NextHome Paradise Realty
Meet the Team
NextHome Paradise Realty
Testimonials
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Cindy Whittemore led us through our first property sale with confidence, knowledge and ease. We knew exactly what she wanted us to do, explained procedures well, and we never had to repeat anything! A true professional.
We will happily have her and her company help us again.
Thanks, Cindy
Aloha, Judi and Kent
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- Dr. Kent and Judith-Ann Nakamaru
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We have always dreamed of moving to Hawaii. We found Mike Drutar's videos on YouTube and really found them not only informative but fun to watch. His detailed explanations of home craftsmanship, what to look for both good and bad helped us learn what we wanted and what we didn't want in a new home.
After months of watching his videos we felt like we knew Mike!!! So, when we decided to go on vacation on the Big Island of course we contacted him. Sadly, he was out of town while we were there but he made sure his partner, Tanya took amazing care of us! Tanya quickly picked up on what we needed, primarily dog friendly, and helped us find our home. It was the first home we looked at and she told us that it was a remarkable gem at an excellent price, we made an offer and I'm now sitting in paradise typing this review!
Mike was here to greet me when I arrived and gave me the keys, showed me around our new home. It was a bit like meeting an old friend after all the videos we watched.
Having only been here less than a week I can say this is the best decision we ever made and I'm so thankful we found those videos of Mike, he made it easy and his team made it all happen effortlessly.
Thank you.
Tom and Judith
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- Judith McLean (Retired)
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We would give Cindy Whittemore a 10-star rating if it was available. Cindy and her partner, Gerry Rott, have represented us on several real estate transactions. She was our listing agent when we sold and represented us as a buyer, so we have had an opportunity to see first hand how she handles transactions. The first thing to know is that Cindy defines the word 'professional' in every sense. She stayed totally on top of all details, had prompt and thorough communication, ran down any questions, and provided so much additional information that helped us make informed decisions. We worked with her while on the mainland and she kept us informed about market conditions, neighborhoods, and properties. Cindy knows the Kailua-Kona area like few people do providing insights into neighborhoods, trends, history, etc. Initially, we spent time discussing what we were looking for in a house, she would send links to properties and we gave her feedback. She quickly understood what we liked and then found homes that met our criteria. With her thorough knowledge of the areas we were able to target only properties that had serious potential. It was a real pleasure working with Cindy and we are appreciative of all her efforts on our behalf. Additionally, she is a strong community supporter and you can tell that she is highly respected by other real estate agents. Mahalo Nui Loa Cindy!
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- Terry & Ann O'Halloran
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Best thing about Mike and his team is the follow through. They answered all questions in a timely manner. We also needed referrals for contractors, cleaners, CPA and another agent on a different island. Mike hit it out of the park and all his referrals were amazing!
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- Mary Mullahey
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EIleen is an absolute pleasure to work with as she brought an up-to-date understanding of the market while also listening to what we needed in a property and home. Extremely professional, always on time, and with the extra touches that make you smile and relax. I look forward to working with Eileen again.
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- Pamela B.
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This team made my first time home buying experience super easy! Would definitely recommend! Now the hard part, packing!
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- Jason G
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I have known Walter for 25 years while living on the Big Island of Hawaii. He has always done an outstanding job both for me and the many clients I have referred to him. All of them have become lifelong friends and do all of their real estate sales and buying with him. He has a great knowledge of the market on the Big Island. He has a wonderful sparkling personality and does such a professional job for both buying and selling houses and condos on the Big Island. His slogan of "don't falter, call Walter" so aptly describes the great job he does for everyone. Once you use him, you won't want to consider any other real estate agent. He never tires of finding what you want if you are buying and if you are selling, he stages your place for open houses that makes it look so attractive. Walter always goes the extra mile in everything he does. l
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- J. Willard Williams (Director of Army Continuing Education Services (Ret) Regional Sales Manager for Franklin Covey Co.)
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As a fellow Realtor, I appreciate Eileen's professional work ethic and direct, no-nonsense, informed approach with clients and other Realtors.
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- Lisa D.
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We were interested in looking for a house in the Kona area and walked into the office and were greeted by Mike. He listened to our wants and needs and identified a few properties that would be suitable for us. We looked at several homes and Mikes knowledge of the market, as well as the products(the homes construction etc. was outstanding. We settled on purchasing a lovely home and Mike led and helped us through the entire purchase process. Mike is a very likeable person and a pleasure to work with. I recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell he has a wealth of real estate knowledge.
