KE Team Hawaii Real Estate Blog: Kailua-Kona Market Trends & Insights
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47 posts in News and Updates
How Hawai‘i County Assesses Real Property Taxes
By Kai Ioh and KE Team Hawaii. Kai Ioh is a luxury real estate advisor based in Kona, Hawai‘i, specializing in resort and ultra-high-net-worth markets across the Big Island. Key Takeaways Hawai‘i County uses a mass appraisal system, not individual appraisals, to assess over 141,000 parcels each year. Assessed values reflect market conditions as of January […]
New Big Island STVR Law (Bill 47): What Homeowners Need to Know
Kai and Emil | Updated Dec 21, 2025 Hawaii County has taken a decisive step in reshaping the rules for short-term vacation rentals (STVRs). With Bill 47 signed into law on June 23, 2025, homeowners across the Big Island need to prepare for a major shift that takes effect December 20, 2025. This law governs […]
What a 50-Year Mortgage Could Mean for Hawai‘i Buyers & Investors
50-Year Mortgages: What Hawai‘i Buyers & Investors Need to Know Emil Knysh | Dec 2025 A practical and balanced breakdown for first-time buyers, second-home owners, and investors. As affordability continues to challenge homebuyers nationwide – and especially in Hawai‘i – the idea of a 50-year mortgage has re-emerged in policy discussions and media outlets. Supporters […]
When Kona Becomes the Center of the (Ironman) Universe
It’s that time of year again, when the normally laid-back town of Kailua-Kona transforms into a global stage of grit, glory, and Spandex/Lycra. While I’ve been preoccupied riding the emotional rollercoaster of the Dodgers’ postseason (can we just beat the Phillies already?), here in Kona, something just as adrenaline-pumping is happening: the Ironman World Championship. […]
Compass Is About to Become the World’s Largest Brokerage
Kai and Emil | September 2025 Big things are on the horizon, and if you’re a client, friend, or follower of Compass, you’ll want to pay attention. Compass recently announced its plan to acquire Anywhere Real Estate in an all-stock deal. There are lots of articles about this so we will only give you direct […]
Hawaii Insurance Crisis: September 2025 Update
By Kai Ioh | September 2025 September Update: Programs Making a Difference On September 9, Sue Savio, one of Hawaii’s most respected insurance experts, shared something we haven’t heard often during this crisis: real optimism. According to Sue, the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund (HHRF) may be the rare law that worked from day one. For […]
Hawaii Condo Insurance Crisis
By Kai Ioh | July 2025 Not Our First Rodeo: An Ongoing Crisis If you’ve followed my updates—starting in August 2024 and again in early 2025—you know Hawaii’s condo insurance crisis didn’t arrive overnight. Since last summer, we’ve watched insurance companies pull out, premiums double or triple, and AOAO fees and special assessments soar—just to […]
Could Compass’ Antitrust Lawsuit Shatter Zillow’s Empire?
Why do we Stand With Compass? What the Zillow Lawsuit Means for You as a Seller. On June 30th Zillow started the so called ZILLOW BAN. Zillow will bar noncompliant listings from appearing on Zillow.com and Zillow Group-owned Trulia.com. Redfin also followed. As a luxury real estate advisors here in Hawaii, one of the most […]
Why the Big Island’s Beaches are the Best in America
Every year, beach lovers across the U.S. tune in to see who tops the list. Since 1991, Dr. Beach – a.k.a. Dr. Stephen Leatherman -has ranked the top 10 beaches in the country based on water quality, sand softness, safety, and environmental stewardship. His 2025 list just became public, and while Cooper’s Beach in Southampton, […]
Don’t Let a Platform Set Your Strategy
In April, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) quietly announced some meaningful changes to its Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP)—the kind that may not make headlines but absolutely shape how your home gets sold. Here’s what changed: Office Exclusives can now be shared one-on-one across brokerages. This major update allows for a more private, curated marketing […]
Alii Drive Pilot Program Begins
Aloha everyone, If you’ve driven Alii Drive recently, you may have noticed something new—yes, a portion of the road has officially shifted to one-way as part of the County’s new pilot program. I drove through today to see it firsthand. Over 40 new diagonal parking stalls have been added—and almost all were occupied. That shows […]