Everything you need to know from Karen's Point of View

Karen E. Bail is a top producing, high quality real estate salesperson.  An Islander at heart, Karen has lived in Hawaii most of her life and on the Big Island since 1977.  Her intimate knowledge of all aspects of island living make her the preferred professional for all types of Big Island real estate.  Her experience as a real estate professional for nearly 25 years, past professional associations and networks add immense value to every transaction and for every client, whether buying or selling.  She can also help you with real estate purchases throughout the state.  Why go to anyone else, when you can work with a dedicated professional who puts you first!

May 12, 2023

5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Karen Bail as Your Next Realtor

While it’s certainly quite exciting, there’s no doubt that buying or selling a home can be a daunting process, and finding the right real estate agent can make all the difference. Thankfully Karen Bail has been making big dreams on the Big Island come true for decades, and today we’re back with five reasons why she can do the same for you! Without further ado:

  1. Experience: Karen has been in the business for several decades and has a long track record of success. With her unrivaled knowledge and expertise she can help you navigate the real estate market with ease.
  2. Personalized Marketing: Karen Bail understands that every property is unique, and as such creates a customized marketing plan to showcase your home's best features, using the latest technology and marketing tools to ensure that your property is seen by the right buyers at the right time.
  3. Personalized Attention: Karen takes the time to understand your unique needs and preferences throughout the process, communicating clearly and honestly with you throughout the process to make you feel informed and in control.
  4. Local Expertise: You need a realtor that specializes in the specific neighborhood you're interested in buying or selling in! Lucky for you Karen has a deep understanding of the local market and can provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions.
  5. Trustworthy: Karen Bail is always committed to putting your needs first. She prioritizes transparency and honesty, ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident throughout the process from start to finish.

 

There’s no doubt about it—Karen Bail will give you all the personalized attention, expert guidance, and trustworthy advice you need to make those island dreams come true. Contact her today to schedule and take the first step towards achieving all your real estate goals!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
May 5, 2023

Say Aloha to One of the Most-Alluring Regions on the Big Island of Hawai’i

Big Island, big fun!

While every region of this great island has its own unique draws that make this place so special, the Kohala Coast is far and away one of the best areas to enjoy yourself—and a tremendous place to call home as well!

Located along the northwest side of the Big Island of Hawai’i, the Kohala Coast is famous for its pristine natural beauty and its luxury selections, from dining, shopping, and entertainment choices to some of the most-prized communities in the entire state (and, of course, in the entire world as well). Equal parts laid-back and sophisticated, this sensational region also showcases many of our island’s choicest beaches and landscapes, not to mention more high-end accommodations than you can shake a stick at, including:

If high-end shopping, dining, and entertainment options are your game—and they definitely should be on your itinerary!—then the Kohala Coast is sure to delight, with countless options to be enjoyed, including:

And, of course, there is the housing! Several notable neighborhoods and towns are nestled into the region, including some of the most sought-after addresses in the entire Aloha State:

 

Are you looking to call the Kohala Coast your next home? Give Karen Bail a call and let’s get started on saying aloha to your new dwelling today!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
April 28, 2023

Three Reasons Why Investing in Big Island Real Estate is Your Next Best Move

Investing in real estate is one of the best money moves you can make—and that goes double when you’re talking about doing so on the Big Island!

Countless investors have diversified their portfolios by securing properties here in Hawai’i, along with all the benefits such investments bring along, including:

  • Diversification
  • Long-term growth
  • Tax advantages

And so much more. But why is investing in the Big Island making a good thing even better? Today Karen Bail—the Big Island’s premier realtor of choice—is here to give you three reasons why investing in local real estate is one of the best moves you can make for your financial future here in 2023.

Let’s get to it!

