We had the pleasure of working with Brittany Hampton, Realtor at Tongg-Keller Williams. Being from the mainland and looking for investment property you are never sure who you are dealing with. Fortunately we found Brittany and her team at Keller Williams. Our initial meeting was done via email as she had provided us with access to the Hawaii MLS property listings so that we could "shop online". Once we were ready to take the leap, we opted to give Brittany the opportunity to represent us. As we would find out later, this was the best decision we could have made. After giving her our "specifications" she went to work immediately and found several properties that fit our criteria. She found our property in one day! Now finding what you like is usually the easy part. Having spent many years in the title and escrow business, we knew the nuances of making a purchase and the stress that goes along with it. Brittany and her team were always on top of it. Her communication and that of her team during the entire sales and closing process was spot on. Being in California while inspections, disclosures, contracts, etc. are being done can be a harrowing experience but Brittany was up to the task in making sure that we were in the loop on everything. Her responses to email and phone calls were measured typically in minutes (not days or even hours). We live in an electronic world and Brittany's team at Keller Williams is definitely plugged into it. Every document we needed to review and sign was done via email. Any and all questions we had regarding the documents were answered quickly and made sense. We never felt rushed even though we wanted the transaction to close ASAP so that we could begin our move-in process. Inspections disclosed a lot of open items for us and Brittany worked with the Sellers to make sure that all of our issues were addressed to our satisfaction. Having bought and sold several homes over the years we can honestly say that Brittany is one of the top Realtors we have had the pleasure of working with and we would highly recommend Brittany and her team to anyone looking to purchase or sell a home in Hawaii. Even after the sale and move-in Brittany continues to follow up with us to make sure that everything is going fine. She has provided us with local resources for home improvements that have been invaluable. She is truly an asset to the Tongg team at Keller Williams and we are very happy to have her as part of our team too! read more

Before getting to the Island we had researched and contacted many real estate agents because we wanted to make sure we had the best experience when purchasing our first home. After being disappointed with many agents I contacted Charlene. She was a listing agent for a home we were interested in looking at. The first experience we had was great, before even meeting with us and knowing we were a potential client, Charlene made sure she gave us all the information of the property we needed and she even forwarded an email of all the pictures taken of the property that same day (I was already impressed). Since that was Charlene's listing she referred me to her partner Brittany Hampton. I don't have enough words to describe the experience we had working with Brittany. Brittany is hard working, knowledgeable and reliable. After looking at our first property with Brittany she sent us a follow up email to make sure we understood what had to be done if we wanted the property. She made an appointment the next day with us to go over how offers are made and the process here in Hawaii. When we finally found the property we wanted, Brittany immediately came up with a plan to make an offer that was more than likely to be accepted. From the moment our offer got accepted Brittany was on top of everything and made sure we got the things we wanted and needed from the property. The team is incredible. They all work together as a cohesive unit. A special thanks to their assistant Jennifer as well, who handled all of our paperwork and made sure everything was completed in a timely manner. Overall our expectations were more than exceeded. If you are looking to purchase property in Oahu there is no other choice, Tongg & Partners all the way!!! read more

My husband and I purchased a short sale property for our first home and I had fully prepared myself for a stressful home buying process, (especially given the stories I'd heard from friends and family about their own experiences with other agents.) Working with Rustan and Charlene was nothing like what I had expected. From our first meeting at Starbucks to the day we closed and got the keys to our first home, the level of service and commitment they showed us was absolutely outstanding. PROS -Paperwork was always filed on time. -Communication was constant and clear between everyone. -Questions were always answered and explained thoroughly. -They were both patient and truly listened to our needs and wants. CONS -If I think of one, I'll be sure to list it. The only hiccup we experienced was when my husband ended up having a last minute mission and got stranded in Guam during our signing date. I ended up having to sign all of the closing documents by myself with a POA. Rustan and Charlene made sure they were there to guide me through the whole process and essentially, hold my hand. They really took the time to address all of our concerns and never, not once, did they make us feel like anything less than their number one priority. If you're looking for just any realtor, there are definitely plenty out there to choose from. If you're looking for a realtor that listens to you, knows the market and the facts, utilizes the current technology, brings you 1st class service and treats their clients like family, then Rustan and Charlene Tongg are your only choice for Hawaii Real Estate. You will not regret your decision. read more

Where to start... Before we even booked our plane ticket Elayne was already talking to my wife about our interest in buying property, oh the joys of social media. Months later we attended a seminar where the family tongg had a booth and there with warm smiles tons of buiness cards and plethora of information. And who is standing there completely unscheduled to meet..mrs Elayne Cruze. From day one her and the team tongg treated us like family. She initially met with us at a coffee shop and was very friendly with my children. She was very informative, so much so where it almost felt like she could see our future and had already picked out our first house. This was our first property and at no point did we ever feel that she was talking down to us or making our concerns seem silly....and i asked some dumb questions. Our schedules were tight. She still found the time to show us every house we asked to see. She adressed every concern and even suggested houses we would like bases on our days spent house hopping. After we entered escrow we ran into a few snags which werent because of anything they could control. They still reassured us at every chance no matter how frustrated i was, no matter the time and did EVERYTHING they could possibly do to accomidate us. They put us in touch with equally awesome teams to work the other aspects of the home buying process and i can proudly say that we are proud home owners! Thank you Elayne thank you to everyone at tongg. They have the buissness model to end all buissness models and the people to enforce how properties should be bought. read more

My husband and I count our lucky stars when we think about having Tongg and Partners as our realty team. We first met Charlene and Rustan in 2012 when we moved to the island. They helped us find and purchase our first condo together in the time frame we needed. Although there were snags here and there in the process, we honestly never felt any stress. Char and Rus consistently came through with solutions and explained everything clearly and thoroughly. We learned how passionate they are in their work, and how much they truly value their clients. They went above and beyond with their service, and we are still so thankful to this day! We enjoyed our condo for five beautiful years before deciding to sell. Of course we thought of no one other than Char and Rus to help us in selling when the time came. The team once again did an outstanding job in helping us through the process. We felt completely taken care of and knew we were getting the best possible service. The team helped us sell above our asking price in the time frame that we needed! They will tailor their services to your needs and allow you to relax and even enjoy the process. If you are looking around for a team dedicated to assisting you purchase or sell, do yourself a favor and go with Tongg and Partners! We could not have asked for a better team to guide us through each process. Thank you so much Char and Rus and team for all of your hard work. You are seriously the best!! read more

As others have mentioned, working with Tongg (Charlene, Ruston, Jennifer, and others) was the best experience and very smooth. I have bought a house before with another realtor and Tongg group was by far better. Specifically: 1. They are very hard working. Charlene and Rustan had a vacation in Thailand during Christmas as we were negotiating the terms of our offer. Charlene continued to text us and reassure us from Thailand. We had difficult schedules. Charlene showed us houses and scheduled meetings in the evenings and during the weekend. She allowed me to put a car set in her car so my daughter and drove us around to see houses. 2. They are very knowledgeable. Not only about Honolulu real estate (Rustan showed us market trends using graphs; Charlene understood market dynamics such as when a house had been on the market too long and when houses fell out of escrow before; Rustan understood Vetrans United loan process) they also have extensive contacts regarding contractors, locksmiths, solar water heater service, other people necessary to improve our new home. Their recommended contractor Aloha Island Services was also a pleasure to work with. 3. Attention to detail. My daughter played with an inflatable reindeer and toy car mat that was staged at the house we eventually bought. When we closed, they were able to track down the exact inflatable reindeer and toy car mat and gave it to us as a present. read more

This review is a long time coming since Rustan and Charlene sold our home in October 2016. But the experience has stayed with me long enough to compel me to leave a 5-star review over a year after the fact. After de-cluttering, cleaning, and staging (all of which are part of their listing service) we had our first open house, to which an hour was dedicated to the neighbors in our townhouse complex and the regular open house following for another 3 hours. With their marketing strategy, our open house attracted around 40 groups, with multiple offers coming within days. Our particular situation needed a flexible buyer that would allow us to rent back after closing, and Rustan and Charlene found the perfect buyers who were exactly that! The whole escrow was very smooth and the subsequent rent back was a dream that allowed us to stay in our old home while waiting for our new home to close instead of the hassle of having to move twice. That alone was the most valuable aspect. Now, you think that's where it ends but NO! I referred my parents to them, as they had bought one of the new condos in Kakaako and needed to sell their own condo. Again, the listing services were incredible and they also received multiple offers! Rustan and Charlene are a dream to work with and have an incredible support team to ensure every listing and purchase goes as smoothly as possible. You need to call them! read more

I would just like to start by thanking Rustan and Charlene Tongg for helping my family sell our town home in Oceanpointe and finding a single family home right up the street. Right where my wife and family wanted to be. The transaction went seamlessly, with a simultaneous closing (sold one home and moved right into the next home) and tons of other things going on, Rustan and Charlene pulled it off. I never knew the value of a Realtor until I met the Tonng's.They walked my family and myself through the transaction every step of the way, that in itself made the process smooth and sugerfree (no suger coating and no surprises). We knew upfront and before hand what the next step of the transaction was and how it would go down. I have purchased 3 homes and this was by far the sweetest deal. No maintenance fee anymore and the same monthly obligation for a Single family home as it was for my town home. Talk about great leaders, Rustan would say "anything is possible if you can dream it", it is very inspiring. Rustan and Charlene are the greatest realtors, and some of the greatest people I know. So if your in the market or selling your home. These wonderful people have what it takes to make your reams come true. I am blessed. Thank you again for the wisdom and knowledge you have provided, and the Awesome home you have facilitated for my family. May God continue to bless our families. read more

We made the right choice when we hired Tongg & Partners.  We chose Charlene and Rustan Tongg because they have a great reputation and they support some non profit causes close to our hearts. We worked with Rustan on the purchase of our new home and with Char on the sale of our Kakaako condo. WOW! They are an amazing couple / team and they have a great support staff.   Buying: Rustan was patient with us as we made offers and changed our minds.  He helped us strategize our offer and gave good counsel as we navigated various counters.  His market analysis helped us understand the properties in which we were interested. Selling: We were blown away by what Char and her team brought to the table.  The pictures they took, the lifestyle video they made, and the staging! helped us find a buyer and close in less than 40 days. (We were in contract less than 5 days after listing to the public).   To make that happen we listened to what Char suggested and we invested in the sale of our property.  I don't want to give away her secrets but we did what she said to do and it worked.  All that work took some time pre listing but so worth it. For both our transactions we had great communication every step of the way.  We received daily emails updating us on the process.  Also, every time we reached out to them they got back to us.  Wish I could run my life this way! read more

My husband and I had an AMAZING experience with Tongg + Partners! I will begin by saying that they have an awesome team that really knows how to care of clients. Our first experience with them started in January 2014 when we arrived to Oahu and made the decision to buy our first home. As a young couple we had many fears, but Char and Rustan walked with us through every step and made sure we were comfortable. Because of personal reasons we decided to sell our home in 2016 and we decided to hire Tongg + Partners again. My husband was deployed and I was left alone with a huge responsibility. Thank God we had Char and Rustan to the rescue, honestly I don't know what I would have done without them. The selling process was quick and I must say that Jennifer truly made the escrow process easy and kept me informed of everything going on. When I had questions she answered right away and I also thank them because they were very patient with me. If we ever move back to Oahu, We will definitely be working with them again. Not only do they treat the clients right, they are also very professional, knowledgable and find solutions to any problem that may arise. We definitely were blessed to have met such amazing realtors that make you feel like family! read more

Charlene Tongg's professionalism and knowledge of the business was outstanding. I spoke with Charlene and she spent a lot of time answering my questions, providing objective data, marketing information and comps in the area. I worked with Charlene to sell my condominium and I couldn't have been more pleased with her and her incredible agents. Their presentation was professionally done and we received a couple of offers. They showcased and staged my condominium,which created much more foot traffic and brought in many interested buyers. From day 1, I trusted them and throughout the time, until my condominium was sold, Charlene, Matt, and all the office support services staff, especially both Jennifer and Jeni, had been there every step of the way. They answered every call, text message and email. Their professionalism, attention to detail, knowledge, honesty, integrity and hard work ethic are much respected. I really felt appreciated and valued, for they truly cared about me. It was such a pleasure to work with Charlene and Tongg + Partner Real Estate Team. I had a great experience with a superb real estate company. read more

Charlene and Rustan were more then awesome to work with. As a couple coming to Hawaii with a zoo (three dogs), as well as on orders and a timeline, we were extremely fearful of not finding a home to fit our perfect little family. By chance and random connections we were sent to work with the Tongg's. From the beginning they led us in the right direction, from a VA Loan Seminar, to entertaining us with multiple variations of homes that could be a possible fit for us. Sitting beside us supportively through arguing, moments of silence, and indecisiveness they never skipped a beat. From the late night random texts of fears, educating when there was a lack of understanding, and whatever else we could possibly annoy them with during the process they never did anything but support us through it. We are so grateful for the random connection that brought the Tongg's into our lives and allowed them to help us make our first huge purchase. I have and will continue to recommend Tongg and Partners to anyone who is in need of a great realtor team who remain a support system through it all. Thank you guys again! read more

