Smart and Stylish Buys in Kona Ocean View Homes

Most, if not all clients I work with want an incredible ocean view. Luckily, in Kona that is not too hard to find. Pretty much every home priced at a million or more has a panoramic ocean view. So, my next question is, “what style of home appeals to you?” Often the answer is “a newer resort-style home with a pool, a floor plan that allows for indoor-outdoor living, and high-end finishes.”

At this point, I usually suggest they take a look at Bayview Estates. Nestled on a slope just above palm lined and historic Keauhou Bay, and surrounded by the courses of Kona Country Club, this gated community is often just what they are looking for.

Bayview Estates is a newer community where most of the homes were built since 2000. The lots are 1/3 an acre or more, and most have unobstructed ocean views like the one pictured above. In 2009 there was a flurry of activity and 6 homes sold. Several were short sales. This past year only 2 sold at an average of $450 a sq. ft. and there are no short sales or REO’s. A sign that prices in the neighborhood have stabilized unlike the older luxury gated community next door, Keauhou Estates, which continues to see prices drop as REO’s and short sales dominate the market.

On a recent tour of all the available homes, two stood out. Both are new to the market, priced right, and stylish. That said, they couldn’t be more different. One is an angular Hawaiian Modern featuring the latest in green technology, while the other is more traditional and feminine, the kind of place Nora Ephron might use as the home of one of her heroines.

Hawaiian Modern with the Latest in Green Technology

Priced at $2.15 million (MLS# 239476), this striking contemporary home is a resort unto itself. With over 4,600 sq. ft. in living area, it is the largest Bayview Estates home on the market by far. On a cost per square foot basis this is one of the best values at $503 a sq. ft. The house sits high on the lot and is at the end of the street with panoramic coastline views.

There is a huge list of “green building” details such as solar heated pool and top-of-the-line insulation as well as energy efficient luxury appliances. Stylistically, the house is a nice mix of rustic materials such as slate along with disappearing walls that open the home to the pool and the view.

Neo Traditional Retreat Right out of a Romantic Comedy

Priced at $1.25 million (MLS# 240318), this home feels like a movie set. The home has the great panoramic views that the neighborhood is known for, but tucks the pool in an interior courtyard for privacy. If you notice in the photo above, the lounge chairs sit on white sand. Great touch. This house is filled with these wonderful and artful details. Unlike so many resort homes, the rooms have a cozy yet elegant feel. You can imagine curling up with a book, or chatting with a friend.

The kitchen is gorgeous, a nice break from the usual granite slab and stainless that you see in most newer homes. And at $436 a sq. ft. this home is the best buy in Bayview. If you are looking for a sophisticated and stylish retreat, this might be the place.