Buyer Testimonials

Buying a condo in Hawaii had been a goal of ours for the last year, but navigating the options was overwhelming. HOA fees, leased land, short sales and more made it seem like a very big risk to know which one to buy. Having Gretchen guide us and hone our options down to the ones that worked, it made the final choice obvious and certain. She is like having a district attourney on your side. Very professional, very knowlegable and she keeps you informed and prepared each step of the way. Two of our friends are now using her services and they also noticed how hard she works and how well she knows the market here.

Darrel and Renate Whitcomb


When it comes to knowing the Real Estate Market in the Hawaiian Islands, Gretchen is the person you want to be working with! My wife and I had been talking for a while about what sort of property would suit us. Gretchen was able to guide us though this journey we were on to find the perfect home for our family. She is very patient and encouraging and always available for our questions! She is very confident and truly loves what she does!

Thank you for making our dream come true!

Alister & Jade


From the moment we met Gretchen we knew that she would be our Realtor/Broker of choice. She handled our transaction in a totally efficient, professional and ethical manner. Moreover,she is warm, nonjudgmental and a lot of fun.

I & K Wilde


Greetings

February 8th, 2011:

I met Gretchen during the summer of 2009 after moving to Kona as a full time resident in April 2009. I had owned in Kona since 1999 but had not lived here locally until then.

My goal was to determine if my Wife and I wanted to:

A: Stay put in our existing ocean view condo.

B: Move to a bigger/better condo

C: Move to a house – and sell/not sell our existing condo

AND – What the heck was going to happen with the market in the future??

No person has the crystal ball to effectively answer accurately but Gretchen provides the necessary tools and patience required for the answer to evolve.

  1. Knowledge: Gretchen lives, breaths and probably dreams real estate? As an Engineer I want data – charts – graphs, etc. I received them in record time.
  2. Responsiveness: We have all had a realtor that promises responsiveness. When Gretchen sets a time she will be there, on time and ready to go. When another party (other realtor, finance person, etc. is not pulling their weight Gretchen will professionally repair the issue. She operates 24×7 and will be there when needed (in person, on the phone or over email as appropriate).
  3. Industry Leader: Gretchen is well known to all realtor’s in Kona so if you are looking for an informed source she will know it or find out if it can be found. Her motto: “never underestimate the power of a redhead” is right on!
  4. Tactfulness: Gretchen will tell you her opinion if asked but in a positive manner. She reads a client and understands how to approach and work with them for a win win end solution. She knows she does not have a crystal ball and readily separates facts, educated guesses and rumors from incoming information.
  5. You want a Realtor that at least pretends to like your jokes. Gretchen not only pretends to like them but actually appears to appreciate them (or at least has me fooled that she does?).

End result: After a year of looking we came across the right Ocean Front Condo at the Kona Bali Kai complex and closed quickly despite the Foreclosure Bank Owned Status and the selling realtor being out of state and not available for Phone conversations 90% of the time.

Regards – Lynn Noffsinger


We were looking for a home to purchase and could not be “on Island” to see our prospects.  Gretchen Lambeth not only video taped the home and property but she also took us on a narrated tour of the neighborhood.  When we arrived for the first time to enter our new home it was like we had been here before.  Gretchen handled everything for us and is still there for us as we settle-in.  Here is a realtor that goes above and beyond the call of duty.  Thanks, Gretchen!
Hemphill: WA


As a single mother with only one income I never imagined home ownership, especially in Hawaii, as a possibility. But as home prices continued to decrease, my dream of buying a home for my daughter and myself began to come alive. Now came the tricky part. I knew absolutely zilch about the real estate market and home loan applications. I couldn’t tell you what an appraisal included, or what comps were. But it didn’t matter because Gretchen knew all of it. And if she didn’t have the answer, she was quick to find it. Not only did she explain the process and walk me through every step in as much detail as I needed, she also listened (I mean really listened) to my concerns. As the process dragged on and I began to give up, she continued to offer words of encouragement. She had more patience than anyone I’ve known and worked diligently to find a place that would work for my daughter and I. And when we finally found that place, she celebrated with us. She still keeps in touch, and when I have questions, I know where to find the answers. I never would have gotten through this without her. She’s the absolute best!

Happy home (condo) owner,
Kim


To the Big Island fans who want to buy a piece paradise but can’t make it out there to see every property:  Never fear, our realtor, Gretchen Lambeth, of Hawaiian Isle Real Estate, with her diligent approach and her handy Flip Video, made it all possible for us to do just that.

