How Long Does it Take to Buy a Home in Hawaii?

Are you wondering how long it might take you to find a home in Hawaii? If you’ve been hearing horror stories about this competitive market, you may be discouraged, understandably so. Buying in today’s market is not easy. Just ask the Sciarrilli family.

Searching for a Home in Hawaii

I first met Nick and Kenia Sciarrilli in September of 2020. Actually, we didn’t meet in person. Nick reached out to me after watching the Hawaii Life TV show. He’s an employee with Amazon and he and his family of five were looking to relocate to Hawaii. And, so the search began.

Fast forward over a year later, and the Sciarrillis are finally closing on their first Hawaii home. Suffice it to say that it has been a journey. A long one. We made offers on several properties, only to be beat out by other buyers in this overly competitive market. Nick and his wife, Kenia, ultimately decided to rent for a while. It was important to get their sweet family settled and acclimated to their new surroundings. Totally understandable. It was a wise decision as it gave them a chance to get to know Hawaii a little better. And, a chance to breathe. Of course, we kept our eyes on the market and continued to look at property, but with a little less pressure and with a lot more selectivity.

Fortitude and Perserverance

Buying in today’s market requires fortitude and perseverance. Nick and Kenia possessed both. They also possessed a healthy dose of optimism. They are delightful clients and now friends. I love happy endings and this surely is one.  After a year long search, Nick and his family are soon to be happy homeowners. They’ve learned a lot about the islands since their initial move. They are a great fit for Hawaii and Hawaii is lucky to have them.

So, here’s the moral of the story: Don’t give up. Yes, finding your perfect home may take some time, but keep on keeping on. Eventually, you will find a home. In Nick and Kenia’s case, they not only missed out on several properties before finding the right home, they even missed out on securing their new home on the first go around. There were multiple offers (aren’t there always?) and their offer was not initially selected. However, they were willing to be in a back-up position. One of the best calls I’ve made this year was to tell them that the first offer cancelled. I’m not sure who was more excited, me or them? Suffice it to say that it was great news to deliver and to receive.

A Journey Worth Taking

Nick, Kenia, and their three beautiful children will be moving into their new home shortly. It’s a three bedroom, two and a half-bath home with a pool. It’s truly a lovely home with tasteful upgrades and an open, spacious floor plan, and it’s in a great neighborhood!

The year long journey was not without angst and disappointment, but it was a journey worth taking. The Sciarrillis have a new home and we have a new family to welcome to our community. Congratulations Nick and Kenia. It has been a pleasure to serve you!