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- Neil Alkan
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Mike was thorough, easy to work with, and responsive without being pushy. His videos were so detailed and informative; we felt we had walked through the home ourselves. Mike understands the Kona market and was quick to respond. When a home came on the market that fit our requests, Mike sent us a video within hours. We were able to submit an offer that evening, which was accepted in less than 24 hours of the house being on the market. Mike was helpful not only through the closing process, but also a great resource even after closing.
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- Greg & Bridget M.
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Cindy was very helpful in assisting my husband and I while buying our land. We appreciated the fact that she was very prompt in responding to any and all questions/concerns we had throughout the process.
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- Katie Emery
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Tanya is incredibly organized and has a wealth of knowledge in the Kona area. She has helped my husband and me on several real estate transactions very successfully.
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- Myrna Fant
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We highly recommend Tanya Power as an outstanding real estate agent. Since 2014 she has handled five realty transactions for us with exceptional professionalism, careful attention to details and constant communication. We trust Tanya to have our best interest and knowledge of the Big Island marketplace. We don’t anticipate moving again, but if we do, we will definitely avail ourselves of Tanya’s services once again.
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- Carl & Janine Garrity
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Mike is awesome! He got our place listed & sold in under 30 days. He is organized, reliable, efficient and follows through. His knowledge and expertise in the real estate market is invaluable.
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- Stacey Aguiar
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We have worked with Tanya on both the buying and selling side and she is world class. A consumate professional with a personality that exudes the aloha spirit. We will continue to work with TP on all future deals.
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- LUKE EDWARDS (President)
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I have known Eileen socially and professionally for roughly twelve years on the Big Island. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with her on several projects and environments during that time. Her behavior consistently has been beyond reproach. I vouch for her honesty, trustworthiness, and moral character without any reservation.
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- Dave P.
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Cindy is a professional with Aloha. She has lived on the Big Island for a long time and knows her market very well. Cindy has listed two properties for us and handles every detail, and is always available to answer questions or concerns. Cindy has a team of professionals to stage and photograph properties to make the marketing simple and appealing. We are so great full for her ability to work with us while we were on the mainland. If you want a seamless transaction with Aloha, Cindy is your realtor. Thank You Cindy!
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- Kathleen Stutts
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Responsive, knowledgeable and professional. A pleasure to work with. I recommend without reservation.
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- Robert Laird (MD)
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Tanya was a pleasure to work with. Her communication skills and her availability made us feel like a priority. In the 10 days we were in Kona she gave us an informational tour of the area, booked showings and actually found our dream “home” before we had to leave. She had referrals for all the other professionals we needed to complete our purchase. She orchestrated all of the necessary details through the end of a fast and successful escrow. Tanya even helped us purchase items we needed to furnish our new place since we were off island. We appreciated how punctual, knowledgeable and friendly Tanya is. We highly recommend her and if we ever have future Real Estate needs we are calling TANYA!
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- Jean Luis
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My wife and I wholeheartedly recommend Mike's services for your real estate needs. He is knowledgeable, professional, ethical, with marketing savvy few agents anywhere possess. He is the calm pro you want in any real estate situation. Mahalo nui loa Mike for a job well done!
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- Steve B.
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Mike did a great job helping us find a home. He greatly aided us in navigating through some difficult issues. Mike had great communication and follow up skills, and we would wholeheartedly recommend him!
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- Lynn and David Chazin
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Mike’s house videos made buying from the mainland a breeze. Very knowledgeable and patient. Strongly recommend him.
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- John Vande Moore
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Mike was instrumental in convincing me to follow through with the purchase of a condo that just closed today. He was reasonable and factual in his explanation. Without his input, I probably would not have purchased the condo. I am very happy with my purchase.
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- Bill W.
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We had the pleasure of working with both Mike Drutar and Kathryn Nielsen. Both were great to work with. They know the market well, were patient in our property search, on top of the many details and deadlines during the offer and acceptance process, engaged during escrow addressing any concerns. From house hunt to closing, it was a very positive experience.
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- Pam Wong (Buyer)
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Super organized and made the whole process easy, would absolutely choose Mike again for any future real estate transactions.
Thanks for everything!
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- Brian Berg
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Mike was great to work with, from showing us condos in our range and all the way through the closing process he was very responsive and helpful. Would 100% recommend him if you are looking for a place on the Big Island.
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- Matt Gittlein
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I have had the pleasure of working and playing with Eileen for many years. In business she is exceptionally meticulous and professional. She goes above and beyond her call of duty. Expect nothing but the best from this charming professional Realtor.
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- Patricia F.
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Mike Drutar was easy to work with on day one. Explanation of the processes required to get the house on the market were quite clear. I couldn’t ask for a more
Professional person to work with. Mike’s organizational skills were quite impressive and easy to follow. I couldn’t have asked for
More in a realtor than Mike.
