#listing agent kona

[alohakonarealtyinc]

At Aloha Kona Realty, Inc., we pride ourselves on being exceptional realtors in Kona. Our commitment to our clients is evident in every interaction. We take the time to understand your needs and goals, whether you are buying or selling. Our realtors leverage extensive market knowledge, negotiation skills, and a network of local resources to deliver outstanding results.

Aloha Kona Realty, Inc. 75–5852 Alii Dr. V-14, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 (808) 989–5077

Official Website: https://www.alohakonarealty.com/ Google Plus Listing: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=11874530065762777843

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[crinkledmap]

The TSA kicked me out of the Kona airport

I've got to record this before I forget all the details. I want to send this incident to my senators and house rep, and we're thinking of retaining a travel lawyers, but I also want to stop thinking about it because it really sucked.

Background: I get the dreaded SSSS 98% of the times that I fly. I've tried the redress route on the DHS website and never heard back. We have no earthly idea what frigging list I'm on or how I got on it. I'm a middle-aged data analyst and mother of 2, from Oregon. In the beginning I was fairly good natured about it. It helped that for a long time the TSA at PDX, where I normally fly out of, were really cool people. But after years of harassment, I'm not really good natured anymore. I don't cause a scene or holler or call names, it's just clear that I'm NOT amused.

Kona Int'l Airport, Big Island, HI

I'm headed through security with my husband, 2 teenage kids (18 & 17) and another couple who are dear friends that traveled with us. I had a camera bag, purse, and shopping bag that went on the conveyor and I went through the body scanner (which I despise for already making me feel like a criminal).

Unsurprisingly, the scanner went off and I got pulled aside. When I fly I always wear really basic clothing, no belts or wire bras, and slip-on shoes, but it doesn't seem to matter. I asked if she (the agent) could tell me why I set off the scanner.

The agent replied, "no, because I don't know. Why don't you just let me do my job."

When they explain what the pat-down entails, they always ask if that's ok. (No?) I always ask if I have a choice. They always say that they can call their manger over. So I declined told her just to get it over with. Afterword, in a slightly snarky way, I asked if she found anything. She stopped and stared at me and made some sort of vague threat that I don't recall, but included the standard Hawaii TSA line of, "the only way off this island is to fly, so..."

After that was done I gathered my things off of the conveyor belt and met the rest of my party on a bench. When I was putting on my shoes, I realized that I was missing the shopping bag. Thinking I'd overlooked it and left it on the conveyor belt, I ran up to the first TSA agent I saw and, clearly agitated because the bag had over $1000 worth of jewelry, explained that I was missing a bag. The agent asked me to describe it then said not to worry because they have it. I replied, "ok, that's great, can I get it back." The TSA agent said something along the lines of me needing to calm down because they have my bag. Again, I ask for it back. Again the agent reassures me that they have it. I can't figure out why the hell I can't get my shopping bag back when he says that they found a "substance" on it and were testing it.

Why did they let me just walk away? Why didn't anyone tell me that they were holding the bag over for testing? I missed picking it up because it wasn't there.

Another agent asks me if I have any more products. I'm confused. I mean the bag is full of all the stuff we bought in the shopping district on the way to the airport. I reply, "Products? In what context?" They ask if I have any more powder. Powder? What are they talking about? Yet another agent accusingly holds up two bags of unopened Kona coffee, that I bought less than an hour before, in Kona. I'm like, "oh yeah, we bought coffee." This whole time it's pretty clear that I'm not ok with any of this. Again, I'm not yelling or cussing or anything, just really really irritated.

The agent says to come over to where they are behind plexiglass because they going to pat me down again.

I say absolutely not, because I've ALREADY been through a full body pat down. She says that I have not. I say that I have and it was that agent ,pointing to the agent who "just wants to do her job". She says that was only a targeted pat down, only in the area that set off the scanner. I say no, it was FULL BODY, thank you very much. Another agent briefly walks over to the agent who did my pat down, comes back, and says,

"I saw that pat down, I saw the whole thing. It didn't count because you were uncooperative."

I was NOT uncooperative. I put my hands and feet where she told me too. I was just pissed about it.

I told the agent that this was ridiculous.

Her and another agent say that that's it, I'm refusing to comply and that I can't fly.

They give me my carry-ons and escort me back out of the TSA area and say that I have to stay there and calm down and then they'll assess if I'm calm enough to be screened. I start texting my traveling companions.

It's pretty clear at this point that they haven't found anything that constitutes an actual threat, it's punitive.

Perhaps 20 minutes go by and a supervisor and one of the other original agents come over. He asks if I know what why I'm out here and if I know what the TSA is for. Reply that I do and I don't. He wants me elaborate on the "don't". I decline. Then he starts lecturing about what they trying to do, etc etc. I ask if I can ask a question. I figure that if I have some 1:1 time with a TSA agent, I'm going to use it to get some frigging answers.

This is really where things go completely off the rails. The highlights:

When I ask why this happens every time I fly, he says BOTH that they do a background check on passengers 72 and 48 hours before the flight, but also that "it's not like we know Nicole is coming. It's not like we make a plan to hassle Nicole because we know she's coming." (Emphasis his.) It really seemed like he was trying to make me sound like a crazy person.

He says that the TSA doesn't like doing pat downs. If he'd known he'd have to do pat downs when he applied for the job, he wouldn't have. (??? Has this brother never effing flown? He's now a supervisor. He could have quit? This makes NO sense to say).

He goes on about how the patch on his arm says that he would never lie. (Uh huh)

He says that he has a family and got into the TSA to make sure the skies were safe for his family and didn't I want safe flights for my family? I say, yes, of course. He snaps back, "no you don't!" (A really weird thing to argue about).

He goes off on how I should be telling HIM how to act, not the other way around. That my generation should be setting the example for his generation and admonishing THEM, not him out here admonishing ME. That I'M OLD ENOUGH TO BE HIS MOTHER. (Son of a bitch was 35 if he was a day, I'M 47!, JACKASS! No, I didn't say that. I was thinking it. Another weird thing to be lecturing me about.)

I asked him if the body scanners were set to indicate a false positive as a pretext for pulling aside SSSS passengers. He again says that "we don't rig up million dollar machines just to harass Nicole. And you pick which machine you go through." Which - doesn't answer my question.

He announces that I'm a conspiracy theorist, am wasting his time with all my questions, and that I'm not safe to fly. He's not going to let me on my flight with my family, but I can rebook for later in the day or the next day. (I'm not actually a conspiracy theorist, but that isn't illegal and it isn't a threat. Also, if I'm such a threat, why am I allowed to fly later, but not now with my family?)

It should be noted that at no point in this conversation did I seem agitated or raise my voice. At that point my goals were to 1) get some answers, 2) get on that plane.

So I gather my stuff and walk to the Alaska airlines desk and explain to the 2 women there what is up. The senior one comes around the desk, hooks her arm in mine and says, "I'll help you get through the TSA." These being were not actual women, they were angels. Unfortunately the same wackadoodle agent and his sidekick meet us at the entrance and they explain to her that I can't take my flight with my family, but I can rebook later in the day or the next day. She tries to get them to pay my expenses for being stuck. They say no (shocking).

We go back to the ticket desk and she starts making calls.

She gets through to the head of TSA in Kona and is told that I am actually BANNED from the airport and cannot fly, period.

She counters that they can't strand a person on the island, and that the agents told her I could rebook.

She is told, "fine", but if one thing goes wrong that I'll be arrested.

She doesn't understand why they won't just let me on the flight with my family if I can take a different flight. That I'm going to be the same person later in the day or tomorrow.

She ended up working well past the time her shift ended to get me on the same flight for the next day. Her and her coworker were both amazing.

Meanwhile, my friends who were now boarding the plane managed to use travel points to get me a room at the Marriott King Kamehameha and get deets on a Lyft. My kids want to literally burn down the airport and have to be talked down off the ceiling by husband and friends.

I'm a very flexible an easy-going (except for the TSA) but I'd lost my resilience about the time the agent was getting me re-checked in for the new flight. I was in tears. I cried while I waited for the Lyft. I cried while riding in the Lyft, I cried while getting checked in to the hotel (the receptionist, "Ooh, yeah, we don't need your phone number and all that, lets just get you checked in. Would you like a tissue?"). I had to compose myself to get dinner and ask the front desk for a toothbrush, toothpaste, a shaver and shaving cream, because while I stayed in Kona, my luggage went to Portland. I cried on and off all night.

The next day I had dinner at the overpriced buffet and ran errands. I had the settings on the jewelry we bought checked and cleaned, and I asked the people in the coffee shop if they would ship the coffee so there would be one less thing to cause problems. I went to the airport early, just in case, and I didn't even get stopped for a pat down. Sailed right through. (I did the the more junior Alaska rep tho, and she gave me a big hug and told me that she wanted to see me again, just not that day. Then when walking up the gang plank to the plane, she was coming down and we gave each other another big hug and she said she was glad I made it.

Epilogue

It's taken about 4 days to write this up because I have to do it in sprints. It's just too traumatic to relive for log periods of time. The week after I returned, I slept a lot and hardly worked.

Everyone says "get TSA precheck." 1) that doesn't save you from the SSSS code, 2) does anyone really think I'm going to get precheck after all of that? However, I do have a friend. One of those friends who is really successful AND really gregarious and knows EVERYONE. I told him the short version of my story and he said that he knows people at both of the agencies that have "lists" and they can help get me through the process of getting off of any lists.

[ur-mr-perfectly-fine]

So, since I'm bored and I have like 3000 Agents of DIO headcanons, I'm posting them, but a good amount of them include my ships :)

(I have an entire au where some of the Agents help the Crusaders take down DIO, so that's what these kind fit in with)

Mariah and Oingo are best friends, and spend their time bullying everyone else (mostly Terence and Hol Horse) for no reason.

Midler is essentially the mom friend, and takes care of Boingo (even though he's perfectly capable of opening his own fruit snacks), and insists on cooking all the time.

