Kailua
In Hawaiian, Kailua means “two seas,” named because of the two lagoons in the district that run through Kailua Bay. Mainly a residential community, Kailua is just 30 minutes from Honolulu and has a population of about 36,000 residents. The community is accessible from the Pali Highway (Route 61).
According to an archaeological excavation report, the earliest settlers in Kailua are believed to have dwelled on the slopes of the Kawainui Marsh as early as 500 AD. In the 16th century, Kailua replaced Waikiki as the residential seat of the Alii Aimoku of Oahu. According to historical accounts, the biggest event in Kailua was in 1795 when King Kamehameha I conquered O’ahu in his mission to unite the Hawaiian Islands. The King granted old Kailua to the chiefs and warriors who had helped him. The land that they received was used for agriculture, such as the cultivation of rice, taro and sugarcane, and eventually to raise cattle. Kailua is home to numerous ancient temple ruins, including the ones at Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site, a temple whose construction was attributed to the legendary Menehune and which later became a luakini, dedicated to human sacrifice.
Often called Hawaii’s best beach, Kailua Beach is about two miles long and crescent-shaped. It’s a popular location for surfing and bodysurfing due to its light to medium waves. Kailua Beach also has steady trade winds that make it one of the world’s best kitesurfing and windsurfing spots.
Kailua is known for its strong sense of community, holding Christmas and Fourth of July parades every year. To add to its family reputation, to the town also holds block parties, Little League games, and canoe paddling events.
Real estate in Kailua offers ample opportunities for both buying and renting. Many neighborhoods offer a plethora of single-family homes, as well as condominiums and townhomes. Known predominately as a beach community, most residential areas are no more than a few miles from the beach. Architecture tends to be modest post-war post and pier bungalows, or mid-century bungalows, plantation or ranch-style homes, mainly built between 1945 and 1965. For more modern construction, luxury homes and estates can be found in other areas of Kailua, such as in Lanikai and Beachside. Thanks to its beautiful commute to Honolulu, gorgeous beaches, and proximity to Marine Crops Base Hawaii, the property values in Kailua have held up much better than most other areas on Oahu, despite the current economic downturn.
Testimonials
“When my husband and I began working with Team Lally, we thought we were in an impossible situation. We had been working with our then current realtor for more than a year and to no avail. The short sale on our condo proved to be too much for her. Three failed contracts later, we were finally referred to Team Lally. At this point in the process, we were very disappointed and a skeptical.To our surprise we were greeted with smiling faces and reassuring words by Adrienne Lally and Attilio Leonardi, however, I still remained skeptical. Then we were introduced to Howard, an Agent with Team Lally. From the start he was professional and extremely efficient and patient. He worked day and night and made me feel we were Team Lally’s only clients. I would honestly have so much anxiety with our short sale and yet every time I spoke with Howard I was put at ease. It took six months to close, but it was to no fault of our Realtors but due to our Mortgage Company (GreenTree) dragging their feet and playing hardball. The entire process was made easy with Team Lally steering us. Howard’s communication and explanations in all of this is what made it straightforward. Whether via email or telephone, I felt informed of the whole process. Again, I honestly at one point thought we were his only clients. Thank you Howard. Team Lally is EXCELLENT! They used every avenue to promote our property, from the internet like Zillow and Trulia to mailings to magazines. They took a disappointing …
“The Agents at Team Lally are experts in their field. Whether you’re looking to sell your home or buy one, these guys have a great team to take care of you throughout the entire transaction. Even if you looking just to get more information – I’d suggest to give them a ring and they can point you in the right direction.”
“Dealing with team Lally has been a great experience. All of the agents which I encountered were very knowledgeable and courteous. The office which they conducted their business was neat and tidy. The atmosphere was very conducive.”
“Adrienne and Atillio knew the urgency in selling our home and worked so quick that at times I was overwhelmed. When they got a buyer, their team Member Howard Nett was so helpful in keeping us informed and updated as to how things were progressing and things we needed to do, that it made this whole process comfortable for us. We are VERY satisfied with their services. We recommend Team Lally when you are looking to sell your home.”
“I am Adrienne Lally’s Real Estate Partner. If you think I’m a little biased. Your are correct. But I would challenge any one to say I’m not being totally honest when I say that Adrienne is the hardest working Reatlor I know. She cares for clients like family and always puts their interest first. I’ve personally seen her generosity in action. If you are looking for a true professional, a great Mom, a Veteran, an Athlete, a former gymnast, a Roller Derby Lady, a Military Spouse, a talented and experienced Realtor who leads the number one Keller Williams Team in the State with production making her one the top 50 Realtors that do 90% of the business in Hawaii look no further. There are Realtos who are great at internet marketing with no track record and those who are great at internet marketing and a top producing Realtor. Adrienne Lally is the later.”
“First conversation with Attilio Leonardi was a no pressure sales call. He was patient with all my questions, not hurried, and very knowledgeable about the short sale process. That helped establish trust and confidence in hiring their team. Other members of the team, with special mention to Howard Nett, all contributed to the successful negotiation. The short sale process was all together long and tedious; but as long as you commit to your part as a seller (i.e. providing necessary paperwork in a timely manner), team Lally will make the process as smooth and painless as possible with their professionalism.”
“Working with Team Lally was fantastic! Celeste helped us to buy a new home and Adrienne and Atillio helped us to sell a home. Team Lally was responsive to all of our needs and questions. Team Lally exceeded our expectations!”
“Team Lally embraces the team concept while staying professional. They were totally accessible, day or night, and they supported me through a very stressful process. Communication is key and Team Lally understands this completely.”
“We worked with Cathy from Team Lally during the purchase of our new house, and it was great. She was very professional, knowledgeable, responsive and fun to work with. We found a great house that we love and moved in ahead of the estimated closing date. Best of all, we paid less than the asking price, and her recommended offer was right on point with the VA appraisal. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend Cathy and Team Lally to anyone looking for a house.”
“When my husband and I got transferred here with the Coast Guard we were interested in purchasing our first home. We found Adrianne through other military members that she had helped. Adrianne and her team went above and beyond to help us find our first home. She took out all the stress and helped us every step of the way, from finding a home to finding a lender to get a loan. We found a short sell and she helped us get into our house and close within a month! Adrianne and her team has made us feel like family the way they take the time to call and check on us throughout the years and through their client appreciation events. Thanks again Adrianne and Team Lally!”