Betty Sakamoto: Aloha and welcome to Betty’s Real Estate Corner, brought to you by Coldwell Banker and Sakamoto Properties, with Roy and Betty Sakamoto. Today in the studio is Regan Sherlock, who is the son of Ahu, Julie Flynn Sherlock, a Lahainaluna graduate. It’s really a great day. They’re all going to be here for Christmas. But right now, Regan and I are out running errands, grocery shopping, and doing all the things he might prefer to avoid. If we can keep him out of the surf long enough, a quick hello is in order. Hello, Regan.
Regan Sherlock: Hi, everybody. Thank you for having me.
BS: It’ll be fun. I think we’ll have a great time. Regan is now living in Denver and has a nice job. He graduated from San Diego State, where he redshirted his first year, didn’t you?
RS: Yes.
BS: Five years?
RS: Four and a half.
BS: That’s great. Was that a good experience overall?
RS: Yeah, it was awesome. Looking back, I actually miss it more than I thought I would. I would really like to go back in time and play again. It’s fun watching my brother play now at Washington.
BS: Is it?
RS: Yeah, it really is. It’s a pretty awesome experience to see him doing the exact same thing I was doing, just at a different program. I’m kind of living vicariously through him right now.
BS: Oh, that’s good. He’s doing pretty well. He also redshirted his first year.
RS: Yes, he had an injury, so he had to redshirt. Last year, he played a good amount and performed well in every game he got into. They had a bit of an off year compared to their usual performance, but I think they have a very strong team going into next year. I’ve become a UDUB fan now, so I’m excited.
BS: Perfect.
RS: And also, the football team is doing well this year too.
BS: Oh, that’s great. Yes, it seems they’re doing well.
RS: Oh, yeah. I mean, Sugar Bowl is on New Year’s Day, and it’s going to be pretty cool. Mike is going to be there.
BS: I know. Is that great?
RS: Yeah.
BS: Somehow, the school had tickets, and he ended up with one. A couple of his friends will also be at the Sugar Bowl. They’ll be here for Christmas, and then he leaves here, I think, pretty soon.
RS: He goes back to San Diego for, what, two or three days? And then he moves on from there.
BS: Yes. It’ll be really fun for him to attend that football game.
RS: It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
BS: The rest of us will either pretend or actually watch it on television. Yes, you all will be watching it, I’m sure. We’ll try to focus a bit on real estate today and talk about it with Regan. It’s a bit shocking being back in Lahaina. He’s been here on and off since he was a tiny baby. Julie, his mom, Ahu, graduated from Lahainaluna in 1982.
RS: Yes, 1982.
BS: She was back here for a couple of weeks after the fires and managed to spend time with her friends. Archie Kalepa, one of her classmates, is doing a lot for everyone involved. She was able to help some friends and attend the first football game that happened. She’ll also be here for Christmas. We’re all excited. We’re not going to focus heavily on real estate on the show today, but if anyone is interested in buying real estate or has questions, you can reach Roy at (808) 870-7060 or me, Betty Sakamoto, at (808) 870-7062. Let us know if we can help with anything real estate-related. Meanwhile, let’s learn more about what Regan is doing. Regan has a great job. What company do you work for?
RS: Snowflake.
BS: Snowflake. And what do you do primarily?
RS: I’m in an entry-level sales position, reaching out to different companies to see if they’re interested in learning more about our product. From there, others take over the deal cycle. We’re a data management platform that provides actionable workloads. It’s a bit complex to explain.
BS: Yes, that sounds good in a situation like this.
RS: But it’s a great company, and I’ve learned a lot from a business perspective, including how companies make money and how the world works. Coming out of school, you don’t fully understand it, but over time, it becomes part of what you do.
BS: That’s true. When I think about coming out of high school and starting work, I had no idea how people were really making money. You’re starting with an hourly job and learning what it takes to succeed, including understanding complex financial systems. It’s challenging for young people to keep up and adapt.
RS: Yes, you definitely have to adapt and work hard. Playing soccer and being a student is different from having a 9 to 5 job. You have more freedom as a student, but a job comes with set rules and a structured schedule. Adapting to these changes becomes part of your routine.
BS: Time always seems to be our enemy.
RS: Absolutely. Being willing to learn and improve is crucial. I was fortunate to have great mentors at my first job out of college, and I learned a lot from them, both about the industry and good habits.
