Agent Spotlight: Dustin Sonoma Marin | LUVA Real Estate, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i
Dustin moved to Hawaii’s Big Island at 12 after living in the heart of Northern California’s Redwoods.
In his nearly thirty years living in Kona, he has forged a strong connection to his island home and his roots on the North Coast. Dustin spent over 20 years in sales and luxury hospitality along the Kona/Kohala resort coast, curating exclusive experiences and programs for clients daily.
His longstanding community connections on the Big Island make him a valuable resource for his clients. His extensive knowledge of Hawai'i and the nuances of its unique micro-communities are invaluable when it comes to assisting his clients through the buying and selling process. From assisting first-time home buyers to selling luxury properties, Dustin is an agent who is comfortable in any sphere. He was also named the 2022 West Hawai’i Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year.
Dustin loves spending time with his fiance Katelyn and their Mexican Bulldog named Dexter. As a surfer, golfer, massage therapist, yoga instructor, and occasional triathlete, Dustin lives an active lifestyle and is always striving to learn and grow. He truly loves his family, Hawai’i and the Aloha Spirit, and feels blessed every day to call this magical place his home.
How did you get into real estate?
Having worked in luxury hospitality for many years, guests constantly told me I would thrive in real estate. My communication style and my innate ability to really listen and understand had a natural calming and trusting effect. Pair that with a pandemic and the time necessary to take a real estate course, and the decision was easy!
Tell us about one of your most interesting deals.
I was a relatively new agent and was the first in the office one morning. While going through my normal routine of checking the MLS for new listings and status changes, a gentleman walked into our office. He was looking for an agent to sell his home. This was my listing to win or lose. I had to gather what little confidence this new agent had and step up.
We had a great conversation, and the listing was ours! It definitely helped that my broker mentor walked in a few minutes into the conversation, but my years of communicating and listening to clients paid off and put the seller’s mind at ease. We prepped the listing, and just under a week after going active on the market, we had the property in escrow and saw it through to a prompt closing.
A bonus interesting piece was the exciting and unwelcomed wind storm the night before closing that blew down very large tree branches on this 5-acre equestrian estate. Luckily no significant damage was done, and a $3.5 million deal was in the books!
What are your daily “must-do(s)?”
Spend time every morning either on my yoga mat, in the ocean, or walking my dog Dexter. And then jumping on MLS to study the market.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Avid golfer, somewhat dedicated surfer, and lover of yoga. Also, love a night of dining and beverages with my fiance.
Share one thing on your bucket list.
A week-long stay at a fly-in lodge and heli-boarding every day of the trip.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your business?
I'm so thankful to have ventured out of my comfort zone to take the leap into real estate. It has been a humbling and rewarding journey so far. I'm grateful to have found some early successes, and I’m excited about the future. I treat my business very much as a long game, aiming to build relationships with my clients that will last a lifetime.
To Connect with Dustin:
Visit LUVA’s website