  1. Thriving tourism: According to the latest reports from the state, the tourism sector has bounced back in a big way from the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. In fact, the current numbers are nearly eclipsing the 2019 pre-pandemic figures—making your new property both sought-after (helping to raise its total value over time) and a hot commodity for short-term rentals as well.
  2. Setting up rental income: Let your new investment work for you! With so many visitors angling to come and visit the Big Island, accommodations continue to be a massive draw for buyers of choice looking to expand. Good thing Karen can help you navigate all the hoops to jump through to ensure your new property will be set up to welcome those new guests!
  3. Local flavor and community: Our personal favorite! The Big Island of Hawai’i is truly a place like no other, with more natural beauty than anywhere else in the world and some of the best neighbors and friends anyone could ever ask for. Karen has been a proud island resident for decades, and she’d love to help you become the same—or help you find the perfect investment for your real estate portfolio. Give her a call today!
Posted in Real Estate Trends
April 21, 2023

Visitor Arrivals, Spending Trending Upwards for the Big Island and Across the State

It sure is a good time to be in the short-term rental business!

This past February, over 137,000 visitors arrived to the Big Island of Hawai’i, a 23.7% increase from February of 2022. Our island kept pace with the rest of the state in growing both our total number of visitors and total spending, with most metrics now either rivaling or overtaking entirely the comparable 2019 figures, according to the latest monthly economic indicator report released by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) released this month.

What’s more, international visitors increased by a whopping 255% year-over-year, with 16,500 flights from abroad touching down in either Kailua or Hilo. Our friends from Canada and Japan led the way in this regard, with Japan increasing their year-over-year tallies throughout the state by an astronomical +1,122% increase from February of last year!

And speaking of the Aloha State at large, in total 753,750 travelers came for a visit in the month of February—which is the latest monthly stats made available by the DBEDT—with total arrivals by air increasing by 17.6% year-over-year.

 

With daily passenger counts and spending growing it’s an excellent time to invest in a vacation rental property to add to your portfolio. Thankfully Karen Bail is the Big Island’s #1 expert in all things real estate, including all the ins and outs of ensuring your next property is properly set up with the county for maximum returns. Give her a call today and let’s get going on making 2023 your best year yet!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
April 14, 2023

Is the Housing Market Heading for a Crash?

Hardly!

Karen Bail—the Big Island’s #1 realtor and your very best resource for all things real estate on the island of Hawai’i—is back to bring some clarity to all the noise regarding a potential market crash in the current housing marketplace.

Let’s get down to the bottom of things, shall we?

Don’t confuse a crash with a correction

Unfortunately, attention-grabbing headlines are made for clicks and not always for clarity, which leaves many readers in a state of panic.

However, remember that a market correction is far different than a market crash: a correction typically signals a return to the previous rate of growth before a market boom, whereas a crash signifies a disastrous downturn in prices and sales. What’s more, the Aloha State’s previous rate of growth was still rather enviable, with a robust market and plenty of sales driving things forward in the pre-pandemic years. The combination of record-low interest rates, the ongoing scarcity of available units, and the newfound freedom to work from anywhere created a perfect storm for sellers, which is now simply normalizing to the former rate of growth.

In other words: while local and national sales have slowed, they’re not crashing—they’re correcting! The Big Island housing market is still moving strong, presenting a wonderful opportunity for both buyers (who can now better enter a less-heated marketplace) and sellers (sales prices remain strong, inventory remains low) alike.

And lest we forget—having the most-beautiful scenery in the whole wide world certainly doesn’t hurt 😉

 

Give Karen a call today and she’ll help you with all the details from start to finish!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
April 7, 2023

Latest UHERO Report Keeps the Sunshine in Our Big Island Economic Forecast for 2023

Worried about the economic outlook for 2023 in the ongoing face of inflation and fears of a national recession?

Rest easy, Big Island residents—things are looking up!

A recent report generated by the University of Hawai’i’s Economic Research Organization (UHERO) for the first quarter of 2023 shows that things are humming along here in the Aloha State, particularly with regard to several vital sectors of our economy:

At the top of the list is our island chain’s ongoing recovery in our traveling sector. Inflation-adjusted spending has all but fully recovered as of the second quarter of 2022, and with the returns from our friends in Japan still only at around a quarter of the pre-pandemic figures we expect these numbers to rise rather nicely as the year progresses.

Furthermore, inflation has somewhat-surprisingly cooled both here on the Big Island and across the nation itself, adding to the hopes that Hawai’i will experience a ‘soft landing’ to any ongoing recession concerns later in the year and into early 2024.

