the newer construction products that Standford Carr did recently with Kahoma Village. It looks like some of those made it through. 

A lot of these condominiums, I couldn't even imagine. Being in real estate here, I could never in a million years picture an entire complex being decimated. People did have fear after that building collapse in Miami that happened a few years back. That's never happened here as far as a structural failure. Some of this stuff that happened (in Lahaina) was catastrophic and no one could have ever predicted.

Growing up in Lahaina, my first reaction to this was that we had fires ALL THE TIME, but they were controlled burn fires when they were burning the sugar cane fields. You'd see ashes in the sky and we had them all the time. If you recall back into the 1980's and into the 90's, you'd fly in over Lahaina and Kaanapali you'd have beautiful green AG land up in the hills and what's been happening since the AG is gone, it's just all this brush that's grown in.

It's just really sad as when I've been talking with people, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Like, if you wanted to have a disaster on every level, unfortunately Lahaina has experienced it. With a heavy heart, I feel like I've had my hands tied from Oahu. There's a lot of change that's happening. I know some people that are migrating to Oahu from Maui. Some within my own family are talking about it now. Fortunately, my family members are safe, but it's been a heavy time.

How to Give 

For those of you that can't make it there physically, because I'm not recommending people jumping on airplanes and adding chaos to the mix. However, some very reputable sites we've are donating through the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Maui Food Bank, the Red Cross, etc. Because, like we've. seen in the news it's taking the federal government forever to step in. Any kokua you can do that direction will be awesome!

Prayers and Hope

Mahalo to listening to my 2 cents on this and we continue to pray to God. Like I said early on, unfortunately Sacred Hearts School was demolished. The silver lining in all of this is that God does answer prayers and there are blessings in that Maria Lanakila Church is still standing there right in the heart of Lahaina Town. I've seen the photos and the videos and there's green grass all around it on top of that! It is a miracle.  The church is saved. 

Keep Maui in your prayers. There's over 2,000 students that are no longer enrolled in school due to the loss of both of these elementary schools in the town. There were 18 firefighters whose homes are completely gone and countless people lost their homes and businesses. So, please keep Lahaina in your thoughts and in your prayers and we're all going to work together to get through this. Mahalo!

Posted in Maui
Aug. 22, 2023

Top 3 Reasons to Live in Aiea

Aiea Real Estate

If you’re in the market for a new home, then you should consider Aiea, Hawaii as a potential destination. With its convenient location near Honolulu, breathtaking views, and endless activities, Aiea has a lot to offer its residents. Here are the top three reasons to live in Aiea, Hawaii.

1. Proximity to Honolulu Living in Aiea means having access to all the amenities of Honolulu just minutes away. This makes it easy to take advantage of the eclectic shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities available in the city. There’s no need to worry about long commutes when its own attractions are just a hop and a skip away.

2. Ideal Location for Sports Enthusiasts Aiea is home to several great parks and athletic facilities. From soccer fields to basketball courts, swimming pools to futsal courts, the sports opportunities in Aiea are seemingly limitless. Whether you’re looking for something competitive or just a leisurely jog, Aiea has something for everyone.

3. Nature Enthusiast’s Paradise Aiea is not just known for its modern attractions. It’s also home to several natural gems. Just minutes away you can find the spectacular Halawa Valley, which is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls on Oahu. Additionally, nearby Aiea Loop Trail offers miles of hiking trails and unrivaled views of the stunning Koolau Mountains. From its convenient access to Honolulu to its stunning natural attractions, Aiea has a lot to offer its residents.

If you’re looking for a place to settle down, then Aiea should be at the top of your list. With its variety of activities and beautiful views, there are plenty of reasons why Aiea is becoming increasingly popular as a great place to call home.

Posted in Pearl City
Aug. 20, 2023

Tour of Lower Makakilo Home

Aloha, this is David Buck and I'm here to give you a tour of my listing here in Lower Makakilo at 92-727 Aoloko Place. We're having an open house and the people are just about to start showing up. It's called place because there's a dead end cul de sac and it's a very quiet street.

Street Front and Entry

It's got great curb appeal. It has a vinyl fence for privacy. There's a 1 car carport. We love our veterans. We've got some storage here and a charger for an electric vehicle. As you enter, it is summer, so the grass is a little bit dry. One of the perks you'll see in a second is that it's just over 90 degrees out in August in Hawaii on the west side. The trades are blowing now, which is nice. However, once you get into the house, they have 5 split system air conditioning units, which run off PV with a battery backup. There's literally almost no electric bill because they are selling back into the grid.

Interior Space

I wish you could see this on camera, but the air conditioning makes you feel like it's not August in Hawaii. Here's 1 of 5 split systems here. You enter into the great room for entertaining and we've got dining up top. There's a junior suite bedroom off the left, then the dining room with ocean views and Diamond Head (views) out the back.

Out the window, there's a lovely hot tub to relax as well as BBQ in the afternoons. We've also got a nice outdoor space out the back. Once again, we're in the summer, so the grass is a little bit dry. We've got fruit trees off the neighbors yard with mangos and avocados and i believe a tangerine tree around the corner. 

You've got to love the decor and all of the special spaces they have in this home. What a great sense of place, being able to see the kitchen from the dining area (off the mirror). In the kitchen, you have a beautiful quartz island with a fact sheet on here. We're at a new price of $986,500. You also have a vinyl sliding glass door, vinyl windows, more quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and this home is just ready to go!

When you go down the hall, you've got storage here off the left, bedroom #2 and all the rooms have split air. Then, you have your full bath #1. 

In the primary suite, you have another split air unit, vinyl window, a huge walk in closet off the left where you have an ocean view from the window. You've also got a newer bathroom. There's lots of upgrades as it was completely gutted and redone a few years back. 

Outside

You've got a covered porch you can hang out on in the afternoons. The sunsets are going to be out this direction. What I forgot to point out earlier is a kukui nut tree in the back yard. As you walk around the back walkway, there's beautiful ti leaves, compressor for the split system, battery backup for the PV,  They're basically selling power and hardly have an electric bill. There's front load washer/dryers on the outside.

What a great space - you've got a porch off the kitchen, step into another space and then you've got the hot tub with the ocean out the back. It's a great place to entertain and once again, the afternoon sun is going to be in the opposite direction. It will stay a bit cooler out here. 

There's a whole other level below with this bonus space with a workshop/storage or whatever you want to call it. It can't quite be a living area due to the ceiling height. It's almost like a basement in a sense. 

All of the neighbors seem to take loving care of their property. There's a cool walkway with plants and vegetation. Back around to the front of house, there's more storage underneath the carport. 

Recap

That's a wrap here at 92-727 Aoloko Place here in Makakilo. It's a wonderful home, just awaiting a new owner. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at 808-371-3509. Mahalo!

Posted in Makakilo
Aug. 16, 2023

Windward Oahu Home and Condo Sales up in July

The windward side of Oahu saw the most strength this past month. This is David Buck with Harcourts Island Real Estate, here to give you the local market update for single family homes and condos on Oahu for July of 2023.

Local Update for Homes

First off, we'll jump into the home stats and Kaneohe saw a 21% increase in home sales, which was up from 14 sales in July of '22 to 17 sales just this past month. Two other neighborhoods on Oahu saw an increase in sales, four were unchanged and 2/3 of the neighborhoods on Oahu (14 of the 21 neighborhoods) saw a decrease in home sales year over year. 

Makakilo saw the largest increase in median sales price from July of last year to this past month. That was up 18% from a year ago and that was going from $930,000 to $1,100,000 now for a single family home in Makakilo. In the backdrop is a listing of mine in Lower Makakilo. We're priced at $986,500 and it's a great deal because we're under that median sales price of $1.1 million.

Local Update for Condos

Not only did Kaneohe see the largest increase year over year for single family home sales, the Windward Coast of Oahu saw the largest increase in condo sales. There, we saw a 200% increase, going from 1 sale a year ago to 3 transactions this past month. Three other neighborhoods saw an increase in sales and two had no change. Collectively, 15 of the 21 neighborhoods that the Honolulu Board of Realtors tracks saw a decrease in sales over the year. That's something we want to keep an eye on. That's a trend we've been noticing with a drop-off in sales volume and the number of deals taking place.

For our final category of median sales price for condos, Diamond Head - Kapahulu saw the largest increase. That was an outlier (by far). It was up 277%! In July of last year, the median condo price in Diamond Head - Kapahulu was $609,500. Now, it's at $2.3 million. A reason why is there's a lot of big trades that took place on the Gold Coast. There were a half dozen sales that were at $2.3 million or more. There was a trade at the Kainalu for $2.3. There was another at the Colony Surf. There were 2 total at the Colony Surf. There was a sale at La Pietra, another at 3019 Kalakaua (which is 1 unit/floor). Then, at the grand daddy of them all, at the Diamond Head Apartments, there was a combined unit that went for $5.5 million! 

That's a recap and hope you enjoyed the local market report here and hope you're having a great summer. We're now about mid way through August. Take care and Aloha!

Aug. 8, 2023

July Home and Condo Prices Holding Value on Oahu

Well, I can't believe July is already behind us. We're now well into August and I'm going to report today on the sales stats for July of 2023. This is David Buck with Harcourts Island Real Estate.

Single Family Home Stats

First, we're going to dive into the single family home stats. There, we saw a dip of home sales down 28.2% from a year ago. We had 312 home sales in July of 2022 and now there's just 224. The median sales price has dropped 1.6% (which is not a whole lot). That was going from $1,107,944. Now, we're at a median sales price of $1,090,000. 

Median days on market are continuing to increase. They're up 45.5%, going from 11 to 16 days. In that single family home market, we're seeing a lot less home sales taking place. However, we're not seeing too much of a change in median sales price, down just 1.6%

Condo Stats

Condos also saw a dip in the number of transactions (year over year), however we're not seeing that 30% + drop like we've been seeing over the past year and a half. However, condo sales were down 18.5% from a year ago. In July of '22, we had 518 condo sales on Oahu. Now, we're down to 422. The median sales price has not changed. A year ago, that was at half a million dollars and now this past month, we were still at $500,000.

