Wanted: Kailua

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Because of the limited supply of residential property, Kailua isn’t a tough sell. Though days on the market have increased from last year, well-priced homes in excellent condition tend to move quickly, says Connie Carvill, longtime Kailua resident and principal broker at Carvill & Co.


“Those will always be in demand,” says Carvill, who sold a well-priced, well-staged bungalow in Kailua in three days. But,  she adds, “You can no longer just put a house on the market and expect it to sell.”

Paul Sullivan, 64, knows the importance of staging a home to sell. He brought in a container of furniture from Bali to adorn a spectacular Kailua beachfront home he helped build. Not soon after the property, listed at $7.25 million, hit the market, he got an offer.

“As the market tightens, sellers have to be more competitive,” says Sullivan, who’s lived in Kailua off and on for 40 years. “(Staging) isn’t a cost; it’s a profit multiplier. In real estate, it’s always been about location, location, location. But curb appeal and beauty are right behind that.”

He said especially with higher-end properties, prospective buyers expect to see a well-staged home. Sellers can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said, on creating the right aesthetic.

“People expect to walk in and see beautiful product, a home they can envision,” he said. “Many of them don’t want to spend hours redesigning and fixing up a home. They want to see their dream when they walk through the door.”
Selling points
While the proximity to the beach is the biggest draw, people flock to Kailua for a variety of reasons, including its vibrant community, great public and private schools, an easy commute to town and safe neighborhoods.

It’s one of the few towns that boast annuals parades, farmers’ markets, seasonal craft fairs and more than 1,500 businesses in a pedestrian-friendly community.

A 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods opening in 2010 doesn’t hurt, either.

“There’s a small-town feel here in Kailua that’s halfway between the country and the city,” Coffman says. “People really love that.”

One of the benefits of living on the Windward side is having three highways—the Pali, the Likelike and the H-3–leading into town. Commute time is usually around 30 minutes, even in rush-hour traffic.

“We’ve got three different options here,” Mazzola says. “Our commute time is dramatically less than living in West Oahu or even East Honolulu.”

Sometimes it’s the actual commute that reminds Windward residents why it’s better to live on that side of the Koolau Mountains.

“You spend the whole day in town, surrounded by high-rises, and you go through the tunnel and something overcomes you,” Mazzola says. “It’s the greenery, it’s the serenity and the blueness of the ocean. That’s what goes through your mind when you come through the tunnel. That’s what attracts people.”    

KAILUA REAL ESTATE TIPS Here’s some advice from Kailua-based experts to help you take advantage of Hawaii’s real estate market: FOR BUYERS: • Get pre-approved for your purchase: Meet with a lender and have a clear understanding of your price limits. “When you find a property you want to purchase, you will already know what you can afford,” says Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, a realtor with Mary Worrall Associates who specializes in Kailua.Submitting a pre-approval letter makes your offer that much stronger. • Make a list of what’s important to you: What neighborhoods are you interested in? How many bedrooms do you want? What’s your minimum lot size? • Drive around and become familiar with your neighborhood, says Connie Carvill, principal broker at Carvill & Co. Visit at various times of the day and night to get a more accurate feel for the area.  • Get the property inspected: Hawaii’s climate can create ideal environments for mold and other damage to structures of homes and condos.  FOR SELLERS: • Be realistic about the selling price: “Just because your neighbor’s home down the street sold for $1 million six months ago doesn’t mean your home will, too,” explains Ahearn. • Prep your property to sell: Clean everything, including baseboards, window sills, closets and refrigerator. Touch up your paint and spruce up your landscaping. De-clutter your home and garage. “Buyers are more forgiving of a home that needs updating when it’s spotlessly clean,” Ahearn says.

Author, Catherine Toth is a regular contributor to HONOLULU. Her most recent piece is on a surf program for at-risk girls.

Kailua-based photographer Heather Titus has done a book, Passion & Beauty, focusing on Kailua, Lanikai, Kaneohe, Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai.