“Aloha everyone! This is Rose with another segment of Real Estate Moments with Rose,” is how Hawai’i Life Realtor Broker Rose Medina Kemna greets anyone who finds the posts in her popular, informative series while scrolling through social media. In these segments, Rose discusses Oahu’s current market conditions, what that means for buyers and sellers, and often shares staging tips and her favorite moments in her own Hawai’i life.
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Rose has garnered area-specific knowledge over the past decade in real estate. And the expertise she offers her social media followers and Oahu clients is further enhanced by the market insight she has gained during this time.
“The real estate market always has cycles. With inflation and interest rates climbing, we’re on the down, but inventory is still limited. There will always be buyers interested in your home. Renovated and well-maintained homes that are move-in ready will be more likely to sell. And homes in high demand neighborhoods will always sell, even if it’s a slower market,” Rose says, citing Enchanted Lakes, Kailua, and Hawai’i Kai as a couple examples. These also happen to be a few of the areas that Rose specializes in.
“I focus on ‘Aina Haina and Kahala and all the way over to the Kaka’ako neighborhood too, but I don’t limit myself to those areas,” says Rose, who also enjoys working up north at the Turtle Bay condos and as far west as Makakilo, which is preferred by military clients.
As a resident of Hawai’i Kai, Rose is especially well-versed in this residential area’s real estate and her sales there were even the subject of two episodes of HGTV’s show Hawai’i Life. In Seasons 13 and 14, Rose was featured helping one buyer purchase a beautiful home in Haha’ione Valley that sold for $1.475 million and another buyer purchase a waterfront townhome that sold for $775,000.
“Two years later, the same clients contacted me about listing that townhome. After only being on the market for 9 days, I helped them get it sold for $957,000 in 2021!”
It’s one of the many homes that Rose sold in the buying frenzy spurred on by the pandemic. And although the Oahu market is slowing down slightly, single-family homes sold in May 2022 for a median price of $1,153,500, a 17.9% increase from May 2021, which is typical of a seller’s market that is still in play.
The Art of Navigating Transitions
Born and raised in Hawai’i, these islands are home to Rose. After graduating from Farrington High School and getting her degree from the University of Hawai’i, she began her career in sales and marketing. Rose served her clients in Hawai’i for the next twenty years in sales, including ten in the hospitality industry, before stepping into the role of Realtor for ten years.
“I worked in Oahu’s premier hotels, eventually giving luxury hotel site tours at the Kahala Hotel. After being asked several times if I’d ever tried real estate, I knew it was time for a change. So I took a real estate class,” says Rose of her decision to step into the role of Realtor 10 years ago and earn her Broker’s license in 2017.
She quickly realized that her background in hospitality had thoroughly prepared her for this new role. “Both hospitality and real estate come down to serving people. That’s why my heart is in it!”
Rose’s background also includes market training that has earned her professional designations including Certified Residential Specialist, Seller’s Representative Specialist, Military Relocation Professional, and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
Today, Rose combines her ongoing education with her extensive market experience to deliver proven results. And her practice includes providing service in both real estate sales and property management for residential and commercial segments. As a Realtor, she is committed to helping people navigate the transitions in their lives during the process of buying and selling their Hawai’i home.
“If a client is selling a home they lived in for years, they have a lot of memories there. It can be emotional, so you have to understand the psychology of it and be the friend they need,” Rose explains. “It’s about the long game, so the trust factor and expertise have to be there.”
First-Class Service, From the Heart
“It immediately felt like me,” says Rose of her first impression of Hawai’i Life. “Everyone has a strong respect for the people and values of Hawai’i. Everyone works so hard, but no one makes a big deal out of business production because we prefer to make the focus on service to our clients above all else!”
While Rose appreciates the resources that Hawai’i Life delivers as both a Forbes Global Properties partner and Luxury Portfolio International partner, it’s the Hawai’i Life philosophy that truly resonates with her.
“It’s about offering aloha and caring for people. It’s about offering a wonderful client experience and minimizing their stress,” says Rose of a shared commitment to bringing professional and attentive service to each client, whether they are an investor, luxury property seller, military professional, first time home buyer, or someone moving back home to Hawai’i.
As a Hawai’i Life Realtor, there are few things more rewarding to Rose than knowing that she helped someone find their perfect home, regardless of the price point: “It doesn’t matter if it’s a $50,000 or $3M listing, my clients get the same luxury service and first-class experience, no matter what.”
When asked about the best part of her job, Rose answers without hesitation: “I’m honored and humbled to be considered a friend by my clients. I’m here for them, even after the sale, because that’s how you treat family. You find them the best and give them your best, like they’re part of your own ohana.”
From her early days serving in the hospitality industry to helping others reach their real estate goals today, nothing brings Rose more joy than sharing her Hawai’i life and love for this special place with people from all walks of life. In fact, it’s the people of Hawai’i that she loves most about living here.
“Everyone tries to help each other out,” acknowledges Rose. “Even Oahu still has that small town feel. It’s the feeling of community. The spirit of aloha is real here!”
A Higher Purpose
When Rose is not helping her real estate clients, one of her favorite things to do is pick plumeria on morning walks with her dog, Prince Kona, and make lei. Prince Kona can also be found sitting by Rose when she works from home.
Rose also enjoys spending time at her favorite Oahu beach, Secret Beach at Kualoa Beach Park, or at Waimanalo Beach, which is full of precious family memories for her.
“I also love Maunalua Bay for chilling out and clearing my head,” Rose adds. “And seeing Koko Head when the sun is rising is really special!”
“What truly inspires me is seeing people who help others, no matter what the industry. It transcends real estate and is deeply rooted in our welcoming culture here in Hawai’i,” Rose shares. “Those that serve people and do it from the heart are the ones that inspire me to keep serving others, because that’s my passion and higher purpose!”
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