Here is our story:

My husband had been on me for quite a while to buy our future retirement home on the Big Island.  When you vacation there you can only get a real estate “snap shot” for the time you are on the island and then you have to leave.  My husband had remembered Gretchen’s cute red awning and saw one of her properties on the internet, but I was a long way from being convinced.  Gretchen told us she could send us her flip videos providing the answers to particular questions for that property.  Of course my husband was sold but I wanted to cast a wider net.

I can tell you I put Gretchen through her paces collecting information, taking flip videos and getting all the information I asked for, and then some, on each property that looked interesting.  The more she got to know us through emails and phone calls, we narrowed down search areas and she went flip video’ing away.  We got so much more than any MLS listing could ever give you.  Short of standing in the actual house, we had the same thing, without the plane ticket!

Gretchen was so helpful in all aspects and answering questions (of which I had many!) that I would never have bought a piece of property this way without her tireless work and her handy flip video set up.  And just to make it more complicated, we got involved in 2 homes with short sales. She helped us through all the things that we didn’t know about this process and the idiosyncrasies of Hawaiian real estate that is so different from the mainland.  Her contacts were fantastic for everything.  From the loan process to all the things we needed set up to get the paperwork going, all the way through closing on our dream home on the Big Island.

As it turned out, I was able to visit the island to see our purchase a week after we closed escrow and I can’t tell you how pleased I am (and more than pleasantly surprised!) that the reality was even better than was portrayed in all Gretchen’s hard work and her flip videos.  I was the skeptical one through this process and decision, and my fears were completely put to rest when I walked into our new home.  The location and neighborhood, through hard work and research by us both, were exactly what we were looking for and I just hated to leave.

Gretchen went so far beyond what you’d expect from a real estate agent. Even after the closing, she was still taking care of us.  This process couldn’t have been a better one for my family and I would highly recommend Gretchen as a realtor.  She truly embodies her website’s motto of making your “Hawaiian Real Estate Dreams” and “the power of a red head” an actual reality. As they say, a big “Mahalo” to Gretchen for bringing Hawaii’s Aloha spirit to our future on the Big Island. 
All the best,  The Murrays of Southern California….but not for long!


Gretchen is the absolutely best!  We know several Realtors but we chose Gretchen because of her newsletter.  We met her several years ago and have been on her mailing list and we read newsletter faithfully.  We were most impressed with her honesty with what the true picture of the market was.  If the market was good she said it was good, if it was bad she said it was horrible and always backed it with data. When it came time for us to buy a house she not only found us the house that met all of our wants, she found us a house in an area that we did not think we could afford.  She led us through the “minefield” of a VERY difficult bank owned transaction (foreclosure). Gretchen’s communication during the whole process was outstanding.  She always kept us informed, even when nothing was going on. For our next transaction in Kona, we would use no one other than Gretchen.
Beach: Kailua-Kona


My wife and I were interested in buying a house and I thought I could do it on my own… wrong! I came to a conclusion that we needed a Realtor.  I asked around at my church since we wanted a Christian to represent us and her name came up more than once. The moment I called her she began giving us incredible service, jumping through seemingly endless hoops for the very challenging $300,000 house market. I would think that most Realtors would try to get you into something as soon as possible to make the quick buck. Oh no, Gretchen’s #1 goal is to get you into something that fits your family’s lifestyle. She will take as much time as it takes to find the perfect fit. She always remained positive when the going got tough.  She was reliable and always made time for us. We have been in our home for two months now and love it. We could not have done it with out you Gretchen you were a blessing to us!!
Zeph: Kailua-Kona


Gretchen helped make an authentic miracle happen.  In the midst of an economic recession she helped me buy the PERFECT home-one that fit ALL my needs and DESIRES.  As a human she is intelligent, intuitive, honest and kind.  As an agent she exudes competence, thoroughness, patience, flexibility and integrity. I had zero knowledge of real estate and its many aspects.  She guided and explained to me each step of the way and I felt safe.  She is the gift that keeps giving!  I would recommend no other.
Perret


After a few months of looking for property in Kona – while living in California, it soon became clear that it was a much more difficult and frustrating undertaking than we could ever imagine. We were about to give up, not only on our agent but also on the island, when I contacted Gretchen, explained our needs, our past experiences and dismay. She was willing to take us on as clients. What a difference experience, knowledge and professionalism made! I didn’t keep them all, but we must have exchanged hundreds of emails during our buying process. Gretchen has always been available by phone even when she was off the Island. She took the time for us when we flew over from California. She tolerated my sense of humor and always maintained her “cool” with all the questions and requests. She never gave up on us. I am sure we weren’t easy clients to work with. We finally found a place and Gretchen maintained her sense of professionalism and walked us through every step of the buying process, even after we entered escrow. Gretchen is a true “find” and if she treats you the way she treated us in your buying or selling process you won’t be disappointed. Red heads do work harder. Thank you Gretchen.
Osgood/Olwage


