Real Estate Investing in Kailua, Hawaii (96734)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Honolulu County • Population: 50,985 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96734 (Kailua, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Kailua, HI (96734)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,533,177
Avg Monthly Rent $4,015
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $121,536
% Renters 37.5%

Market Analysis: 96734 Kailua

This part of Honolulu County is not an easy win. The 96734 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $4,015/mo on a $1.5M basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 96734 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Kailua have seen price recovery that 96734 has not matched. Honolulu County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 96734 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Kailua's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 96734. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kailua:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 12.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $4,015/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Urban Honolulu, HI Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
73 days
Average time to sell
Slow
5.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Urban Honolulu, HI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 96734

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$377,232/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $733,210 $2,760 2.7% +4.7% $733,210
2BR $903,460 $3,610 2.9% +5.2% $451,730
3BR $1,381,900 $5,020 2.6% +7.3% $460,633
4BR $1,640,875 $6,060 2.7% +7.8% $410,219
5BR $1,886,160 +8.2% $377,232

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.6M$1.4M$1.2M$1.0M$848K$658KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$4,157$3,744$3,331$2,918$2,505$2,092Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96734 Compare?

Metric 96734 Kailua Urban Honolulu, HI Hawaii
Home Value $1,533,177 $1,533,177 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $4,015 $4,015 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96734? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96734 (Kailua, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Honolulu County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

HappyDoors Property Management offers services in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, HI. summary from their website

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Oishi's Property Management, founded in 1977 in Honolulu, Hawaii, provides quality management services to owners and condominium associations, also serving Las Vegas. summary from their website

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Real Property Management Honolulu is a property management company in Honolulu, Hawaii. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Urban Honolulu, HI metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
2/2
73 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,533,177
Monthly Rent $4,015
Price-to-Rent 31.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +10.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96734

Population: 50,985

💰 Median Household Income
$121,536
This area
$121,536
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.5%
This area
37.5%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.6%
This area
49.6%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.8 years
This area
36.8 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.3%
Other/Mixed 32.7%
Asian 18.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.5%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
23.0%
This area
23.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.9%
This area
16.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 96734

A Avg School Grade
13 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Kailua High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
795 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Kainalu Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Maunawili Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Enchanted Lake Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Ka'ohao Public Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School Charter
👥
341 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Kailua Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Aikahi Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
483 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Kailua Intermediate School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
719 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Keolu Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
98 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Kaelepulu Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
195 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kalaheo High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
882 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mokapu Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
841 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Olomana School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
78 Students
👨‍🏫
2.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 4,956 Off-Campus Students
C
Windward Community College
2,743 students · 4.0 mi
D
University of Hawaii System Office
0 students · 7.5 mi
B
University of Hawaii at Manoa
19,256 students · 7.6 mi
C
Chaminade University of Honolulu
2,602 students · 7.7 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Honolulu
148 students · 8.0 mi
D
Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Med
57 students · 8.7 mi
C
Kapiolani Community College
5,822 students · 8.7 mi
C
Hawaii Pacific University
4,748 students · 8.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,956 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kailua, HI better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Kailua, HI, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Kailua, HI?

Rental rates in Kailua, HI average $4,015/mo. Tenant demand and $1.5M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How viable is house hacking in Kailua, HI?

House hacking in Kailua, HI is a tougher. With home values around $1.5M and rents at $4,015/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What are home prices like in Kailua, HI?

Median home price in Kailua, HI is near $1.5M, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How high is vacancy risk in Kailua, HI?

Kailua, HI carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $4,015/mo.

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How 96734 ranks in Urban Honolulu, HI

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