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- Anonymous
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They say in Vegas, “Once in a while you get lucky. We got lucky when we found Mike Drutar.
After 30 years and 2 great careers in the PNW, my wife looked at me on a 12 degree morning last March and says, “I think we should move to Hawaii”.
She could have picked somewhere easy, Scottsdale, Palm Desert, Mars…… But no. The Big Island.
This was going to be an epic headache and more likely a major train wreck. Not just 3000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, but a whole different insurance structure (tax, health, home, auto, etc, etc), are not like the mainland.. Shipping our “life” in orange boxes, our vehicles and a German Shepard (that’s a whole chapter in itself). Why not Mars honey????
Fortunately for us, our real estate agent in the PNW turned us on to Mike. Big investments, Bit consequences - they can go either way. Donna and I spent 10 months getting our house sold and finding the right one in Hawaii. Mike was with us every step of the way. His insight, counsel, knowledge, and just great Aloha made it HAPPEN.
Our sincerest appreciation and gratitude for everything you did for us.
We are living our dream life thanks to you, on an island, in the Pacific.
Mahalo,
Tom & Donna Drury
Waikoloa, HI
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- Tom Drury (Retired)
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Mike is a fantastic realtor with unparalleled knowledge in the Kona market. His easy-going demeanor, detailed organization and guidance was refreshing. We listed, showed and accepted in record time with an expedited closing at the listed price point. No headaches hassles or drama. I wish all transactions were this easy.
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- John Bertsch
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Mike was great every step of the way. He made this so easy for us, communicating with us was top notch, we always knew what was going on.
Bill and Gail
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- Gail Garoutte
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Tanya did a fantastic job helping me find a great home and selling my old home that she also found for me 10 years ago!
She met and exceeded my expectations, and I am so thankful for her.
Homeowner Dreams DO come true! I am so happy to have her in my corner!
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- Buddy Fritz
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I’m glad Cindy was my realtor throughout the sale of my condo. Admittedly I was at a loss on what to do first. Luckily Cindy provided guidance on required procedures and always kept me updated at very turn. Her expertise contributed to a very quick sale and, best of all, minimal mental stress for me. Sincerely I recommend Cindy to anyone who needs a realtor. She is the best.
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- Gloria Mento
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Tanya did a great job handling our sale--great communication, timely reminders of important dates etc. and she's a good negotiator!
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- Jay Lambert
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Mike has been so wonderful to work with! This is our 3rd transaction ( twice as sellers and once as a buyer) and have always found him to be very knowledgeable, professional and helpful. He’s never pressured us or hurried us into any actions. He returns phone calls and texts quickly and was able to connect us with the local resources we needed. We’ve recommended him to many of our local friends. His years of experience in real estate on the Big Island is invaluable!
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- Deon Husak
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Tanya Powers did a excellent job selling our home within a week of listing … She is personable and kind to work with making the process less stressful… Tanya is one of the most respected agents on the island, and has many connections and teams to take care of all your home preparation needs. She explains the process and creates a timeline to keep things on track. We felt confident in her representing our family, home and community. The buyers felt supported as well with her clear communication and knowledge of the area, Tanya Powers is simply the best choice in buying or selling your home.
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- Tia & Noah Whiteaker (Homeowner)
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During the last six months my wife and I completed three real estate transactions. One was the sale of our condo in Vancouver, British Columbia, and two were here in Kailua-Kona. For both Kona transactions Walter Sinicki was our agent. The purchase of our new home was seamless, both agents communicated well and the process progressed to everyone's satisfaction.
Walter was a tremendous asset. He attended to issues almost immediately, and his persistence to see the process through was incredible. We would have been really frustrated if he hadn't been in our corner.
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- Chris Clark
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Cindy was awesome thru the whole process
I can’t thank her enough
Thxs
Jerry
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- Jerry. Stutts
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Mike was recommended to us and we couldn't be happier. He knows his game. During the process he was in constant communication. He had a very easy platform to help you through the steps of purchasing your home. He worked hard and stayed with us through a unusually long underwriting process. Keeping the sellers as happy as they could be with delays from our underwriter and broker. We were able to get into our home and bring the price down at the right moments.
You can tell when professionals love what they do and this is true for Mike. We highly recommend him to represent you on your NextHome deal!