Terence turns his lame gaming basement into the ideal gamer cave and there's a sign on the door that reads, "Gamers only (no girls allowed)". The only people Terence lets in there are Boingo (bc he likes watching Terence play Minecraft and sometimes gets to play Stardew Valley) and Vanilla Ice.

The only things Terence eats are Cool Ranch Doritos, Pink Lemonade PopTarts, espresso flavored ice cream, and Mountain Dew Voltage (sometimes mixed together in a large Kona Ice cup), and he has two refrigerators just for his soda and ice cream bc it wouldn't all fit in the kitchen upstairs. Most of the time, when Midler goes shopping, she refuses to buy Terence's stuff bc "he needs to break his unhealthy habits", so VI goes and buys the snacks, bc he definitely doesn't have a crush on Terence...

Terence listens to girl in red, Mother Mother, and Kikuo. (his favorite songs, however, are Minecraft parody songs)

As soon as any of the Agents come out, Milder buys them as much pride stuff as possible. (When Terence came out, Midler bought him a shirt that said "Born this Gay".)

Mariah's favorite movie is Mean Girls, and the house has watched it at least 24 times before DIO was defeated. Terence refuses to admit it, but it's his favorite movie, too.

N'doul likes to sit on Hol Horse's lap. He will actively move from where he is if Hol Horse enters a room to sit with him.

Everyone is sick of N'doul insisting that he doesn't like Hol Horse. Mariah and Rubber Soul have made their goal to get the two of them together (they're doing an awful job).

After N'doul attempted to kill himself after his fight with the Crusaders, he was sent to a hospital and the Speedwagon Foundation helped him. It turns out that N'doul damaged the part of his brain that helps with balance, so he has trouble walking (this is the basis of a Hol Horse x N'doul fic I'm writing).

Chaka survives (bc I love him) and keeps Anubis in a locked case in his room. He starts working at a cafe near the mansion (Oingo's favorite place, coincidentally), but since Anubis is more than just the sword, he'll appear behind Chaka at work. Anubis generally shows up when Oingo and Chaka are talking while Chaka's on his lunch break, and just makes comments on how bad they both are a flirting. Some of his lines are:

"My god, you two are awful at this!"

"Just go on a date already and save me agony!"

"Chaka thinks you're cute. I read it in his diary." (to which Chaka responds with an exaggerated gasp)

"He also said he likes your dumb hat."

"Hey, Oingo! How bout you spend the night in our room tonight? You can even sleep in Chaka's be-" *Chaka smacks Anubis on the head with a rolled up newspaper* (I'm aware that's not physically possible to hit Anubis, leave me alone lol)

Most of the Agents got banned from the kitchen for doing something stupid, and there's a list in the dining room of who's not allowed to use the kitchen all. Essentially the only people who aren't banned are Midler, Chaka, N'doul, Vanilla Ice, and Boingo (I might post who's banned and why).

Daniel isn't allowed to use Osiris in the house because he lost a game of Uno that he'd bet on to Steely Dan, took his soul, and dropped it into the kitchen sink. Thankfully, Geb was able to retrieve it, and Midler grounded Daniel until he let Steely Dan go.

N'doul once mentioned that he hates the smell of cigarettes and because of that, Hol Horse tried to start smoking less.

Sometimes, the Agents decide to have a 'night in', and the only people who don't drink at all are Midler and Oingo.

Hol Horse grew up in Italy, though he isn't Italian and wasn't born there.

That's all for right now, I might post some more later, if anyone is interested :)

[poolealex1993-blog]

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[brooklynislandgirl]

FULL NAME: Elikapeka Ailine Riley OTHER NAMES: Beth Morrians {Z-verse}, Alohaekaunei, Beth, Liz {shudder} TITLE: Ms/Miss, NP {Nurse Practitioner}, RN {Registered Nurse} {and some she politely declines to list} {in certain verses, Agent} AGE: 28

GENDER: female SEXUALITY: heterosexual {more correctly: demi-hetero} ORIGIN: Pearl City, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai’i CURRENT LOCATION: Complicated  NATIONALITY: American {prefers to consider herself a citizen of Sovereign Hawai’i} SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Hawai’ian Pidgin, Hawai’ian, English, Latin {all fluently}, Conversational in: Japanese, Russian, Italian, French.  Can speak basic: {modern}Greek, Spanish, Romanian, Gaelic. VERY limited: Masalit and Beria {two of the languages spoken in Darfur}

RELIGION: She prefers Greek Roman Catholic

HEIGHT: 5ft BODY TYPE: slender, delicate, petite EYES: hazel-green TATTOOS: one, left back hip tattoo of a turtle with the Hawai’ian Islands and a Hibiscus flower in its shell  PIERCINGS: multiple in her ears, three studs in her right front hip SCARS: knee-to-ankle ragged scar{s} from a shark bite, leaving withered muscle.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Private Catholic schools elementary through high school, Columbia University degree for bachelors/masters of Nursing Sciences, graduated summa cum laude. Extensive post-school study in her primary fields of interest. SOCIAL MEDIA: Has them but mostly forgets they are there. SMOKE: Nope {exception: Constantine verses} DRINK: Very occasionally, because the child can’t hold her liquor to save her life. DRUGS: No, she even dislikes aspirin. ATHLETICS: She loves surfing and yoga, doesn’t mind a good hike. Swims like she’s born to it. Likes horseback riding. Jogs occasionally. Enjoys watching American football, boxing, fencing. HOBBIES: surfing, reading, knitting, almost every charity known to man VIRGIN: Yes {except for Zverse}

FAVORITE DRINK: kona coffee FAVORITE FOOD: kalua pork, grilled cheese sandwiches FAVORITE MUSIC: Beauty can be found in all music CLOTHING STYLE: very bohemian, very second-hand clothing; long skirts, poet blouses, long dresses, bikinis, corsets. Bare-feet as often as possible.

tagged by: @whiskeyandtwoshotglasses tagging: anyone who hasn’t done it yet

[alohakonarealtyinc]

At Aloha Kona Realty, Inc., we pride ourselves on being the top Kailua Kona Realtor, offering unparalleled service and expertise. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the ideal property that fits your lifestyle and budget. With a comprehensive database of listings and in-depth knowledge of the local market, we make the process of buying or selling a home in Kailua Kona seamless and stress-free.

Aloha Kona Realty, Inc. 75–5852 Alii Dr. V-14, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 (808) 989–5077

My Official Website: https://www.alohakonarealty.com/ Google Plus Listing: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=11874530065762777843

My Other Links:

kailua kona realtor: https://www.alohakonarealty.com/agents/ sell my house fast kona: https://www.alohakonarealty.com/sell/

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[spellyjane]

Big Island Splash, Mash, Dash!

Belated Aloha, forgive me for taking two weeks to write this!

I thought we had landed on the moon as I descended the plane stairs onto the island of black volcanic rubble. After nine plus hours of flying I had arrived at Triathlon Mecca, Kona, a little town on a wisp of land in the middle of a massive ocean, noisy with wind and hot as hades.

Hawaii is halfway between Sydney and Chicago so provided the perfect location for a rendezvous with my Dad whom I had not seen for over a year. (Aww, thanks for coming and sharing this with me Dad. ×××)

“Downtown” Kona is small and super cute but that week was COMPLETELY overrun with compression-wear trussed, trucker hat clad, slightly weather beaten, uber athletic types. I almost fit right in.

I was pleased to get up and out of the hype on my first night, having a home cooked meal with my dear friends Ben and Lillian at their B&B located on a flower farm way above Kona. Ben and Lillian are a fab couple I met running in Jersey City. I laughed off their prediction back in 2013 after my first 70.3 that I would one day race at Kona, thinking of course that will never happen because I will NEVER do an Ironman. I was beyond flattered to receive a message from these guys on my return home from IM Texas with my IMWC slot secured, telling me that they had booked their flights to Kona! Just wow.

At the suggestion of a friend I had signed up for the big charity Underpants run. Yes! Why not? It is for charity, I figured that if I had to endure running along behind ironmen in their tighty whities, well it would be worth it, for the charity of course. I wore a pair of huge granny dacks sporting a kangaroo waving an Aussie flag on the butt and dragged my poor Dad to the start line. He did not run, just observed… (that sounds way more creepy that it really was.) I met up with some friends Mike, a seasoned Kona participant and Jeff a green Kona rookie just like me.

We had a hoot, Mike and Jeff were happy to be stuck behind the Coeur Team girls, how shallow, I mean really? Post run “analysis” and breakfast at Evolution hit the spot. Oh a tip for Underpants Run rookies I gleaned from post race observation: sweaty tighty whities may leave you exposing a whole lot more than you anticipated.

Simon arrived on the Thursday. We had decided to leave the kids solo in Chicago… just kidding, our friends Alex and Theresa stepped in there. Theresa was so super cute, she called the schools to make sure the boys got there ok, drove the boys to their after school triathlon sessions and gave up their whole weekend too! What a load off our minds, we were so grateful.

I was able to squeeze in some down time. Dad, Simon and I spent Thursday afternoon sitting on the lanai of our apartment sipping a beer, watching the sun go down, taking a million photos and solving the world’s problems. I don't get to chill with my Dad too often, spending time with my Dad like that has left a warm little glow in my heart. It was one of my favorite moments of the trip. (My Dad hates being in photos, but I do manage to snag him in a few pics on this trip.)

As amiable and easy going as you all know me to be, I knew I would be prone to a little pre Ironman World Championships fretting. I did not want to expose my loved ones to my potential dragon lady side so I sent Simon and Dad off to explore Volcano National Park on the other side of the Island on Friday. A rather unwelcome visitor arrived on Friday, perhaps the best euphemism I can use is “Aunt Flo”, what a cow, she was not invited and I was not expecting to see her. She threw me in a bit of a spin, but I pulled it together and added dealing with that to my race plan.

