May 2025, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

Aloha Friends and Family,

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Wishing a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms.

What a month April turned out to be. A volatile start to the month was followed by improving conditions. Stock market fears eased as the S&P 500 posted its longest winning streak in two decades. A strong jobs report and renewed optimism about U.S.-China trade relations also helped lift investor confidence. While national pending home sales surged in March, April's uncertainty appears to have delayed decision-making among buyers on the Big Island.

The sky hasn’t fallen—but the Big Island market is shifting. In three recent multiple-offer situations since mid-April, at least one surprisingly low offer came in each time—even with all buyers knowing they had competition. It’s a reminder of how varied buyer perspectives can be right now. Maybe it’s the algorithm-fed content we’re all surrounded by. While not the only factor, it certainly reinforces existing beliefs, often at the expense of broader context.

Now more than ever, it’s important to stay open-minded, grounded, and aware—because when views narrow, opportunities often slip by unnoticed.

Our Big Island Market Update lands during the first week of each month, followed by a monthly newsletter to help you stay informed and ahead.

If you’re on the island, let us know—we’d love to catch up.

Mahalo,

Kona Market Update May 2025

Kona Single Family Home Market Insights – May 2025

After a volatile April marked by recession fears and geopolitical uncertainty, national economic sentiment began to improve with strong job numbers and stock market recovery. However, the effects of April’s turbulence rippled through the Kona market. While the median price for single family homes remained strong at $1.395M (up 3.3% YoY), pending sales dropped sharply (-25.7% YoY), suggesting buyer hesitancy. Inventory remains tight at 70% of pre-COVID levels, and the months supply held steady at 4.5 months. Notably, homes are selling faster, with median DOM falling to 18 days—evidence that well-priced listings are still in high demand.

Kona Condo Market Insights – May 2025

The condominium market saw a sharper slowdown in April’s wake. Median price declined slightly to $679,900, down 0.4% YoY, and pending sales dropped 10.4% YoY. Inventory surged to near pre-COVID levels, pushing months supply to 7.2 months (+89.5% YoY)—the highest in recent memory. Condos are taking much longer to sell, with DOM increasing to 53 days (+278.6% YoY). Kailua Kona's condo segment is showing signs of buyer caution and market recalibration.

For a deeper dive into the numbers and insights, continue reading on our blog.

Don’t Let a Platform Set Your Strategy: Understanding NAR, Zillow, and the Real Power Behind the Sale

In April, the National Association of REALTORS® quietly updated its Clear Cooperation Policy—introducing more flexibility around Office Exclusives and Delayed Market listings. These changes now empower sellers with greater privacy and strategic control, aligning with Compass’s long-standing approach. While some brokerages publicly dismissed pre-marketing tactics, many are now quietly following suit.

Meanwhile, Zillow responded with aggressive policy threats, attempting to control how listings are shared— they simply do not have a fiduciary duty to clients. As platforms push for content dominance, Compass remains focused on what truly matters: serving sellers with integrity, strategy, and results.

Zillow is a platform. Compass is a brokerage.

We Put You First—Always.

KE TEAM

2025 Travel and Network

Summer’s around the corner—and so is travel season.

This month, I’ll be heading to D.C. and Palm Beach for a REALM GLOBAL COLLECTIVE with 200 of the top agents from across the globe. The venue? The iconic Breakers Hotel, one of the top-ranked hotels in the country. These gatherings offer insights and connections that simply can’t be found anywhere else. Next stop: the Compass Retreat in Denver in June—our largest annual networking and education event. Our ties to REALM, Compass Resorts, and the Japanese Agents Network keep us connected to sharp minds and global opportunities.

Emil and I will be sharing updates on Instagram, our blog, and right here—because learning and connecting help us serve you better.

The newest listings in Kona from the past two weeks!

2025 Big Island Resort Condo Market Update

As of May 1, 2025, the Big Island's resort condo markets are showing signs of transition. Inventory is rising fast, but sales activity is diverging depending on the location.

Waikoloa Resort Condos

A classic case of oversupply. Prices are still up (for now), but falling pendings suggest softening ahead.

Mauna Lani Resort Condos

The only resort area with rising pendings—buyers are active, but clearly price-conscious.

Mauna Kea Resort Condos

A boutique market. A few high-end closings skew the data. Luxury buyers still play here, but in lower volume.

The newest listings in Resorts on Big Island from the past two weeks!

Median Prices by Island

Homes | Condo

Oahu : $1,149,865 | $510,000

Maui: $1,315,000 | $757,500

Kauai: $1,150,000 | $950,000

Hawaii(Kona):$1,395,000| $679,500

source: Title Guaranty Escrow

Extreme volatility and uncertainty defined the past month, causing sharp market swings.

March closed-sales data reflects deals made in February and early March, before April’s economic turbulence. April data will better reveal market impacts.

Compared to last year, March median sales prices rose 2.9% for houses and 1.5% for condos/co-ops. Homes received an average of 2.4 offers (down from 3.1); 57% sold within a month (down from 60%); and 21% sold over asking (down from 29%). Price reductions surged 37% year over year.

Featured Listings

Newly in Escrow by KE Team

North Kona

77-6516 Alii Drive, Unit 1

3 BD 3 BA 1,950 SF $2,300,000

Kalani Sunset

77-298 Wikolia Street

4 BD 3 BA 2816 SF $1,450,000

Daisuke 'Kai' Ioh

RB-19352

M: 808.936.6148

Emil Knysh

RS-75490

M: 808.747.0503

contact us at: KEteam@compass.com

check out our latest blog at: KEteamHawaii.com