Leane Darling Horton

Congratulations Jake and Amanda!! After a few extensions, changes in living situations, a global pandemic and a few speed bumps, we made it to closing. This was a total team effort. First, a massive thank you to my clients for their hard work in reviewing documents, and submitting things to escrow and the lender time and time again. Thank you to the seller of this home for your incredible patience and to Vesta Hawaii and Tori for your cooperation and thorough communication ...and fair negotiation with us. Huge shout out to Hawaii Mortgage Experts and Jordan Stallard for securing a great loan for our clients. He woke up once at 5:00am to lock in a great rate when that time came. He was a clear communicator and got the job done. Thanks to everyone for making this happen. I hope that your new beach cottage is the one of your dreams, Amanda! And I hope the Seller finds success and happiness in their next steps as well. #realestate #totalteameffort #realtorhawaii #closing #hawaiirealestate See more

Oahu's Lush East Side has been calling to me recently. Many people label Oahu as an island of traffic, fast pace, hustle and bustle. There is that....and so much more. Have a look at my three favorite activities/spots to cruise on the Windward Side. . . Mahalo Doug Falter photographer for the beautiful opening image. ... . . #oahu #hawaiirealestate #hawaiilife #eastside #oceanfronthome #beachfronthome #oahurealestate #getoutside #adventrue #hike #beach #waterfall #foil https://about.hawaiilife.com//outdoor-activities-on-oahus/

New Ocean Front Listing on Oahu's East Side in Punalu'u. One of the most affordable pieces of oceanfront property in Hawaii, bring your contractor and make your dreams come true. https://propertysearch.hicentral.com/HBR/ForSale/?/202014642

Congratulations to my buyer client! SOLD Beautiful home on the North Shore of Oahu. $1,073,000 5 bedrooms... 2 bathrooms Lovely outdoor living space Enclosed garage Ocean views Roll down the hill to surf. . . . #dreamcometrue #homesweethome Imy #hawaiilife #realtor #oahu #northshore #realestate #hawaiirealestate See more

Most people I have spoken to are surprised at the rate that the Residentail Real Estate Market has increased. No one could have foreseen this coming, and most people are wondering how long it will last. Conversely, others are thinking that this is the new normal...and go ahead and buy now, because demand for Hawaii Homes will not likely decrease with so many remote workers. I don’t know what to tell you about the future....but here’s what’s happening right now (courtesy of th...e Honolulu Board of Realtors): O‘ahu Single-Family Home Market Drives Activity Breaking Two Records Single-family home market marks new record and steady recovery, while condos continue to trail 2019 activity O‘ahu’s single-family home market continues to make a steady recovery, the summer season ended on a high note with closed sales of single-family homes surpassing year-over-year activity by 12.7%, while condo sales marked a steady month-over-month improvement of 11.5%. Dynamic activity in O‘ahu’s single-family home market drove the median sales price to a record of $880,000 and properties are spending a record-low of just nine days on the market. The spike in demand for single-family homes may correlate to buyers’ pursuing a different quality of life and a new environment following the sharp shift in people working from home, said Tricia Nekota, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS. Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how buyers think about purchasing a home, causing them to reevaluate their housing goals and priorities.

O‘ahu Real Estate Market Continues a Record-Setting Year Single-family homes reach a new median sales price high of $917,500 while condo market activity heats up. The O‘ahu housing market continued to see strong sales throughout February, with single-family home sales increasing 5.3% and condominium sales soaring 41.1% over last year. Most notably, the single-family home market set a record median sales price of $917,500, a nearly 20% year-over-year increase and a 3.9% jump ...above last month’s record of $883,000. Fierce competition between buyers continues, with 48.5% of single-family homes and 29.1% of condo sales sold above asking price last month. The record-setting pace of sales continued in February, as single-family homes spent only nine days on the market. Demand for limited inventory and increased purchasing power through low-interest rates has placed sustained upward pressure on prices, said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS. While the record-setting median price and pace are good news for sellers, it creates a challenging environment for buyers who are up against the tough competition.