Median days on market are continuing to uptick as well, which was up 33.3%. That was going from 12 days to 16 days. Condos priced well and homes priced well are continuing to sell. It's just that we're seeing a lot less sales taking place. We're not seeing a huge drop in price because sellers are continuing to hold. Because if they sell, they'll have to pay a higher interest rate on the next property.

Recap

Lack of inventory continues. There's a little bit of stagnation in the market, but prices are holding. We'll see what August has in store for us. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and give us a call @ 808-371-3509. Mahalo

July 21, 2023

June '23 Local Market Update

Aloha, this is David Buck with Harcourts Island Real Estate, here to give you the local market update for homes and condos on Oahu for the month of June, 2023.

Local Market Update for Homes

First off, Wahiawa saw the largest increase in home sales year over year. That was a 25% increase going from four sales a year ago to five sales this year. It's the only neighborhood that saw an increase in sales. Three neighborhoods were flat with no change and then every other neighborhood on Oahu was down regarding sales year over year. So stand by, I am going to jump into sharing with you which neighborhood in Oahu saw the largest appreciation in single family home price.

The median home price in Diamond Head was up 25%, going from $1,365,000 to $1,700,000 this year. Now, keep in mind that’s everything in the Diamond Head region of MLS which includes Palolo, Kaimuki, Kapahulu and similar neighborhoods you see here like Wilhelmina and Maunalani Heights, so not all of this is Diamond Head. To find a single family home on the market today in Diamond Head, there is nothing for sale under $4 million. But it's good to see that town and Diamond Head in particular is having some strength this past month in June. So stand by, we are going to jump into the condo stats.

Local Market Update for Condos

Now Kailua - Waimanalo has saw the largest increase year over year for numbers of transactions for condos. There, we saw a 14% increase, that was going from 7-8 deals in June of 2022 and 2023. There were two neighborhoods on Oahu that were flat with no difference in the number of sales year over year and then every other neighborhood on Oahu saw different transactions year over year. So, that's a trend we have been seeing across the board. Stay tuned, we will be back with the final and fourth category, which is condo appreciation on Oahu.

Now the median condo price in Waialae - Kahala was up 24%, and that was the largest gain across the board for Oahu, and that was going from $532,500 in June of 2022, to now $659,00 for the median condo price of condos here in Waialae Kahala. In the backdrop here you will see Kahala Towers, and Kahala Regency. As we talk about every month, every neighborhood is different. So to find out what's happening in your neighborhood, feel free to give us a call. Mahalo.

July 18, 2023

Hoakalei Waves, Golf and Homes

Hoakalei Development over 15 Years

Can you believe it's been over 15 years since they have been selling homes here in Hoakalei? I’ve been blogging about this community now over the last 13 years at least, talking about how this is such a cool development. Originally this Lagoon behind me was going to be a man-made Marina that has evolved over the years. Originally they started with Hoakalei, Ka Makana, then later Kipuka and Kuapaka. We have three major developments of single-family homes out here that came after Ocean Pointe, all of which were developed by Hasako in this master planned community. At one point they were talking about doing a hotel here. I'm not sure if that's still going to be the case, but you got this really cool setup here at Wai Kai Lagoon, where you can take out paddle boards, canoes, and kayaks. Behind me here is “Sessions” where you can go ahead and rent some time up here in the Wave Pool, we are going to jump into that in a second.

Wai Kai Wave Pool

Hoakalei Wave Pool

Wave Pool at Wai Kai

So here we are at Wai Kai and Hoakalei and it's a pretty cool lifestyle here. Here we are at the Wai Kai wave pool, in Hoakalei which is pretty incredible. It's a standing wave, and you can see here people are just about to take off. It opened earlier this summer and it's a great place to jump into the water for those new to surfing. It’s also a nice spot to learn how to surf if there's not much on the South Shore this time of year but here we go! So now in addition to the golf course, Ernie Els Golf Course here in Hoakalei, we've now got this Wai Kai wave pool, and it's a really special place to enjoy life here in Hoakalei.

Ernie Else Golf Course at Hoakalei

Hoakalei Golf Course and Homes

Hoakalei Golf Course and Homes

Here we are at the Hoakalei Country Club directly behind me and this is an Ernie Els signature course. It's a private club however it is within the community of Hoakalei, and it's directly right across the street from Wai Kai where we just came from the wave pool. So if you stay tuned here, I'm going to throw up some stats just to see what's been happening in the real estate market here in Hoakalei. We will be throwing up some numbers between all three communities of Ka Makana, Kipuka, and Kuapapa. If you have any questions about Hoakalei real estate, give us a call. Mahalo!

Hoakalei Home Stats (July 17, 2023)

Active Home Listings in Hoakalei: 18

Average Sales Price (Past 6 Months): $1,205,659

Average Days on Market: 72

Homes Sold (Past 6 Months): 37

Current Listing Price Range: $999,000 to $1,820,000