“She is a wonderful realtor with a big heart and a true love for her clients and Hawaii. I highly recommend Lydia for the 2020 Aloha Aina Realtor Awards Program.”
After giving Lydia a very long list of items that our ideal property should have, I fully expected her to respond by asking me to prioritize which one or two of these items we could not live without. However, Lydia not only wants her clients to like their new home, but to really love it and love everything about Hawaii and their immediate neighborhood. Surprisingly, Lydia found a property that had every single item we wanted – and within our price range. There was never any pressure to settle for something less, and as we looked at properties, Lydia was a wonderful guide informing us of the history of the neighborhoods and nearby locales. After closing, you don’t really expect to have much contact with your realtor. However, since our closing was a few days before Thanksgiving, and Lydia knew we were in no shape to have a real Thanksgiving dinner, she invited both our family and a few of our extra houseguests to come join she and her family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. I was not at all surprised to meet other former real estate customers there! Each one remarking about the marvelous house hunting experience they had experienced with Lydia. She is a wonderful realtor with a big heart and a true love for her clients and Hawaii. I highly recommend Lydia for the 2020 Aloha Aina Realtor Awards Program.
Nominated for the Aloha ‘Āina REALTOR® Awards Program™ by Tracy Topping
“The team was always responsive and assisted in a timely manner, even following up with us after closing on our home.”
Lydia and her team were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly throughout the buying process. As first time home buyers, it was very important that we worked with someone we could trust, and Lydia provided the welcoming environment we were looking for. The team was always responsive and assisted in a timely manner, even following up with us after closing on our home. We felt that Lydia had our best interest in mind throughout this process and we were glad to have her on our side.
04/09/2020 – Lindsay Zilling“Intelligent, Dedicated, Thorough, Caring, and Reliable are only a few of the first words that would come to mind if anyone were to ask me about Lydia Bishop”
Intelligent, Dedicated, Thorough, Caring, and Reliable are only a few of the first words that would come to mind if anyone were to ask me about Lydia Bishop. I’ve fortunately had the opportunity to work side by side with Lydia over the past 3+ years now and with each new transaction, am still impressed and appreciative of her work and how she truly cares and treats her clients. Lydia is definitely someone you can put your trust in when looking out for her clients best needs, goals, and even their safety. Real Estate sales involve a lot more than finding people the nicest home on an online picture or ad. When it comes down to negotiating, making sure contracts are straight, staying on top of timelines and third parties that may be involved with your transaction, she’s someone you’ll appreciate having on your team. Lydia, Thank you for all your hard and honest work. I look forward to working with you for many many years to come. ~~ Ev
03/08/2020 – evt77a
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“She was not only knowledgeable about home buying but she was very knowledgable when it came to reading association documents and helping me determine if the association was managing their money in a way that wouldn’t drastically increase my association fees.”
Lydia was extremely helpful. She was very caring and allowed my family over for dinner to talk to us. She always responded to any question I had immediately or within 5 minutes via text. I think whenever I had a question or a house-related issue, Lydia was quick to drop everything and put me first. She was not only knowledgeable about home buying but she was very knowledgable when it came to reading association documents and helping me determine if the association was managing their money in a way that wouldn’t drastically increase my association fees. I would happily refer Lydia and Sesame Realty to anyone I know. I would use her again, but I am so happy with the house I found I don’t see myself ever moving. Everyone should use Lydia. It’s one thing to have a realtor, but to have someone knowledgeable enough to review association document is a huge asset, plus Lydia invited my family for thanksgiving. I feel I have a new auntie here in Hawaii.
11/22/2019 – mantonsen
“Lydia is truly a delightful and caring person. We highly recommend her.”
Despite Lydia’s vast experience, I doubt anyone has ever before prepared for her a full page list of all the features their future condo must have. I fully expected Lydia to ask us to pick our top three, but no, she found us a property that had every single one. Lydia is very organized, she helped to keep us abreast and apprised of all upcoming deadlines, and most importantly, she always was quickly available to answer our panicked questions. Lydia is truly a delightful and caring person. We highly recommend her.
11/22/2019 – zuser20181002201528351
“She and her team were always available and were hard-working and very knowledgeable.”
Lydia was an amazing professional and with me every step of the way and then some. She and her team were always available and were hard-working and very knowledgeable. They made the process low stress. I knew I could rely on her.
10/02/2019 – Stephen DeCao
“I recommend Lydia and her team to anyone looking to purchase a home or even rent out their homes.”