I got my race gear together, checked my bike and checked in. What an awesome hype! I had forgotten that I had listed my occupation on the Ironman registration form as “Secret Agent.” As I walked down the red carpet to check in they called me out, “Here is Kelly Phuah, she is competing in the women’s 45-49 age group…” [pause] “she is a secret agent!” Haha, cover blown!

I was welcomed into Transition by my very own volunteer escort, Craig. Craig and his wife,  from Seattle, have been coming to the big Island for the last 10 years to volunteer for IMWC!

Whaaat!? I know right? Gulp, I felt a little overwhelmed at that moment. I racked my bike, hung my transition bags.  Then I stood for a few moments on the red carpet, I let myself feel special for being there before heading off to eat and find an air conditioner!

I found my friend Mike and we talked race stuff and spectator logistics tips while sipping protein shakes with our feet up. It was the perfect pre race afternoon.

Dinner that night was right down in the middle of all the action at Honu’s, overlooking the athlete area and swim start with Ben, Lillian, Dad and Simon. There was much discussion over the spectator plans and I shared my hopeful race splits to help them know where I would be at certain times. I was worried about how the day was going to be for everyone who had come all that way to watch. I knew it would be a long hot day for them too.

I had to have the Hawaiian Pizza, oh wow, caramelized pineapple and kalua shredded pork, It was awesome!

I got antsy all of a sudden in the middle of dinner when I realised that I was doing a freaking Ironman the next day. I rushed our farewells with Ben and Lillian and dragged Dad and Simon home. I have no clear memory of going to bed or how I slept, my mind just leaps to Simon and I driving down Alii Drive at 4am!

Race Day

Goal: under 11hrs.

Gosh, how much detail can you handle? Do I make it sound epic and glamorous? I guess if you are reading this then you are either a really good friend or a weird triathlon junkie so I will just give you the ugly truth.

Treading water with 600 other women waiting for the start canon was crazy. Everyone was apologetically kicking each other. I looked back at the crowd on the shore and the pier and let the swell of excitement pick me up. I sighted the 1st boat and wiggled a little closer to the front. The cannon boomed and we turned from polite and apologetic to tiger sharks. I was kicked, swam over and grabbed, I had to restart my watch 3 times because the stop button was kicked. I am quite sure I did my fair share of kicking others too, it was impossible not to. And at one stage I found myself laying completely on top of another athlete, I have no idea where she,came from!

I found my rhythm eventually and was able to start really swimming. By about half way I could feel my speedsuit cutting into my neck and throat as I was sighting and turning to breathe. It left quite a good chafe and I looked like I had been strangled. I snuck a peak at my watch as we made the turn at the boats, I was happy to see I was on schedule for my goal of a sub 70min swim. I was enjoying the water, it was clear and fairly calm. I could see the bottom. I picked out a blue swim cap on the bottom and wondered if it’s owner was down there too. I made the last push to the pier and grabbed the stairs, I ripped off my speed suit with glee and made my way around to T1 on wobbly legs.

1:09:42

I rinsed off my face with some fresh water, grabbed my bag and dove into the tent, and with the help of another volunteer it was suit off, socks on, shoes on, glasses on, food in pocket, loo stop #1 and out to my bike. Helmet on and go go go.

4:44

Yay!! Spotted my posse as I took off on the bike.

Lol, my Dad showing me the way to go…

I settled in and got out onto the Queen K thinking ok Kona, show me what you’ve got, bring it, do your worst.

I had a plan, hold watts for an IF around .68-.69. Yeah, naa, that just did not feel right. I was hot and pushing those watts just felt a little more taxing than it should so I backed off a little and kept a closer eye on my effort than my watts. I guess the wind was kind because even at the lower watts I was still on schedule for a 5:40 bike.

The best tip from Mike, stay wet all day. So at every aid station I was grabbing a cold bottle of water and pouring it all over my body, it was keeping me relatively cool.

I was keeping an eye out for girls in my age group, I passed a few and but noticed as we got closer to the finish that we were all getting a little feisty and not letting each other get too far away.

The climb up to Hawi was the first time that I really felt good, not being familiar with the course had made me a little reserved but when I hit that climb I felt like I just had this one hard bit and I was more than half way. I made the turn for home at the top and launched myself down that descent with a mission. So much fun! I was ticking down the miles and aiming to be out on the run course in under 7hrs and that kept me on the gas all the way back into Kona.

Ugh, triathletes are disgusting, the visor on my helmet was totally aero but also saved me from taking a snot rocket the face. “Dude!!” I shouted as I passed, he looked really sorry, but still, look over your shoulder before you launch. Same goes for the girl taking a wee. Being splashed by someone else's piss is not cool either.

My guts were feeling a little sketchy nearing the end of the bike, I took a couple of Imodium hoping to hold off the horrible tummy cramps etc I seem to be prone to on the run.

I came hurtling down the bike finish chute, eyeballing my volunteer bike catcher, I dismounted like a swan gliding in for a landing on a lake while seamlessly passing my bike to the catcher. They will probably be playing that footage in the Kona highlights, because it was so  freaking pro.

5:38:48

Into T2 in my socks, grabbed by bag, ripping off clothes as I ran, sort of like Superman - until my arms got hopelessly snagged in my super tight bike jersey and I resembled something more like a mad person trying to escape a straightjacket.  Yay for those volunteers. So, shoes on, race belt in hand, loo stop #2 and off on the run.  

4:33

Bahaaa, happens every time, my body rejoices for the 1st 2 km and I am lulled into a false sense of, “Oh hell yeah, I am going to be so amazing.” A quick glance at my overall time on my watch had me out on the run course in under 7 hours, yessss. I felt so confident that I was going to make that 11hr goal.  All I had to do was manage a 4 hr marathon. Then at about kilometer 3 it began to suck.  I saw my posse again at around this point, Simon and Ben ran alongside, giving me my position in the field and who was where, at that moment, they could have told me that there was a lion chasing me and it would not have made the bit of difference to my pace.  

I ran on in misery, downing a couple more Imodium for my increasingly cranky gut.  I had been taking salt tabs every hour, I had had mucho electrolytes and fluids on the bike and about 200 cals/hr all tried and tested and to plan.

Anyway, my mood began to shift, the discomfort in my gut was relieved for a little while.  I was given a huge piece of ice at an aid station. I sucked it, rubbed it on my body, down my legs and sides, down my arms and over my face, I bit little pieces off and when it was small enough it put it down my top. (My gosh, that almost sound erotic - it quite possibly was!) By the time I was heading back along Alii Drive and saw my posse again, I was a different girl.

I got down to business, thinking, tidy posture, keep hydrated and wet.  I was sad to see a few girls in my AG glide by but just kept to my own race and reminded myself that a sub 11 hr race was my goal and that racing someone else's game was not smart. There were 2 more loo stops on the run course, the last being out on Energy Lab road with about 16k / 10miles to go.  After that I was feeling much better. I made it up out of the Energy Lab climb and headed for home gritting my teeth to hold on to that 4 hr marathon but intermittently smiling because I totally knew I was going to do it.

I was surprised to see another friend Liz cheering me on as I turned off the Queen K down Palani rd. Eek, that downhill was ugly, ouch, I felt like a robot, horrible form that I just could not fix at that point. I nearly cried when Simon told me I had a mile to go. A mile! Oh just make this OVER! Finally I entered the finish chute with an idiotic grin, feeling emotional, tired and proud. I punched the air 2 times as I crossed the finish line.

3:58:44

Total time: 10:56:31, 16/88 F45-49 

So much room for improvement!

A friend asked me that night if I was keen to do it again, it only took one sleep for that answer to go from no way to yeah, I need another crack at that.

I got to spend another couple of days with Dad before we took off to opposite sides of the earth again. I was glad we got to see the town transform back into the cute little town it is 51 weeks of the year.

Mahalo!

I am surrounded by really hard working and intelligent people, people who inspire me to push myself and to be humble. (Well, I try with the humble bit.) I don't know many people more hard working and intelligent than Simon, he blows me away with his own dedication and humility and I live my life struggling to keep up with him. He is my biggest fan and I would not be doing any of this without his support.

My race experience was made really special with the support and fun with Ben, Lillian, Dad, Mike, Jeff, Liz and and Simon. Oh guys, thanks a million.

The online messages and texts from my family, my INTENT team mates, and friends were wonderful!! Pre race pep talks from my very good friend Jeff kept me in check. Much love to everyone who was following my race online and cheering along at home

My coach Rick Schopp at INTENT is also one of those inspiring people, I have put myself into painville at his instruction so many times but I am still here, I am still keen and I am getting faster. He has shown me that the pain pays off. Sending me the Urban dictionary definition of whinge when I slightly lost my shit during my second last intense training week leading into Kona was just the kick in the pants I needed.  

(That sounds rough, he may have added a few additional kind words in there too.)

Much love to Alex and Theresa for taking great care of our boys while we were away.

Many thanks to the volunteers who gave their time and to the super cute little town of Kona for letting us take over!

Mahalo xo

Now I count down just a few weeks to Ironman Cozumel before we pack up and make the very exciting move to Denver, Colorado!  Two more years in the USA before we head back to Australia.

Pic credits: Thanks Ben, Lillian and Simon

[themelomelo123-blog]

Hawaii Real Estate Transactions Procedures during COVID-19

You may have wondered if COVID-19 restrictions on travel and business make it impossible to sell or buy a luxury property in Hawaii right now.  All events associated with the real estate transaction process, including home inspection, valuation, and escrow services, are important in its businesses.  It is important to professionals take care to maintain the health and safety of themselves and others.  During COVID-19 the basics of real estate transactions remain unchanged mostly due to the adaption of technology in transactions.

