April 24, 2020

The jacaranda are in bloom upcountry! I was lucky to take this shot on my way home from a hike at the Makawao Forest Reserve last weekend.

I hope you and your family are staying well during these unprecedented times.

It’s been an interesting experience for me. I am fortunate to be able to work from home all the time, but I have always enjoyed being able to go out to meet with my friends, clients, and colleagues face to face. Those meetings have been replaced with video conferencing, phone calls, texts, and emails. While technology allows me to stay in touch, I miss seeing you in person!

The shutdowns have impacted all of us in different ways, but there is no doubt that they have affected each and every one of us in some way. It’s really important that we keep strong both physically and mentally. My daily routine ends with a walk around my neighborhood. I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places on the island, Upcountry Maui. The rural character of my neighborhood allows me to walk along the winding, sloping roads while rarely encountering another person or vehicle. I am instead greeted by multiple varieties of greenery and fragrant flowers, Muscovy ducks, sheep, goats, cattle, feral cats, chickens, and an occasional barking dog that still barks at me after seeing me every day for years on end (good watchdogs!). Even more spectacular are the many species of birds that sing their elaborate songs and make their last calls before the sun goes down. I wonder what they are trying to say to each other. If I time it right, the final turn of my walk will crest upon an open vista where I can enjoy the sun setting over the West Maui Mountains. Then, I head back up the hill home to enjoy the afterglow of the sunset that is often even better than the sunset itself.

Make sure that you have something in your daily life that allows you to recharge.

I don’t want to focus this reflection on real estate, but I am asked regularly – Is anything happening in real estate right now? The answer is “yes”. Certain real estate services have been deemed essential, and I am still able to work. Changes in life, both joyous and sad, are what drive many real estate sales. Babies are born and people die. People get married and divorced. Kids leave home for college and sometimes they return with families of their own. Financial positions change both positively and negatively. While circumstances surrounding those changes may sway due to market conditions, they do not disappear in a time like we are encountering now.  Housing is a basic human necessity, and a good home provides a place of comfort and security. A link to the First Quarter 2020 stats can be found here. I am available to discuss any specific questions or concerns you may have.

I would love to hear from you! Please drop me a line and let me know how you and your family are doing. If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask.

Take care of yourself, stay healthy, and stay strong!