Notably, the state’s local labor market has continued to make some impressive gains, with Kaua’i and Maui catching up with Maui and the Big Island with regard to payroll-reported employment figures.

All of this leads to potentially the best news of all: overall prices are remaining flat in the first quarter of 2023 after spiking over 20% on items like food over the past few years.

 

Needless to say, this is great news for potential buyers and sellers here on the Big Island. It’s prime time for both groups to take advantage of the recent economic forecast, and Karen Bail is just the woman to help you do it. Give her a call today to capitalize on the favorable conditions to increase your personal outlook (and bottom line!) today.

Posted in Real Estate Trends
March 31, 2023

The Big Island’s Ongoing Economic Recovery Continues in the Latest Travel Accommodations Report

Boy, it sure has been a wild couple of years here on the Big Island of Hawai’i!

Karen Bail—the Big Island’s premier expert on all things real estate-related—has kept you up-to-date on the market’s ongoing normalization from the Covid-19-fueled buying frenzy, the luxury market’s ongoing strength, and the Aloha State’s still-sunny economic outlook for 2023. Things are indeed looking up as the islands recover from the economic struggles brought on by the pandemic, and another important metric demonstrates that the Big Island remains poised to continue bouncing back like never before.

A recent report released by the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) shows that the Big Island’s total supply of vacation rentals stood at 157,000 total available night units in January, a 38.6% increase from January of 2022 and less than 5% down from January 2019, the last year of pre-pandemic stats available. Unit demand, meanwhile, was up to over 98,000 unit nights to start 2023, a nearly-21% increase year-over-year.

And that’s not all! Hawai’i island hotels saw an increase in the average daily rate to $427 and an overall occupancy rate of 76%, which makes sense as our friends from Japan have now been able to return as visitors since last fall.

 

Onward and upward, Hawai’i! It’s great to have more good news around our ongoing economic upturn, especially as uncertainty shrouds much of the rest of the country. It’s truly the perfect time for all our mainland friends to book themselves a room and check out the Big Island for themselves—especially with a few of our old favorites getting ready to reopen. And no matter if you’re curious about laying down roots, selling your current home, or investing in a new property or vacation rental, Karen Bail has you covered. Give her a call today and let’s get started!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
March 24, 2023

February Stats Demonstrate Ongoing Sales Slowdown—But Not in the Northeast of the Island!

February—the border between winter and spring...unless you’re living in paradise on the Big Island, that is!

The February sales statistics have been released for the month of February, and Karen Bail is here to fearlessly lead you through the numbers to help you make an informed decision to advance all those real estate goals, no matter if you’re buying, selling, or looking to increase your investment portfolio.

On the whole, Big Island sales numbers continued normalizing back to their natural rate of pre-pandemic growth, with the median sales price for single-family homes coming in at $459,500, down 11% year-over-year. Condos, meanwhile, saw a slight growth of 2% year-over-year at $554,000 last month, whereas overall sales activity was much cooler (-43% for single-family units, -44% for condos) than we saw back in February of 2022.

However, and as per usual...don’t let the numbers fool you!

The numbers out of North Kona, South Kohala, and North Kohala are boffo as usual, with very health total sales and median prices across the eastern coastline:

North Kona

  • 49 single-family homes, $1 million median price
  • 44 condos, $555,000 median

South Kohala

  • 19 single-family homes, $892,500 median
  • 27 condos, $899,000 median

North Kohala

  • 11 single-family homes, $1.4 million median

Really goes to show you that the numbers alone never tell the full story—and if you’re looking for your own storybook ending, then Karen Bail is your gal. How’s about giving the Big Island’s very best realtor a call today and let’s get down to business?

 

Aloha!

Posted in Real Estate Trends
March 17, 2023

Another Kona Hotel is Ready for its Closeup – Book Now Starting April 1st!

It’s no April Fool’s joke: the former Kona Seaside Hotel has undergone an impressive makeover and will reopen on 4/1/2023 at Pacific 19 Kona!

Nine Brains Big Island LLC bought the lease for this long-standing Kailua-Kona destination back in 2020 and has been hard at work revamping and remodeling the 122-room hotel into a boutique hotel with all the fixing. Rechristened as Pacific 19 Kona, this outstanding venue is expected to re-open later this spring to delight its guests with an all-new experience.

