Research companion · Updated
Geography: Kailua-Kona city series, not a district, resort or neighborhood
Evidence period: Matched July observations, 2021-2026
Kailua-Kona’s Zillow median sale price moved from $1.195 million in July 2024 to $735,000 in July 2025 and $994,500 in July 2026. Those large changes are real measurements of each month’s middle sale, but they do not prove that the same home gained or lost that amount.
The set of closings changes
A monthly median depends on which properties closed. A period with more expensive detached homes can look very different from one with more condominium or lower-priced closings. Without the transaction-level sample, the mix effect cannot be separated from value change.
Use the right comparison for the decision
A buyer or seller should compare the subject property with recent matched sales and current competition. Citywide median history supplies context, not a valuation.
- Match property type and ownership interest.
- Narrow the geography before comparing price.
- Separate asking price, closed-sale price and modeled value.
Keep the claim narrow
The evidence supports a volatile citywide monthly median series. It does not support a causal explanation, a neighborhood trend or an individual appreciation rate.
Sources and data
- Zillow Housing Data Public city-series download and provider definitions; retrieved September 29, 2026.
Kai Ioh · Hawaii Real Estate License RB-19352 · Compass · 75-1029 Henry Street, Suite 301, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 · (808) 936-6148 · kai.ioh@compass.com