The real estate industry works in a virtual environment nowadays.  Apart from the closing documents such as the deed and mortgage note that have to be notarized rest of the transactions can be done electronically   Fifteen years ago, if you had bought a luxury home in Hawaii, you might have gone out looking for a day, then sat down at a coffee shop with your agent as you filled in and signed the offer.  But nowadays electronic signatures have been permitted in real estate transactions in Hawaii.  Digital signing platforms and smartphones have made it easy to learn, sign, and submit transaction-related paperwork without anyone needing to contact paper or head to office.  The mortgage lender transfers the financial records to a safe database and gave you paperwork to register online along the way.  All documents and funds shall be processed by the escrow.  It is quite normal to see an escrow if both the buyer and seller are out of state at the time of signing.

Hawaii state and county offices, including the Bureau of Conveyances and the tax offices, are “open for business” although most of the staff are working virtually.

Measures Followed During the Lockdown Restrictions

The first thing you will notice that is special when you list the property or ready to submit a bid at a home is an addendum intended to address the problems relating to COVID-19. On the listing side, the regular contract contains language requiring sellers to allow entry for open houses during appropriate hours.  The COVID-19 addendum states that there will not be open houses and will be screened before agreeing to show to buyers even though the home is vacant.  It is common sense that MeloMelo prefers to show the luxury home virtually rather than run the risk of transmitting the virus.

COVID-19 addendum to the purchasing contract effectively ensures that if there are any contingencies or commitments under the contract that cannot be met within the timeline stipulated by the COVID-19 limitations, such contingency times are immediately prolonged and the count starts after the contingency constraints have been lifted.

All real estate professionals including inspectors, appraisers, and escrow firms are taking action to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. This means that the inspectors and appraisers wear protective gear and disinfects as they go through the house.  The escrow companies are offering drive-up signatures, where you can have your documents notarized without getting out of the car.  If you arrange a sign-in person the room will be disinfected before and after and the physical distance will be maintained by all concerned.  At the point, no congratulatory hugs!

If you are registering with a mobile notary in another state check on the restrictions imposed on notary services by your own state.  Some states have implemented regulatory protocols for online notarization.  Allow ample time, because these practices can find it challenging to sign in front of a notary and overnight the notarized documents to Hawaii on the same day as they are sent for signature.

Escrow firms have told their clients that they would fill the gap coverage because if for some reason Hawaii decided to shut down the Bureau of Conveyances due to the pandemic.  While it may not be business as usual the buying and selling of luxury property in Hawaii is still going on.

The MeloMelo Residence is a luxury villa with 3060 sq. ft of air-conditioned space and 925 sq.  ft of covered lanai outdoor living space in one of the greatest neighborhoods of Kona-Palisade, Hawaii.  Contact us for property visit info@themelomelo.com/ (302) 601-1247.

[punalavaflow]

Lawyers discuss Lloyd’s of London lawsuits at meeting

Attorneys told about 35 people who packed a conference room Wednesday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo there will be more lawsuits filed against Lloyd’s of London and its associated agents, brokers and adjusters.

“Right now, there are five lawsuits filed with 28 individual cases in those five lawsuits. Those are on file,” Kirk Wood, an Alabama attorney working with Kona attorney Jeffrey Foster said. “We should have two additional (lawsuits) within the next 10 days that will have as many as 25 to 28 people.”

Foster said the individual cases in Hilo Circuit Court concerning homeowners whose lava-related insurance claims were denied are now in the discovery phases.

“We are pounding pretty hard right now trying to get information out of (defendants),” Foster said. “But the big-picture goal here is to do everything we can to get everyone paid what you should’ve been paid and for these folks to do what they should’ve done six, seven, eight months ago. Because they didn’t. There’s a reason why everyone’s here today. There’s a reason why we’re here. There’s a reason why we have the number of cases we have. And there’s a reason why we’re pushing so hard. Because we don’t think people were dealt with the way they should’ve been dealt with for the amount of money you folks are paying for your insurance policies.”

Foster explained that Lloyd’s “contrary to popular belief, is not an insurance company.”

“What Lloyd’s of London is, is a marketplace,” Foster said. “It’s a place where people go to create policies to sell in high-risk areas, to extract high premiums from people. Lloyd’s of London is not an insurance company. So the quote, unquote underwriters are actually other investors, insurance companies, corporations that contribute.”

Those types of policies are known as surplus lines insurance or excess lines insurance. Surplus lines allow customers to seek coverage from out-of-state carriers — which aren’t covered by the state’s insurance guaranty fund — for a risk that standard or traditional insurers are unwilling or unable to assume.

Wood said surplus lines underwriters also aren’t subject to regulation by the state’s insurance commissioner.

A number of individuals brought up a federal class-action lawsuit, also filed by Foster’s law firm, against Lloyd’s and its underwriters and adjusters.

“It is a case that deals with anti-competitive pricing and unfair trade practices, basically … how Lloyd’s worked to control the surplus lines market in this area,” Wood said. “A class case is a lot different than an individual case. A class case is when you have a large group of similarly situated individuals with similar facts and issues … against the same defendant. It’s a technique you use when you have a lot of claims but they may not be huge claims. This case is in the early states. … It will deal with issues of how the actual … insurance product is sold and how they … priced it.

“Generally speaking, those people that are here, anybody who bought a (Lloyd’s) policy will be in this class. The class case does not preclude an individual case.”

Wood said a motion has been filed in Hilo Circuit Court to consolidate the individual cases.

“That allows us to take all the cases and bring them in to one judge … so we can prosecute them in a more efficient manner,” he said.

More than one meeting attendee said they know of homeowners whose homes were not destroyed and who haven’t filed claims, but who are required to have insurance by mortgage lenders, whose policies are not being renewed by Lloyd’s and its underwriters.

Foster replied that insurance policies are contracts and are subject to yearly reviews while Wood said that the non-renewal, while unfortunate, is probably not legally actionable.

Yvette Taylor, who identified herself as a property manager, said after she evacuated her lower Puna home and her claim was subsequently denied, she found a neighbor’s claim was paid. Taylor added she had stopped keeping receipts for rent and issues with the evacuated home after the denial.

Foster replied that homeowners, as well as insurers, have contractual obligations associated with their policies.

“If your local broker denies your claim, either over the phone or in an email, don’t stop there,” Foster said.

Added Wood, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

One homeowner said the condition of her home, which wasn’t destroyed, continues to deteriorate. She attributed the deterioration to sulphur dioxide (SO2) and acid rain.

Taylor told the Tribune-Herald afterwards she’s noted the same deterioration in properties she manages, not just in Leilani Estates, but in other areas of Puna, as well.

“Starting about Dec. 15, so many things started breaking down in my properties,” Taylor said. “It’s toilets, the chains, the innards of toilets. It’s the acid rain that was coming down from Leilani. The plumbing’s starting to go. And because the volcano is over, people aren’t making the association. A big thing happened on a property in (Hawaiian Paradise Park), all these pipes bursting and stuff. It’s the aftermath of the volcano.”

Foster and Wood have brought in a team led by professional engineer George Inglis, to inspect and document the condition of claimants’ homes.

Inglis said SO2 can have a progressively corrosive effect on drywall, concrete, electrical outlets, plumbing and other fixtures and added he’s sure the noxious gas “was there in spades” during the lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kilauea that started in May.

“And so, the question now would be, then, how much of that (deterioration) is still going on? Is it still doing damage? And that’s something, I think, we need to look at a little bit more,” Inglis said. “I don’t believe for a minute that the answer is just to clean a roof, clean some outlets. If you have an issue with an outlet, then it connects with an electric wire. How is the electric wire? If you have a plumbing fixture and you turn the valves on, you look down, there are fittings. How are those? We took samples from some of those materials, and we’ll see where that goes.”

Philip and Lanell Haysmer were the first homeowners to file suit against Lloyd’s. Philip Haysmer said there “might have been six people” at the first meeting held by Foster.

“It’s grown exponentially since,” Haysmer said. “The list of things they’re dealing with has grown, as well. It’s been an educational process for them as well as us. It has gotten extremely complicated. And both of these guys now have the experts behind them to pursue this as best as it could possibly be pursued.”

Interested homeowners can contact Foster’s firm at PunaClaims.com or by calling 348-7800.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com. from Hawaii News – Hawaii Tribune-Herald http://bit.ly/2SbbX98

[mandygilberton]

The Agency Celebrates 25th Office Opening With Twilight Fete at Metropolis

View more photos from the event below. Situated in the flourishing Downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district, Metropolis Los Angeles—the largest mixed-use development in the Western United States—proved the perfect setting for a lavish twilight soiree celebrating The Agency’s 25th office, now open in South Florida. Well-heeled agents, family and friends, including our Co-Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky, his wife Kyle Richards and her fashionable friends, joined to toast the milestone.Guests gathered on the expansive Met Nine Amenities Deck at Tower II to enjoy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and music against a backdrop of the glimmering city lights. Joined by her daughters, Kyle Richards gave a heartfelt toast to Mauricio and The Agency before turning the mic over to Mauricio himself, who raised his glass to The Agency’s accomplishments and gave a special shout out to The Agency Creates and The Agency Development Group, which represent public relations, marketing and sales for Tower II at Metropolis.“Just as The Agency prides itself on raising the bar for all things real estate, Metropolis has raised the bar for luxury living in Downtown L.A. I couldn’t think of a better location for celebrating our 25th office opening,” says Mauricio. “It was a pleasure to toast this exciting milestone with family and friends as we continue bringing our unique culture, branding prowess and philosophy of collaboration to new markets around the world.” “Strategic growth has been a part of The Agency’s plan since our inception in 2011,” adds Billy Rose, President and Co-Founder of The Agency. “We’re proud to celebrate our 25th office opening while maintaining the close-knit feel and boutique approach to real estate that have defined us since the beginning.” Developed by Greenland USA, Metropolis is a residential, resort and retail destination encompassing 6.3 acres in the heart of Downtown L.A. Tower II showcases a collection of contemporary studio, one- and two-bedroom residences featuring design and architecture by the award-winning firm Gensler. Residences feature thoughtful, open-plan living with soaring ceilings and towering walls of glass. All two-bedroom homes are corner residences, enjoying multi-directional views of DTLA and the hillsides beyond. Meanwhile, The Penthouse Collection, perched atop Tower I of Metropolis and represented by Million Dollar Listing L.A. stars James Harris and David Parnes, features some of the only two-story penthouses in Downtown L.A.   The Agency thanks the following brand partners Choux Choux LA Vogue Candles Kona Brewing Company Siempre Tequila Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey VDKA 6100 Gambino Prosecco Gray Whale Gin DJ Cathy Michele Butterfly Floral & Event Design The Dancing Fire Entertainment Palace Party Rentals     The Agency Celebrates 25th Office Opening With Twilight Fete at Metropolis published first on https://theopuscondo.tumblr.com/

[vintagerealestateaz]

Coldwell Banker

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[cathrynstreich]

Real Estate’s Forever Brand: Gaining New Insight Into Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Gino Blefari, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, on location at an exclusive Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Maui Properties listing—the Kona Peninsula Residence—at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Editor’s Note: This is the cover story in the August issue of RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices President and CEO Gino Blefari recently hosted the brand’s Top 50 brokerage leaders and their guests at the company’s annual Berkshire Elite Circle conference, an exclusive leadership retreat held in June in Kona, Hawaii.