Located on the corner of Palani Road and Kuakini Highway and occupying one of the two buildings onsite (the 30-room Kona Seaside Hotel, another excellent choice, is still in operation), Pacific 19 Kona will offer a unique experience to guests, combining brand-new design with integration into the local atmosphere and ‘aina, giving you the opportunity to explore all that the Big Island has to offer. Taking its inspiration for the new name from the site sitting upon the 19th parallel, Pacific 19 Kona will feature an open-air lobby, a revamped pool and fire pits, a retail shop and cafe, private lanais, and a micro bar.

Ready to experience Kona life? Visit pacific19.com and book your stay today!

And when you fall under the island’s spell, be sure to give Karen Bail a call to make the Big Island your new permanent residence—there’s simply nobody better at delivering the goods and making your dreams of living here in paradise a reality.

 

Aloha, and happy travels!

Posted in Moving to Hawaii
March 10, 2023

Fore! The Top 5 Golf Communities on the Kona Side of Hawai’i

Aloha, and welcome to 2023!

We’re glad you’re here and hope you and yours enjoyed all this past holiday season had to offer, from the Big Island to the rest of the world.

A lot has changed over the past 12 months, but it’s always good to know that a few things will forever stay the same—and that includes Karen Bail remaining the Big Island’s #1 realtor of choice! She and her team are so grateful to have made so many dreams come true this past year, and they’re looking forward to helping many more in the coming year.

And speaking of things staying the same—the weather remains outstanding year-round here in paradise, which means it’s time to hit the links! The Big Island of Hawai’i is home to some of the world’s foremost championship golf courses and resorts, combining professionally-designed layouts with the unrivaled natural splendor of the surrounding scenery.

In no particular order:

  • Makani Golf Club: This outstanding course gives all its patrons a sweeping view of both the Pacific Ocean (maka’i) and the mountains to the east (mauka). Open to the general public daily, this par-72 course is wonderful for newcomers and experts alike. Designed by famous golf designer Perry Die, Makani Golf Club also offers an unbeatable view of mighty Mauna Kea in the distance, located midway between Waimea and Kona near the gated Pu’u Lani subdivision.
  • Makalei: A private course located in Kona Hills, near to the Kona Palisades subdivision, and designed by top professional Tom Weiskopf, this breathtaking course is nestled into the western slopes of Hualalai Mountain and incorporates all the unique topography of the region into its fairways. And, as an additional bonus, check out all the unique animals that make their home around this sensational scenery, including wild pheasants and peacocks!
  • Hualalai Golf Hale: Ready to hit the links and sit in the lap of luxury afterwards? Then check out Hualalai Golf Course, located within the Four Seasons Hualalai. Designed by all-time great Jack ‘The Golden Bear’ Nicklaus, this stunning course features three 9-hole layouts that are sure to delight and challenge even the most seasoned golfer. The home of the PGA Tour Mitsubishi Electric Championship in late January, this is a must-see course for any avid, discerning golfer of choice.
  • Mauna Kea Golf Course: This historic site, now revitalized by the course designer’s son, Rees Jones, sports a gorgeous 18 holes of pure golfing pleasure that’s combined with top-of-the-line amenities—including on-board GPS in all the golf carts to let you know just how far away your ball is from the hole! With a delicious onsite restaurant and signature cocktails made to order this unique stop located within the Mauna Kea resort should definitely be on the to-do list for every Big Island golfer.
  • Kona Country Club: An exclusive locale with an excellent online tee-time scheduler, Kona Country sports two 18-hole courses (though the maka’i course has been closed for much of the past year) that are widely considered to be some of the island’s best. This course is conveniently located just north of downtown Kailua, offering a perfect trifecta of ocean views, top-shelf facilities, and friendly customer service. Consistently ranked among the Top 100 courses by Golf Digest, head on over and tee one up among good friends and great weather today!

 

Are you ready to make the Big Island your permanent golfing residence? Give us a call today and let’s get going on introducing you to Hawai’i’s #1 realtor in 2023 and beyond!

Posted in Moving to Hawaii