Working with Lydia,Tammy, Abigale, and the entire team at Sesame Realty was a pleasure and an experience for my family here in Hawaii. From the moment we were in contact till the final closing day we were always treated with utmost priority and respect. The team is very knowledgeable, helpful and caring about the area, needs, and requirements that it takes to purchase a first time home and a VA home loan. The recommendations for all other services that we needed were met above expectations. Any surprises were handled professionally and quickly by the team at Sesame Realty. We closed a couple of days early from the standard VA home loan and they even have an application that guides you right along and shows you what is due and what is already completed. I recommend Lydia and her team to anyone looking to purchase a home or even rent out their homes. They are responsible, respectful, professional, trustworthy, prompt, and very helpful. They negotiate very well. If you are looking for a Realtor that knows what they are doing and has all the right contacts give Sesame Realty a call and experience the difference.
09/19/2019 – darock2t
“She is super experienced and is always there for us.”
We recently sold our house for more than asking price. Lydia worked really hard when negotiating with buyers’ agent. She responded quickly when we had questions and concerns, and helped us so much through a headache process. We would not know what to do without her advise. She is super experienced and is always there for us. Highly recommend.
09/04/2019 – zuser20140414152844954
“She’s the one we will EVER go to for all our real estate transactions and we will recommend her to all of our friends and family!”
Lydia Bishop is the best realtor on the island. Maybe even in the entire state of Hawaii. Extremely knowledgeable. We told her exactly what we wanted and she delivered. She found the house, we went to see it the following day, and by the next day we put in an offer. The entire transaction went so smooth. Lydia was always available for us whenever we had questions. No matter what time of the day. Even when she’s out of the country and out of the state she made time for us. Amazing! She’s the one we will EVER go to for all our real estate transactions and we will recommend her to all of our friends and family! Thank you so much Lydia! We appreciate you and you have no idea how happy you made our family!
06/22/2019 – juliene c cadavona
“Lydia and her team at Sesame Realty are the best on the island!”
Lydia and her team at Sesame Realty are the best on the island! I would highly recommend them. Not only do Lydia and all of her staff operate with a wonderful Aloha spirit, they are also very knowledgeable of the market and the process of buying a home. I consistently had timely responses, answers to all my questions, and no problems being able to reach them. I felt very taken care of from beginning to end. I will definitely return for my next real estate purchase and refer my friends and family as well.
05/17/2019 – zuser20170427155322370
“Lydia and her team are masters of long distance purchases.“
This was our seventh home purchase and Lydia Bishop is easily the best Realtor we have ever worked with. After extensive conversations over regular video teleconferences, we confidently entered into contract prior to setting foot in Hawaii. When we arrived on island, the closing took place just a couple days later. Lydia’s team made the process very clear, systematic, and simple. Responses were immediate and their ability to quickly analyze properties enabled us to make fast decisions and compete in the fierce Kapolei and Ewa markets. Lydia and her team are masters of long distance purchases. We had video walkthroughs of multiple prospect homes, along with detailed analyses, which built our confidence and enabled us to commit prior to arriving in person. Aside from Lydia’s internal team, she also has a network of other top performers in their industry. Every service provider she recommended was just as professional and each had impeccable reputations. We have already referred friends and colleagues to both Lydia and those within her network and we will continue to do so in the future. Mahalo!
05/09/2019 – Ray Wagenheim
“Buying a home for the first time was terrifying to me, but working with Lydia and her team made it stress-free as possible.”
Buying a home for the first time was terrifying to me, but working with Lydia and her team made it stress-free as possible. She takes a fine comb going through all the documents and house information to make sure there is no funny business. She understood what type of home I was looking for and made all the home searches fit the profile. The communication lines were always open, any new listed I saw her team would work quickly to get a viewing. In the end, we found the perfect place for me and my fur baby. If I could buy another home, I would ask her to help me through the process again. Thank you, Lydia and the Team!
03/13/2019 – missjuke 23
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“We worked with her on buying and selling side and both were excellent!”
Lydia Bishop is extremely knowledgeable and hard working. Her staging is excellent and her husband Paul is amazing. They both and including grandson went above and beyond to help fix up our home to sale. Although my home was unique and the market took a turn once we listed and took 6 months to sale she never quit on us. I would highly recommend Lydia as your realtor. We worked with her on buying and selling side and both were excellent!
