Should You Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi Now? What Every Buyer Needs to Know
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Release Date: 08/05/2026
Can Locals Still Afford to Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi?
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Jewel Henderson-DeGerald and Michel Arakaki of Real Broker / Team MJ for a conversation about helping local Hawaiʻi families believe homeownership is possible. Jewel and Michel share how their backgrounds in education, counseling, and relationship-building shaped the way they serve clients today. Rather than simply helping someone buy or sell a property, they focus on education, communication, and creating what they call the “MJ Experience” personalizing the homebuying journey, celebrating milestones,...
info_outline
Buying a Home? Beware of These Real Estate Scams & Costly Mistakes
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Buying a Home? Beware of These Real Estate Scams & Costly Mistakes In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with longtime friend Maggie Marcelli, Assistant Vice President at Title Guaranty, for an important conversation about what Hawaiʻi homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals need to know before getting to the closing table. Maggie shares what Title Guaranty is seeing in today’s Hawaiʻi real estate market, including condo transactions falling out of escrow because of rising HOA fees, insurance costs, special assessments, and buyers...
info_outline
Should You Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi Now? What Every Buyer Needs to Know
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Should You Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi Now? What Every Buyer Needs to Know If you're wondering whether now is the right time to buy a home in Hawaiʻi, you're not alone. With mortgage rates hovering around 6%, changing market conditions, and constant headlines about the economy, many buyers are asking the same question: Should I wait—or is there an opportunity right now? In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales and the team break down what's really happening in today's Oʻahu housing market. They explain why Hawaiʻi isn't one market—it's a collection of...
info_outline
How One Single Mom Bought Her First Home in Hawaiʻi (And You Can Too)
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Can you really afford to buy a home in Hawaiʻi? For many first-time buyers, military families, and veterans, homeownership feels impossible. High home prices, rising HOA fees, insurance costs, and uncertainty about mortgage rates often keep people renting longer than they planned. In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Uliya Sparks to discuss what it really takes to become a homeowner in Hawaiʻi—and why waiting for the "perfect time" isn't always the best financial decision. Uliya shares her incredible journey from being born in Russia,...
info_outline
Buying a Home in Hawaii? Here's What Military Families Need to Know
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
What should military families know before buying a home in Hawaii? Is it better to buy or rent? How do you build wealth while stationed in one of the country's most expensive housing markets? In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Hawaii REALTOR®, photographer, and military spouse Lexi Brown to discuss the financial, emotional, and personal decisions that shape a successful move to Hawaii. Lexi shares why she specializes in serving military families, how she built a thriving real estate business through authentic social media, and the biggest...
info_outline
Kirsten Connell & Jasmine Bell: Your First Step To Homeownership | Pre-Approval Guide
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
What makes a great Realtor? According to Jasmine Bell and Kirsten Connell of Hawaiʻi Home Group, it's not about selling homes—it's about helping clients make confident, informed financial decisions. In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with two of Oʻahu's top real estate professionals to discuss what it means to put clients first. From military relocations and negotiating incredible deals to helping homeowners maximize equity through strategic renovations, this conversation is packed with practical advice for buyers, sellers, investors, and...
info_outline
How Jade Medeiros Balances Four Kids, Client Relationships, and Mortgage Life in Hawaiʻi
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Jade Medeiros, Client Relations Manager at The Broker, for a candid conversation about family, work, leadership, and what it takes to build a service-first mortgage business in Hawaiʻi. Jade shares what life looks like as a mother of four while balancing client relations, business development, events, CRM systems, and the day-to-day needs of a growing mortgage team. From football practices and family routines to helping run the Successful Homeowner series, holiday trolley events, webinars, and client...
info_outline
Men’s Mental Health Crisis: Suicide, Depression & Military Mental Health With Mike Melso & Dr. Jenny
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Men’s Mental Health Crisis: Suicide, Depression & Military Mental Health With Mike Melso & Dr. Jenny In this powerful Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, the host is joined by retired U.S. Marine Corps service member Mike Melso and active-duty clinical psychologist Dr. Jenny to unpack the silent mental health crisis affecting men across military and civilian life. The conversation explores sobering statistics—one in eight men suffer from depression and men are four times more likely to die by suicide—and goes deeper into the...
info_outline
From Growing Up in a Garage to Becoming a Homeowner at 24 with Izaiah Dillion
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
In this inspiring episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, host Larry Gonzales sits down with Izaiah Dillion, a 24-year-old active duty Air Force member, to discuss his journey from a challenging upbringing in Stockton, California, to becoming a homeowner in Hawaii. Izaiah shares how he leveraged his VA home loan benefit to purchase a condo with minimal out-of-pocket costs, gaining instant equity and aligning his mortgage with his BAH. Izaiah recounts growing up without his father, getting into legal trouble as a teenager, and how the Air Force offered him structure, discipline, and...