Against a backdrop of sandy beaches and tropical clime, Blefari summarized his immense respect for network members and his vision around Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ value proposition.

“Forever—as I define it—means enduring through all times, and just as the waves have endlessly crashed against the shores of Kona, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will forever serve the lives, lifestyles and needs of our clients,” he said.

For Blefari, the concept of “forever” might be simply explained by a maritime metaphor, but its application to the brokerage network and respective franchisees is complex and all-encompassing.

When asked why he and Chris Stuart, chief operating officer at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, have dedicated such significant time to establishing Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices as the “forever real estate brand,” Blefari explains: “All of us with years of real estate experience have witnessed how for decades individual real estate agents advertise their desire to be accepted by consumers as their ‘real estate agent for life.’ Regrettably, this offering seldom materializes, becoming nothing more than an overused phrase.”

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has said the brand will be around a century from now. “Berkshire Hathaway wants to be in businesses that are enduring,” he explained. “Real estate brokerages will be around 100 years from now and [Berkshire Hathaway] HomeServices will be around 100 years from now. It will always be a very important business.”

Executive Team (L to R): Allan Dalton, Senior Vice President of Research and Development, HSF Affiliates; Brian Peterson, CFO, HSF Affiliates; Teresa Palacios Smith, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Strategies, HSF Affiliates; Gino Blefari, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; Rosalie Warner, Vice President of Network Services, HSF Affiliates; Chris Stuart, COO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; Michael Jalbert, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, HSF Affiliates

According to Blefari, the more consumers recognize and respect a real estate brand—and the brokerages that bear its name—as representing their needs forever, the more significant meaning will be placed on the concept of a “real estate agent for life.”

“Brokers and brands in general, while succeeding in creating transactional value, have fallen short in their attempts to establish lifelong value with consumers,” he says. “To create lasting, forever value within a brand or brokerage means doing a whole lot more.”

Specifically, Blefari believes brands and brokerages must persuade consumers that the company culture represents an extension of this forever concept, focused on nurturing the fundamental role of an agent as a trusted advisor who extends value, skills and advice not only before or after a transaction, but also throughout a client’s entire life.

“As seasons change, as families grow and as children leave the nest, lifestyle needs evolve,” says Blefari. “A forever real estate agent understands that the concept of home is predicated on the many changes life can bring and it doesn’t start—or end—with the transaction. That’s what we want consumers to associate with every single sales professional who carries our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices name.”

It’s a weighty task to imbue the forever title on a fast-growing network of nearly 46,000 agents working in almost 1,400 offices nationwide (with an expanding global presence), but if anyone is up to the challenge, it’s Blefari and his team.

“Change begins with solid leadership,” he says. “And we happen to have the best leaders in the business guiding our forever brand.”

A Leader Leads Forever To truly execute a forever vision requires immense insight, inspiration and innovation from all those responsible for turning “forever” into “for real.” At the top of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ command sits Blefari, who understands that great leadership means holding team members accountable for the particular facet of “forever” they have committed to accomplishing.

“A forever-focused team functions much like a team of Olympic rowers,” explains Blefari. “To move steadily forward and win the race, each member must be acutely aware of the strengths and weaknesses of those around them and work to achieve a kind of synchronicity that’s almost poetic in its perfection.”

Blefari, with more than 30 years of industry experience, is no stranger to navigating waters both smooth and choppy. His success is the kind many write books about; he began as a golf course manager turned award-winning real estate agent, and later, founded Silicon Valley, Calif.-based Intero Real Estate Services, which became one of the fastest-, organically-growing companies in the history of real estate. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, he’s a hands-on leader, fostering a culture of outstanding performance and accountability by leveraging his operational expertise and experience.

Every Thursday evening, tens of thousands receive Blefari’s “Thoughts on Leadership,” a rundown of his weekly travels and the inspiration they bring. A voracious audio book and podcast listener, Blefari has taken his leadership lessons to implement an entire method of operation that every team member at his organization follows. Framed after the best-selling book “The 4 Disciplines of Execution,” team members focus on Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs; act on their lead measures; keep a compelling scoreboard; and create a cadence of accountability. Blefari himself participates on departmental WIG calls, where members announce their WIG progress and set commitments for the upcoming week.

It’s a well-oiled machine of process, procedure, time management, accountability and execution at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices headquarters—and it has resulted in tremendous growth. Blefari is the first to admit it’s still a work in progress, but tremendous strides have been made, especially in sales.

Top-quality brokerages join the network with a regular rhythm, network firms acquire and merge with market leaders to expand their reach, and through careful consultation, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network brokerages are increasing profitability at impressive rates.

With a sharp focus on growth, Blefari has for two years mentored a group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerages called the “Mavericks,” and guided these companies to achieve new levels of success.

The original Mavericks group, which is made up of nine Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network brokerages, (there are plans to expand to a second Mavericks group in 2019), saw an overall 159 percent jump in bottom line, pre-tax profit. Since the group began in December 2015—and up until December 2017—the top five best-performing Mavericks brokerages saw a 4.3 times rise in pre-tax profit, corresponding to 329 percent growth in profit; followed by 4.3 times, corresponding to 328 percent growth in profit; 3.3 times, corresponding to 230 percent growth in profit; 2.6 times, corresponding to 164 percent growth in profit; and 2.5 times, corresponding to 127 percent growth in profit, respectively.

“I don’t think there are very many companies that can say in two years, ‘I’ve more than doubled or I’ve more than tripled or I’ve more than quadrupled my pre-tax profit,” says Blefari. “And keep in mind, these brokerages were all good operators to begin with, but can now say that they’ve done just that.”

Executing a Forever Vision Growth at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices isn’t just a result of more diligently operated network brokerages; it’s also empowered by the tools and systems Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices provides. Leading the technology and marketing charge is Stuart, who understands that forever means being the most innovative and integrative brand in the industry.

“We do not need to be obsessed with disruption,” he explains. “We need to be preemptive regarding the erosion of our value and create an environment where network agents can serve their clients in a way no mobile search ever can.”

Stuart helms these initiatives with a strong tech and growth background. Previously, he was part of the executive leadership team at Intero Real Estate Services, and prior to his time at Intero, co-founded a mortgage brokerage firm that grew to become one of the largest in Northern California. He also built and oversaw Silicon Valley-based teams at Oracle, and was responsible for creating some of the very first internet-based applications in arenas ranging from commerce and customer service to knowledge management and inventory control.

Today, his extensive technology and business development pedigree is put to work, and Stuart sits in the driver’s seat of the brand’s innovation.

Under his watch, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is now working with some of the most forward-thinking companies in the world—Salesforce, Adobe and VaynerMedia—to enhance the brokerage network with unmatched technological, digital and predictive sophistication.

First, there’s a new website project underway that combines the power of an industry-leading content management system, a Fortune 500 development experience, best-in-class property search tools and responsive design to offer, as Stuart describes, “something for everyone.”

“Our new website utilizes artificial intelligence to deliver content specific to a user’s interests and persona type,” he says. “An investor needs to know different information from a luxury buyer or first-time buyer, and our website will use machine learning to serve a user exactly the content he or she wants to digest.”

Concurrently, network brokers, offices, teams and agents will have the ability to create their own experience within the system—vendors and apps can be added or removed in the plug-and-play environment—while still maintaining the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand identity.

“Being a forever brand means creating an online experience that’s dynamic and valuable,” says Stuart, who is also at the forefront of a project that will create more transparency and data portability among industry tools and systems.

“We’re creating a central data hub that allows Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, our vendors and our franchisee’s vendors to retrieve data from other platforms and understand the cause-and-effect relationship between them,” he says.

It’s a philosophy Stuart staunchly abides by: Every system, tool and program must speak to one another, and be measured, then analyzed, in a data-driven approach to growth.

Even brand marketing initiatives with new ad partner VaynerMedia are meticulously examined by an expansive, experienced team to determine what’s working and what’s not, then figure out why.

VaynerMedia, founded by social media guru Gary Vaynerchuk, is widely regarded as one of the most cutting-edge marketing firms on the planet. In conjunction with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices team, VaynerMedia executives broke down the previous campaign, Good to Know, and transformed it into Good to Ask, a non-traditional, digital-centric marketing machine that uses highly advanced SEO, SEM and targeting strategies to send poignant ads to consumers most likely to connect.

“The digital-focused approach lets our team be more flexible than we would be with traditional media like TV or print,” says Vaynerchuk. “The brand is reaching more potential customers than ever before, but more importantly, the right people with a customized message.”

