Athena’s interest in the appraisal industry started when she met an appraiser trainee who had just entered the field.
“He described the appraisal process to me, and I was intrigued. I decided to make a major career change and pursue my appraisal license. In 2007, I earned my license in the State of Hawaii.”
Knowing that the property assessment she puts together is a crucial part of the purchase process is very fulfilling for Athena.
“The most rewarding part of this career is providing the lender, home purchaser, and homeowner with a cogent report that will be utilized to complete a transaction based on my analytical thinking skills and due diligence.”
To complete those reports, Athena is willing to assess a property whenever it’s convenient for the homeowner.
“I constantly schedule my appraisals outside of business hours to accommodate homeowners. I will book appointments on the weekends and holidays, so homeowners do not have to take time off work and to accommodate lender rush requests too.”
Professionalism also plays a big part in how Athena conducts business.
“Professionalism is all about gaining trust. A professional is unbiased, has ethics, meets expectations, is detail-orientated and communicates efficiently.”
Athena reports that there are several new construction projects underway in Honolulu that could be of interest to new home buyers.
“Many of these projects are located in the Kakaako and Ala Moana areas. They offer diverse housing options and revitalization efforts–projects like Kahuina, Muse Honolulu, Kaliu, and Waiakoa.”
The Hawaiian marketplace is little changed from last year at this time.
“The median sale price last month was $1,100,000 which was up $25,000 from last year. The number of homes sold was 262 vs. 274 last year, and the average-days-on-market was 40 vs. 43.”