Char and Rustan are amazing. They made buying our first home a great experience that I will never forget. In our situation, my husband was around for the beginning of the process. He was in Afghanistan for the bulk of it. Char and Rustan always did their utmost to make sure we were all on the same page - no matter how annoying it could be at times with different time zones and lack of ability to contact my husband during his many moves within the deployment. They handled every question with respect and full disclosure. They seem to have a limitless supply of patience. They even came to our new home after I moved in to help me program and install various remote controls for the garage and ceiling fixtures! The care they showed me I won't forget. They were fantastic to work with and went above and beyond my expectations. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in buying a home, especially to anyone new to the real estate game like me. They know how to make the process flow nicely and give you a sense that you are in good hands the whole journey. read more

Rustan and Charlene are Totally Awesome!!! I am in awe at how quickly they helped me find the Right condo at the Right price in the Right area. They made the extremely complex process of purchasing a new home much easier for a newbie like me. And, not only did they patiently guide me every step of the way, they also led me to the best possible financing option for my particular situation! Charlene and Rustan had to be especially patient and understanding with me, because I was going through some serious trials in my personal life while I was looking for a new home. I am certain that it was Divine fate that led me to Rustan and Charlene - I am serious. I can never thank Rustan and Charlene enough for helping me find my new home. A gift card for a nice romantic dinner is only a mere token of my sincerest heartfelt appreciation!!! They deserve infinitely more than I can afford to give them, but they know I am grateful and that's what matters. Thank you Rustan and Charlene. read more

I was brand new to the island and slightly overwhelmed with the nuances of moving half-way across the world. Within the first two weeks of my arrival to Oahu, Charlene worked closely with me to find time to view plenty of properties to give me a great idea of the market in Hawaii. Before we met, I was looking for three things in a realtor; patience, an active listener, and a professional to represent me in the process. Charlene clearly exceeded my expectations in all three categories, and made my first time home buying experience extremely easy and fun at the same time. I have honestly had more trouble in the past buying cars. Everyone that Charlene set me up with from the mortgage agency, title company etc. were all extremely personable and a pleasure to work with. If you are on the move, I highly recommend Charlene to help you with your existing or future home. You will not be disappointed. read more

I have a good amount of experience and knowledge in real estate and was impressed with Tongg + Partners from start to finish as they helped us to sell our Mililani condo. They were very professional, timely, and diligent to make sure we were getting the most possible as quickly as possible for our condo. We had a non-cooperative tenant that they dealt with very patiently and professionally, which I appreciated. They also communicated clearly with our property manager as needed to coordinate necessary viewings, keys, cleaning, and more. They organized professional staging and professional photos which helped our home show wonderfully and sell fast! Even though I was on the mainland and my spouse was deployed, they worked with us seamlessly and efficiently to help us close on time. With full confidence, I would recommend anyone chooses Tongg + Partners to sell their real estate! read more

Rustan and Charlene have assembled the dream team of agents. Working with Tongg and Partners was a dream start to finish and beyond. Elayne Cruz was my showing agent driving me all around the island only for me to then insist that the area 3 miles from my initial address was where I wanted to be. The whole team made sure that they were checking with me through the process and helping me to understand my options. Since closing, I have had check up phone calls with Rus and Elayne making sure I still love my home. Letting me know they are there to help of I need any recommendations for contractors or other services for home care. Using a VA loan seemed like such a scary option at first, but then everyone on the team is extremely knowledgeable and made it easy. I recommend Tongg and Partners to any friends or military members moving to the island and looking for a home read more

Rustan and Char are awesome! We have now bought 2 houses on Oahu with them as our realtors! They made it so easy the first time that once our family grew out of the first home there was no fear of buying again! They are not only great at their job, but are amazing people! They take their time to get to know you, find out what you want in your new home and when it comes down to business they get it done! They show their love through there actions! We were really in a crunch with little help on our recent purchase (9/28/2015). They found a moving company and helped us out so much! I am still in shock that a realtor would go out of their way to care for us this way, but they just continue to show they care about us as more than customers! It was such a relief to have help moving! Love you guys and thank you so much! I just can't believe how much you helped us! read more

Rustan and Charlene are truly amazing!! I met them while my husband and I were in the market for a home. The moment I spoke to Charlene I knew immediately I wanted her to be our agent. The team made the whole process so smooth we hardly did anything! They represent the meaning of knowledge, hard work, commitment, loyalty and dedication. They did everything possible to make us happy and we were! I was so impressed by their work that a few months later I reached out to Charlene and Rustan to see if I could be part of their team. I have to say it has been such a great honor to learn from such empowering, inspiring and motivational people. In such a short period of time their mentoring has helped with my personal /professional growth . I believed in their mission and vision but most of all I love that they want to help others and make their clients happy! read more