The crux of the campaign is high-quality content, delivered as long-form video vignettes, sleek visuals and informational takeaways. Since the campaign launched, the brand has garnered almost 180 million impressions across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

This innovative tactic to real estate marketing represents only one of many ways the brand is differentiating itself as a forever name.

“Forever also means being an all-inclusive leader,” says Teresa Palacios Smith, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Strategies at HSF Affiliates. Palacios Smith joined HSF Affiliates (which owns and operates the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchise network) in August 2017, tasked with overseeing the franchisor’s commitment to increasing diversity among its brokerage networks.

“We understand the importance of helping our network brokerages mirror the diversity of the communities they serve,” she says. “For us, ‘diversity’ is so much more than a catchphrase; it’s woven into the inclusive fabric of who we are as a brand, as a network and as professionals helping others achieve the dream of homeownership.”

Most recently, Palacios Smith received one of the first-ever RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker Awards, bestowed to several industry leaders at the National Association of REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Expo in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. Leaders who received the award exemplify an outstanding ability to garner positive headlines, a direct result of their effectiveness in creating change.

Gary Acosta, co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) says, “I have no doubt that through her influence, the network will better service every single member of their respective communities and make them feel cared for, always.”

“Teresa is transforming the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network through her dedication to diversity,” says Jim Park, the national chairman emeritus for the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).

“In the entire real estate industry, there is no greater ambassador for diversity and the empowerment of women in business than our own Teresa Palacios Smith,” says Blefari. “I have witnessed firsthand her incomparable efforts tied to inclusivity, diversity and gender equality for our network agents and the communities they serve.”

For the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network, “community” is an ever-expanding concept, especially as the brand grows both in America and across the globe. “It’s important for us to develop a deep understanding and respect for the businesses and cultures that distinguish all countries,” says Michael Jalbert, senior vice president of Global Sales for HSF Affiliates.

“Forever in the franchise sales arena means being highly selective of the brokerages that join our network and focusing on our global growth,” he says. Since joining the team in October 2017 after previous positions driving growth at major real estate brokerage networks, Jalbert has orchestrated impressive franchise transactions for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices that are helping to bring the forever brand to new markets.

“I’m delighted, yet not the least bit surprised, that prominent real estate brokerages are drawn to our brand,” says Jalbert. “Industry leaders near and far—and the markets they serve—recognize and appreciate the universal relevance of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Specifically, they understand how our brand, unlike any other in the real estate industry, represents prudent decisions and sage advice—and these brand promises transcend geography.”

Globally, Berlin became the brand’s first international stronghold in March with the launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Rubina Real Estate, an award-winning brokerage and recurrent honoree for Germany in the prestigious International Property Awards. In 2017, Rubina Real Estate was named “Best Real Estate Agency” and “Best Property Consultant (Marketing)” for all of Europe.

“Most brands are hyper-vigilant regarding recruiting and retention, whereas the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices culture is based on selection and development,” explains Jalbert. “That comes into play with franchise sales, because we attract brokerages that don’t want to just grow a little; they want to grow exponentially among a network of elite professionals and a team of strategic leaders.”

And Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices leaders aren’t just adept at creating forward-moving initiatives; they’re also experts at coordinating all projects to foster the kind of synergy necessary for sustainable progress.

“Forever means our core services are all in alignment,” says Karen Cain, director of Program Management Office at HSF Affiliates. “You can have a transformative vision and put together a strategic plan, but real success comes from putting a system in place, setting goals, holding team members accountable and, most importantly, executing on every single initiative until it’s complete.”

The execution of the mission that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices be real estate’s forever brand also requires excellence in research and development.

“Selecting Allan Dalton to be senior vice president of Research and Development was essentially an inevitable decision based on his experience, skills, results and scholastic approach to real estate,” says Blefari.

“I can think of no one else who, in addition to being president and co-owner of a major regional brokerage, created the national marketing system for multiple brands,” he adds. “Then, to top it off, Allan was the chief executive officer of what at the time was the largest real estate website in the world, realtor.com®. Clearly, the combination of his off- and online experience and expertise within the real estate industry is second to none.”

Dalton, an author of several real estate industry books, including “Leveraging Your Links,” an examination of the role of social media marketing, brings to his position seminal observations.

“First, as an industry, we have been so-called farming for years, but planting the wrong seeds,” explains Dalton. “Specifically, as a transaction-to-transaction industry, we have been planting only seasonal and annual seeds, and Gino wants us to begin planting perennials, as well.”

And, he notes: “Presently, consumers often have only one doctor, lawyer, dentist or financial planner, yet divide their loyalty amongst multiple real estate professionals. Our research and development must mitigate against this long-standing consumer practice.”

Dalton believes that as part of the vision of forever, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network sales professionals must possess the skills and knowledge to create forever loyalty with their clients.

Currently, learning is given significant weight at the brokerage network, and Rosalie Warner, vice president of Network Service, ensures Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network sales professionals are armed with the knowledge to advise clients worldwide.

“Forever means growth and profitability based on consultative service and support,” says Warner, who oversees the Business Consulting and Global Network Training teams. “We challenge network brokers by asking them, ‘What do you do better than your competitors, and what do you do that none of your competitors do?’ Often, through our classes and consultation, they gain valuable ways to build that competitive edge.”

Warner says unlike other brand initiatives that are hurtling toward the digital, her team is out in the field daily, meeting face-to-face with agents and management to provide customized training, solutions and knowledge. “As we see models change, we’re right there changing along with them,” she says.

Her team isn’t just changing the game of real estate; they’re also writing the rules on how it’s played. For instance, Warner and leaders from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices meet several times each year with a group of millennial-age top producers. Named the REthink Council, these network agents share best practices, insights, challenges and wins that are then turned into videos, white papers and content for the network to digest.

“The REthink team brings a fresh perspective and makes us ask, ‘Are we doing something the way we’ve always done it because we’ve always done it that way, or because it’s the best way to do it?'” she says.

The question ultimately speaks to why Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices can live up to its enduring status. Firmly grounded by the strength of its storied Berkshire Hathaway Inc. heritage, the brand is unafraid of change and constantly anticipating the wave before it crashes ashore.

“We’re not a brand focused on just today or tomorrow,” says Blefari. “We see the waves before us, of course, but concentrate on the entire ocean, because like our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand, it’ll be around forever.”

Melissa Kandel is director of Global Communications, PR and Digital Media for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. For more information, please visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.

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[freeworldimmigration]

Many aspects of the current American immigration system and the attitudes that support it are troubling. There is the death and suffering the system inflicts on people simply wanting to improve their lives by moving to a different location on the planet. There is the discrimination against people based on nothing else than their place of birth, over which no one has control. There is the self righteousness of individuals who excoriate undocumented immigrants because they aren’t abiding by the immigration laws, even though those laws are unjust and, in their current form, have existed for less than half of the period since the U.S. was created. 

I also am bothered by the intersection of personal character and immigration restrictions, which has two components. The first is that there are many immoral native born Americans who are untouched by immigration restrictions, while at the same time there are many virtuous immigrants and would be immigrants who are negatively impacted by the restrictions. Moreover, it is possible that, on average, immigrants and would-be immigrants are better people than native born Americans, yet it is mostly immigrants who are tormented by the immigration laws.

It is acknowledged that classifying a person as good or bad can be subjective. However, here are some traits that many people would associate with being a good person, not necessarily in order of importance: hardworking, kind, generous, responsible, respectful, empathetic, compassionate, altruistic, helpful, honest, unprejudiced, and, in the context of family, loving and supportive. A bad person would demonstrate the opposite traits. Of course, nobody acts virtuously all of the time, and probably nobody acts badly every waking moment, but I think that many people lean towards either virtue or immorality.

The Bad

Notwithstanding the complexity of measuring a person’s decency, I will address the first component of the character issue. There are many people who exhibit deplorable behavior yet have had the good fortune to be born as American citizens. Despite their behavior, they are officially never at risk of detention or deportation by immigration agents. Unless they are convicted of certain offenses, they have access to an economy which provides relatively high wages, to a government safety net (if often insufficient), to the rule of law, to participation in a democracy, and to relatively safe communities. I am thinking here of murderers, rapists, parents who abuse their children, white supremacists, people who attack or harass others based on their ethnicity, gender, religion, race, or other traits, and people who are cruel to animals. (Some might suggest that stripping such people of their citizenship and deporting them would be an option, but there are other ways to punish these individuals without resorting to such an approach, which could be considered cruel and unusual punishment.)

And it is not just a matter of a few bad apples. For example, many Americans reportedly mistreat their children. According to J.D. Vance (as reported in the Yale News), author of Hillbilly Elegy, 40 percent of working-class children experience forms of domestic and household abuse. In addition, the Southern Poverty Law Center lists almost one thousand hate groups in the U.S.

Some native born Americans with enormous power have acted unconscionably. Scott Pruitt, who was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator until this month, has been described by Justin Gillis, who is writing a book on global warming, as “… so fundamentally immoral that for momentary political gain, he is willing to risk nothing less than the fate of the Earth.” Pruitt claims that it is unclear whether human activity is a major contributor to global warming. Gillis suggests Pruitt is lying rather than deluded when he makes this claim because “you can tell by the way he words his statements, all that fine salami slicing about the need for more ‘precision’ before we can do anything.” Pruitt urged the president to abandon the Paris climate agreement and worked to dismantle climate change regulations established under the Obama administration. Meanwhile, Gillis reports that scientists “… are telling us that failing to get emissions under control would be to risk a mass extinction of life on Earth and would be very likely to create so much chaos in the human realm as to imperil the stability of our civilization.”

Donald Trump, the most powerful American, has a history of malfeasance. Before Trump became president, Thomas Friedman wrote,  

“Trump is not only a flawed politician, he’s an indecent human being. He’s boasted of assaulting women — prompting 11 to come forward to testify that he did just that to them; his defense is that he could not have assaulted these women because they weren’t pretty enough.