I wish to fully recommend Gretchen Lambeth to any buyer (or seller) contemplating a residential real estate transaction. Her knowledge, experience and timely communication ensured our recent purchase proceeded to completion. We were kept fully informed at all times and she established an excellent working relationship with the existing agent. I have been employed in real estate for over 35 years and have not come across a person who is more professional. Service and results is what really counts and Gretchen excels on both counts!! 
Randell


I was a first time home buyer in a challenging economic time, but made it through smiling.  It would not have been possible without Gretchen’s dedication and professionalism.  Gretchen is outstanding at what she does.  She welcomed me the first day and clearly explained to me what was going on in terms that I could understand. As the process continued, I always felt safe and well-represented with Gretchen by my side.  I trusted her completely and knew that if I had any questions she would be there to answer and explain them to me.  I soon learned that the home-buying process is not easy as unexpected obstacles fell in our way. However, Gretchen continued to help me find other ways to reach my goal even when I felt that my dream of home ownership was over. She never gave up and worked hard for me, always making me feel like I was her most important client. Gretchen was there fighting for lower prices and asking questions on my behalf until the signing day – I couldn’t have asked for a better agent!
Taira


Gretchen we loved your get it done attitude. The time and effort you put into our condominium purchase from start to finish was outstanding. We feel that we have a new friend in Kona who just happens to be a great realtor. Mahalo
Cusick: Wenatchee, Washington


With the benefit of Gretchen’s “local knowledge” of prime properties and the fact that she is email savvy to the extreme, she made the process of acquiring our home in Kona the easiest, quickest and most enjoyable of experiences, and I could not recommend anyone more highly than her.
Feldhake/Grace: Newport Beach, CA


Congratulations on closing our escrow several weeks ago!! I have to admit living on the mainland and purchasing a property in Hawaii seemed like a complicated and risky transaction. Well, all those initial fears melted away with your perseverance and supreme level of communication. I have purchased many properties over the years, and this was the easiest transaction I have been involved with. Just goes to show that with the right real estate agent, distance will not be a factor. Thanks again for making our second home dreams in Kona become a reality for me and my family.
K. Millington: Santa Barbara, CA


Gretchen began working hard for us from the first moment we talked. She found the perfect home for our family and helped us make the huge move from California to Kona. She helped us with everything from turning on the utilities to teaching the kids to catch geckos, from buying furniture to where to get your hair weaved. We highly recommend Gretchen; we can’t imagine having done this without her!
Scheller: Kailua-Kona, HI


Gretchen was our Realtor and she did a fantastic job! We live on the mainland & everything was done by fax or overnight delivery. She stayed on top of everything & proved that you can buy real estate long distance. I would highly recommend her. Thanks Gretchen!
Fox: Madera, CA


She was always on top of everything we needed, available for questions, and was fair in her sales showings. We were impressed with her integrity, honesty, personableness, and when we finally closed, we felt like old friends.
Randerson: Kailua-Kona, HI


I went thru two agents before finding Gretchen. She was the only one that had any knowledge about the market, listened to what I was looking for & worked everyday to help me find a piece of property. I felt like I was her only client even though I was on a budget in this hot market. I will not do any real estate business without her.
Powles: Kailua-Kona, HI


We have now closed two escrows with Gretchen at the helm and cannotexpress enough praises on her behalf. She far exceeds any other agent we haveever dealt with. She emailed every day for almost a year while looking for our condo. . .it was so reassuring to know she was on thelookout for us. In closing the deal on our house recently she exhibited an amazing degree of professionalism with total attention to detail.
Walczak Mammoth Lakes, CA


Recently we purchased two homes in Kona with Gretchen’s help. From the beginning she was a tower of knowledge. She knew the history of the island and future development plans. She understood exactly what we were looking for and located it! After escrow opened, she arranged financing and dealt with a myriad of issues, including incorrect credit reports and a loan specialist who suddenly resigned before the loans were funded. After we closed escrow, Gretchen continued to assist us with furnishing and landscaping our home. We love to recommend her!
T. Curry: Kailua-Kona, HI


Gretchen, thank you for making our dream come true! We are absolutely thrilled with our move to Lokahi Makai. Our new home is spectacular. The kids are happy too because less commuting means more family time! We are all jumping for joy! Mahalo Nui Loa!
Hurley: Kailua-Kona, HI