Laure McElwee is a distinguished figure in the Hawaiian real estate market, blending over 20 years of professional dedication with a deep commitment to her community and the preservation of Hawaii’s natural beauty. Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, her multicultural expertise has enabled her to assist a diverse clientele in achieving their dreams of owning property in paradise. Laure’s reputation as a top producer both regionally and nationally is a testament to her deep market knowledge, vast network, and her ability to navigate the complex landscape of vacation rental investments with unmatched expertise. Her approach to building lasting client relationships goes beyond transactions, fostering deep connections through honesty, dedication, and hard work, with many clients becoming dear friends.
Beyond her professional accolades, Laure is profoundly committed to community involvement and environmental advocacy. Her active participation in the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and the West Hawaii Association of Realtors Ethics Committee highlights her efforts in promoting economic growth, property rights, and the advancement of the real estate profession in Hawaii. An avid paddler and certified dive instructor, Laure’s passion for the ocean drives her to explore and protect Hawaii’s marine environments, reflecting her dedication to preserving the islands’ natural beauty for future generations. Laure McElwee is not just a real estate broker; she is a trusted partner in finding your piece of paradise, deeply invested in the well-being of her community and the sustainable stewardship of Hawaii’s unique landscapes.
I would just like to give a review of my experience with first island reality. My first contact with this company was three years ago when I decided to move to HAWAII from San Diego California. I spoke with Laure on the phone and we decided to meet when I got there in a couple of weeks. We met and she ended up showing me properties to rent but my decision was to buy a condo instead. She found me a beautiful condo that fit my needs. It was completely redone and fully furnished. I lived there for 6 months when I needed to return to the mainland to take care of my 90 year old mother in Florida. I was very concerned about having to leave and was forced to rent my condo. I have been a landlord before with properties in San Diego and I know how hard it can be to find good tenants. Some tenants can be wonderful, others can be unbelievably disrespectful to your property I was definitely concerned. Laure was very reassuring that she would find me a wonderful tenant. Within days she found me that wonderful tenant. I unfortunately was unable to return to my new home in Hawaii as soon as I wanted to. I needed to stay with my mother and I had to deal with medical issues for myself that have kept me around my doctors in San Diego. Long story short. First Island Realty has been managing my condo for the last three years and has found me several wonderful tenants. I have had no issues and when little things do come up this company is quick to reply and resolve the issue. I was so concerned about having to rely on someone to handle my property when I am so far away but First island Realty has definitely been a positive and I would highly recommend them to manage your property or to find your perfect Hawaiian home.
These folks mean business. I researched and contacted about a dozen other property management companies, First Island was the first to respond, even though it was well past business hours and on the weekend. The second indicator that First Island was going to win my business was speaking with Mark, he had just the right blend of personable and business, plus, he arrived at my condo on time when it came to inspecting the place and going over more of the specifics. Mark made such a great impression in person that I cancelled my other appointments with the other potential companies and signed on the spot. What happened next really blew my away, within just a week or so, First Island had my place up and running. They handled the replacement of the fridge, setup my wireless internet, purchased extra towels, decor, installed light kits in the ceiling fans (didn’t even charge me labor) etc… in that short period of time and handled it hassle free from my end, which I like, they know what they’re doing, and kept track of ALL receipts. The first folks to rent the place were in there within two weeks and I was floored that it began to get booked immediately. Price wise, these folks are competitive and when you factor in the attention to detail, it is actually quite the bargain. The owner interface they provide is intuitive and the payment system is very straightforward. I am so impressed that I am already looking forward to having them manage my next investment property, in fact, I plan on using them for the purchase as well. Hats off to the team at First Island, Laure , Mark and Krista, I couldn’t ask for a more responsive and dedicated pool of talent!
Laure helped me buy my first home and was amazing throughout the whole process. She answered all my questions, walked me through everything step by step, and made for an easy and smooth transaction. I got a great deal and love my new home!