“He’s created a university that was charged with defrauding its students. He’s been charged with discriminating against racial minorities in his rental properties. He’s stiffed countless vendors, from piano sellers to major contractors. He’s refused to disclose his tax returns because they likely reveal that he’s paid no federal taxes for years, is in bed with dodgy financiers and doesn’t give like he says to charity.”

As president, in addition to his role in making an already cruel immigration system even more monstrous, Trump has repeatedly made false claims, which some consider a threat to America’s liberal democracy. Michiko Kakutani recently noted in The Washington Post that

“President Trump not only lies with astonishing temerity and abandon, but those lies connect into equally false narratives that gin up the worst fears and prejudices of his base. … The shamelessness and volume of Mr. Trump’s lies — The Washington Post calculated last month that he was averaging more than 6.5 false or misleading claims a day — are flooding the country in misinformation…

“With his mendacity and increasingly virulent attacks on immigrants, Muslims, women, the press, the judiciary, the intelligence services, the F.B.I. — any group or institution that he finds threatening or useful as a scapegoat — Mr. Trump is attempting the Orwellian trick of redefining American reality on his own terms. This assault on truth has the gravest consequences for our democracy. When lying is normalized, the sort of cynicism found in autocracies like Vladimir Putin’s Russia takes hold — people begin to assume that all politicians lie, that all knowledge is relative, that there is no point in voting or protest. Without truth, informed public discourse is hobbled and politicians cannot be held accountable.”

(See more here about Trump’s false statements.) 

Trump is a threat to our country, yet since he was born here, he’ll never be forced to leave the U.S. or fear such a scenario.

The Good

At the same time, there are many good people who wish to immigrate to America but are blocked by immigration restrictions or adversely affected by them. It is a safe assumption, a priori, that all countries have their share of good and bad people. But there also are individual examples of decent people harmed by immigration policy. Consider Roberto Beristain, who entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 1998 and was deported last year. He was the owner of a restaurant in Indiana which employed 20 American workers and is a husband and father. He apparently never broke a law in the U.S., and the mayor of a town near where he lived in Indiana referred to him as a “model resident.” The mayor wrote about Roberto that “…once he was here, in love and raising a family, did the system give him any better option than to do what he did, which was to keep his head down, work extremely hard, put his kids through school, support his wife, break no laws…” The mayor also noted that many in the community are “proud” to call Roberto a friend.

Similarly, Andres Magana, who lived in the U.S. for almost 30 years after illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico and returned there after being ordered to be deported, appears to have been a model resident. He picked coffee in Hawaii, saved up money, and bought his own farm. According to Hawaii News Now,

“Over the years, Magana’s reputation has made him one of the most sought-after coffee growers on the Big Island. He’s known for his work to rid farms of the destructive borer beetle.

“‘He’s been taking care of this farm, and he’s got it down to about 2 percent or less bug problem,'” said Magana’s business partner, Brian Lindau.

“Lindau said he can understand the president’s desire to deport illegal immigrants who are here causing trouble, but can’t comprehend something like this.

“‘When you get a guy like Andres who’s a model citizen, been in business for years, pays taxes and is one of the heavy hitters in the coffee industry here, you’re shooting yourself in the foot and you’re shooting down the Kona coffee business,’ he said.”

The Washington Post added that “Hawaii’s congressional delegation wrote letters of support to top immigration officials and spoke on his behalf. A senior federal appeals court judge called him a ‘pillar of his community…’” 

Amer Adi was also a remarkable immigrant. He was deported back to Jordan earlier this year after spending almost 40 years abroad, mostly in the U.S. He has an American wife and four American daughters and owns several businesses in Ohio. Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan fought for years to help Adi remain in the U.S. According to CNN, Ryan “describes Adi as a ‘pillar’ of their community, who creates jobs with his multiple businesses and distributes hundreds of turkeys to the poor on Thanksgiving.”

Then there are the many impressive DACA recipients, who were brought to the U.S. as children, lived without documentation for a period of time, received protection from deportation from President Obama, and whose status is uncertain under Trump. After receiving DACA status, Cristina Musch worked for an Arizona attorney, who described her as “an arduous, meticulous, and responsible worker.” Another DACA recipient, Alex Medrano, excelled in high school. After gaining experience working at a bank, he

“now advises small businesses and entrepreneurs on launching their projects. He also volunteers financial planning advice to members of the Hispanic Contractor’s Association and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

“’Since 2014, I’ve been creating a little bit of a career,’ he says. Medrano is now leaning toward more community-oriented work. ‘I volunteer at a food pantry and attend city council meetings to share updates with my customers. I would love to work for a nonprofit and educate people in need about their finances.'”   

Other young immigrants are also honorable. William Perez of Claremont Graduate University has studied undocumented college students and has found that many of these students are interested in careers such as teaching, law enforcement, medicine, social work, and working in the nonprofit sector, which reflects a desire to help others. For example, an undocumented high school valedictorian, who received a full scholarship to Yale University and was praised by a teacher for her academics and her character, intends to be a physician. 

Thus far, I have described upstanding individuals who have been harmed as a result of their undocumented status. At the very least, they have lived with the fear that they or a family member could be detained and deported.  

It also is important to recognize the virtue of many of those who have benefitted from the American immigration system, at least eventually, by acquiring permanent legal status and sometimes citizenship. This helps to counter the efforts by some to further restrict the current system. One example is Hamdi Ulukaya, who founded the Chobani yoghurt company and who has a “reputation for being a man of outspoken civic duty and generosity.” He donates ten percent of the company’s profits to charity, he has given his full time employees an ownership stake in the company before it goes public, and hundreds of his two thousand employees are refugees.   Another is David Ho, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 12 years old and became a medical researcher. His discoveries changed how AIDS is treated and led Time Magazine to chose him as its 1996 “Man of the Year.” A third standout is Raisuddin Bhuiyan from Bangladesh, who was shot in Texas shortly after 9/11 by an American “out ‘hunting Arabs.’” Bhuiyan survived, endured surgeries on his injured eye, forgave his attacker, and campaigned to save the attacker from execution. Not only did he demonstrate compassion and forgiveness towards his attacker, he created a program, A World Without Hate, to help communities affected by gun violence. 

On Average, Are Immigrants Better Than Native Born Americans?

At the same time, there are immigrants, documented and undocumented, who have done bad things, and there are many upstanding native born Americans. This leads to the question, “Are immigrants, regardless of status, better or worse people, on average, than native born Americans?” The answer to this question, the second component of the character issue, is difficult to determine. Yet some information suggests immigrants are, again on average, better people than native born Americans.

The data on crime supports this proposition. Immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are less likely to commit crimes than native born Americans. According to a recent article in The Washington Post, “… the social-science research on immigration and crime is clear: Undocumented immigrants are considerably less likely to commit crime than native-born citizens, with immigrants legally in the United States even less likely to do so.” One 2018 study cited by the Post found that “… not only does illegal immigration not increase crime, but it may actually contribute to the drop in overall crime rates observed in the United States in recent decades.” Similarly a 2017 Cato Institute study found that “all immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than natives relative to their shares of the population. Even illegal immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans.” Furthermore, when the researchers subtracted out incarcerations in immigration detention facilities, the incarceration rate for undocumented immigrants was almost 50% lower than the rate for native born white Americans. Documented immigrants had an even lower rate. (See also here.)

In addition, some observers note that many immigrants exhibit exemplary traits that are less characteristic of many Americans. In a column this year, David Brooks, referencing Charles Murray’s book Coming Apart, which describes the social problems of many native born white Americans, notes that “one of Murray’s points is that ‘the feasibility of the American project has historically been based on industriousness, honesty, marriage and religiosity.’ It is a blunt fact of life that, these days, immigrants show more of these virtues than the native-born.” Brooks concludes his piece scathingly, stating that it is not surprising restrictionists “… react with defensive animosity to the immigrants who out-hustle and out-build them. You’d react negatively, too, if confronted with people who are better versions of what you wish you were yourself.”

In a 2006 column, Brooks highlighted the ways immigrants tend to be more supportive of family members and more community oriented than native born Americans. He wrote that

“Over the past decade we’ve seen the beginnings of a moral revival, and some of the most important work has been done by Catholic and evangelical immigrant churches, by faith-based organizations like the Rev. Luis Cortés’s Nueva Esperanza, by Hispanic mothers and fathers monitoring their kids. The anti-immigration crowd says this country is under assault. But if that’s so, we’re under assault by people who love their children.  

“… immigrants themselves are like a booster shot of traditional morality injected into the body politic. Immigrants work hard. They build community groups. They have traditional ideas about family structure, and they work heroically to make them a reality.

“Hispanics and Hispanic immigrants have less money than average Americans, but they spend what they have on their families, usually in wholesome ways. According to Simmons Research, Hispanics are 57 percent more likely than average Americans to have purchased children’s furniture in the past year. Mexican-Americans spend 93 percent more on children’s music.

“According to the government’s Consumer Expenditure Survey, Hispanics spend more on gifts, on average, than other Americans. They’re more likely to support their parents financially. They’re more likely to have big family dinners at home.

“This isn’t alien behavior. It’s admirable behavior, the antidote to the excessive individualism that social conservatives decry.

“… Women who have recently arrived from Mexico have bigger, healthier babies than more affluent non-Hispanic white natives. That’s because strong family and social networks support these pregnant women, reminding them what to eat and do…”

Another observer, Anand Giridharadas, who wrote a book about the experience of Raisuddin Bhuiyan, the aforementioned Bangladeshi immigrant, shares similar insights. He suggests that the willingness of immigrants to help one another is a superior model than the apparent go it alone ethos of some Americans. He writes that

“In mostly white, exurban communities that often see themselves as above the woes of inner cities, I found household after household where country music songs about family and church play but country-music values have fled: places where a rising generation is often being reared by grandparents because parents are addicted, imprisoned, broke or all three.