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- Andrew Deverse (Professional Leak Detector and Operator of Kona Labs Leak Detection)
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I have had the pleasure of being a client of Cindy Whittemore who was the listing agent for my property located in Kailua Kona. Mrs. Whittemore demonstrated her commitment to providing a wealth of information and knowledge as we prepared to list my home. Her professionalism and personal commitment were clearly apparent as she conscientiously followed through with every endeavor. Her level of commitment and sense of responsibility are reflective of a gifted and talented agent. I am certain that Cindy’s friendly, approachable demeanor and her abounding knowledge and experience were instrumental in securing a contract swiftly with all parties happily in agreement. Her dedication to every aspect of her profession will ensure continued success in all of her endeavors.
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- Richard H. Tamiya (Client)
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Mike was amazing to work with. He took videos of many places that were of interest to us, helping us separate the ones that looked good on paper from the real gems. We ended up putting in 6 offers before we were able to get one accepted. And then we really got to see Mike and his team shine. The entire process was amazingly smooth. Mike was able to refer great contractors for inspection, surveys, title, and lenders. He put together an electronic timeline that tracked all of the dates and everything went according to plan. And, as importantly, we knew exactly what was going on each week through closing.
This was the smoothest transaction we have had - and I highly recommend Mike and his team.
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- Terence + Jodi
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My wife and I have bought and sold 4 properties with Walter Sinicki's assistance in the past 15 years. We will continue to seek Walter's assistance in the future for several reasons. He's a long-term relationship builder - he is not a one and done real estate agent. He anticipates that there will be all sorts of questions and issues that will arise during the buying and selling process, and he expects that he will need to assist his clients in answering those questions and resolving those issues. Finally, he's demonstrated over and over that he doesn't make commitments that he doesn't intend to keep. For us - trust is everything, and we trust Walter. Thomas Fearing and Dianne Bernert
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- Thomas Fearing (Client)
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Tanya has helped us purchase a condo in Waiulaula and a house in Kona, we could not be more pleased with her dedicated help and assistance, her knowledge of the housing market and her commitment to us, her client, has been nothing less than fantastic. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home.
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- Christopher W Benson
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I’ve known Mike for sometime, but this is the first time I’ve worked with him. Knowing that Mike was a talented realtor/ broker, didn’t prepare me for what happened next. He was way better than I could have realized.
The level of service and communication was second to none. Mike also referred me and my wife to an agent on Oahu to help us with our next purchase.
I highly recommend Mike Drutar and his team.
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- Michael Mullahey (Owner)
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Mike is very well versed in his craft and managed my real estate transaction to perfection. He is extremely knowledgeable and stays communicative throughout the process. Mike provided strong advice from the beginning of the transaction until we successfully closed. If you would like a partner in your real estate deal be certain to contact Mike Drutar!
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- Rhett Thomas
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Cindy was amazing!!!!! So easy to work with and so helpful. Couldn't be more happy!!!!!
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- Seth Mills
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Tanya was recommended by a friend and from the first day we met her we knew she was the one.
We wanted to sell our house in Kona, but live on the mainland. We hadn’t ever sold a house and had some apprehension. But Tanya took us by the hand and guided us every step of the way. She is very professional and at the same time personable, friendly and kind.
We recommend her without hesitation.
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- Joyce Bryner
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I was so happy to have Cindy as our realtor, guiding us in the sale of our property. Her research and knowledge of the area was such an asset and the entire process was smooth and stress free. Would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell.
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- Brett Ritchie
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Being from the mainland,my wife and I had much to learn in our desire to purchase real estate on the big island. Tanya turned out to be the perfect choice. Whether it was a question about a particular area, an insightful observation or a key recommendation,Tanya was the best choice we could have made. Thank you Tanya for making our real estate dreams come true.
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- Gordon Luis
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My best friend passed away in Kona and as her executor I needed to take care of her estate. I live on the mainland and needed all the help I could get. Needing to sell my friend’s home, I turned to Tanya and who is absolutely marvelous. She is kind - she made sure my friend’s wishes were honored -and an honest and smart realtor. She even found a family to adopt my friend’s cat! She went over and above to get my friend’s house sold. She handled working with people from the mainland and she and her associates made sure everything worked smoothly and with integrity. Thank you, Tanya!
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- Carmen Mahood (Estate Executor)
About NextHome Paradise Realty
NextHome Paradise Realty focuses on the needs of our clientsRelationships are at the center of everything we do. We work to create meaningful relationships with our clients through thoughtful communication in order to understand our clients needs. We help our clients strengthen their relationships in the stability of a home. Our focus on relationships is what will set us apart from the competitive landscape which is over-focused on technology.
Relationships build communities. By focusing on relationships, we are helping make our community a better place for all.
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The information provided by AlohaLiving.com® has been compiled and provided in conjunction with 3rd Party sources. This information has not been independently verified by Hawaii Information Service and is, therefore, not guaranteed. Last Update: September 17, 2026 3:37 AM UTC
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