You can almost imagine the waves crashing on the shore as Yvonne Summerfield describes the rare property she helped sell late last fall. Sitting on the coast of Kauai in Poipu, the home was originally designed by a well-known architect, positioned on a generous oceanfront lot and framed by two of the South Shore’s iconic surf breaks. With a Pacific panorama unfolding the moment you walk through the door – plus 3,704 square feet, four bedrooms and four bathrooms – its $10.5 million sale price comes as no surprise.
What’s also not surprising is the trust and care Summerfield brought to making the deal happen.
The buyers had been dreaming of an oceanfront home – something meaningful they could build a family legacy around. Summerfield had been with them throughout their journey. This was the fourth transaction she’s completed for these clients, originally referred to her by another longtime client more than a decade ago.
“There was no AI. No postcards. Just patience and knowledge,” she says with a laugh.
But in all seriousness, she proves her business is built on relationships, not transactions.
“I think people need to look at the long game, the long-term relationships. I’ve built my business solely on referrals. I’ve never called on an expired listing, and I’ve never cold-called a client. It’s all based on setting a good example through good service and going out of your way to help people.”
Even though she wasn’t the listing agent, Summerfield still “marketed” the property in her own way – through personalized, one-on-one consultation. Over months, she walked her clients through every viable option: new custom builds, existing luxury homes, and everything in between. Her goal was simple: clarity. She equipped them with a full understanding of what their investment could achieve and let them make the final call.
“As a buyer’s agent, you have to detach yourself from the income or the ultimate outcome,” she says. “It’s more about the care and what’s going to happen.”
That philosophy also explains why REMAX has been her real estate home since 2004.
“The brand’s culture shaped me,” she says. “The consistency, the professionalism, the idea that your clients’ best interests come first – that’s what I learned at REMAX. That’s what keeps people coming back.”
For agents hoping to break into the luxury market, Summerfield’s advice is grounded and simple: Be patient. Be authentic. Show up for people long before they’re ready to buy.
“Do real estate for the right reasons,” she says. “The rest has a way of following.”
Written by Keri Henke
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