BS: It is hard.
RS: Yes, I was lucky to have a good first job, and my second job has been fantastic so far.
BS: That’s great. I often say on the radio that time is precious: “Only by the minute, only 60 seconds in it; forced upon me, can’t refuse it, didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, but it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it, give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, eternity is in it.” It’s interesting because we’re always managing time, trying to balance it all.
I’ve kept this perspective in mind—just a minute can make a difference if everything comes together. Your mom will be here not tomorrow, but the next day. She’ll be here again, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I think we’re going to have a great family Christmas. Nobody’s been here for Christmas in ages, and you’ve never been here for it.
RS: This is my first time in the islands during the winter. I’ve been here in the spring once before when I was younger, but never in December. It’s been interesting to see it from a different perspective compared to summer. We have more time now, though with the holidays, everyone is busy with their own activities. The timing is good.
BS: Last night, we went to the Ritz-Carlton, just the four of us: Roy, his niece, and me. We went to the lobby-level bar for a really nice dinner. It was great, and we talked for hours. It was a lot of fun. You met someone you wouldn’t have otherwise, one of Roy’s sister’s kids who live in Washington, D.C. It was a really enjoyable night of talking and getting to know someone new.
RS: Oh, for sure. Every time I’m with Papa Roy, he tells me stories I had no idea about. Living in Denver, I mention things I’m doing, and he shares how he used to go to Vail all the time. I had no idea! I’ve learned that to get a good story out of him, I need to ask the right questions.
BS: Yes, we actually bought a lot in Vail.
RS: Yeah, he told me.
BS: It was kind of interesting. We had planned to build a house there someday, but when we really needed the money and the market was high, we ended up selling the lot. We were glad we did because it was beyond our capability to build there while managing everything else. Even today, we’re both still working in real estate and loving it. I don’t think that will ever change, though I may spend less time in the office in a few years. We’re always available to help with real estate needs or to direct you in the right direction. We really enjoy what we do.
Again, you can reach Roy at (808) 870-7060 and me, Betty Sakamoto, at (808) 870-7062. There aren’t many listings right now, but Kapalua has some great properties available. If you’re interested in oceanfront or any other properties, give us a call. We’ll do our best to help you or direct you to find what you need.
It’s a tough time here after the fires. We’re involved in helping address some of the challenges. As a member of the Lahainaluna High School Foundation Board, I know how hard it is. Many people are donating directly to the foundation to support those injured or who lost property in the fires. We’ve set up a system to accept and direct these funds with no service fee, ensuring they go directly to those in need. The stories of loss are heartbreaking, but we’re doing what we can to help.
You have our numbers, so feel free to contact us for any real estate needs. We’ll try to repeat them as often as possible to make sure you can reach us. What are your plans after Christmas? When do you head back, and what’s your schedule?
RS: I’ll head back to Denver soon. I’ll be snowboarding a lot for sure, and I hope we get some more snow. I’ll be working hard until the end of January, and then I’ll be preparing for a potential promotion as we enter the next fiscal year. It’s the next step in my career, so I’m excited about that. There’s a lot of change coming up in 2024, and I think it’s going to be a good year. 2023 was also a great year.
BS: Yes, 2023 was great until August. It’s hard to believe everything that happened. We’ve shared the story, but almost everyone in Lahaina experienced a moment when we lost cell phone service. Our regular phones didn’t work, and we had no idea what was going on.
One of the first updates I got was from his mom. She was hearing things we weren’t, and we couldn’t get on the road because everything was blocked. Then we started hearing the terrible news. It was a truly awful time in our history. It was really, really difficult.
RS: I remember the events clearly because I was working and received a lot of messages about it over social media. I saw them early in the morning.
BS: Tell us what you did. It’s a really great story. Reagan stepped in over social media and wanted to help out here.
RS: Yeah, it was August 8th, right?
BS: Right. The fires were obviously the cause.
RS: I was deeply saddened. Lahaina is a part of my childhood and upbringing. While not the same as those who live here or are native, I came here once a year and really enjoyed it. It’s been such a great experience, and I’ve met many people, including my mom’s classmates. I’ve attended two high school reunions, camped with them, and they’ve welcomed me as an honorary family member.
BS: You’ve done this a few times, where you camped out with the kids and their families. It was pretty amazing how everyone came together and had such a good time.