03/08/2019 – JohnHutchinson58
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“To me, Lydia is not a realtor seek for financial reward but a home matcher, who connect the right house to the right person.”
Lydia is not only a competent realtor but also a compassionate person. We moved from NYC to Hawaii without any understanding of the Hawaiian real estate market, the unique idiosyncrasy of each neighborhood, and the climate impact on personal properties. Patiently, Lydia showed us every single neighborhood on Oahu island and explained to us in detail regarding the home purchasing process. Her presentation was thorough, insightful, and relevant. After she learned that I have a climate-induced allergy, Lydia immediately refined her research efforts and tailored specifically on allergy free neighborhoods for my well-being. As a first time home buyer, I encountered unanticipated obstacles during the escrow process. Amid the possibility of home loan rejection, Lydia kindly extended her encouragement and her personal home became my solace during difficult times. She volunteered her own garage as my personal storage. Undoubtedly, her action made my move to Hawaii less onerous. To me, Lydia is not a realtor seek for financial reward but a home matcher, who connect the right house to the right person.
08/07/2018 – user43867170
“Her team is very organized and stays on top of each step, providing us with daily/weekly updates and reminders.”
Lydia and her team are AMAZING! Super knowledgeable about the entire process. She took the time to get to know us and what we were looking for. She explained the process in detail before we began so we knew what to expect. We could reach her at any time, she would respond quickly to our questions. Her team is very organized and stays on top of each step, providing us with daily/weekly updates and reminders. All of the vendors they recommended were great, very responsive and professional. We would definitely recommend Sesame Realty, LLC and would use them again for future purchases! Thank you for all of your help!
02/13/2019 – TinaMeans
“10/10 would recommend!”
Lydia was the best! Very knowledgeable about the entire home buying process, felt like she did practically everything! Could always reach out to and get ahold of her and her team for anything. 10/10 would recommend!
11/09/2018 – cmlacey14
“She is an expert in her trade, goes above and beyond, and will absolutely be worth every penny she charges.”
Lydia Bishop is by far one of the most professional, competent people I have ever met. I went with Lydia to both buy, and sell my house. She is an expert in her trade, goes above and beyond, and will absolutely be worth every penny she charges. Cannot day enough good things about her.
08/01/2018 – Justin Clayton
“Such great advise, and Lydia is exactly that- a professional.”
My family was blessed to have TWO amazing experiences with Lydia. In our first experience, we were first time home buyers, recently stationed in Hawaii, quite nervous bit ready to buy a house. She met us and briefed us on the whole process, provided more documents than I could have imagined amd delivered what I would call buying a house 101. We moved forward with tours and within the first day she helped us figure out what we wanted and we made an offer the was accepted below the listing price! The only knowledge we had was from HGTV and it was to use a professional realtor. Such great advise, and Lydia is exactly that- a professional. Upon the completion of our tour in Hawaii we obviously reached out to Lydia once again to sell our home. We accepted an offer at list price after the first open house! Lydia’s is a very aggressive marketer and she efficiently reaches international buyers which raises your chances of selling for your price. We started our home owning experience as nervous newlyweds recently seperated from the mainland. Well, with Lydias help we were so comfortable with home buying we purchased a new home at our follow on location sight unseen amd couldnt be happier where we are. Lydia made us almost 60,000.00 dollars and we are debt free. If we return to Hawaii, Lydia will be the first person I call, even before I book a ticket.
06/18/2018 – user07575625
“She was very patient with us as we worked out where we wanted to live as well as what our vision for our home was.”
Lydia is simply put a rockstar! She as local knowledge and connections that provide for a seamless process as well as helped us to find the right house for our family’s needs. She was very patient with us as we worked out where we wanted to live as well as what our vision for our home was. Once we had those items lined out, Lydia was able to get us into to a house that had just been listed. Her negotiation savvy helped us to put in an offer that was accepted right away. We would never have even seen the house we live in now if Lydia had not been there working with us!
05/07/2018 – robert olson513
“I feel like I have taken a crash course on realty; which is GREAT!”
Writing a long overdue review for Lydia. One of the best realtors you will meet… My husband and I have truly been beyond impressed with Lydia and her company’s professionalism and dedication to our search for the perfect home for our family. She truly is sincere and wants to make sure that you are happy with the home you choose. We have dealt with other realtors, but she definitely takes the time with each of her clients making sure throughout the process they know exactly what is going on and what everything means. I feel like I have taken a crash course on realty; which is GREAT! You want to know what it all means when spending the amount of money you are; it is such an important step in an individual’s life and not something to be taken lightly. We love our home and if you are looking for a realtor who will listen to you, take the time with you, give Lydia a call… she will take care of you.