“In places bedeviled by anomie, immigrants from more family-centered and collectivist societies — Mexico, India, Colombia, Vietnam, Haiti, China — often arrive with an advantageous blend of individualist and communitarian traits.

“I say a blend, because while they come from communal societies, they were deserters. They may have been raised with family-first values, but often they were the ones to leave aging parents. It can be a powerful cocktail: a self-willed drive for success and, leavening it somewhat, a sacrificial devotion to family and tribe. Many, even as their lives grow more independent, serve their family oceans away by sending remittances.

“Mr. Bhuiyan seemed to embody this dualism. By back-home standards, he was a rugged individualist. But in America it was his takes-a-village embeddedness that enabled his revival: Immigrant friends gave him medicine, sofas to sleep on, free I.T. training and job referrals.

“…. the success of immigrants in the nation’s hurting places reminds us that the American dream can still work, but it helps to have people to lean on. Many immigrants get that, because where they come from, people are all you have. They recognize that solitude is an extravagance.

“American poverty is darkened by loneliness; poverty in so many poor countries I’ve visited is brightened only by community. Helping people gain other people to lean on — not just offering cheaper health care and food stamps, tax cuts and charter schools — seems essential to making this American dream work as well for its perennial flowers as its freshest seeds.”

Patrick Keefe, the author of The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream (New York: Doubleday, 2009), a book about the illegal immigration of Chinese to America, illuminates the self-sacrifice of many immigrants. He notes that for many of the immigrants he interviewed

“the ultimate success or failure of a single act of emigration can be measured only in generations: if the individual who transplants herself or her family to the United States undertakes extraordinary, even irresponsible risks in order to do so… those lapses will eventually be justified by the upward mobility of her children or their children, and the notion that some later generation will be born in America and have no solid grasp of how it was precisely that their grandmother or great-grandmother first crossed the oceans but simply know that she did.” (p. 324)

Conclusion

Character matters for the case for open borders. Open borders would allow many wonderful people to thrive in the U.S. and contribute to it, without having to fear detention or deportation by immigration agents. And maybe some of their virtue would rub off on the native born Americans who have moral deficiencies.

  from Open Borders: The Case https://ift.tt/2Ny9HD0

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NBA Cribs: The Golden State Warriors and Their All-Star Real Estate

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All hail the mighty Golden State Warriors! Few pro sports franchise teams this side of the New England Patriots have inspired both awe and vitriol quite like this seemingly unstoppable championship-winning NBA team, currently vying for its third title against the Cleveland Cavaliers. And there are some strong real estate tie-ins with this superteam, from the league-changing, off-court steal (of free agent Kevin Durant) clinched at a Hamptons mansion, to the hot San Francisco Bay Area housing market, where the team plays.

In fact, this All-Star-studded team has been as busy gunning and running in luxury real estate as it has on the hardwood. So taking a cue from the Splash Brothers, we decided to dive deep into the homes of the Warriors.

Steph Curry flurry of real estate deals

As with his on-court sharpshooting prowess, 30-year-old All-Star Steph Curry hit nothing but net with his most recent Bay Area home purchase. Over the past five years, the North Carolina native has been busy buying and selling homes.

When not shooting out the lights in Oracle Arena, he and his wife, Ayesha Curry, live in the quiet East Bay suburb of Alamo, CA, in the 10,290-square-foot home they purchased in 2016.

Steph Curry’s current home in Alamo, CA

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It’s easy to put this home in the W column for Curry, because he scored a bargain. The mansion originally landed on the market for $7.8 million, and the MVP snagged it for $5,775,000.

Sitting on a 1.5-acre lot, the mansion has five bedrooms, 8.5 baths, a library, billiard room, and five fireplaces. Outside there’s an infinity pool, guesthouse, kitchen, and gardens. It sounds clutch to us.

Curry hasn’t always had the magic touch when it comes to real estate. He somehow managed to sell his Walnut Creek home at a loss, despite the scorching Bay Area housing market.

The Currys had purchased the Mediterranean-style mansion in the East Bay city in November 2015 for $3.2 million. After spending a half-million on renovations and upgrades, the couple cited privacy concerns and put the home back on the market for $3.7 million in November 2016. They finally sold the place in July 2017 for $3.2 million, making them ineligible for the house-flipping hall of fame.

Curry’s former home in Walnut Creek, CA

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Previously, the Currys lived in the sleepy suburb of Orinda, CA, where they bought a Spanish-style, five-bedroom home in August 2013 for $3.1 million.

Curry’s former home in Orinda, CA

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The couple spent oodles of dough upgrading the kitchen of their Orinda home—Ayesha is well-known for her cooking endeavors—but wound up putting it on the market for $3.9 million in May 2016. For this sale, Curry demonstrated his deft scoring touch. The home sold for $4.65 million after just a month on the market.

Outside the Golden State, the Currys put their first home up for sale in North Carolina earlier this year. It’s where the couple married. Still available for $1.55 million, the European-style house was described as “much like who they are as a couple: lovely and modest.”

Curry’s house in Waxhaw, NC

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Kevin Durant’s All-Star homes

The Hamptons home where Kevin Durant was recruited to join the already loaded Golden State Warriors in summer 2016 could possibly be considered a “national historical site.”  

The mansion Kevin Durant rented in East Hampton, NY

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The property Durant rented where he met with his future teammates is now on the market for $15 million—and it’s a prized and very high-end piece of NBA memorabilia. 

Durant is also known to have set up shop in a modern abode in the Oakland Hills, where he filmed a home tour for his YouTube channel, which also showcases his chef and his dog.

He made headlines in April when he scooped up an off-season home on the West Coast. He bought a beachfront property in Malibu for $12.05 million. The four-bedroom, six-bath home features an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, and walls of glass. 

Other amenities include a wine wall, library, home theater, gym, wet bar, and multiple patios and decks.

Previously, Durant had a couple of losses to contend with. While a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, and amid speculation about his next destination once his contract was up, he parted ways with a deluxe condo on Biscayne Bay in Miami.

The three-bedroom unit was listed for $3.45 million in April 2015, and sold for $3.15 million just one month later.

Durant’s former condo in Miami, FL

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The MVP also parted with his posh place in the Sooner State: a 7,000-square-foot townhouse (two separate units were combined).

He took a big loss as he burned rubber on his way out of Oklahoma. He paid $1,769,000 for the place in 2013, spent money on upgrades, and wound up selling it all for $1.1 million in March 2017.

Durant’s former townhouse in Oklahoma City, OK

realtor.com

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Klay Thompson scores a beach house

The man with the quickest shot in the league, Klay Thompson spends the off-season in Orange County. One-half of the Splash Brothers, he made waves with his purchase of a $2.2 million Dana Point house in 2015.

The Spanish-style, single-story home features a central courtyard with a pool and spa, two guesthouses, and a patio with ocean views. The three-bedroom home includes a rec room with bar, lounge area, and pool table. 

When in the Bay Area, Thompson’s exact whereabouts are unknown. However, teammate Draymond Green once described Thompson’s place as a “trap house.” Green told Jimmy Kimmel last year, “Klay has a million people living with him. … It’s weird.”

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Andre Iguodala’s moved in

The 34-year-old forward was recently sidelined with an injury, but he’s definitely stayed strong in the real estate game. As we reported in 2017, the NBA vet picked up a sweet house in Lafayette, CA, for $3.6 million.

Built in 2004, the “Tuscan-inspired” abode features an office, media room, and gym. Outside there’s a “resort-style” pool and spa, manicured lawn and gardens, dining area with pizza oven, and, naturally, a sport court with a basketball hoop.

Andre Iguodala’s Lafayette, CA, home

realtor.com

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Joe Lacob’s buying spree

Venture capitalist Joseph Lacob and a group of investors bought the Golden State Warriors for $450 million in 2010, when the team was a perennial laughingstock. The franchise is now valued at $2.6 billion, according to Forbes.

Lacob also has a keen eye for real estate. He owns a 10,355-square-foot home in exclusive Atherton, CA,which he purchased in 2007 for $15.2 million. In 2008, he scooped up the adjoining two-bed, three-bath home for $4.3 million, according to realtor.com records. 

The 62-year-old also owns a stunning estate in Napa County’s St. Helena, which he snagged for $9 million in 2011. The 21.6-acre property includes a 5,299-square-foot house, which features a family room with fireplace, an open kitchen, and a wine cellar. Outside, there’s a grassy backyard with a pool, and acres of vineyards.

Joe Lacob’s vacation home in St. Helena, CA

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The venture capitalist also has a massive 12,164-square-foot home in the golf mecca of Pebble Beach, which sits on nearly 2 acres, according to property records. 

A partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a pre-eminent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, Lacob isn’t immune to stumbles due to market forces. He sold his luxe Hawaii home at a loss last year for $5.9 million. He had picked up the place in 2005 for $7,775,000, and listed it in 2016 for $7 million. It’s a rare loss for this owner who’s become very accustomed to winning.

Lacob’s former home in Kailua-Kona, HI

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The post NBA Cribs: The Golden State Warriors and Their All-Star Real Estate appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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1832 Hwy 259, Portland, TN 37148

1832 Hwy 259, Portland, TN 37148

Listing Agent: GWEN DOWLAND

A total makeover! Deluxe amenities. Det garage offers endless possibilities, 2+ac, serene countryside.State of art kitchen & BA. Granite, stone bksplash, Kona-colored cabinets, st st & ebony appliances. Split BD plan,2 lg areas of living. FP is inoperable

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Learn More Here: 1832 Hwy 259, Portland, TN 37148

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Aloha Kona Realty, Inc. team of experienced agents combines local knowledge with a commitment to personalized service, ensuring that your home buying experience is smooth, stress-free, and ultimately rewarding. We listen to your needs, provide expert guidance, and negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome. Call us at (808) 989–5077 for more information about homes for sale in Kona or visit our website.

Aloha Kona Realty, Inc. 75–5852 Alii Dr. V-14, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 (808) 989–5077

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