Haiku vs. Kula End of 2014 Market Update – The Tale of 2 Maui Towns

Reviewing numbers and statistics can put me to sleep, but they tend to be a very necessary part of the real estate business. Reading other “expert’s” interpretations of the market makes me suspicious of the goal of the writer. Realtors tend to try to toss an optimistic view of the market out most of the time in order to try to garner favor with sellers. The point of this blog is to show what has really been going on in the market area of Haiku and Paia for 2014. The results are dramatically different and these markets’ performance over 2014 is very different.

The front cover our recent printed market report that we just completed. Please reach out directly to us for your personal company.

2014 Market Summary

Kula’s market is healthy, substantially increasing in value and generally appreciating much faster than Haiku. Haiku’s market is appreciating slowly with a very stagnant market over the million dollar price point.

Haiku Market Stats

The graphs and market stats below are from a little earlier this year as we got caught up with real estate activity and family time later in the year. They are from our Haiku/Kula 2014 End of the Year Market Report. Please click the following link if you would like to view the high resolution PDF of this piece as it is easier to read: Haiku Kula Area Report Brochure.

Active listings         High        Low        Average        Median       Total Value    Days on Market
53                $7,500,000  $419,000   $1,534,145  $1,174,000    $81,309,699        147

Pending
14                    $1,875,000   $242,500  $807,755    $639,875       $11,305,749        107

Sold
66                     $2,230,000   $160,000  $704,364   $652,500       $46,488,089         169

Kula Market Stats

Active listings
56                    $8,900,000   $405,000   $1,819,234  $1,262,500  $101,877,140      179

Pending
4                    $1,695,000     $935,000   $1,163,500   $1,017,000  $4,654,000          103

Sold
48                    $2,266,000    $250,000    $981,015     $880,000    $47,088,725         178

Illustrating Graphs

What is the most startling difference is the market activity over the $1,000,000 price point. Kula has closed 18 properties over $1,000,000 this year-to-date. Haiku has closed 7. Kula presently has 36 active properties over $1,000,000 on the market, or 21 months supply at a market absorption rate of 1.7 homes per month in this price range. Haiku has 29 active properties over $1,000,000, or 43 months supply at a market absorption rate of .67 homes per month.

From the Realtors Association of Maui, year-to-date, Haiku’s average price is up 4% from 2013 and the median is up 10%. Kula’s average price is up 18% and the median is up 36% from 2013.

Given a choice, it appears that buyers looking in the $1,000,000 price bracket and above have gravitated towards the Kula market.

In conclusion, if you are a buyer looking for a great buy over $1,000,000, look in Haiku. There are a lot of great choices available. If you are a seller in Haiku over $1,000,000, expect to wait. Unless you really have property in top-notch condition, priced aggressively, and you are really ready to sell right now, you should not have your property on the market. Only 2 homes have sold since May 2014 over $1,000,000 and there is presently only one in escrow in this price range.

If you are a Kula buyer, be prepared to pay retail. With prices climbing and no new inventory being constructed, you are limited to purchasing an existing home. If you are a Kula seller at any part of the market, now is the time to consider putting your house on the market. The same rules apply though; your house should be in top-notch condition, and if you want to sell quickly, price it at the market value, not ahead of the market.

Just Listed in Haiku

We want to share our newest listing in Haiku, which is 4325 Opana Place. This 3 bed/2 bath on well landscaped acres has some ocean views, is well kept, and includes a great fruit orchard with incredibly tasty citrus trees.

4325 Opana Place (MLS# 363326) proudly offered by The Stice Team for $875,000

15 ‘Ohanas in Haiku & Kula Assisted in 2014 w/Almost $13 Million in Total Sales Volume

2 Sold Success Stories From Earlier this Year

Happy New Year 2015 From the Stice Team!

Christmas came a little early for me this year with my new Massey Ferguson tractor that I just got. I love to farm and to play in the dirt, so please be sure to reach out to me if you are looking to buy or sell these types of properties.

My son Jeremy on the other hand lives in Ka’anapali and focuses on selling resort-type properties and thus his choice of equipment, which he received just before Christmas like me, is more in line with that as you can see below.

Aloha from the Stice Team,