04/15/2018 – lld2882
“Not only is she PROFESSIONAL and an EXPERT in real estate, she is very kind, compassionate, thoughtful and charismatic.”
We closed escrow on our home almost a month ago and we still can’t express in words how grateful we are for Lydia. Not only is she PROFESSIONAL and an EXPERT in real estate, she is very kind, compassionate, thoughtful and charismatic. She made us feel like we were her only clients, even though we knew that was not the case. She made us feel like we were her friends and she was determined to help us find a home that met our needs. Lydia is so ORGANIZED and methodical with her friendly reminders from her or her assistant Abigaile. She did not hesitate to text and/or call us whenever anything came up that we needed to know. Lydia made time for us, always, no matter what. We moved from the mainland to Oahu on military orders. Before relocating, we had prior experience purchasing two homes in California and we met with a few other real estate agents in Oahu when we visited a couple months before moving. Needless to say, we’ve had our share of experiences with real estate agents in California and Hawaii prior to meeting Lydia. One evening, we were browsing Zillow and had interest in a property and Zillow assigned Lydia to us. Thank you Zillow for giving us Lydia!!! From the very beginning, before we even moved on the island, she was RESPONSIVE and worked with us until we arrived. We were so excited to meet her in person. We sat down and she assessed our needs, wants and desires. She helped us see the differences of owning a home on the island versus the mainland. After we found our lovely home, there were some findings in our home inspection. Lydia was UNYIELDING when negotiating on our behalf and ensured that everything was reconciled to our standards! We texted her yesterday (3 weeks after closing escrow) to ask some questions, and she responded quickly and was just as helpful as she was while we were in escrow. Lydia is now our PREFERRED PARTNER regarding anything real estate (and property improvement). She is THOROUGH, respectful, EXPERIENCED, assertive – she made every moment count! We could go on and on about how WONDERFUL Lydia is, but in short, she exceeded our expectations! Whether you are looking for your forever home, an investment property or just something temporary while on island – we HIGHLY RECOMMEND working with Lydia. She is UNPARALLELED among other real estate agents on island.
03/29/2018 – johnny jennell
“She goes in to detail line by line on all documents and procedures!”
She is awesome takes care of your home buying process as if she was purchasing for her self. Truly made her self available around the clock no matter what day or time it is. She goes in to detail line by line on all documents and procedures! Very pleased and happy to have her on my side until the day I decide to sell.
12/04/2017 – prznicest
“Lydia is an amazing agent and a tremendous resource in this challenging market.”
Lydia is an amazing agent and a tremendous resource in this challenging market. I found the house I wanted on my first day looking and she guided me every step!
10/12/2017 – heather paynter
“She took hours out of her hectic day to talk to someone that was on the fence about finding a home.”
I was recommended Lydia by a friend who honestly would not stop raving about her. I met with her for what I thought was going to be a quick rundown of her services. I was wrong in the best of ways. She covered the entire process from start to finish, assuring me that she would be there to help or answer questions the whole way. It’s admirable how she instilled so much confidence in me without putting any pressure to move forward. She took hours out of her hectic day to talk to someone that was on the fence about finding a home. Needless to say, I was impressed. During the process of finding a home, she was there every step of the way just as she had promised. She answered questions before I knew I had them. Together, with her team, I had any and all information for any property I asked for. The amount of data provided was overwhelming, but Lydia is able to explain everything without hesitation. Putting my first offer in for a home was nerve racking. Without fail, Lydia was there to explain the process and what options I had with any outcome. Her and her team pretty much held my hand through the mountain of paperwork that seemed to come daily. I was kept on track and aware of the deadlines thanks to their attention to detail. Lydia was there for everything, no matter how small. She was extremely flexible and more than accommodating with respect to my schedule. I honestly don’t think she takes a day off. She even took a vacation out of country during my escrow and she still took care of me. I never once felt like I was not her main concern. Lydia is amazing. I would recommend her to everyone. Her actions have set a standard that all other real estate agents should strive for. I honestly feel like she treated me family. Thank you Lydia for everything you did for me.
09/05/2017 – jtimcort
“During our selling process, we barely lifted a finger.”
