Sue DeLoria and her family visited Italy in 2010.

Time to reflect, as I hear John Lennon’s song on the radio: “So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, a new one just begun.”

For most of us, the 2010 year has been an extremely challenging one. With the New Year on the horizon, we can hope for an improved economy, some stabilization and hopefully a return to more healthy economic times.

It’s no news our real estate market has been difficult. With foreclosures and short sales dominating the listings and sales, it’s been a hard year. Everyone I speak to has been affected in some way or another, and this is a great time to reflect on what we have experienced and how we can learn and hopefully grow wiser for the future.

We are in the real estate market, and like all markets, it’s a cyclical one — it’s forever changing and based on supply and demand. And right now our supply outweighs our demand, but it will change again.

Lucky for us we live in Maui. For all our local complaints, we have to remember and realize what we have here… shoots, we could be somewhere on the Mainland!

Take this time to enjoy your family and friends and remember how important they are. At this time, we may see people that we literally see once a year… and that’s because they live in Napili and you live in Lahaina, which is just miles apart!

We are all so busy with work and our lives in general that another year just zooms by, and we are left thinking, “What have I done?” You may be thinking, “What can I do this next year?”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who I have been fortunate enough to assist in either buying or selling a property. I have helped some who have been first-time home buyers, some who have been first-time sellers and others who are involved in their second, third or fourth (or more!) transaction.

I really appreciate your referrals and continued business and would like to sincerely express my gratitude for being able to live and work where I do. From my family to yours, we wish you all the best for The New Year. I hope it brings you joy, peace, love, health and success in whatever you do. Aloha!

Contact me at Whalers Realty Inc. at (808) 250-5948 or (808) 661-8777, extension 533.