Eileen Lacerte
Eileen Lacerte In many circles, Eileen Lacerte Owner/Partner of Hawaii Beach and Golf Properties on the Big Island, needs no introduction. As agent to kings of industry seeking a vacation home, corporate retreat, investment property, or a legacy; Eileen has represented titans of technology, award winning entertainers, business tycoons and other high profile individuals for several decades. She s sold at some of the most coveted resorts on the Big Island of Hawaii. She s sought after by developers to bring to life new properties featuring the amenities that discerning buyers demand. An expert in 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges, and Trust & LLC holdings, Eileen is quick to point out that her incredible knowledge base did not come overnight. Instead it was amassed over decades of hard work, discipline, and a dedication to her craft. Originally licensed in California in 1979, Eileen spent the first 15 years of her career as a Top Agent in California s highly competitive real estate market. For four years was consistently the top agent for number of units in Northern California and Nevada. She then purchased her first brokerage Century 21 Lacerte & Associates which she drove to the top of the Northern California real estate market seemingly overnight. The only flaw in her business plan? Her heart was in Hawaii. I worked nonstop for 90 days and would then fly to Hawaii for mandatory time off. I have always loved Hawaii, she says. As such, by the time the recession of the early 1990 s hit, Eileen made a life changing decision. I owned a condo in Hawaii and I decided that if I was going to be poor for the next few years, I was going to be poor in Hawaii, she says with a laugh. She made the decision to make the Big Island her home and hasn t regretted it a day in her life. She
immediately dove into the real estate industry in Hawaii, and soon helped sell 40 condos at the Mauna Lani Resort. From there she was tapped to sell luxury single family homes and condos at the Mauna Kea Resort, where 22 homes were sold in the first 90 days of sales, followed by construction of 40 condominiums. Indeed within just 10 years of working in real estate in Hawaii, Eileen had become the agent that Developers turned to for help, that buyers wanted to work with to secure multi-million dollar homes, and that sellers demanded for her state of the art, sophisticated marketing, and unparalleled negotiation skills. Eileen was more than willing to deliver. In the high-end luxury market, there is an absolute thrill that comes with helping a family to buy their dream and their legacy, she says. She also relishes the opportunity to work with developers to ensure their plans include the demands of the market. I know what buyers want and I know what they don t need.
We need outdoor showers, but we definitely don t need big coat closets, for example. Because so many of her buyers are from out of state, she gives her all to provide impeccable, and ongoing concierge service. I get calls from clients who are only at their home here a few times a year, who need my help. They may need me to measure a sofa, or to make sure a bedspread they ve ordered works in a particular room, and I m happy to provide these services. I don t just sell someone a house. These people become lifelong friends, and feel like family, she says. That friendship is reciprocal. Eileen says the overwhelming majority of her business comes directly from referrals from past and existing clients who recommend her to other high profile individuals. Their positions are such that they don t write me testimonials, but they absolutely refer me to their peers.
I ve also caught a ride on a private jet once or twice, she says with a laugh. For all of the love that she has for helping others to own a bit of paradise, Eileen is a multi-dimensional agent. She still lives and breathes real estate, but sticks to her own rules when it comes to taking necessary breaks. I do the same thing I ve been doing for years. I work 24/7 for months, but schedule mandatory breaks where I leave the island. These days those breaks often involve artistic endeavors. A wildly talented painter of seascapes, Eileen often takes her breaks in Europe, or will head to Oregon for additional art classes. Though she s currently painting as a creative outlet, she admits that galleries have contacted her about selling her oil paintings. Maybe when I retire, I ll think about that, she says. As far as retirement goes though, Eileen still just doesn t see it coming. Even with more than $220 Million
closed, she still just enjoys real estate too much to think about leaving. In fact, on the contrary, she s currently ramping up marketing efforts. The market is in an upswing again, so I m not going anywhere for a while. I have too much knowledge, from my years of experience and from the sheer volume of properties I ve sold, to decide to stop working with people. I honestly, sincerely like helping people, and I love building lifelong friendships. For more information email Eileen@EileenLacerte.com call (808) 989-1862 visit EileenLacerte.com