Lydia helped us with the purchase and eventual sale of our home. She was always available when we had questions. Her confidence and knowledge of the market really made decisions much easier for us. She adds a thoughtful and personal touch to everything she does. During our selling process, we barely lifted a finger. Anything that needed to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced in the house was all handled by Lydia and her team. This really took the stress out of moving and selling a home. She’s the best!
09/01/2017 – cline jason 13
“She put everything into perspective.”
Thinking about buying a house was a little overwhelming for me. In fact I reached a point where I told Lydia that i’m not interested anymore. Not knowing who I was and I surely had no idea who she was, she offered to meet up and explain a little about buying a house. What I thought was gonna be 15 minutes turned out to be two hours. A life changing two hours it turned out to be. Learning more quality information than I ever wanted to know about buying a house, left me wanting to own my house at the age of 22 more than ever. She put everything into perspective. The process, the pros and cons, how to protect yourself while taking some risk. Needless to say, i was on a mission to buy my first house the minute she was done talking. Lydia wasn’t there to convince me, to persuade me, but rather inform me of what i’m capable of and how to better spend your money instead of renting. I in fact referred her to a couple friends and she also sat down with them and informed of all the benefits we all have when it comes to buying a house. Lydia was the absolute best realtor I could’ve asked for. I talk to her almost on a daily basis, and she is more than willing to answer questions not only about houses but life. She will be my realtor for life. And you are missing out if she is not yours also. Lydia Bishop is the only realtor you should choose for professional, informative, and caring business that will you will have surely appreciate when you finally settle in your dream home!
08/31/2017 – zuser20151201034521723
“Even when I became extremely busy during military training, I could trust her 100% to negotiate on my behalf.”
Lydia is hands down the best agent you’ll work it. She’s not only professional and knowledgeable, but she’ll go above and beyond to ensure you’re kept abreast of the current situation so that you can make the best decision possible. She’s incredibly caring and will always have your best interest in mind. Even when I became extremely busy during military training, I could trust her 100% to negotiate on my behalf. All the vendors she referred me to during the closing process were awesome to work with as well. Her support staff were always pleasant and kept in constant contact in order to keep me punctual with deadlines. Bottom line, I couldn’t have asked for a better agent and I would highly recommend her to my family and friends.
08/12/2017 – kieu van vo
“She was so thorough, responsive and diligent throughout the entire process.”
Just amazing! My wife and I purchased a 2nd home in Oahu and Lydia was just the best agent I have ever worked with. She was so thorough, responsive and diligent throughout the entire process. We live in NYC and she made buying a home thousands of miles away super simple and painless; and explained in detail the entire process. Highly recommended!
07/26/2017 – Aidaliz
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“Because of Mrs. Bishop my family can enjoy a beautiful home in Hawaii.”
Lydia Bishop was very helpful in our search for a new home. Her knowledge and experience in the Hawaii real estate market allowed her to make our experience very smooth throughout the entire process. She was very prompt in responding to our questions, providing us with important information, and showing us homes we were interested in. Her staff did a great job in supporting us as well. Because of Mrs. Bishop my family can enjoy a beautiful home in Hawaii. Mahalo!!
06/15/2017 – jamarwilliams29
“Process of escrow went to very smooth and closed without problem or any delay.”
Lydia were always there for me. Quick response and speedy action. Process of escrow went to very smooth and closed without problem or any delay. I was able to purchase beautiful property with ideal price in paradise.
05/13/2017 – eakimoto
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“She did not hide any information and was always available for questions/comments.”
Lydia was an absolute pleasure to work with! As 1st time buyers on Island, this purchase could have been an extremely frustrating process, Lydia explained in detail the differences to buying here than on the Mainland right up front – managing our expectations. She was patient, professional, personal and funny. As we toured through homes she let us lead and was extremely honest when asked a question – she did not hide any information and was always available for questions/comments. I will miss Lydia and hope to see her again soon!
04/11/2017 – mariannee7
“I got professional advice in the legalities of each step of the way on the sale of my home.”
Lydia is someone you can trust to give advice on her extensive knowledge on selling a home. She did not rush the sale. I started with a quote that I thought was way too low on our home. With her constant guidance, I was able to pick one person to do my home repairs. He was also knowledgeable about what to fix and what things were needed just for touch up. I got professional advice in the legalities of each step of the way on the sale of my home. In the end I got $36,000 more than was originally estimated on the sale of my home. So if anyone is looking for an excellent realtor in Honolulu, Hawaii, please look her up, Lydia Bishop.
01/14/2017 – naala210
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