🌴Market Pūle – August Market Snapshot: What Buyers & Sellers Should Know

August brought a mix of movement in O‘ahu’s housing market. Single-family home sales ticked up 2.4%, while condo sales dipped slightly by 2.5%. Year-to-date, we’re still trailing 2024’s pace—but there’s momentum building.

📈 Prices:

• The median single-family home price dipped 1.5% to $1,105,500, but year-to-date, it remains up 3.6%.

• Condos saw a modest bump, up 3.0% to $515,000.

🔥 Buyer Activity:

• Pending single-family sales surged 28.5%—the highest this year!

• Condo buyers held steady, with just a 1% dip in pending contracts.

📊 Inventory & Listings:

• Fewer new single-family listings overall, especially under $2M.

• However, luxury listings ($2M+) increased by 40.8%, led by East Honolulu and Windward.

• Condo listings rose 2.2%, with nearly half priced between $ 300,000 and $ 600,000.

⏳ Days on Market:

• Homes are taking longer to sell: 22 days for single-family (up from 14), and 48 days for condos (up from 28).

📍 Regional Highlights:

• ʻEwa Plain is on fire—sales up 30%, pending sales up 64.7%.

• Diamond Head also saw a 48% jump in pending activity.

• On the condo side, the $1M+ segment grew 32.5%, while Pearl City cooled off sharply.

Featured Listing

🏡 LOWEST FEE SIMPLE CONDO!

Opportunity: 

• Attention investors: This listing is conveniently located just a 2-minute drive and a 5-minute walk from Queen’s Medical Center. Purchase it, furnish it, and create a rental contract. You can also advertise it as a mid-term rental for employees at Queen Medical.

• Attention Buyers: Although it’s a bit small, this is the most affordable fee-simple condo in town, listed at only $189k with HOA fees of $654. The estimated monthly housing cost, including principal and interest, maintenance fees, and property taxes, is $1,704. Imagine the possibilities if you’re a first-time homebuyer!

This 1-bedroom, 1-bath condo is located on the second floor of a low-rise building—just a few steps up, no long stair climbs. It’s a cozy space with a window AC to keep cool, shared laundry facilities, and a convenient trash chute. While there’s no dedicated parking, it’s an excellent fit for someone who’s comfortable with street parking or prefers public transit. The location is central—right across from Queen’s Hospital and close to downtown, schools, and the Capitol.

Disclaimer: I’m not the listing agent—just sharing this as a helpful overview for buyers and investors exploring options in the area.

The “A-PEELE-ING” Edge

The Anatomy of a Complex Real Estate Deal

In real estate, every deal has its unique challenges, but some seem to have more challenges than others. This recent sale was one of those. It had all the elements of a complex transaction—international sellers, a tricky market, and a cloud on the title—all with a tight timeline.

But instead of letting these hurdles derail the deal, we navigated each one strategically to ensure a successful closing. Here's a look at how we did it. Let’s Break It DOWN! 

$300 Later, We Played Games We Already Own

A month ago was my birthday—which, in my house, basically means I get one magical day where my teenage son pretends to enjoy family activities without rolling his eyes into another dimension. So naturally, I milk it for all it’s worth.

Every year, I plan something “fun” (translation: borderline cheesy) that my kids will tolerate because it’s my birthday! 😜 This year’s adventure? The Great Big Game Show at Ala Moana. If you haven’t seen it, it’s tucked downstairs near Target, right next to the Escape Room. Savings tip: Check out Groupon for discounts.

The experience itself was fun—I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10. We split into two teams and played a series of challenges in a game show-style setting. There was a host, and we competed in trivia (twice!), built towers with blocks, played blindfolded Pictionary, spun a wheel, and even had a Nerf gun dart challenge. I do wish they had a digital audience backdrop with clapping and cheering—it would’ve added to the vibe. Because truthfully, these are games we could’ve played at home. But the ambiance and energy made it feel like something more.

But here’s the kicker: my team won, and my teenage son actually participated without acting like he was being held hostage.🙄 So yeah, I’ll call that a win.

Sometimes, the real win isn’t the game—it’s the moment you get your family together, laughing and playing like kids again. And for me, that’s the best birthday gift of all.

Stay Inspired,

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post or paid promotion. I’m not affiliated with or endorsed by The Great Fame Show, Groupon, or any related business. Just sharing my personal experience for fun—and maybe to help someone else plan their own quirky family adventure. 🎉🙃

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