For Rose Delfin, being a REALTOR® is more than making sales—it's about continually educating herself and her clients.
"You are helping somebody fulfill their dream, whether it's a modest vacant lot or a two-million-dollar house," she said. "At the end of the day, I'm involved in major life decisions for people, and I take that very seriously."
There are obstacles to buying real estate in most locales—mudslides and fires in California, sandstorms in Arizona, and yes, active volcanoes on Hawai'i Island, said Rose, who currently works at Aloha Sotheby's International Realty.
"It's a matter of knowing what that looks like and whether that meets your risk management level and if you wish to move forward," she said.
To keep herself informed, Rose maintains 11 REALTOR® designations, including ABR, CRS, SFR, SRS, GREEN, GRI, e-PRO, AHWD, SRES, CIPS, and RENE.
Rose was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She came to Hawai'i Island in the 1990s with a backpack, intending to stay for one year. She's been on the Big Island since, transitioning from a career in contractor sales with a building supply company and obtaining her REALTOR® license in 2004.
Rose lives with her husband, a Hilo native, seven Newfoundland dogs, and a menagerie of rescued animals, including three cats, two parrots, five mini horses, and two mini goats.
The goats were abandoned at a property she sold, and three of the horses were surrendered by a 90-year-old woman who could no longer take care of them.
Rose is as committed to her animals, many of whom have significant health challenges, as she is to her clients' goals.
She is the proud owner of the first underwater treadmill for dogs on Hawai'i Island, which is used for both exercise and rehab.