The housing shortage is tangible. If you are a buyer, you are definitely feeling the struggle to find a home...maybe you're on your fourth purchase contract. If you're a seller, you're working hard to figure out who is the safest buyer during these changing times....who will actually receive their loan? Will your house appraise for what the buyers want to buy it for? How can you ensure that you get the most for your property...and not have to cancel escrow three times to get... that? Call me, and I'll tell ya..... ;) Info below from the Honolulu Board of Realtors: "O‘ahu’s Housing Market Holds Strong Despite Limited Inventory Overbidding and low inventory drive ultra-competitive market amid ongoing pandemic Closed sales of single-family homes on O‘ahu increased 5.6% and remained relatively steady from last month, while condo sales decreased 6.2% compared to this same period the previous year. Year-to-date, single-family home sales are almost back on track with 2019 activity and were down just 0.7%. Meanwhile, the condo market is struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels and remained down by a double-digit percentage of 15.8%. The number of single-family homes and condos sold above the original asking price skyrocketed 210.2% and 79.2%, respectively, compared to this time last year. Sales in both markets continue to move quickly, with single-family homes and condos spending a median of 10 and 16 days on the market, respectively. This seemingly new normal of buyers entering bids tens of thousands of dollars over asking price clearly reflects the urgent need for more housing, said Tricia Nekota, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS. Despite limited inventory, the high demand for housing is keeping O‘ahu’s real estate market strong and steady throughout the public health crisis."

Congratulations, Shirley!! Your diligence has paid off. Thank you for trusting Kumu and I to advocate for you during this process. Finding your new home and getting you in at 77% of the original asking price is a great success! We have truly enjoyed getting to know you and helping you find your dream Hawaii home. We wish you all the best! Many many thanks to the amazing Title Guaranty Team for handling our escrow, being prompt, communicative and so very helpful! Also ma...ny thanks to the cooperating brokers at Sachi Hawaii Pacific for your willingness to negotiate and communicate. Our clients come first, and when everyone is happy at the end of a transaction you can’t ask for more than that. . . . . . . #realtor #hawaiirealestate #hawaiilife #waikiki #oahurealestate See more

Check out "Zen with a View". I wouldn't mind working from home here. https://about.hawaiilife.com/blog/zen-with-a-view/

IN ESCROW 7 days 17 offers I’m happy to have worked with my clients and my team at Hawaii Life to get this one into escrow. Strategy is incredibly important right now in a fast paced market. #oahurealestate #hawaiirealestateagent #ewabeach #oceanpointe #hawaiilife #hawaiirealestate

Ever wonder when you should get a loan? And how the process works? Take a look at this helpful illustration created by Nicky Cruz of Element Mortgage. #loan #hawaiirealestate #lender #elementmortgage #oahurealestate #northshore

Great Read: Have a look....some great info about home ownership and current trends. https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/residential-real-estate-la/

Info courtesy of the Honolulu Board of Realtors: O‘ahu’s Housing Market Rebounds with Year-End Spike in Activity Record-low mortgage rates and low inventory drive heightened competition and modest increase in median sales prices for O‘ahu’s real estate market in 2020... Closed sales of single-family homes on O‘ahu were up 35.9%, and condo sales rose by 20.1% compared to the same period in 2019. New listings increased by 15.3% and 3.6% year-over-year for single-family homes and condos, respectively. Median sales prices for December 2020 were up 6.1% at $870,000 for single-family homes and 6.9% to $455,000 for condos. Instead of the typical seasonal lull, the O‘ahu real estate market saw steady and even slight increases in activity through the year’s end despite the ongoing effects of the pandemic, said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS. Record-low mortgage rates paired with cautious optimism around reopening continued to drive activity, allowing the market to surpass sales and near new listing levels compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. Total annual single-family home sales were up 2.3% over 2019, but condo sales remained down, declining 13.0%. Increased purchasing power from lower mortgage rates and heightened competition spurred by low inventory resulted in annual median sales price increases of 5.2% to $830,000 for single-family homes and 2.4% to $435,000 for condos. Total new listings were down by 17.7% for single-family homes and 14.4% for condos compared to 2019.