RS: Last year, it was just my mom and me. It was a special experience for us to share together, and it was also great to connect with her classmates. When the fires happened, I wanted to contribute and help out.
Unfortunately, with work, I couldn’t fly out here and be on the ground immediately. But I thought I could use my social media presence and connections to raise money specifically for my mom’s classmates, who had been so kind to me when we visited—housing me, feeding me, and being amazing people.
So, I ran a half-marathon exactly two months after the fires. I set up a GoFundMe and shared it on Instagram and LinkedIn. People were very receptive. Two of my college friends also ran a half-marathon to raise money, posting about it on their socials. We raised just under $4,000, which we distributed to class members who lost their homes.
It wasn’t an enormous sum, but it helped with buying necessities or anything else they needed. Even small contributions can make a big difference in tough situations.
BS: I think it went a long way, and it really meant a lot to her classmates.
RS: It was rewarding to see my friends come together for a cause I cared deeply about. Not everyone who supported us has been to Maui, but many have a connection to the islands. It was amazing to watch people come together, with most donations coming from friends who are just starting out in their careers.
A dollar can go a long way, especially when given by people who are themselves just starting out. It was incredible to see people I hadn’t talked to in a while contribute to a cause they weren’t personally connected to.
BS: It really is impressive. And your friends have come here over the years, running more than we could walk. It was comical seeing them run up and down Pineapple Hill Road, often three times in a row.
RS: I don’t even know what the number was. We would do activities to stay in shape during the summer. We needed to stay fit because, in a month’s time, we’d be back for pre-season camp, and if you weren’t in decent shape, you’d be behind.
It was fun. I loved training here. The best scenario would be to come out here all the time and do that. I loved it. It was also great having my friends stay with you; it helped them understand who I am as a person as I got older, because friends represent who you are too.
BS: They were great. From a real estate perspective, we have a couple of fantastic listings at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. One is the Ritz-Carlton Penthouse 1626, listed at $8.9 million. It’s a one-of-a-kind, spectacular penthouse. It’s difficult to show because it’s currently occupied. But it’s truly remarkable—almost 3,300 square feet.
We also have another listing, 11-2628, on the ground floor and oceanfront, listed at $3.25 million. It’s also spectacular. If you’re interested, give us a call. We’ll do our best to show them to you or describe them in more detail. The Ritz-Carlton is a great place; we often go there for early dinners. Last night, we had smash burger and sushi, which was excellent.
RS: Yeah, it was.
BS: Great conversation too.
RS: From the perspective of someone my age, 25, do you have any recommendations on how to get into real estate at a younger age? It’s obviously difficult because everything is so expensive, but what should younger people start thinking about moving forward?
BS: One thing to consider is the desire to own real estate. You should think about wanting to own property somewhere. I’m not familiar with Denver’s market right now.
RS: I would just say that from national perspective.
BS: Let’s say Maui, it’s very difficult because we’ve lost so much real estate, and we’re peaking in many ways. But I think people will always want to buy here. Regardless of age, if someone is working and has a job, the key is to set up a personal fund where you consistently save money. Whether you’re in Denver, here, or anywhere in the country, you don’t know where you’ll end up settling.
Many young people keep an eye on new developments. Sometimes, these developments offer a good entry point with lower down payments or specialty lenders. This isn’t as common in Maui today, but it will happen again. In Denver, for example, the more suburb areas might offer better opportunities. The biggest challenge is having enough for a down payment, so accumulating savings is essential. Often, young couples save together, especially when preparing to marry and start a family.
Sometimes, parents or grandparents can help get you started. But it’s crucial to gather enough for a down payment or find a property that generates income, so you don’t need to qualify for a mortgage. The first step is to find a realtor in the area you’re interested in. They can guide you through the process and help you buy property. You’ll find a way to buy something and own property, and it will be great because support will help you succeed.
RS: I’d love to, but it seems that younger people today are more inclined to rent rather than buy homes at a young age. It seems the optimal age for buying might be later. I was curious about your perspective on that.
BS: Well, I think it’s important to figure it out. We have about a minute left to wrap up. Rentals in Maui are challenging right now, and Danny Couch is back, so we’re done.
RS: Yep.
BS: Thank you so much. Aloha.
RS: Yeah. Thanks for having me.
BS: Thanks for being here. Aloha everybody. Thanks for listening.