info_outline
Kanani Ching on AI Integration, Small Business Growth, and Running Toward Change
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Kanani Ching, a longtime real estate professional and business transformation consultant, to talk about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing change, and using artificial intelligence to help businesses work smarter without losing the human connection. Kanani shares how her journey from hospitality to real estate leadership eventually led her into the AI industry. She talks about discovering ChatGPT in 2022, recognizing its potential beyond simple writing tasks, and building a business focused on helping...
info_outlineShould You Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi Now? What Every Buyer Needs to Know
If you're wondering whether now is the right time to buy a home in Hawaiʻi, you're not alone. With mortgage rates hovering around 6%, changing market conditions, and constant headlines about the economy, many buyers are asking the same question: Should I wait—or is there an opportunity right now?
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales and the team break down what's really happening in today's Oʻahu housing market. They explain why Hawaiʻi isn't one market—it's a collection of micro-markets—and why understanding the difference between single-family homes, condos, and neighborhood trends can help buyers make smarter financial decisions.
Beyond market updates, the conversation focuses on the financial habits that create long-term wealth. From improving your credit score and reducing debt to avoiding expensive car payments that limit your buying power, the team shares practical strategies to help first-time buyers, military families, and veterans prepare for homeownership.
Whether you're buying your first home, PCSing to Hawaiʻi, or simply trying to build wealth through real estate, this episode provides actionable insights you can use today.
Featured Guests
Larry Gonzales
Branch Leader | The Broker Mortgage Experts
Mike
Mortgage Professional
Dan
Mortgage Professional
Eli
Mortgage Professional
Episode Summary
Should you wait for lower mortgage rates—or take advantage of today's buyer opportunities?
Larry Gonzales and the team discuss why broad housing headlines rarely tell the full story of Hawaiʻi's real estate market. Instead of looking at Oʻahu as a single market, they explain how individual neighborhoods, price points, and property types create unique opportunities for buyers.
The team explores why many condos have shifted into a buyer's market, allowing purchasers to negotiate seller credits, temporary rate buydowns, and lower out-of-pocket closing costs. They also discuss why demand for single-family homes remains strong and how financing options, including VA loans and adjustable-rate mortgages, can help buyers achieve homeownership despite higher interest rates.
The conversation expands beyond real estate into personal finance. Larry emphasizes that financial success begins with everyday decisions—improving credit, reducing debt, avoiding excessive car payments, budgeting wisely, and investing consistently over time. The team also discusses Roth IRAs, 529 education savings plans, and other long-term wealth-building strategies that can benefit families for generations.
Throughout the episode, one message stands out:
Don't let national headlines make your housing decisions. Focus on your goals, your finances, and the opportunities available in your market.
Timestamp Highlights
00:00 From Bad Credit to Homeowner
00:57 Mid-Year Oʻahu Housing Market Update
01:23 Why Hawaiʻi Has Multiple Housing Markets
02:29 Mortgage Rates, Incentives & Financing Options
04:14 Smart Strategies for Military Homebuyers
06:39 H-1 University: Making the Most of Your Commute
08:02 Ewa Beach vs. Pearl City: Choosing the Right Community
14:57 Where Oʻahu Is Growing Next
18:26 Why Today's Market Creates Buyer Opportunities
20:50 Focus on Your House, Not the White House
23:34 Winning the War on Car Payments
26:49 What Loan Officers Really Look For
28:58 Why Time in the Market Matters
30:22 Building Wealth for the Next Generation
38:51 Final Advice for Future Homeowners
Key Takeaways
Hawaiʻi is made up of multiple housing markets, not one statewide market.
Condos currently offer buyers more negotiating power through seller credits and financing incentives.
VA loans remain one of the strongest tools for military families pursuing homeownership.
Improving your credit and reducing debt can significantly increase your buying power.
Large car payments can delay your ability to qualify for a mortgage.
Long-term investing through tools like Roth IRAs and education savings plans can build generational wealth.
Financial discipline matters more than trying to perfectly time the market.
Education and trusted advisors help buyers make confident financial decisions.
Homeownership remains one of the most effective ways to build long-term wealth.
Focus on your personal financial goals instead of reacting to national headlines.
Subscribe to In Search of Excellence: Island Style on YouTube and follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about real estate, financial literacy, military life, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building long-term wealth.
If this episode helped you better understand today's housing market, share it with a military family, first-time homebuyer, investor, or anyone considering buying a home in Hawaiʻi.